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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microficlies. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Historical  Microraproductiona  institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquaa 

1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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publiques  du  Canada 

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d'images  n6cessaire.  Le  diagramme  suivant 
illustre  la  mdthode  : 


1 

2 

3 

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Jure, 
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IX 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE    WOKKS 


or 


HUBERT  HOWE  BANCROFT 


THE   WOKKS 


OF 


HUBERT  HOWE  BANCTtOET 


VOLUME 


HISTOKY   OF   OREGON 


VuL.  II.      l>S4;s_iat, 


''^A\  EifAxcrsco 

THE   IILSTOUV   COMI-AXV,   PUBLIRHERS 

ISSS 


Entered  according  to  Act  ot  Congress  in  t)ie  Year  1888,  bj- 

HUBKRT   H.   BANCROFT, 
In  tho  OiHcoof  tl>e  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Wasliington. 

All  Jihjhts  Reserved. 


Th< 


India 

i 
] 

ii 


a< 
Si 
til 


CONTEOTS  OF  THIS  VOLUME. 


CHAPTER  r. 

CONDITION  OF  AFPAIEa. 
1848. 

Titles-Oceaa  Mc-stfp  S^"""^^^^^^  °^  Towns-Land 
Matters:  Food,  0^.1^1"'  'f  •  C^™™-— Domestic 
tion,  and  Morals-Benevtle^  Soct/  ?f*^=  ^^"^•°"'  E'l"<=-- 
re.-XotabIe  In^titutiolt^tiroTr  ^^^^^^^^^^^         *«  ^-«- 

CHAPTER  II. 

KmCT  OP  THE  CAUPOBNU  GOLD  msCOTERT. 

Thavt    •    r,  1848-1849. 

tion  of  .  Miot_Pti™L  Sr„.       ?  "*"  "*  C"mncr-Th.  Q„e,. 


PAOI 


CHAPTER  III. 

i^nb's  administration, 

r  jj      A  1849-1850. 

'"' Ari!;^:jtr?.^^^^^^  N.,.,!,  Attached- 

Esteblished  nearNiaqualTy    Tht^    '^^^^^  Military  Post 

ing  of  the  I-gislare^  As  I~JJ    M      '"  ^"^'"^'^"  Agent-Meet- 

tricts-A  Travelling  Cot  t  o?jL";ic  T^ V'"^*!'-'"'^'*^''^'  ^- 

~Establishmentof^ilit„;''p:   raVFo^^^^^^^^^ 

acoom,  and  The  Dalles-Tha  V,.„««n       Z  .'  ^''"coaver,  Steil- 

Smith-His  Drunken  SoirJlhTC'  ^'^^r^^'^'"''  P«r.ifer  P. 
tion  of  the  Whitman  Murd^  .  ^'!^']  .^l';"-"^  "'^  E''-"' 

*  *   "(  u  )* 


42 


66 


w 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  rV. 

A  DELEGATE  TO  CONORESS. 

1849-1850. 


PAOl 


The  Absence  of  Judges — Island  Mills — Arrival  of  William  Strong— Oppo- 
sition to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company — Arrest  of  British  Ship  Cap- 
tains— George  Gibbs — The  Albion  Affair — Samuel  R.  Thurston 
Chosen  Delegate  to  Congress — His  Life  and  Character — Proceeds 
to  Washington — Misrepresentations  and  Unprincipled  Measures — 
Rank  Injustice  toward  McLoughlin — Efficient  Work  for  Oregon — 
The  Donation  Laud  Bill — The  Cayuse  War  Claim  and  Other  Appro- 
priations Secured — The  People  Lose  Confidence  in  their  Delegate — 
Death  of  Thurston 101 


CHAPTER  V. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  OAIKES. 

1850-1852. 

An  Official  Vacancy — Gaines  Appointed  Governor — His  Reception  in  Ore- 
gon— The  Legislative  Assembly  in  Session — Its  Personnel — The  Ter- 
ritorial Library — Location  of  the  Capital — Oregon  City  or  Salem — 
Warm  and  Prolonged  Contest — Two  Legislatures — War  between  the 
Law-makers  and  the  Federal  Judges — Appeal  to  Congress — Salem 
Declared  the  Capital — A  New  Session  Called — Feuds  of  the  Public 
Press — Unpopularity  of  Gaines — Close  of  his  Term — Lane  Appointed 
his  Successor 139 

CHAPTER  VI. 

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 

1850-1852. 
Politics  and  Prospecting— Immigration — An  Era  of  Discovery — Explora* 
tions  on  the  Southern  Oregon  Seaboard — The  California  Company — 
The  Schooner  Samuel  Roberta  at  the  Mouths  of  Rogue  River  and  the 
Umpqua — Meeting  with  the  Oregon  Party — Laying-out  of  Lands  and 
Town  Sites — Failure  of  the  Umpqua  Company — The  Finding  of 
Gold  in  Various  Localities — The  Mail  Service — EflForts  of  Thurston 
in  Congress — Settlement  of  Port  Orford  and  Discovery  of  Coos  Bay 
—The  Colony  at  Port  Orford— Indian  Attack— The  T'Vault  Expedi- 
tion— Massacre — Government  Assistance 174 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 
1851. 

Politics — Election  of  a  Delegate — Extinguishment  of  Indian  Titles — Ind- 
ian Superintendents  and  Agents  Appointed — Kindness  of  the  Great 
Father  at  Washington — Appropriations  of  Congress — Frauds  Arising 


CONTENTS. 


PAQl 


101 


139 


174 


VAon 

from  the  System— Easy  Expenditure  of  Government  Money — Un- 
popularity of  Human  Sympathy — Efficiency  of  Superintendent  Dart 
— Thirteen  Treaties  Eflfected — Lane  among  the  Rogue  River  Indians 
and  in  the  Mines — Divers  Outrages  and  Retaliations — Military 
Affairs— Rogue  River  War— The  Stronghold— Battle  of  Table  Rock 
—Death  of  Stuart — Kearney's  Prisoners 20S 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PLAOSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 

1851-1852. 
Officers  and  Indian  Agents  at  Port  Orford — Attitude  of  the  Coquillea— 
U.  S.  Troops  Ordered  out — Soldiers  as  Indian- lighters — The  Savages 
too  Much  for  Them— Something  of  Scarf  ace  and  the  Shastas — Steele 
Secures  a  Conference — Action  of  Superintendent  Skinner — Much 
Ado  about  Nothing — Some  Fighting — An  Insecure  Peace — More 
Troops  Ordered  to  Vancouver  233 

CHAPTER  IX. 

SCEVKYS  AND  TOWN-MAKINO. 

1851-1853. 

Proposed  Territorial  Division — Coast  Survey — Light-houses  Established 
— James  S.  Lawson — His  Biography,  Public  Services,  and  Contribu- 
tion to  History — Progress  North  of  the  Columbia — South  of  the 
Columbia — Birth  of  Towns — Creation  of  Counties — Proposed  New 
Territory — River  Navigation — Improvements  at  the  Clackamas  Rap- 
ids— On  the  Tualatin  River — La  Creole  River — Bridge-building — 
Work  at  the  Falls  of  the  Willamette— Fruit  Culture— The  First 
Apples  Sent  to  California — Agricultural  Progress — Imports  and  Ex- 
ports— Society 247 

CHAPTER  X. 

X.ANI>  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES, 

1851-1855. 

The  Donation  Law — Its  Provisions  and  Workings— Attitude  of  Congress 
— Powers  of  the  Provisional  Government — Qualification  of  Voters — 
Surveys — Rights  of  Women  and  Children— Amendments — Preemp- 
tion Privileges — Duties  of  the  Surveyor-general- -Claimants  to 
Lands  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  Puget  Sound  Companies — Mission 
Claims — Methodists,  Presbyterians,  and  Catholics — Proininout  Land 
Cases — Litigation  in  Regard  to  the  Site  of  Portland — Tlio  Rights  of 
Settlers — The  Caruthers  Claim — The  Dalles  Town-site  Claim — Pre- 
tensions of  the  Methodists — Claims  of  the  Catholics — Advantages 
and  Disadvantages  of  the  Donation  System 260 


Jdi 


CJONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

POLITICS  AND  FROOBESa. 
1853. 


PAOB 


Legislative  Proceedings— Judicial  Districts— Public  Buildings— Tenor  of 
Legislation — Instructions  to  the  Congressional  Delegate — Harbors 
and  Shipping — Lane's  Congressional  Labors — Charges  against  Gover- 
nor Gaines — Ocean  Mail  Service — Protection  of  Overland  Immigrants 
— Military  Boads — Division  of  the  Territory — Federal  Appoint- 
ments— New  Judges  and  their  Districts — Whigs  and  Democrats — 
Lane  as  Governor  and  Delegate — Alonzo  A.  Skinner — An  Able  and 
Humane  Man — Sketch  of  his  Life  and  Public  Services 296 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

BOOnE   BIVER  WAB. 

1853-1854. 

Impositions  and  Retaliations — Outrages  by  White  Men  and  Indians—* 
The  Military  Called  upon — War  Declared — Suspension  of  Business — 
Roads  Blockaded — Firing  from  Ambush — Alden  at  Table  Rock — 
Lane  in  Command — Battle— The  Savages  Sue  for  Peace — Armistice 
— Preliminary  Agreement — Hostages  Given — Another  Treaty  with 
the  Rogue  River  People — Stipulations — Other  Treaties — Cost  of  the 
War 


311 


CHAPTER  Xm. 

LECnSLATION,   MININO,    AND  SETTLEMENT. 

1853-1864. 
John  W.  Davis  as  Governor — Legislative  Proceedings — Appropriations 
by  Congress — Oregon  Acts  and  Resolutions — Affairs  on  the  Ump- 
qua — Light-house  Building — Beach  Mining — Indian  Disturbances- 
Palmer's  Superintendence — Settlement  of  >08  Bay — Explorations 
and  Mountain-climbing — Politics  of  the  loriod — The  Question  of 
State  Organization — The  People  not  Ready — Hard  Times — Deca- 
dence of  the  Gold  Epoch — Rise  of  Farming  Interest — Some  First 
Things — Agricultural  Societies — Woollen  Mills — Telegraphs — River 
and  Ocean  Shipping  Interest  and  Disasters— Ward  Massacre — Mil- 
itary Situation 322 

CHAPTER  XrV. 

OOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 
1854-1855. 

Resignation  of  Governor  Davis — His  Successor,  George  Law  Curry- 
Legislative  Proceedings — Waste  of  Congressional  Appropriations — 
State  House — Penitentiary — Relocation  of  the  Capital  and  Univer- 
sity— Legislative  and  Congressional  Acts  Relative  thereto— More 


L< 


CONTENTS. 


im 


PAoa 


of 
>ra 

Its 
it- 

Qd 


296 


PAoa 
Counties  Made — Finances — ^Territorial  Convention — Newspapers — 

The  Slavery  Sentiment — Politics  of  the  Period — Whigs,  Democrats, 

and  Know-nothings — A  New  Party — Indian  Affairs — Treaties  East 

of  the  Cascade  Mountains 343 

CHAPTER  XV. 

FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 
185&-1856. 

Indian  Affairs  in  Southern  Oregon — The  Rogue  River  People — Extermi- 
nation Advocated — Militia  Companies — Surprises  and  Skirmishes- 
Reservation  and  Friendly  Indians  Protected  by  the  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment  against  Miners  and  Settlers — More  Fighting — Volunteers  and 
Regulars — Battle  of  Grave  Creek — Formation  of  the  Northern  and 
Southern  Battalions — Affair  at  the  Meadows — Ranging  by  the  Vol- 
unteers— The  Ben  Wright  Massacre '^69 


I — 

ice 

1th 
)he 


311 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

EXTERMIKATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 
185ft-1857. 

Grande  Ronde  Military  Post  and  Reservation — Driving  in  and  Caging  the 
Wild  Men — M  .  "•'■  Idiers  Required — Other  Battalions — Down  upon 
the  Red  Men — The  Spring  Campaign — AfiDiirs  along  the  Rivci  — 
Humi ;  /  y  of  the  United  States  Officers  and  Agents — cJtubbom  Bmv- 
ery  of  Chief  John — Councils  and  Surrenders — Battle  of  the  Meadows 
— Smith's  Tactics — Continued  Skirmishing — Giving-up  and  Coming- 
in  of  the  Indiana... , 


397 


322 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

OREaON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 

1856-1859. 

Legislature  of  1855-6 — Measure?  and  Memorials — Legislature  of  1856-7 
— No  Slavery  in  Free  Territory — Republican  Convention — Election 
Results — Discussions  concerning  Admission — Delegate  to  Congress — 
Campaign  Journalism — Constitutional  Convention — The  Great  Ques- 
tion of  Slavery — No  Black  Men,  Bond  or  Free — Adoption  of  a  State 
Constitution — Legislature  of  1857-8— State  and  Territorial  Bodies 
— Passenger  Service — Legislatures  of  1858-9 — Admission  into  the 
Union 413 


CHAPTER  XVIIT. 

POLITICS  AND  PATRIOTISM. 

1859-18GL 

Appointment  of  Officers  of  the  United  States  Court — Extra  Session  of  the 
Legislature — Acta  and  Reports — State  Seal — Delozoit  Smith — Re« 


jdT 


CONTENTS. 


PAOB 

publican  Convention — Nominations  and  Elections — ^Rnptare  in  the 
Democratic  Party — Sheil  Elected  to  Congress — Scheme  of  a  Pacific 
Republic — Legislative  Session  of  1860 — Nesmith  and  Baker  Elected 
U.  S.  Senators — Influence  of  Southern  Secession — Thayer  Elected 
to  Congress — Lane's  Disloyalty — Governor  Whiteaker — Stark,  U.  S. 
Senator — Oregon  in  the  War — New  Officials 442 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

WAB  AND   DEVELOFMENr. 

1858-1862. 

War  Departments  and  Commanders — Military  Administration  of  General 
Harney — Wallen'a  Road  Expeditions — Troubles  with  the  Shoshones 
— Emigration  on  the  Ncthern  and  Southera  Routes — Expeditions 
of  Steen  and  Smith — Campaign  against  the  Shoshones — Snake  River 
MasEacre — Action  of  the  Legislature — Protection  of  the  Southern 
Route — Discovery  of  the  John  Day  and  Powder  River  Mines — Floods 
and  Cold  of  1861-2  —Progress  of  Eastern  Oregon 460 

CHAPTER   XX. 

MILITARY  ORGANIZA'l'ION  AND  OPERATIONS. 

1861-1865. 
Appropriation  Asked  for — General  Wright — Six  Companies  Raised — At- 
titude toward  Secessionists — First  Oregon  Cavalry — Expeditions  of 
Maury,  Drake,  and  Curry — Fort  Boise  Established — Reconnoissance 
of  Drew — Treaty  with  the  Klamaths  and  Modocs — Action  of  tlio 
Legislature — First  Infantry  Oregon  Volunteers 488 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

TUE  SUOSIIONE  WAR. 

1866-1863. 
Companies  and  Camps — Steele's  Measures— Halleck  Headstrong — Battle 
of  the  Owyhee — Indian  Raids— SuH'orings  of  the  Settlers  and  Trans- 
portation Men — Movements  of  Troops — Attitude  of  Governor  Woods 
—  Free  Fighting— Enlistment  of  Indians  to  Fight  Indians— Military 
Reorganization— Among  the  Lava-bods — Crook  in  Command — Ex- 
terniiuatiou  or  Coufmcment  and  Death  in  Reservations 512 


Ro 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

TUB   MODOO  WAR. 

1864-1873. 

Land  of  the  Modocs — Kcintpoos,  or  Captain  Jack — Agents,  Superintend- 
ents, and  Treaties — Keintpoos  Declines  to  Go  on  a  Resirvation— 
fiaida— Troops  iu  Purauit— Jack  Takes  to  th«  Lava-beds — Appoint*' 


CONTENTS. 


in  the 
Pacific 
lected 
lected 
U.S. 


neral 
loues 
tiona 
liver 
hem 
ooda 


460 


sv 


PAOX 


■At- 

3   of 

iUce 
tho 

...  488 


C.usning  Defeat  of  Troops  uuIt        ^''^'^^^-^1-   Escape.- 
Caught,  and  Executed        .  .  ^'^""'''^^-Captain  Jack  Puraued. 

553 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

POLITICAL,    INDUSTRIAL,    AND   INSTITUTIONAL. 

1862-1887. 

-LMei-  LegW,.tio„_,iovo„„,_,  fn.i '    w     ,     „     ^'■'■'"'  ''■"'•"on 

•••..   '  637 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

LATER   EVENTS. 

1887- J  888. 


Recent  Developments  , 


ro 

rty 


740 


tie 

iis- 
mIs 
ry 

Ix- 


512 


PIISTOEY  OF  OREGON. 


CHAPTER  I. 


CONDITION   OF  AFFAIRS. 

1848. 
PorrrtATioN—PRourcTS— Places  of  Settlement— The  First  Families  o» 

OREOON  —  StoCK-RAISINO    and    AciRICULTLRE— FoUSblNd    OF    ToWNS — 

Lam>  TiTLKs— Ocean  Traffic— Siiip-buildino  and  Commerce— Do- 
mestic Matters:  Foon,  Clotiiino,  and  Shelter— Society:  IIelidion, 
Kdccation,  and  Morals— Benevolent  Societies— Aids  and  Crkcks 
TO  riiooREss— Notable  Institutions — Cuaracteh  of  the  Peoi'le. 


Fourteen  years  have  now  elapsed  since  Jason  Leo 
Ix^gan  his  missionary  station  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Willamette,  and  five  years  since  the  first  considerable 
settlement  was  made  by  an  agricultural  pcjpulation 
from  the  western  states.  It  is  well  to  pause  a  moment 
in  our  historical  progress  and  to  take  a  general 
survey. 

First  as  to  population,  there  are  between  ten  and 
twelve  thousand  white  inhabitants  and  half-breeds 
scattered  about  the  valley  of  the  Willamette,  with  a 
few  in  the  valleys  of  the  C/olutnbia,  tlie  Cowlitz,  and  on 
Puget  Sound.  Most  of  these  are  stock-raisers  and 
grain-growers.  The  extent  of  land  cultivated  is  not 
great,'  from  twenty  to  fifty  acres  only  being  in  cereals 
on  single  farms  within  reach  of  warehouses  of  the  fur 

'  In  Ifnittings'  Or.  and  Cat. ,  55-fl,  tho  avoraRo  dizo  of  farms  is  given  at  r»00 
acrcH,  which  is  much  too  higii  nil  cstininte.     Thoro  was  no  neeii  to  fonoo  ho 
uiuclk  liuul,  and  liail  it  boon  uultivatod  tlio  crops  would  liavo  found  no  market. 
VUL.  II.    1 


I 


2  COXDITIOX  OF  AFFAIRS. 

company  and  the  American  mcrcliants.  One  writer 
estimated  the  company's  stock  in  1845  at  20,00C 
bushels,  and  that  this  was  not  lialf  of  the  sur[)kis. 
As  many  farmers  reap  from  sixty  to  sixty-five  bushels 
of  wheat  to  the  acre,"  and  the  poorest  land  returns 
i/Wenty  bushels,  no  great  extent  of  sowing  is  required 
to  furnish  the  market  with  an  amount  equal  to  that 
named.  Agricultural  machinery  to  any  considerable 
extent  is  not  3'et  known.  Threshing  is  done  by  driv- 
ing horses  over  the  sheaves  strewn  in  an  enclosure, 
first  trodden  hard  by  the  hoofs  of  wild  cattle.  In  the 
sunnner  of  1848  Wallace  and  Wilson  of  Oregon  City 
construct  two  threshing-machines  with  endless  chains, 
v,h ich  are  henceforward  nuicli  sought after.^  The  usual 
[)rice  of  wheat,  fixed  by  the  Hudson's  IJay  Company, 
is  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents;  but  at  diftcrent  times  it 
has  been  higher,  as  in  1845,  when  it  readied  a  dollar 
and  a  half  a  bushel/  owing  to  the  influx  of  i)0[)ulation 
that  year. 

Till'  flouring  of  Avheat  is  no  longer  difficulf",  for  there 
are  in  1848  nine  nrist-mills  in  the  country.''  Xor 
is  it  any  longer  impctssible  to  obtain  sawt'd  luml)er 
in  (lie  lower  parts  of  the  valley,  or  on  the  ( 'olumbia, 
for  a  large  number  of  mills  furnish  material  for  build- 
ing to  those  who  can  aUbrd  to  purchase  and  provide 
the  means  of  transportation."     The  larger  number  of 


" //''/(('.s'  If  14.  Orffjon,  342-fl.  Tliornton,  in  his  Or.  mul  ('"f  ,  '.  370,  gives 
till!  ^\llol('  indduL'tioii  of  ISKi  ;it  I  n,S(i;t  l)\ii<!ic'ls,  tlin  pioati':  t  ainimiit  iviisod 
ill  iiiiy  rouiity  iH'iii'i  in  'i'lmliitiii,  iiiiil  tlic  IcMvt  in  ('l;ils(jp.  Oals,  jumsi',  iiiid 
jioliidic.s  wcl'o  ill  inoiiol'tiuii.  Sec  iil;.or'/'.  .s'/zfcVr/ZocJiily  ■_'!!,  I'Uli;  //ciri-nn's 
('(jii.il  ttiiil  ('(unilr'i,  'J!)-.'iO.  Tlic  total  Mliuiit  crop  of  lhi~  Wi.H  L'sliiiiatod  ut 
180.(;i;(»  l)usii('ls,  liii.l  tho  miqilii:!  lit  :.0,(!0(). 

'■^  Cnnri'nril's  X,ir.,  MS.,  1(U;  //o.^t' A'./c,  MS.,  10. 

■•  /.Wiii'.-i  S(i(l(l'e-Mahi\  MS.,  4. 

•'  Till'  ),'iistiiiills  wi'io  jiiiilt  liy  tlio  Hudson's  Bay  Company  ncnr  Viincoiivorj 
Mt'l.iiii'.rhlin  and  tiio  Oiv^'on  Milling;  ('oiiipiiny  at  Orc-im  City ;  liy 'riioiiiaa 
MrKay  iiu  Fruucli  I'l'iiii'ir;  liy 'J'lumiis  .Iuiiilm  O'Ni'iil  on  tlio  Itickiiiill  in  tlio 
Apiili\^it<!  Suttluiiiont  in  I'olU  I'miiity ;  hy  tln'  Mclimdisl  Mi.-isiou  at  Sali^n;  liy 
Lot  \\  liitconil)  at  Nlilwaiiki'f,  on  tlic  )i;_'lit  iiank  of  tin-  Williiiiutti',  lirtwi'fn 
rortl.iiid  and  Oregon  City;  iiy  Mci  k  ami  Liu'lliiij.;  at  tlu:  saiin'  plai'c;  iiiiil  liy 
W'liiim.in  at  Waiiliitpu.  Ali('i\it  tlii.s  tiiiic  a  lloiiriiiH-inill  win  lif;,'iin  on  I'ugut 
.Soiii'  I.    Thonili>it'.i  dr.  (tiid  dil.,  i.  :i;iO;  N.  /•',  Cid\l'orii\<ni.  Apiil  Id,  IS-IS, 

'''riu'-i'  saw  niills  wci'o  often  in  eonni't'tiiin  with  the  llourin.uinills,  im  at 
Oregon  City,  Salem,  and  Vancouver.    I'ut  thero  were  several  otlu.iH  that  wero 


rOUNDIXG  OF  TOWNS. 


liousci?  on  the  land-claims,  however,^  are  still  of  hewn 
logs,  in  the  style  of  western  frontier  dwellings  of  the 
Mississippi  states.'' 


]T0.  gives 

lilt  riiisc'il 

■asc,  luul 

|/(.»v'fl/('.S 

uutcJ  at 


liu'ouviT; 
lidiims 
III  in  tlio 
lali'iii;  liy 
jliftwi'L'n 
I;  mill  liy 
111  I'ligft 
|)S4H. 
11h,  iiH  nt 
liut  weio 


separate,  as  the  mill  established  for  savring  lumber  by  Mr  Hiinsaker  at  the 
jiuiftion  of  the  Willamette  with  the  Columbia;  by  Charles  McKay  on  the 
Tualatin  Plains,  and  by  Hunt  near  Astoria.  Tiierc  were  others  to  the  muiibtr 
of  I  r>  ill  difl'erent  parts  of  the  territory.  Thornton's  Or.  and  Cat,  i.  330;  Cruir. 
fhril's  Xur.,'MS.,  IGi. 

HJcoigo  (Jay  had  a  briek  dwelling,  and  Abcmcthy  a  brick  store;  and 
briL'k  was  also  used  in  the  erection  of  the  Catholic  church  at  St  I'auls.  Craw- 
ford tells  us  a  good  deal  about  where  to  look  f(jr  settlers,  lleason  Head,  ho 
says,  was  located  on  Nathan  Crosby's  land-claim,  a  mile  below  Tettygrove's 
dwelling  in  I'ortland,  ea  the  right  bank  of  the  Willamette,  jii.st  below  a  liijrh 
gravelly  blulF,  that  is,  in  what  is  now  the  north  part  of  lOast  I'ortland.  Tv>(» 
of  the  Ijelknaps  were  making  brick  at  this  place,  assisted  by  Ivrad.  A  house 
was  being  erected  for  Crosliy  by  a  mechanic  named  Riclianlson.  Itaiiid 
Lowusdale  had  a  tannery  west  of  rortlaiul  town-site.  South  of  it  on  the 
same  iside  of  the  river  were  the  claims  ot  Finice  Caruthers,  William  .Johnson, 
I'liiinias  iStevens,  and  James  Terwilliger.  On  the  island  in  front  of  Stevens' 
place  lived  Kichard  McCrary,  celebrated  for  making  'Ijlue  I'uin' whiskey  out 
(if  molasses.  James  Stevens  lived  opposite  Caruthers,  on  the  east  bank  of  tlio 
^Vlllamctte,  Mhero  ho  had  a  cooper-shop,  and  William  Kilborne  a  warelniu.su. 
Tliree  miles  above  Milwaukee,  where  Wliitconib,  William  Meek,  and  J.uclling 
were  Kcttled,  was  a  (icrman  named  I'ijier,  attempting  to  make  pottevv. 
Ojiposito  Oregon  City  lived  S.  'i'hurston,  11.  Moore,  II.  liurns.  and  .lud^tu 
l.,'uuaster.  I'liilip  Foster  and  other  settlers  lived  on  the  Clackainas  llivir, 
eiitit  of  Oregon  City.  Turning  back,  and  going  north  of  I'ortland,  .lolm  ]I. 
Couch  claimed  the  land  adjoining  that  jilace.  Jielow  him  were  tiettliil  at 
intervals  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  William  lllackstone,  I'eter*  iill,  J»ciaiic, 
and  Watts.  At  Linnton  there  were  two  settlers,  William  Dillon  and  Piek 
liii'hanla.  OpiHisite  to  Watt's  on  the  east  bank  was  .James  l.oomis,  and  just 
,'ibov(!  liiin  James  John.  At  the  head  of  Sauvt';  iHlaiid  lived  .loliii  Miller. 
Near  James  Logic's  place,  before  mentioned  as  a  dairy-farm  of  the  Hudson's 
ISay  Company,  Alexander  McQuinn  was  settled,  and  on  dill'eient  i>ails  of  tlio 
ishiiid  .laeob  < 'line,  .Joseph  Charlton,  .Tames  ]!yl)ei!,  Midcolm  Smith  a  Scoteli- 
mim,  ( lilbaii  a  Canadian,  and  an  American  named  Walker.  On  the  Scap^ionso 
plains  south  of  the  island  was  settled  Mcl'herson,  a  Scotchman;  and  diiiiiig 
the  HUiiimer  Nelson  Iloyt  took  a  claim  on  the  Scappoose,  At  I'lyinmuh  line';, 
now  St  Helen,  lived  II.  M.  Knighton  who  tin;  year  Iiefore  had  succeedi^l  to 
the  claim  of  its  liist  setth'i',  iJartholoinew  White,  who  was  a  cripple,  and 
unable  to  make  improvements.  A  town  was  already  projected  at  this  )i!aee, 
tlioiigh  not  surveyed  till  ISllt,  when  a  few  lots  were  laid  oil'  by  .lames  ISrov*  n 
of  Cauemah.  The  survey  was  su))seiiucnlly  completed  by  N.  II.  Tappaii 
and  I'.  \V.  CrawfiM'd,  und  mapjied  by  .loseiih 'I'rutch,  in  the  spring  of  l.s.'il. 
A  few  miles  below  Knighton  were  settled  the  Merrill  family  and  a^  man  named 
Tulitson.  'J'lie  only  settler  in  the  region  of  the  Ilallcswas  Nathan  Olniy, 
who  ill  ISI7  took  a  elai!.i  .'t  miles  below  the  present  town,  on  the  south  siile 
of  the  river,     ()>  north  side  of  the  Cdliimbia,   in  the  neiglilMirho(»|  i.f 

\'aneouvci',  the  Itii'l  tonuerly  oeiMipied  by  the  fur  company,  alter  the  settle- 
ment of  the  boundary  was  elaimed  to  a  eoiisiderable  e\teiit  by  individuals, 
Uritish  subjects  as  well  as  .'.nierieaiis. .  Above  the  fort,  Forbes  llaielay  and 
Mr  J/iwi',  members  of  the  company,  held  claims  as  imlividiials,  as  also  Mr 
('ovington,  teacher  at  the  fort.  On  the  south  side,  opposite  V'aiieoiivei,  .lohn 
Swit/ler  kept  a  ferry,  which  luid  btcn  miieh  in  use  during  the  Ciivuse  war  ai) 
Well  as  in  the  season  of  immigrant  arri\als.  On  Catlilapootle,  or  Lewis,  river 
there  was  also  a  settler.  On  the  Kalania  ]{iver  •lonathan  r>ui|iee  had  Inken 
achiiiii;  he  afterward  removed  to  the  Cowlitz,  where  Thibuult,  a  Ciiuuduui, 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


Hi  i 


Onlj'-a  small  portion  of  the  land  bein<^  fenced,  almost 
the  whole  Willamette  Valley  is  open  to  travel,  and 
covered  with  the  herds  of  the  settlers,  some  of  whom 
own  between  two  and  throe  thousand  cattle  and 
horses.  Though  thus  pastured  the  grass  is  knee-high 
on  the  plains,  and  yet  more  luxuriant  on  the  low 
lands;  in  summer  the  hilly  parts  are  incarnadine  with 
strawberries.^  Besides  the  natural  increase  of  the  first 
importations,  not  a  year  has  passed  since  the  venture 
of  the  Willamette  Cattle  Company  in  1837,  without 
the  introduction  of  cattle  and  horses  from  California, 
to  which  are  added  those  driven  from  the  States  an- 
nually after  1842,®  whence  come  likewise  constantly 
increasing  flocks  of  sheep.  The  towns,  as  is  too  often 
the  case,  are  out  of  proportion  to  the  rural  population. 
Oregon  City,  with  six  or  seven  hundred  inhabitants,  is 
still  the  metropolis,  having  the  advantage  of  a  central 

was  living  in  cliarge  of  tho  warehouse  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and 
where  iliiiing  tho  spring  and  sumnior  Peter  W.  Crawford,  E.  West,  and  one 
or  two  others'settleil.  Before  the  autumn  of  1849  several  families  were  located 
near  the  mouth  of  tho  Cowlitz.  H.  D.  Huntington,  Nathaniel  Stone,  David 
Stone,  Seth  Catlin,  James  I'orter,  and  K.  C.  Smith  were  making  shingles 
here  for  the  California  market.  Below  the  Cowlitz,  at  old  Oak  Point  on  the 
Bouth  side  of  tho  river,  lived  John  McLean,  a  Scotchman.  Oak  Point  Mills 
on  the  n<jrth  side  wore  not  built  till  the  following  summer,  when  they  were 
erected  by  a  man  named  Dyer  for  Abernethy  and  Clark  of  Oregon  City.  At 
Catldtimet  ou  the  north  bank  of  the  I'iver  lived  James  Birnio,  who  had 
settled  there  in  184G.  There  was  no  settlement  between  Cathlamet  and 
Hunt's  Mill,  and  iiono  between  Hunt's  Mill,  where  a  man  named  Spears  was 
living,  and  Astoria,  except  the  claim  of  Robert  Shortcss  near  Tongue  Point. 
At  Astoria  the  old  fur  company's  post  was  in  charge  of  Mr  McKay;  and 
there  were  several  Americans  living  there,  namely,  John  McClure,  James 
Welch,  John  M.  Shively,  Van  Dusen  and  family,  and  others;  in  all  about 
30  persons;  but  the  town  was  partially  surveyecl  this  year  by  P.  W.  Craw- 
foril.  There  were  about  a  dozen  settlers  on  Clatsop  plains,  and  a  town  had 
been  projected  on  Point  Adams  by  two  brothers  O'brien,  called  New  York, 
wiiich  never  came  to  anything.  At  Baker  Bay  lived  John  Edmunds,  Miougli 
the  claim  belonged  to  Peter  Skeen  Ogdcn.  On  Scarborough  Hill,  just 
above,  a  claim  had  been  taken  by  an  English  captain  of  that  name  in  tho 
Bcrvico  of  tho  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  Tho  greater  number  of  these  items 
have  been  taken  from  (JrtnrJ'onVs  Narrative,  MS.;  but  other  authorities  have 
contributed,  namely:  Minto'a  Earbj  Days,  MS.;  WeetVs  Queen  Charlotte.  I, 
Kr/ieil.,  MS.;  Demh/s  Hist.  Or.,  MS.;  Pctlmrove'aOr.,  MS,;  Lovejoy'n  Port- 
la  ml,  \IS. ;  Moss'  Piovecr  Times,  MS.;  JJromi's  Willamette  Valley,  MS.; 
Or.  Statutes;  Victor's  Oref/on  ami  Wash,;  Murphy's  Or.  Directory,  1 ;  S.  I. 
Friend,  Oct.  15,  1840;  Wilkes'  Nar,;  Palmer's  Journal;  Home  Missionary 
Man.,  xxii.  63-4. 

" '  Tho  most  beautiful  country  I  over  saw  in  my  life.'  Weed's  Queen  Char' 
lotle  I.  Exped.,  MS.,  2. 

*Vlyman^a  Note  Book,  MS.,  0;   W.  B.  Ide's  Biog.,  34. 


THE  OREGON  INSTITUTE. 


}e-high 


In  Chat' 


position  between  the  farming  country  above  tlio  falls 
and  the  deep-water  navigation  twelve  miles  below; 
and  more  capital  and  improvements  are  found  lieie 
than  at  any  other  point. ^^  It  is  the  only  incorporated 
town  as  yet  in  Oregon,  the  legislature  of  1844  having 
granted  it  a  charter;"  unimproved  lots  are  held  at 
from  $100  to  $500.  The  canal  round  the  falls  which 
the  same  legislature  authorized  is  in  progress  of  con- 
struction, a  wing  being  thrown  out  across  the  cast 
shoot  of  the  river  above  the  falls  which  form  a  basin, 
and  is  of  great  benefit  to  navigation  by  affording  quiet 
water  for  the  landing  of  boats,  which  without  it  were 
in  danger  of  being  carried  over  the  cataract. ^""^ 

Linn  City  and  Multnomah  City  just  across  the 
river  from  the  metropolis,  languish  from  propinquity 
to  a  greatness  in  which  they  cannot  share.  Milwaukee, 
a  few  miles  below,  is  still  in  embryo.  Linnton,  the 
city  founded  during  the  winter  of  1843  by  Burnett 
and  McCarver,  has  had  but  two  adult  male  iidiabit- 
ants,  though  it  boasts  a  warehouse  for  wheat,  llills- 
boro  and  Lafayette  aspire  to  the  dignity  of  county- 
scats  of  Tualatin  and  Yamhill.  Corvallis,  Albany,  and 
Eugene  are  settled  by  claimants  of  the  land,  but  do 
not  yet  rejoice  in  the  distinction  of  an  urban  appel- 

'"  Thornton  counts  in  1847  a  Methodist  and  a  Catholic  church,  St  James,  a 
day-school,  a  private  boarding-school  for  young  ladies,  kept  by  Mrs'i'honiton, 
a  printiug-i)ress,  and  a  public  library  of  JiOO  volumes.  Or.  ami  dtl.,  i.  3'_".)-.")0. 
Crawford  says  there  were  H  stores  of  general  merchandise,  the  Ihulsou's  liiiy 
(Jomimny's.Abcrnethy's,  Couch's (Cushing&.  Co. ),  Moss',  and  Robert  Canlieldn; 
and  adds  tliat  there  were  3  ferries  across  the  Willamette  at  this  place,  one 
a  horso  ferry,  and  2  pulled  by  hand,  and  that  all  were  kept  busy,  Oregon 
City  being  '  the  great  rendezvous  for  all  up  and  down  the  river  to  get  llour.' 
Xairalirc,  MS.,  loi;  S.  I.  Friend,  Oct.  1"),  184!).  I'almer  states  in  addition 
tiiat  McLoughlin's  grist-mill  ran  H  sets  of  buhr-stoncs,  antl  would  cnm- 
pare  favorably  with  most  mills  in  the  States;  but  that  the  Island  iMill, 
then  owned  by  Abernethy  and  lU'ers,  v  as  a  smaller  one,  ami  that  eacli  had  a 
saw-mill  attached  which  cut  n  great  deal  of  plank  for  tlie  new  arrivals,  ./aiir- 
7Htl,  S5-0.  Tlicro  were  '2  hotels,  the  Oregon  House,  which  wa.s  built  in  bs44, 
costing  .^44,000,  and  which  was  torn  down  in  June  ISTl.  The  oilier  was 
called  the  City  Hotel.  McLoughlin's  residence,  built  idiout  lS4r),  was  a  largo 
building  for  those  times,  and  was  later  the  I'innegas  Hotel.  Moss"  J'ioiiicr 
7Vwtv(,  MS.,  30;  I'orllaii<lAilroriitr,,]mni[\,  1.S71;  Jiiinm'n  Mtrr.  LiJ'f  Or.Cili/, 
MS.,  IS;  llarvci/n  Life  of  McLoiiiililiii,  MS.,  34;  Xi/rn'  />'<;/.,  Ixx.  .'Ml. 

"Abernetiiy  was  the  lirst  mayor,  and  .Lovejoy  the  secoud;  McLoughlin 
was  also  mayor. 

"A'i/w'A'ei/.,  Ixviii.  84;  Or.  Spectator,  Feb.  10,  1840. 


k  CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 

lation.  Champoeg  had  been  laid  off  as  a  town  by 
Newell,  but  is  so  in  name  only.  Close  by  is  another 
river  town,  of  about  equal  importance,  owned  by 
Abernethy  and  Beers,  which  is  called  Butteville.  Just 
above  the  falls  Hedges  has  laid  offthe  townof  Canemah. 
Besides  these  there  are  a  number  of  settlements  named 
after  the  chief  families,  such  as  Hembree's  settlement 
in  Yamhill  Count}^  Applegate's  and  Ford's  in  Polk, 
and  Waldo's  and  Howell's  in  Marion.  Hamlets  prom- 
ising to  be  towns  are  Salem,  Portland,  Vancouver, 
and  Astoria. 


I  have  already  mentioned  the  disposition  made  of 
the  missionary  claims  and  j^roperty  at  Salem,  and  that 
on  the  dissolution  of  the  Methodist  Mission  the  Ore- 
gon Institute  was  sold,  with  the  land  claimed  as  be- 
longing to  it,  to  the  board  of  trustees.  But  as  there 
was  no  law  under  the  provisional  government  for  the 
incorporation  of  such  bodies,  or  any  under  which  they 
could  hold  a  mile  square  of  land  for  the  use  of  the  in- 
stitute, W.  H.  Wilson,  H.  B.  Brewer,  D.  Leslie,  and 
L.  H.  Judson  resorted  to  the  plan  of  extending  their 
four  land -claims  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  their 
corners  n)eet  in  the  centre  of  the  institute  claim, 
under  that  provision  in  the  land  law  allowing  claims 
to  be  held  by  a  partnership  of  two  or  more  })ersons ; 
and  by  giving  bonds  to  the  trustees  of  the  institute  to 
perform  this  act  of  trust  for  the  benefit  of  the  board, 
till  it  should  become  incorporated  and  able  to  hold 
the  land  in  its  own  right. 

In  March  1840  Wilson  was  authorized  to  act  as 
agent  for  the  board,  and  was  put  in  possession  of  the 
premises.  In  May  following  he  was  empowered  to 
sell  lots,  and  allowed  a  compensation  of  seven  per 
cent  on  all  sales  eftccted.  During  the  summer  a  por- 
tion of  the  claim  was  sold  to  J.  L.  Parrish,  David 
Leslie,  and  C.  Craft,  at  twelve  dollars  an  acre;  and 
Wilson  was  further  authorized  to  sell  the  water-})ower 
or  mill-site,  and  as  nmch  land  with  it  as  might  bo 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  PORTLAND. 


let  as 
'  the 
d  to 
l)er 
I  ])or- 
)iivid 
and 
owor 
it  bo 


thought  advisable;  also  to  begin  the  sale  by  public 
auction  of  the  town  lots,  as  surveyed  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  first  sale  to  take  place  September  10,  184G. 
Only  half  a  dozen  families  were  there  previous  to 
this  time." 

In  July  1847  a  bond  was  signed  by  Wilson,  the 
conditions  of  which  were  the  foriciture  of  $100,000,  or 
the  fulfilment  of  the  following  terms:  That  he  should 
hold  in  trust  the  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  thrown  off 
from  the  land-claims  above  mentioned;  that  he  should 
jKiy  to  the  missionary  society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Oregon  and  to  the  Oregon  Institute 
certain  sums  amounting  to  $G,000;  that  he  should  use 
all  diligence  to  perfect  a  title  to  the  institute  claim, 
and  when  so  perfected  convey  to  the  first  annual  con- 
ference of  the  ]\Iethodist  church,  which  should  be 
established  iii  Oregon  by  the  general  conference  of 
the  United  States,  in  trust,  such  title  as  he  himself 
had  obtained  to  sixty  acres  known  as  the  'institute 
reserve,'  on  which  the  institute  building  was  situated — • 
for  which  services  he  was  to  i-eceive  one  third  of  the 
money  derived  from  the  sale  of  town  lots  on  the  un- 
reserved portion  of  the  six  hundred  and  forty  aci'es 
comprised  in  the  Salem  tosvn-site  and  belonging  to  the 
several  claimants.  Under  this  arrangement,  in  1848, 
Wilson  and  his  wife  were  residing  in  the  institute 
building  on  the  reserved  sixty  acres,  Mrs  Wilson 
having  charge  of  the  school,  while  the  agency  of  the 
town  property  remained  with  her  husband. 

The  subsequent  history  of  Salem  town-site  belongs 
to  a  later  period,  but  may  be  briefly  given  hei'e. 
When  the  Oregon  donation  law  was  passed,  which 
gave  to  the  wife  half  of  the  mile  square  of  land  em- 
braced in  the  donation,  Wilson  had  the  dividing  line 
on  his  land  run  in  such  a  maimer  as  to  throw  the 
reserve  with  the  institute  l)uilding,  covered  Ijy  his 
claim,  upon  the  wife's  poition;  and  Mrs  Wilson  being 

"/)r((vV/.>o»'.i  Soiithfvn  Jtoiifr,  MS.,  5;  Urown^s  Autobiography,  MS.,  31; 
liubbison's  Growth  o/  Townn,  MS.,  '27-y. 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


under  no  lofjal  obliijation  to  make  over  ami;hin2r  to 
the  Oregon  conference,  in  trust  for  the  institute,  re- 
fused to  listen  to  the  protests  of  the  trustees  so  neatly 
tricked  out  of  their  cherished  educational  enterprise. 
In  this  condition  the  institute  languished  till  1854, 
when  a  settlement  was  effected  by  the  restoration  of 
the  reserved  sixty  acres  to  the  trustees  of  the  Willa- 
mette University,  and  two  thirds  of  the  unsold  re- 
mains of  the  south-west  quarter  of  the  Salem  town- 
site  which  Wflson  was  bound  to  hold  for  the  use  of 
that  institution.  Whether  the  restoration  was  an  act 
of  honor  or  of  necessity  I  will  not  here  discuss;  the 
act  of  congress  under  which  the  territory  was  organ- 
ized recognized  as  binding  all  bonds  and  obligations 
entered  into  under  the  provisional  government.^*  In 
later  years  some  important  ^::v\vsuits  grew  out  of  the 
pretensions  of  Wilson's  heirs,  to  an  interest  in  lots 
sold  by  him  while  acting  agent  for  the  trustees  of  the 
town-site.  ^^ 

Portland  in  1848  had  but  two  frame  buildings, 
one  the  residence  of  F.  W.  Pettygrove,  who  had  re- 
moved from  Oregon  City  to  this  hamlet  on  the  river's 
edge,  and  the  other  belonging  to  Thomas  Carter. 
Several  log-houses  had  been  erected,  but  the  place 
had  no  trade  except  a  little  from  the  Tualatin  plains 
lying  to  the  south,  beyond  the  heavily  timbered  high- 
lands in  that  direction. 

The  first  owner  of  the  Portland  land-claim  was 
Wilham  Overton,  a  Tennesseean,  who  came  to  Oregon 
about  1843,  and  presently  took  possession  of  the 
place,  where  lie  made  shingles  for  a  time,  but  being 
of  a  restless  diyposition  went  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
and  returning  dissatisfied  and  out  of  health,  resolved 
to  go  to  Texas,  Meeting  with  A.  L.  Lovejoy  at  Van- 
couver, and  returning  with  him  to  Portland  in  a  canoe, 
he  oftered  to  resign  the  claim  to  him,  but  subsequently 

^*0r.  Laws,  1843-72,  Gl;  JThies'  Or.  ami  luM.,  10r>-72. 
'"'  Thornton's  Salem  Titles,  in  Salmi  Directory  for  1874,  2-7.    Wilson  died 
suddenly  of  apoplexy,  in  1850.  Id.,  22. 


f 

c 
T 

i 

1> 

% 

<y 

f 

b< 

0( 

S^ 

a  I 

th 

av 

sej 

VANCOUVER  TOUTf. 


re- 
cr'a 
■er. 
aco 
lius 
iii'li- 


ids, 
vcd 
an- 

lOC, 

.tly 


changed  his  mind,  thinking  to  remain,  yet  giving 
Lovejoy  half,  on  condition  that  he  would  aid  in  im- 
proving it;  for  the  latter,  as  he  says  in  his  Founding 
of  Portland,  MS.,  30-34,  observed  the  masts  and 
booms  of  vessels  which  had  been  left  there,  and  it 
occurred  to  him  that  this  was  the  place  for  a  town. 
So  rarely  did  shipping  come  to  Oregon  in  these  days, 
and  more  rarely  still  into  the  Willamette  River,  that 
the  possibility  or  need  of  a  seaport  or  harbor  town 
away  from  the  Columbia  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
seriously  entertained  up  to  this  time. 

After  some  clearing,  preparatory  to  building  a 
house,  Overton  again  determined  to  leave  Oregon, 
and  sold  his  half  of  the  land  to  F.  W.  Pettvijfrovo  for 
a  small  sum  a4id  went  to  Texas,  where  it  has  been  Siiid 
he  was  hanged.^"  Lovejoy  and  Pettygrove  then  erected 
the  first  house  in  the  w^inter  of  1845,  the  h)cality 
being  on  what  is  now  Washington  street  at  the  corner 
of  Front  street,  it  being  built  of  logs  covered  with 
shingles.  Into  this  building  Pettygrove  moved  half 
of  his  stock  of  goods  in  the  spring  of  1845,  and  with 
Lovejoy  opened  a  road  to  the  farming  lands  of  Tual- 
atin County  from  which  the  traffic  of  the  imperial 
city  was  expected  to  come. 

The  town  was  partially  surveyed  by  H.  N.  V. 
Short,  the  initial  point  being  Washington  street  and 
the  survey  extending  down  the  river  a  short  distance. 
The  naming  of  it  was  decided  by  the  tossing  of  a  cop- 
per coin,  Pettygrove,  who  was  from  Maine,  gaining 
the  riglit  to  call  it  Portland,  against  Lovejoy,  who  was 
from  Massachusetts  and  wished  to  name  the  new  town 
Boston.  A  few  stragglers  gathered  there,  and  during 
the  Cayusc  war  when  the  volunteer  companies  organ- 
ized at  Portland,  and  crossing  the  river  took  tlu;  road 
to  Switzler's  ferry  opposite  A^ancouver,  it  began  to  bo 
apparent  that  it  was  a  more  convenient  point  of  de- 
parture and  arrival  in  regard  to  the  Ctjlumbia  than 

'"  Pcady,  iaOverland  Monthly,  i.  30;  Nesmith,  in  Or,  Pioneer  Assoc,  Trans., 
187"   57. 


10 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


Oregon  City.  But  it  made  no  material  progress  till 
a  conjunction  of  remarkable  events  in  1848  called  it 
into  active  life  and  permanent  prosperity.  Before 
this  happened,  however,  Lovejoy  had  sold  his  interest 
to  Benjamin  Stark;  and  Daniel  Lownsdale  in  Sep- 
tember of  this  year  purchased  Pettygrove's  share, 
paying  for  it  $5,000  worth  of  leather  which  he  had 
made  at  his  tannery  adjoining  the  town-site.  The 
two  founders  of  Portland  thus  transferred  their  own- 
ership, which  fell  at  a  fortunate  moment  into  the 
hands  of  Daniel  Lownsdale,  Stephen  Coffin,  and  W. 
W.  Chapman." 

In  1848  Henry  Williamson,  the  same  who  claimed 
unsuccessfully  near  Fort  Vancouver  in  1845,  employed 
P.  W.  Crawford  to  lay  out  a  town  on  the  present  site 
of  Vancouver,  and  about  five  hundred  lots  were  sur- 
veyed, mapped,  and  recorded  in  the  recorder's  books 
at  Oregon  City,  according  to  the  law  governing  town- 
sites  ;  the  same  survey  long  ruling  in  laying  out  streets, 
blocks,  and  lots.  But  the  prospects  for  a  city  were 
blighted  by  the  adverse  claim  of  Amos  Short,  an 
immigrant  of  1847,  who  settled  first  at  Linnton,  then 
removed  to  Sauve  Island  where  he  was  cn2fa<xed  in 
slaughtering  Spanish  cattle,  but  who  finally  took  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  below  Fort  Vancouver,  Will- 
iamson who  still  claimed  the  land  being  absent  at  the 
time,  having  gone  to  Indiana  for  a  wife.  The  land 
law  of  Oregon,  in  order  to  give  young  men  this  oppor- 
tunity of  fulfilling  marriage  engagements  without 
loss,  provided  that  by  paying  into  the  treasury  of  the 
territory  the  sum  of  five  dollars  a  year,  they  coull 
be  absent  from  their  claims  for  two  consecutive  years, 
or  long  enousjfh  to  go  to  the  States  and  loturn. 

In  Williamson's  c  ,se  the  law  proved  ineffectual. 


"  Lovfjoi/s  Founding  of  P.     ^and,  MS. ,  passim ;  Bririrfs  Port  Totonsend, 


MS.,  9;  (S'l//(.•cs^?/•^s  Olympin,  ^ 
For  an  account  of  the  siibseqm 
BOO  liitrke  v.  Lotni-idnle,  Appclh 
J  list.  Or.,  MS.,  12-1.3.  Some  m 
titfects  of  the  donation  law  on  to 


4,  .">;  I/ancork'x  Thirfcen  Ye<n:%  M.S.,  94. 

1,  litigation,  not  important  to  this  history, 

<  Iiri<'/,  V2;  Or.  Laiv.i,  IStiO,  5-8;  Diudj/'s 

ition  will  be  made  of  this  in  treating  of  the 

i-sitcs. 


CONSTRUCTION  OF  ROADS. 


11 


ictual. 


\,riifieii(!, 
|I8.,  94. 
history, 
\l>(adi/'s 
Ig  of  the 


1 


She  whom  he  was  to  marry  flicd  before  he  reached 
Indiana,  and  on  rctununjr  still  unmarried,  he  found 
Short  in  possession  of  his  claim;  and  although  he  was 
at  the  expense  of  surveying,  and  a  house  was  put  up 
by  William  Fellows,  who  left  his  property  in  tho 
keeping  of  one  Kellogg,  Short  gave  Williamson  so 
much  trouble  that  he  finally  abandoned  the  claim  and 
went  to  California  to  seek  a  fortune  in  the  mines. 
The  Cottonwood  tree  which  Crawford  made  the  start- 
ing-point of  his  survey,  and  which  was  taken  as  tho 
corner  of  the  United  States  military  post  in  1850, 
was  standing  iu  1878.  The  passage  of  the  donatioa 
law  brought  up  the  question  of  titles  to  Vancouver, 
but  as  these  arguments  and  decisions  were  not  con- 
sidered till  after  tho  territory  of  ^Vashington  was  set 
off  from  Oregon,  I  will  leave  them  to  be  discussed  in 
that  portion  of  this  work.  Astoria,  never  having 
been  the  seat  of  a  mission,  either  Protestant  or  Cath- 
olic, and  beinfj  on  soil  acknowledufed  from  tho  first 
settlement  as  American,  had  little  or  no  trouble  about 
titles,  and  it  was  only  necessary  to  settle  with  the 
government  when  a  place  tor  a  military  post  was  tem- 
porarily required. 

The  practice  of  jumping,  as  the  act  of  trespassing 
on  land  claimed  b^  another  was  called,  became  inoro 
common  as  the  time  was  supposed  to  approach  when 
congress  would  make  the  long-promised  donation  to 
actual  settlers,  and  every  man  desired  to  be  upon  the 
choicest  spot  within  his  reach.  It  did  not  matter  to 
the  intruder  wdiether  the  person  dis[)laced  were  Eng- 
lish or  American.  Any  slight  flaw  in  tho  proceedings 
or  neglect  in  the  customary  observances  rendered  the 
claimant  liable  to  be  crowded  off  his  land.  But  when 
these  intrusions  became  fre(|uent  enough  to  attract 
the  attention  of  the  riulit-minded,  their  will  was  made 
known  at  public  meetings  held  in  all  parts  of  the  ter- 
ritory, and  all  persons  were  warned  against  violating 
the  rights  of  others.     They  were  told  that  if  tho 


12 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


existing  law  wo'ild  not  prevent  trespass  the  legisla- 
ture should  make  ouu  that  would  prove  effectual.  ^^ 
Thus  warned,  the  envious  and  the  grasping  were  gen- 
erally restrained,  and  claim-jumping  never  assumed 
alarming  proportions  in  Oregon.  Considering  the 
changes  made  every  year  in  the  population  of  the 
country,  public  sentiment  had  much  weight  with  the 
people,  and  self-government  attained  a  position  of 
dignity. 

Although  no  claimant  could  sell  the  land  he  held, 
he  could  abandon  possession  and  sell  the  improve- 
ments, and  the  transaction  vested  in  the  purchaser  all 
the  rights  of  the  former  occupant.  In  this  manner 
the  land  changed  occupants  as  freely  as  if  the  title 
had  been  in  the  original  possessor,  and  no  serious  in- 
convenience was  experienced^"  for  the  want  of  it. 

Few  laws  were  enacted  at  the  session  of  1847,  as 
it  was  bclic'^od  unnecessary  in  view  of  the  expected 
near  approach  of  government  by  the  United  States. 
But  the  advancing  settlement  of  the  country  demand- 
ing that  the  county  boundaries  should  be  fixed,  and 
new  ones  created,  the  legislature  of  1847  established 
the  counties  of  Linn  and  Benton,  one  extending  east 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  other  west  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  both  south  to  the  latitude  42°.'*"' 

The  construction  of  a  number  of  roads  was  also  au- 
thorized, the  longer  ones  being  from  Portland  to  Mary 
Kiver,  and  from  Multnomah  City  to  the  same  jilace, 
and  across  the  Cascade  Mountains  by  the  way  of  the 
Santiam  River  to  intercept  the  old  emigrant  road  in 
the  valley  of  the  Malheur,  or  east  of  tlioi-e,  from 
"Nvhich  it  will  be  seen  that  there  was  still  a  conviction 
in  some  minds  that  a  pass  existed  which  would  lead 
travellers  into  the  heart  of  the  valley.  That  no  such 
pass  was  discovered  in  1848,  or  until  long  after  annual 
caravans  of  wag(jns  and  cattle  from  the  States  ceased 

>"(>/•,  Spectator,  S.'pt.  .W,  1847. 
^^  llohlm'x  Or.  PioiiKfiiKi,  MS.,  0. 

'"Or,  Lawn,  l«4:«-t>,  "lO,  Tm-O;  JJenton  County  Almanac,  1870,  1,2}  Or. 
Pioneer  Axioc,  Trans.,  187<J|  51). 


; 


CURRENCY  AND  PRICES. 


13 


to  demand  it  is  also  true."  But  it  was  a  benefit  to 
the  country  at  large  that  a  motive  existed  for  annual 
exploring  expeditions,  each  one  of  which  brought 
into  notif^e  some  new  and  fav^orable  situations  for 
settlements,  besides  promoting  discoveries  of  its  min- 
eral resources  of  importance  to  its  future  develop- 
ment.*^ 


so  au- 
]\Iary 
)lace, 
f  the 
ad  in 
from 
iotion 
lead 
sue)  I 
mual 
uttscd 


2;  Or. 


On  account  of  the  unusual  and  late  rains  in  the 
summer  of  1847,  the  large  immigration  which  greatly 
increased  the  home  consumption,  and  the  Cayusc  war 
which  reduced  the  number  of  producers,  the  colony 
experienced  a  depression  in  business  and  a  rise  in 
])ri('es  wliich  was  the  nearest  approach  to  financial 
distress  which  the  country  had  yet  suffered.  Farm- 
ing utensils  were  scarce  and  dear,  cast-iron  ploughs 
selling  at  forty-five  dollars. ^'^  Other  tools  were  equally 
scarce,  often  requiring  a  man  who  needed  an  axe  to 
travel  a  long  distance  to  procure  one  second-hand  at 
a  high  price.  This  scarcity  led  to  the  manufacture 
of  axes  at  Vancouver,  for  the  com[)any's  own  hunters 
and  trappers,  before  spoken  of  as  exciting  the  suspi- 
cion of  the  Americans.  Nails  brought  from  twenty 
to  twenty-five  cents  per  pound;  iron  twi'lve  and  a 
half  (xroccries  were  high,  (ioffee  bi'inging  fifty  cents 
a  ])ound;  tea  a  dollar  and  a  half;  coarse  Sandwich 
Island  sugar  twelve  and  fil'teen  cents;  coumion  mo- 
lasses fifty  cents  a  gallon.  Coarse  cottons  brought 
twenty  and  twenty -five  cents  a  yard;  four-point 
blankets  five  dollars  a  single  one;  but  ready -made 
common  clothing  for  men  could  bo  bought  cheap. 
Flour  was  selling  in  the  spring  for  four  and  five 
dollars  a  barrel,  and  potatoes  at  fifty  cents  a  bushel; 

"  It  waa  discovered  within  a  few  ycnrR,  and  is  known  ns  Minto's  Pass.  A 
road  lending  from  Albany  to  -Mistcni  Oregon  through  this  pofls  waa  opened 
about  1877. 

'"  Mention  Is  made  at  this  early  day  of  diHcoverios  of  coal,  iron,  copper, 
plumbago,  mineral  paint,  and  valuable  buildint-  and  lime  stone.  'J honilon'a 
Or.  inKlCnl.,  i.  H;U-47;  S.  /'.  Cnlit'oniian,  Anril  H),  1848. 

'"  Hrown  says:  '  Wo  reaped  our  wheat  mostly  with  sickles;  we  made  wooden 
inould-1x)ards  with  a  piece  of  iron  for  the  coulter.'  H'itlamette  lalU-y,  MS.,  U. 


14 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


high  prices  for  those  times,  but  destined  to  become 
higher.^* 

The  evil  of  high  prices  was  aggravated  by  the 
nature  of  the  currency,  which  was  government  scrip, 
orders  on  merchants,  and  wheat;  the  former,  though 
drawing  interest,  being  of  uncertain  value  owing  to 
the  state  of  the  colonial  treasury  which  had  never 
contained  money  equal  to  the  face  of  the  gv»vernment's 
promises  to  pay.  The  law  making  orders  on  mer- 
chants currency  constituted  tlie  merchant  a  banker 
without  any  security  for  his  solvency,  and  the  value 
of  wheat  was  liable  to  fluctuation.  There  were,  be- 
sides, different  kinds  of  orders.  An  Abernethy  order 
was  not  good  for  some  articles.  A  Hudson's  ]-5ay 
order  might  have  a  cash  value,  or  a  beaver-skin  value. 
Ii^  making  a  trade  a  man  was  })aid  in  Condi,  Aber- 
netliy,  or  Hudst)n's  Bay  currency,  all  diilering  in 
value.-'"'  The  leLnslature  of  1847  so  far  amended  tlie 
currency  act  as  to  make  gold  and  silver  the  only  law- 
ful tender  for  the  payment  of  judgments  rendered  in 
the  courts,  where  no  special  contract  existed  to  the 
contrary;  but  making  treasury  drafts  lawful  tender 
in  payment  of  taxes,  or  in  compensation  for  the  ser- 
vices of  tlie  officers  or  agents  of  the  territory,  unless 
otherwise  provided  by  law;  and  jiroviding  that  all 
costs  of  any  suit  at  law  should  be  paid  in  tlie  same  kind 
of  money  for  which  judgnuMit  might  be  rendered. 

This  i-elief  was  rather  on  the  side  of  the  litigants 
than  the  ))eo])le  at  largo.  INFei'i'liants'  paper  was  woi'th 
as  much  as  the  standinii'  of  the  mercliant.  Xowliere 
in  the  country,  except  at  the  Jludson's  ]]ay  Conijiany's 
storc>,  would  an  order  ])ass  at  par."'^  The  inconvenienco 
of  paying  for  the  simplest  article  by"  «,rders  on  wheat 
in  warehouse  was  annoying  both  to  ])ur('has(>r  and 
seller.  The  first  money  brought  into  the  country  in 
any  quantity  was  a  barrel  of  silver  dollars  i-eceived  at 


»«,S\  F.  r(iV,foru\nSt<t)\  July  10,  1847;  CmirfonVs  Kar.,  MS.,  110-20. 

"'  Loi'fjoii's  iWllaiid,  MS.,  :i.")-(l. 

»^  JJrt<j,/a  Port  'J'owimHd,  iM8.,  11-13. 


SIIIPPINCr. 


15 


I  rants 

■ol'tll 

icro 
luiy's 

It'MOO 

III  Of  it 

tind 

IV  ill 
III  at 

fco. 


Vcancouvor  to  be  paid  in  monthly  sums  to  the  crew 
of  the  Modente.'"  The  subsequent  overland  arrivals 
brought  sonic  coin,  though  not  enough  ta  remedy  the 
evil. 

One  effect  of  the  condition  of  trade  in  the  colony 
was  to  check  credit,  which  in  itself  would  nt)t  have 
been  injurious,  ])erhaps,-'*  had  it  not  also  tended  to 
discourage  labor.  A  mechanic  who  worked  for  a 
stated  price  was  not  willing  to  take  whatever  might 
be  given  him  in  return  for  his  labor.'^^ 

Another  effect  of  such  a  method  was  to  prevent 
vessels  coming  to  Oregon  to  trade.^     The  number  of 

2' AVi'/rW.s'  Ilcrnl/ir/.!oii»,  MS..  21;  Ehhrrr.'i  Trnppcr\'<  Lif<',  MS.,  40. 

"'*  i  Idwison  reliituH  tliiit  ho  found  niuiu"  faiiiiliL'-s  ■who,  iwlhei'  than  incur  (h'ht, 
hail  l.VL'd  lUning  thi'ir  first  year  in  tho  oDUiitry  liiitircly  on  hoih'il  wlicat  anil 
salt  s:ihnon,  the  nion  going  without  hat  or  shoes  while  putting  in  and  harvest- 
ing tli'ir  lirst  erop.   Cnna'  ami  Cituiitnj,  Hi. 

•".Mos;)  gives  an  illustration  of  this  cheek  to  industry.  A  man  named 
Anderson  wa.s  employed  hy  Ahei'uctliy  in  hin  saw-mill,  r.nd  labored  night  and 
day.  Al)erncthy".s  stoek  of  goods  was  not  large  or  well  graded,  and  lie  would 
Bell  eurtaiii  articles  only  for  casji,  even  when  liis  own  notes  were  ]n'esentcd, 
Amlevson  had  juirchiised  part  of  a  lioef,  which  lie  wished  to  salt  for  family 
lu-e,  hut  salt  heing  one  of  the  articles  for  which  cash  was  the  eiiuivalent  at 


Al 


leriK 


ipu 
tliv's  store,  lie  was  refii:«'d  it,  tliougli  Aheriiethv  was  owiii''  h 


iiid 


he  was  obliged  to  go  to  the  fur  company's  store  for  it.  Phrnvvr  'I  imv-t,  MS. 


40-:i 


'  Herewith  I  summnrizo  the  Oregon  ocean  traffic  for  the  14  years  fiinee  tho 


first  American  settlcnient,  mo.st  of  which  <iccurrenees  are  menti 


d  elsewhere. 


The  11  u 
I'or-'ijrr. 
Jni'i  I,  Aihi 
steamer  J!((i 


A. 


ii's  I'ii'.y  ( 'om]iany  employed  in  that  iieiiod  the  liaiks '«' 


■'/,   Cfilinnhht,  ('(iirlitz,  J)i 


'/.    I' 


/.' 


nn/iiii 


,/,' 


il  Mt 


>/»,  the  brig  J/kd/  l)iuu\  the  schooiicr  (\ulh 


iiiro,  am 


('('/•,  severa 


1  of  them  owned  by  t 


y  tlie  comjiany, 


The  J!> 


1  tlio 

after 


her  fiist  a|ipi'arancc\  in  the  river  in  IS.'tli,  was  used  in  the  coast  trade  north 


of  tlie<' 


luliia.     'l'Ui\  ]>ti\ki^  < 't)irllf~.,  Cuhniilitd,   \', 


:;ni 


Itl 


le  sclioonep 


('aill"'r<t  crossed  the  liar  of  thi!  Columbia  more  frei[Uently  than  any  otiier  \  cs- 
lis  friini   Isiid  to  bSlH.     Tlie  captains  engaged  in  the  iMiglish  service  wero 


i'lali  s,  l;ii\al,  III 


Till 


Diul 


ipi 


McNeil,   |)unca 


I'owler,   liriitchi 


Ml 


Ilcatli,  Ihing,  ]''lere,  \\'eyiiigton,  Cooper,  McKiiight,  Scarlioroiij. 


d 


Humphreys,  wlio  were  not  always  in  command  of  tin-  saiiu^  vessel.  Tlicro 
was  till'  numial  vessel  to  and  from  Ilnglaiid,  but  the  others  were  employed  in 
trading  along  the  coast,  and  between  the  Cnlumbiu  Jtivcr  and  the  Sandwich 
Islaiiils,  or  ( 'alit'ornia,  their  voyages  extending  snmelinie:^  to  N'alpivraiso,  from 
which  |!iiits  tlicy  lirought  the  few  jMissengcis  coming  to  Oicgmi 


Th 


st  .\n 


an  vessel  to  enter  the  (  olumliia  after  the  arrival  of  tho 


niissionaries  was  tin-  lirig  Lur'ioly  Captain  llaiicioft,  iu  I'cc.  bsiKi;  the  second 
the  /^/(j/Mi,  Captain  W.  S,  Jiincklcy,  May  ISIiT;  the  third  the  Liiiimiiinc, 
Captain  Spaiililing,  May  ISIO.  Ts'one  of  these  came  for  the  )iur]iose  of  trade. 
'J'iiere  is  iiientiiin  in  the  ,.;-7/i  Comj.,  ,l<l  ,s'im. ,  ('.  S.  Cnin.  Hijii.  /"/,  ."iH,  of 
the  ^llip./((^(//(  /'kiIiikIi/  lilting  out  lor  the  Northwest  ('iiast,  but  she  did  not 
enter  the  (  ihiiiibiii  so  far  as  I  can  leain.  In  August  ls|(l  the  (list  .\iiicricati 
trader  since  Wyeth  arrived,  'I  his  was  the  lnig  Muri/linii/,  ( 'aptain  .lolin  If, 
Cmieh,  fnim  Newbui'vjiort,  belonging  to  tlie  in  use  of  CiishingiS:  Co.  She  took 
a  few  lisli  and  h  f t  the  river  in  the  uutunia  never  to  rtturu.     lu  April  1841 


I  r: 


16 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


J  i 

11 

lili' 

i1 


American  vessels  which  brought  goods  to  the  Colum- 
bia or  carried  away  the  products  of  the  colony  was 
small.  Since  1834  the  bar  of  the  Columbia  had  been 
crossed  by  American  vessels,  coming  in  and  going 
out,  fifty-four  times.  The  list  of  American  vessels 
entering  during  this  period  comprised  twenty -two  of 

the  second  trader  appeared,  the  Thomas  11,  Perkins,  Captain  Vamey.  She 
romaineil  through  the  summer,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  finally  purchas- 
ing her  cargo  and  chartering  tiio  vessel  to  get  rid  of  her.  Then  came  tlie  U.  S. 
exploring  expedition  the  same  year,  whose  vessels  did  not  enter  the  Columbia 
owing  to  the  loss  of  the  Peacock  on  the  bar.  After  this  disaster  Wilkes  bougiit 
the  cliai'ter  and  the  name  of  the  Perkins  was  changed  to  the  Orei/on,  and  she 
left  the  river  with  the  shipwrecked  mariners  for  California.  On  the  '2d  of 
April  1842  Captain  Couch  reappeared  with  a  new  vessel,  the  L'hfnawus,  named 
after  the  chief  of  the  Chinooks.  He  brought  a  cargo  of  goods  which  he  took 
to  Oregon  City,  where  he  established  the  first  American  tradingdiouse  in  the 
Willamette  Valh.'y,  and  also  a  small  fishery  on  the  Columbia.  She  sailed  for 
Ncwburyport  in  the  autumn.  On  this  vessel  came  Richard  Kkin  from  Liver- 
pool to  Valparaiso,  the  Sandwich  Islaiu's,  and  thence  to  Oregon.  He  settled 
near  Salem  and  was  tlie  first  saddlr. maker.  From  which  circumstance  I  call 
his  dictation  The  Saddk-Mnker.  Another  American  vessel  whose  name  does 
not  appear,  but  whoso  captain's  name  was  Chapman,  entered  the  river  April 
loth  to  trade  and  fish,  and  remained  till  autumn.  She  sold  lifjuor  to  the  Clatsop 
and  other  savages,  and  occasioned  much  discord  and  bloodshed  in  spite  of  the 
protests  of  tlie  missionuries.  In  May  1843  the  ship  Fama,  Cajitain  Nye,  arrived 
withsunplicH  for  the  missions.  She  brought  several  settlers,  namely:  I'liilip  Fos- 
ter, wife,  and  4  children;  F.  W.  Pettygrove,  wife,  and  child;  I'etcr  F.  Hutch, 
wife  and  child;  and  Nathan  1*.  Mack.  I'ettygrove  broughta  stock  of  goods  and 
l.'Ogan  trade  at(Jregon  City.  In  August  of  the  same  year  another  vessel  of  the 
Newburyport  ('oniimny  arrived  with  Indian  goods,  and  some  articles  of  trade 
for  settlers.  This  was  the  bark  Pallan,  Captain  Sylvester;  she  remained  until 
November,  when  she  sailed  for  the  Islands  and  was  sold  there,  Sylvester 
returning  to  Oregon  the  foUowing  April  1844  in  the  VhcimmiiK,  Captain  Couch, 
which  had  made  a  yoyago  to  Newburyport  and  returned.  She  brought  from 
Honolulu  Horace  Hohleii  and  family,  who  settled  in  Oregon;  alaoa  MrCooper, 
wife  and  boj;;  Mr  and  Mrs  Burton  nnd  3  children,  besides  Critlin,  Tidd,  ancl 
Goodhue.  The  Chciiamiia  seems  to  have  made  a  voyage  to  the  Islands  in  the 
spring  of  184"),  in  command  of  Sylvester,  and  to  have  left  there  Juno  12th 
to  return  to  the  Columbia.  This  was  the  lirst  direct  trade  with  the  Islands. 
The  C'/jfoawii/a  brought  as  passengers  Hathaway,  Weston,  Rolierts,  John  Crank- 
liite,  nnd  Flon  Fellows.  She  sailed  for  Newburyport  in  the  winter  of  184."», 
and  did  not  return  to  Oregon.  In  the  summer  of  1844  the  British  sloop-of- 
war  Moil'ste,  Captain  Baillio,  entered  the  Columbia  and  remained  a  short  time 
at  Vancouver,  On  the  .'Hst  of  July  the  Belgian  ship  L' I nj'at'iiiuhle  entered 
the  Columbia  by  tlin  before  undiscovered  south  channel,  escaping  wreck,  to 
the  surprise  of  all  beholders.  She  brought  Do  Smet  and  a  Catholic  reenforco- 
nient  for  the  missions  of  Oregon.  In  April  1845  the  Swedish  brig  Hull  visited 
the  Columbia;  she  was  from  China:  Shilliber,  supercargo.  Captain  Worn- 
crew  remained  but  a  short  time.  On  the  14tli  of  October  the  Amer- 
rcau  bark,  Toulon,  Captain  Nathaniel  Crosby,  from  New  York,  arrived 
with  goods  for  Pettygrovo's  trading-houses  in  Oregon  City  and  Portland: 
Benjamin  Stark  jun,,  supercargo.  In  September  tli6  British  sloop-of-war 
Modtsle  returned  to  the  Columbia,  where  slio  remained  till  Juno  1847.  The 
British  eliip-of-war  A7nerka,  Cajitain  Gordon,  waa  in  Puget  Sound  during 
tho  summer.  In  the  spring  of  184G  the  Toulon  niado  a  voyage  to  the  Ha- 
waiitvn  Islauds,  returning  June  24th  with  a  cargo  of  sugar,  inolosaeB,  coffee, 


IMPORTS  AXD  PASSENGERS. 


17 


\U\,  luiil 
ill  tlio 

|U!  l-JtU 
'ilaiula. 

ICraiik. 
f  1S4.-I, 

jo()l)-()f- 

rt  time 
tntcrcil 
3ck,  to 
^iforcc- 

isitocl 
|^^'o^n• 
lAiner- 
Irrivcd 
Itlaud : 

)f-war 
The 

luring 
|o  Ha* 

toiToo, 


all  classes.  Of  these  in  the  first  six  years  not  one 
was  a  trader;  in  the  following  six  years  seven  were 
traders,  but  only  four  brought  cargoes  to  sell  to 
the  settlers,  and  these  of  an  ill-assorted  kind.  From 
March  1847  to  August  1848  nine  different  American 
vessels  visited  the  Columbia,  of  which  one  brought  a 

cotton,  woollen. goods,  and  hardware;  also  a  number  of  passengers,  viz.:  Mrs 
Wliittaker  and  3  children,  and  Shelly,  Armstrong,  Roj^ers,  Overton,  Norris, 
IJrothers,  I'owell,  and  French  and  2  sons.  The  J'okIoii  continued  to  run  to 
the  Islands  for  several  years.  On  the  2Gth  of  June  184G  the  American  hark 
Miirijiusii,  Captain  Parsons,  arrived  from  New  York  with  goods  consigned  to 
IJeiijaniin  Stark  jun. ,  with  Mr  and  Miss  Wadsworth  as  passcuj^era.  The  Mari- 
poan  remained  but  a  few  weeks  in  the  river.  On  the  18th  of  July  the  U.  S. 
scliooiicr  S/iarl:,  Captain  Neil  M.  llowison,  entered  the  Columbia,  narrowly 
escaping  shipwreck  oa  the  Chinook  Shoal.  She  remained  till  Sept.,  and  was 
wrecked  going  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  river.  During  the  summer  the  British 
frigate  Fixijiinl,  Captain  Duntre,  was  stationedin  Puget  Sound.  About  the  1  :;tof 
March  ISlTthe  brig  //cwry.  Captain  William  K.  Killwrne,  arrived  from  Xew- 
huryjiort  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  new  tradingdiouse  at  Oregon  City. 
Till!  I[(  urif  brought  as  passengers  JIrs  Ivilborne  and  children;  U.  W.  Lawton,  a 
partner  in  the  venture;  D.  (lood,  wife,  and  2  children;  Mrs  Wilson  and  2 
:liil(hvn;  II.  Swasey  and  wife;  R.  Douglas,  D.  Markwood,  C.  C.  Shaw,  B. 
|{.  MarccUus,  a  d  S.  C.  Reeves,  who  became  the  first  pilot  on  the  Columbia 
IJivcr  bar.  The  goods  brought  by  the  Henry  were  of  greater  variety 
tliau  any  stock  before  it ;  but  they  were  also  in  great  part  seconddiand  arU- 
sles  of  furniture  on  which  an  enormous  profit  was  made,  but  which  sold 
readily  owing  to  the  great  need  of  stoves,  crockery,  cabinet-ware,  mirrors, 
iiul  other  like  conveniences  of  life.  The  llcnnj  was  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Cajotain  Bray,  and  was  employed  trading  to  California  and  the 
Islands.  On  the  24th  of  March  tiie  brig  t'ommodoie Stockton,  Captain  Young, 
from  San  Francisco,  arrived,  probably  for  lumber,  as  she  returned  in  Apiil. 
riio  Stuckton  was  the  old  Pidlan  renamed,  Ou  the  14th  of  June  the  Amei'icaa 
ship  lirntuK,  Captain  Adams,  from  Boston  and  San  Francisco,  arrived,  and 
remained  in  tlie  river  several  weeks  for  a  cargo.  Oa  the  22d  of  the  sanio 
mouth  the  American  bark  Whilon,  Captain  Celston,  from  Monterey,  arrived, 
also  for  a  cargo;  and  on  the  27th  tho  American  ship  Mount  I'vrnon,  Captain 
U.  J.  Uiveii,  from  Oahu,  also  entered  tho  river.  By  the  Whilon  tJiero  eamo 
fis  s(;ttlcrs  Rev.  William  Roberts,  wife  and  2  chilcfreu.  Rev.  J.  H.  Wilbur, 
wife,  and  daugliter,  Edward  F.  Folger,  Richard  Andrews,  George  Whitlock, 
mid  .1.  M,  Stanley,  the  latter  a  painter  seeking  Indian  studies  ior  pictures. 
T\w.  W/iiton  returned  to  California  and  made  another  visit  to  the  Columbia 
Kivcr  ill  September.  Oa  the  13th  of  August  there  arrived  from  Brest,  France, 
the  bark  1/ lltoili-  da  Mitl'in,  Captain  Mencs,  witli  Archl)isliop  Blauchet  and  a 
Catholic  ri'i'nforcement  of  21  persona,  viz.:  Three  Jesuit  priests,  Caetz, 
(ia/zoli,  Mencstrey,  and  3  lay  brotliers;  T)  secular  priests,  Lo  Bas,  Mc- 
t'oriiiick,  Deleveau,  Pretot,  and  Veyivt;  2  deacons,  B.  Delorme,  and  J.  F, 
layol;  and  one  cleric,  T.  Mcsplie;  and  7  sisters  of  Notre  Dame  de  N'anuir. 
L'aptain  Menes  afterwards  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Oregon.  J/J:'toi/c  <lu 
Miitiii  was  wrecked  on  tlio  bar.  On  the  lUth  of  March  1848  the  U.  S.  trans- 
port Anita,  Miilsliipman  Woodwoith  in  coinmand,  arrived  in  the  Columbia  to 
recuit  for  tho  army  in  Mexico,  and  remained  until  the  22d  of  April.  Aliout 
this  time  tho  American  brig  Erclinc,  Captain  (ioodwin,  entered  tlie  Columbia 
for  II  cargo  of  lumber;  she  left  the  river  May  7th.  The  Hawaiian  scliooner 
Mari/  Ann,  Captain  Belcham,  was  also  in  tho  river  in  April.  The  8th  of  May 
tlie  Hudson's  Buy  Company's  bark  rdHcoi/rcr,  Captain  Duncan,  was  lost  after 
crossing  tho  bur,  with  n  cargo  from  Loudon  valued  at  £30,000,  oud  uuiu- 
UiiT.  Oa.,  Vol,.  XI.   a 


18 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


Ill 


stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  the  rest  had  come 
for  provisions  and  lumber,  chiefly  for  California.  All 
the  commerce  of  the  country  not  carried  on  by  these 
few  vessels,  most  of  them  arriving  and  departing  but 
once,  was  enjoyed  by  the  Briti?'i  fur  company,  whoso 
barks  formed  regular  lines  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
California,  and  Sitka. 

It  happened  that  during  1846,  the  year  following 
tlie  incoming  of  three  thousand  persons,  not  a  single 
sliip  from  the  Atlantic  ports  arrived  at  Oregon  with 
merchandise,  and  that  all  the  supplies  for  the  year 
wero  brought  from  the  Islands  by  the  Toulon,  the 
sole  American  vessel  owned  by  an  Oregon  company, 
the  Clicnamus  having  gone  home.  This  state  of 
affairs  occasioned  much  discontent,  and  an  examina- 
tion into  causes.  The  princi'^j.l  grievance  presented 
was  the  rule  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  which 
prohibited  their  vessels  from  carrying  goods  for  per- 
sons not  concerned  with  them.  But  the  owners  of 
the  only  two  American  vessels  emj^loyed  in  transpor- 
tation  between   the   Columbia   and  other  ports  had 

sured.  She  was  in  charge  of  the  pilot,  but  missed  stays  when  too  near  tiio 
south  Ran<ls,  and  strncU  wlicrc  the  Shm-k  was  wrecked  '2  years  before.  On  the 
27th  of  .}uly  tho  American  schooner  Ifoiiohihi,  Captain  Newell,  entered  the 
Coliimhia,  for  provisions;  ami  about  the  same  time  the  IJritish  war-ship  Con- 
Htniirr,  <  ";iptain  Courtenay,  arrived  in  I'uget  Sound.  The  Hawaiian  schooner 
S/arliiiij,  Captain  Men/ies,  arrived  tiic  10th  of  August  in  the  river  for  a  cargo 
of  provisions.  Tlie  Hairif  returned  from  California  at  the  same  tinu',  with  the 
news  of  tlio  gold-discovery,  which  discovery  opened  a  new  era  ir  ',he  tratliu  of 
the  ( 'nlumbia.  The  close  of  the  period  was  marked  by  the  wreck  of  the  whale- 
ship  Mdiiii',  Captain  Xetcher,  with  1,400  bai'relsof  whale-oil,  l.'iO  of  sperm-oil, 
anil  II, 000  ])omids  of  bone.  Siie  had  been  two  years  from  Fairhaven,  .Nbiss,, 
and  was  a  total  loss.  The  American  schooner  J/dr/'a,  Captain  ]h;  Witt,  was 
in  the  river  at  the  same  time,  for  a  cargo  of  Hour  for  San  ]''rancisci>;  also  tho 
sloop  P<'it<:oik\  Captain  ( lier;  tho  brig.SVr')//(r',  Captain  (,'rosby;and  tlie  schooner 
Ann,  Ca|itain  Melton;  all  for  cargoes  of  flour  and  lumber  for  San  l''rancisco. 
Later  in  the  sunnni  r  the  Ihtrimnm  i\  Captain  Morice,  was  in  the  rivi'r.  The 
Boui'ct's  from  which  I  hav(!  gleaned  this  information  are  MrLoiin/ilin'n  Prirnti'. 
J'(i]irrn,  *Jd  ser.,  MS.;  J)oiifi'ii.ii'  I'rIivU'  I'lijivr^,  -d  ser.,  MS;  a  list  made 
V)y  .loseph  Hai'disty  of  the  Ifuilson's  Hay  Company,  and  publishecl  in  tho 
Vr.  S/xrhitor,  Aug.  lit,  IS.'il;  J'liibr'^  Joiirmil;  Kdlcif'K  ('nloniz'ilinn  nf  Or.; 
y'(Hr;(.v(  (k/V  A'f  (/',,•  Ltc  anil  Fro'<t'n(>r.;  I  Urn  k' Or.  J/i.tl.;  .'tUi  (.omi.,  ,li/  Scm., 
J/.  Com.  Uviit.  .It,  ;i7;  A'o'.,s'  7.V;/.,  Ixi.  ;120:  H'lV/vv'  X„r.  r.  S.  K.qilor.  Ex., 
iv.  ,'M'J;  ^\tli(  if'n  ]Vi)iknho]in,  MS.,  .'1;  lluinilnht  /■'ricnd;  Monthhi  S/ii/iiiinii  Lint; 
Pfttiia-i'ir'H  Or.,  MS.,  10;  VUlor'x  llhrr  of  Ihv  Wmt,  ;<<»•-',  ;i!KS;"  llnnnhilii  XtWH 
Sli'ipy'imj  L'lil,  1.S4.S;  SnlrvKl,' r'x  Ohjni]<iii,  .MS.,  1-1;  Ihinhjs  Smtp-lindt.-,  140; 
lliwoln'ln  (In-vltr,  l)ee.';j,  bSIKl;  Jhiioliilii  I'u'iinv^iitii,  i.  10,  HO,  51,  54;  Mack's 
Vr.,  MS.,  2i  BluiicluVs  Hint.  Cath.  Church  iii  Or.,  14,1,  158. 


1 


FLOUR,  SALT,  AND  SALMON. 


19 


near  tho 

Oil  tho 

erod  tho 

■ship  ('(III- 

|»  McliDonor 

[or  n  cargo 

',  with  tiio 

•  ti'utlio  of 

Ik;  whalo- 

|ii'i'm-t)il, 

II,  .NFa.ss., 

iVitt,  was 

;  also  tlio 

SlllOOIU'l' 

Vaiicisoo. 

IT.  TIic 
!'.'<  I'rirtili; 

ist  iiiado 

•d  ill  tho 
|/(  iif  <h\; 

,lll  Si'KS., 

iliir.  Ex., 
\<niij  /Jut; 
tihi  Xiii's 
\oiiL;  140; 


adopted  the  f^amc  rule,  and  refused  to  carry  wheat, 
himber,  or  any  other  productions  of  the  country,  for 
private  individuals,  having  freight  enough  of  their 
own. 

The  granaries  and  flouring- mills  of  the  country 
were  rapidly  becoming  overstocked;  lumber,  laths,  and 
shingles  were  being  made  much  faster  than  they  couki 
be  disposed  of,  and  there  was  no  way  to  rid  the  colony 
of  the  over-production,  while  money  was  abst^Iutely 
required  for  cei'tain  classes  of  goods.  As  it  was  de- 
clared by  one  of  the  leading  colonists,  "the  best  families 
in  the  country  are  eating  their  meals  and  driidving 
their  tea  and  coft'ee — when  our  merchants  can  atl'ortl 
it — from  tin  plates  and  cups;^'  many  articles  of  cloth- 
ing and  other  things  actually  necessary  for  our  con- 
sumption are  not  to  be  purchased  in  the  counti'v;  our 
children  are  growing  up  in  ignorance  for  want  of 
school-books  to  educate  them ;  and  there  has  not  been 
a  plough-mould  in  the  country  for  many  months." 

In  the  autumn  of  1845  salt  became  scarce,  and  was 
raised  in  price  from  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents  a  bushel 
t<t  two  dollars  at  McLoughlin's  store  in  Oregon  City. 
The  American  merchants,  Stark  and  Pettygrove,  saw 
an  opportunity  of  securing  a  mono[)oly  of  the  sahnou 
tradt.!  by  withholding  their  salt,  a  cash  article,  iVoni 
market,  at  any  price,  and  many  families  were  thoieby 
compelled  to  dispense  with  this  condiment  for  months. 
Such  was  the  enmity  of  tlie  ])eople,  however,  toward 
^[cLoUijfhlin  as  a  Ih'itish  trailer,  that  it  was  seriouslv 
j)i'opose(l  in  Yandiill  County  to  take  by  force  the  salt 
of  the  doctor,  who  was  selling  it,  rather  tlian  to  rob 
the  American  merchants  who  refuse<l  to  sell.''- 

It  was  deemed  a  hardship  while  Hour  bi-ouglit  (Vom 
ten  to  fifteen  dollars  a  barrel  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 

•'"  McCai'vcr,  in  Or.  f^iicrtrifor,  .Tnly  4,  IStfl,  Thornton  says  ^[^  Wiiyiuiro 
paid  IVttygrovf,  at  I'ortlainl,  !?-..")(>  'tor  (I  vi'iy  plain  oiips  and  saiiccis,  wliiuii 
cdulil  hv.  iiail  in  tiie  States  for  '2')  cents;  and  the  same  for  li  very  ordinary  and 
jilain  plates.  Wlicat  at  that  time  was  wortii  .SI  per  Ijushel.'  Or,  uinl  ('<(/.,  ii. 
o2. 

'^■BacoiCa  Mar.  LiJ'c  in  Or.  CUy,  MS.,  22. 


20 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


and  New  York  merchants  made  a  profit  by  shipping 
it  from  Atlantic  ports  where  wheat  was  worth  more 
than  twice  its  Oregon  price,  that  for  want  of  shipping, 
the  fur  company  and  two  or  three  American  mer- 
chants should  be  privileged  to  enjoy  all  the  benefits 
of  such  a  market,  the  farmers  at  the  same  time  being 
kept  in  debt  to  the  merchants  by  the  low  price  of 
wheat.  Many  long  articles  were  published  in  the 
/S/x'cto^or  exhibiting  the  enormous  injury  sustained  on 
the  one  hand  and  the  extraordinary  profits  enjoyed 
on  the  other,  some  of  which  were  answered  by  James 
Douglas,  who  was  annoyed  by  these  attacks,  for  it 
was  always  the  British  and  not  the  American  traders 
M'ho  were  blamed  for  taking  advantage  of  their  oppor- 
tunity. The  fur  company  had  no  right  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  circumstances  causing  fluctuation;  only 
the  Americans  might  fatten  themselves  on  the  wants 
of  the  people.  If  the  fur  company  kept  down  the 
price  of  wheat,  the  American  merchants  forced  up  the 
price  of  merchandise,  and  if  the  former  occasionally 
made  out  a  cargo  by  carrying  the  flour  or  lumber  of 
their  neighbors  to  the  Islands,  they  charged  them  as 
much  as  a  vessel  coming  all  the  way  out  from  New 
York  would  do,  and  for  a  passage  to  Honolulu  one 
hundred  dollars.  In  the  summer  of  184G  the  super- 
cargo of  the  Toulon,  Benjamin  Stark,  jun.,  after  carry- 
ing out  flour  for  Abernethy,  refused  to  take  the  return 
freight  except  upon  such  terms  as  to  make  acceptance 
out  of  the  question ;  his  object  being  to  get  his  own 
goods  first  to  market  and  obtain  the  price  consequent 
on  the  scarcity  of  the  supply.^^  Palmer  relates  that 
the  American  merchants  petitioned  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  to  advance  their  prices;  and  that  it  was 
agreed  to  sell  to  Americans  at  a  higher  price  than 
that  charged  to  their  own  people,  an  arrangement  that 
lasted  for  two  years. 


81 


^'^Or.  Spectator,  July  23,  1840;  Ifotmon't  Coast  ami  Country,  MS.,  21; 
Wal(lo'.H  Critlqncx,  MS,,  18. 

*^ Pulmer'n  Journal,  117-18;  Roberta'  liecolledions,  MS.,  07. 


INFLUENCE  OF  MONOPOLY. 


21 


e  being 


The  colonists  felt  that  instead  of  being  half-clad, 
and  deprived  of  the  customary  conveniences  of  living, 
they  ought  to  be  selling  from  the  abundance  of  their 
farms  to  the  American  fleet  in  the  Pacific,  and 
reaching  out  toward  the  islands  of  the  ocean  and  to 
China  with  ships  of  their  own.  To  remedy  the  evil 
and  bring  about  the  result  aspired  to,  a  plan  was  pro- 
posed through  the  Spectator,  whereby  without  money 
a  joint-stock  company  should  be  organized  for  carry- 
ing on  the  commerce  of  the  colony  in  opposition  to 
the  merchants,  British  or  American.  This  plan  was 
to  make  the  capital  stock  consist  of  six  hundred 
thousand  or  eight  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  wheat 
divided  into  shares  of  one  hundred  bushe's  each. 
When  the  stock  should  be  taken  and  officers  elected, 
bonds  should  be  executed  for  as  much  money  as 
would  buy  or  build  a  schooner  and  buy  or  erect  a 
grist-mill. 

A  meeting  was  called  for  the  IGth  of  January  1847, 
to  be  held  at  the  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Tuala- 
tin plains.  Two  meeting  were  held,  but  the  conclu- 
sion arrived  at  was  adverse  to  a  chartered  company ; 
the  plan  adopted  for  disposing  of  their  surplus  wlieat 
being  to  select  and  authorize  an  agent  at  Oregon  City 
to  receive  and  sell  the  grain,  and  import  the  gootis 
desired  by  the  owners.  A  committee  was  chosen  to 
consider  proposals  from  persons  biddir^g,  and  Governor 
Abernethy  was  selected  as  miller,  agent,  and  importer. 
Twenty-eight  shares  were  taken  at  the  second  meet- 
ing in  Yamhill.  An  invitation  was  extended  to  other 
counties  to  hold  meetings,  correspond,  and  fit  them- 
selves intelligently  to  carry  forward  the  project,  wliich 
ultimately  would  bring  about  the  formation  of  a  clinr- 
tered  company.'"'     The  scheme  appeared  to  be  on  the 


Sis.,  21; 


"  The  leaders  in  the  movement  seem  to  have  been  E.  Lennox,  M.  M.  Mc- 
Carver,  Pnvid  Hill,  J.  L.  Meek,  Ljiwienue  Hall,  J.  iS.  (iritlin,  and  CaHcii- 
liurg  of  Yandiill;  David  Leslie,  L.  II.  Jtidson,  A.  A.  lloliinsoii,  J.  S.  .Smith, 
Charles  Bennett,  J.  B.  McClane,  Koljert  Newell,  T.  J.  Huljliard,  and  V,. 
Diiimis  of  Chiunpoeg.  Or.  Sjieclutor,  March  4  and  April  'JU,  1847;  S,  F,  Cati- 
J'oruia  Utar,  Feb.  27,  1847. 


1 


22 


CONDITION  OP  AFFAIRS. 


>i^i 


way  to  success,  when  an  unlooked-for  check  was  re- 
ceived in  the  loss  of  a  good  portion  of  the  year's  crop, 
by  lute  rains  which  damaged  the  grain  in  the  fields. 
This  deficiency  was  followed  by  the  large  immigration 
of  that  year  which  raised  the  price  of  wheat  to  double 
its  former  value,  and  rendered  unnecessary  the  plan  of 
exporting  it;  while  the  Cayuse  war,  following  closely 
ui)on  these  events,  absorbed  nmch  of  the  surplus 
means  of  the  colony. 

Previous  to  1848  the  trade  of  Oregon  was  with  the 
Hawaiian  Islandsprincipally,and  the  exports  amounted 
in  1847  to  $54,784.99.=^"  This  trade  fell  off  in  1848 
to  ^14,98G,57;  not  on  account  of  a  decrease  in  ex- 
j)orts  which  had  in  fact  been  largely  augmented,  as 
the  increase  in  the  shipping  shows,  but  from  being 
diverted  to  California  by  the  American  conquest  and 
settlement;  the  demand  for  lumber  and  fl'>ur  begin- 
ning some  months  before  the  discovery  of  gold.^^ 

The  colonial  period  of  Oregon,  which  ma}'"  be  likened 
to  man's  infancy,  and  which  had  struggled  through 
numerous  disorders  peculiar  to  this  phase  of  existence, 
had  still  to  contend  against  the  constantly  recurring 
nakedness.  Fn^m  the  fact  that  down  to  the  close  of 
]  848  only  five  ill-assorted  cargoes  of  American  goods 
had  arrived  from  Atlantic  ports,^^  which  were  partially 

^'''  Poh/iwfiian,  iv.  1.15.  I  notice  an  advcrtisciTient  in  .9.  /.  Friend,  April 
184.'),  ^^•ll(J^e  Albert  K.  Wilson,  at  Astoria,  offers  his  S(:r\'ices  aa  commission 
merchant  to  persons  at  the  Islands. 

^'  T/iunitoii'.i  Or.  <nul  Vol.,  ii.  03. 

^^  'J"he  eiiigo  of  the  Totdnu,  the  last  and  largest  supply  down  to  the  close  of 
1S4,"),  consisted  of  '"20 oases  wooden  clocks,  20  hhls.  dried  apples,  .'i  small  mills, 
1  d<iz.  crosscut-saws,  mill-saws  and  saw-sets,  mill-cranks,  ploughshares,  and 
I'itchforks,  1  winnowing-machine,  100  casks  of  cut  nails,  50  hoxes  saddler's 
tacks,  (i  hoxes  carpenter's  tools,  VI  do/,  hand-axes,  '20  boxes  manufactured 
tobacco,  5, (M)0  cigars,  .")0  kegs  white  lead,  100  kegs  of  paint,  h  doz.  medicine- 
cl:csts,  50  liags  ]tio  coll'ee,  "25  bags  pepper,  '200  ))(»xes  soap,  50  cases  boots  and 
shoes,  ()  cases  slippers,  50  cane-seat  cliairs,  40  doz.  wooden-.seat  chairs,  50  doz. 
sarsaiiariUa,  10  bales  sheetings,  4  cases  assorted  prints,  one  bale  damask  tartan 
nhawls,  5  pieces  striped  jeans,  (i  doz.  satinet  jackets,  \'l  doz.  linen  duck  ])ants, 
10  doz.  cotton  duck  pants,  l'2doz.  red  ilannel  shirts,  '200  dozen  cotton  hand- 
ki'rclMefs,  <i  cases  white  cotton  flannels,  (i  Ijales  extra  heavy  indigo-blue  cot- 
ton, 2  cases  negro  prints,  1  case  black  velveteen,  4  bales  Mackinaw  blankets, 
150  casks  and  libls.  molas.ses,  450  liags  sugar,  etc.,  for  sale  ut  reduced  prices 
for  cash. '  Or.  SpfckUor,  Feb.  5,  1S40. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD. 


28 


close  of 
ill  mills, 

I'OS,    1111(1 

sadillur's 
fficturod 
luilioiiie- 
oots  and 
50  (loz. 
k  tai'tau 
k  jiaiits, 
in  liaiul- 
jlut'  cot- 
lanki'tM, 
d  piicua 


replenished  by  purchases  of  groceries  made  in  the 
Sandwich  Islancls,  and  that  only  tlie  last  cargo,  that 
of  the  Ilennj  in  1847,  brought  out  any  assortment  of 
goods  for  women's  wear,^*  it  is  strikingly  api)arent 
that  the  greatest  want  in  Oregon  was  the  want  of 
clothes. 

The  children  of  some  of  the  foremost  men  in  the 
farming  districts  attended  school  with  but  a  single  gar- 
ment, which  was  made  of  coarse  cotton  sheeting  dyed 
with  copperas  a  tawny  yellow.  During  the  Cayuse 
war  some  young  liouse-keepers  cut  up  their  only  pair 
t)f  sheets  to  make  shirts  for  their  husbands.  Some 
women,  as  well  as  men,  dressed  in  buckskin,  and  in- 
stead of  in  ermine  justice  was  forced  to  appear  in  blue 
shirts  and  with  bare  feet.*'  And  this  notwithstanding 
the  annual  ship-load  of  Hudson's  Bay  goods.  In  1848 
not  a  single  vessel  loaded  with  goods  for  Oregon 
entered  the  river,  and  to  heighten  the  destitution  the 
fur  company's  bark  Vancouver  was  lost  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  river  on  tlie  8th  of  Mav,  with  a  valuable 
cargo  of  the  articles  most  in  demand,  which  Avere  agri- 
cultural implements  and  dry -goods,  in  addition  to  the 
usual  stock  in  trade.  Instead  of  the  wives  and  daugh- 
ters of  the  colonists  being  clad  in  gai-ments  becoming 
tlieir  sex  and  position, the  natives  of  thelowerColumbia 
decked  in  damaged  English  silks^^  j)icked  up  along  the 
beach,  gathered  in  great  glee  their  summer  crop  of 
blackberries  among  the  mountains.  The  wreck  of  the 
Woicoitver  was  a  great  shock  to  the  colony.  A  large 
amount  of  grain  had  been  sown  in  anticipation  of  tlic 

'"The  Henry  biwiglit  'silks,  inousseliue  di-  laiiics,  cawliemerea,  dV'cosse, 
lialzaiinca.  muslins,  lawns,  brown  and  liluaelied  cottons,  camlirics,  tartan  and 
net-wool  sliawls,  ladies  antl  misses  cotton  lioso,  white  and  coloi'ed,  cotton  and 
silk  hanilkerchiefs.'  Id.,  April  I,  IHU-i 

■"'These  facts  I  have  gfithercd  from  conversations  with  many  of  the  pio- 
neers. They  have  also  been  alluded  to  in  piint  liy  Uurnett,  Adams,  Moss, 
Nesmitii,  and  Minto,  and  in  most  of  tlie  manuscript  authorities.  Moss  tells 
nn  anecdote  of  Straight  when  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1S4."),  Jlu 
had  no  coat,  and  was  distresseil  on  account  of  the  appearance  lie  ^llnuld  make 
in  a  striped  sldrt.  Moss  havin,','  just  been  so  fortunate  as  to  have  a  coat  made 
by  a  tailor  sold  it  to  iiiin  for  ^40  in  '•-rip,  which  has  never  been  redeemed. 
Pioneer  Tinien,  MS.,  4;{-4. 

"  tVai(yb/-c/V  ^'ur.,  MS.,  147;  S,  F.  Cali/orniun,  May  24,  1848, 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


demand  in  California  for  flour,  which  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  harvest  with  the  means  at  hand;  and  al- 
though by  some  rude  appliances  the  loss  was  partially 
overcome  it  could  not  be  wholly  redeemed.  To  add  to 
their  misfortunes,  the  whale-ship  Maine  was  wrecked 
at  the  same  place  on  the  23d  of  August,  by  which  the 
gains  of  a  two  years'  cruise  were  lost,  together  with 
the  ship. 

The  disaster  to  this  second  vessel  was  a  severe  blow 
to  the  colonists,  who  had  always  anticipated  great 
profits  from  making  the  Columbia  River  a  rendezvous 
for  the  whaling-fleet  on  the  north-west  coast.  Some 
of  the  owners  in  the  east  had  rcconmiended  their  sail- 
ing-masters to  seek  supplies  in  Oregon,  out  of  a  desire 
to  assist  the  colonists.  But  it  was  their  ill-fortune  to 
have  the  first  whaler  attempting  entrance  broken  up 
on  the  sands  where  two  United  States  vessels,  the 
Peacock  and  Shai'k,  had  been  lost.*^  Ever  since  the 
wreck  of  the  Shark  eff'orts  had  been  made  to  inaug- 
urate a  proper  system  of  pilotage  on  the  bar,  and 
one  of  the  constant  petitions  to  congress  was  for  a 
steam-tug.  In  the  absence  of  this  benefit  the  Oregon 
legislature  in  the  winter  of  1846  passed  an  act  estab- 
lishing pilotage  on  the  bar  of  the  Columbia,  creating 
a  board  of  commissioners,  of  which  the  governor  was 
one,  with  power  to  choose  four  others,  who  should 
examine  and  appoint  suitable  persons  as  pilots.*^ 

The  first  American  pilot  was  S.  C.  Reeves,  who 
arrived  in  the  brig  Henry  from  Newbury  port,  in 
March  1847,  and  was  appointed  in  April.**  He  went 
immediately  to  Astoria  to  study  the  channel,  and  was 
believed  to  be  competent.*^     But  the  disaster  of  1848 

''^During  the  winter  of  1845-6,  4  Americar  T^hfile  s  wore  lying  at  Vancou- 
ver  Inland,  the  ships  Morrimn  of  Mass.,  Louise  ot"  Ci.'.m.,  and  2  otliera.  Six 
Beanien  ileserted  in  a  whale-boat,  but  the  Indl  ;r>'  would  not  allow  them  to 
land,  and  being  compelled  to  put  to  sea  a  .-.40111'  arose  and  .3  of  them  per- 
ished, Robert  Church,  Frederick  Smith,  and  Rice  of  New  London.  A^ilea' 
Jieij.,  Ixx.  341. 

"Or.  Spectator,  Jan.  7,  1847;  Or.  Laws,  1843-9,  46. 

"The  iS".  /.  Friend  of  Feb.  1849  said  that  the  first  and  third  mates  of  the 
Maine  had  determined  to  remain  in  Oregon  as  pilots. 

'''The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  had  no  pilots  and  no  charts,  and  wanted 


I 


.)( 


THE  COLUJkfBIA  ENTRAiWE. 


25 


and 
for  a 


Oregon 


who 
)rt,  in 
went 
I  was 

1848 

Vancou- 
ra.  Six 
them  to 
em  per- 
Milea' 


caused  him  to  be  censured,  and  removed  on  the  charge 
of  conniving  at  the  wreck  of  the  Vancouver  for  the 
sake  of  plunder;  a  puerile  and  ill-founded  accusation, 
though  his  services  might  well  be  dispensed  with  on 
the  ground  of  incompetency.*" 

If  the  sands  of  the  bar  shifted  so  much  that  there 
were  six  fathoms  in  the  spring  of  1847  where  there 
were  but  two  and  a  half  in  1840,  as  was  stated  by 
captains  of  vessels,*'  I  see  no  reason  for  doubting  that 
a  sufficient  change  may  have  taken  place  in  the  winter 
of  1847-8,  to  endanger  a  vessel  depending  upon  the 
wind.  But  however  great  the  real  dangers  of  the  Co- 
lumbia bar,  and  perhaps  because  they  were  great,*^  the 

none,  though  they  had  lost  2  vessels,  the  WiUiam  and  Ann,  in  1828,  and 
the  Innhella  in  1830,  in  entering  the  river.  Their  captains  learned  tlie  north 
cliaiincl  and  used  it;  and  one  of  their  mates,  Latta,  often  acted  as  pilot  to  new 
arrivals.  Parrish  says,  that  in  1840  Captain  Butler  of  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
who  came  on  board  the  Lausanne  to  take  her  over  the  Columbia  Bar,  had  not 
been  in  the  Columbia  for  27  years.  Or.  Anecdoten,  MS.,  0,  7.  After  coming 
into  Baker  Bay  tlie  ship  was  taken  ii'  charge  by  Bimie  as  far  as  A.storia, 
and  from  there  to  Vancouver  by  a  Chinook  Indian  called  George  or  'King 
George,'  who  knew  the  river  tolerably  well.  A  great  deal  of  time  was  lost 
waiting  for  this  chance  pilotage.  See  Ton-nSimVs  Nar.,  180. 

^''Tlie  first  Jiccount  of  the  wreck  in  the  Spectator  of  May  18,  1848,  fully 
exonerates  the  pilot;  but  subsequent  published  statements  in  the  same  paper 
for  July  2"th,  speak  of  the  removal  on  charges  preferred  against  him  and' 
others,  of  secreting  goods  from  the  wreck.  Reeves  went  to  California  in  the 
autunm  in  an  open  boat  with  two  spars  carried  on  the  sides  as  outriggers,  as 
elsewhere  jnentioned.  In  Dec.  he  returned  to  Oregon  in  charge  of  tlic  Span- 
ish bark  J6vru  (luijmzcoana,  which  was  loaded  with  lumber,  flour,  and  pas- 
sengers, and  sailed  again  for  San  Francisco  in  Mai'ch.  He  became  master  of  a 
small  sloop,  the  Flora,  which  capsized  in  Suisun  Bay,  while  carrying  a  jiarty 
to  the  mines,  in  May  1849,  by  which  he,  a  young  man  named  Loomis,  from 
Oregon,  and  several  others  were  drowned.  C'rairjord's  Xar.,  MS.,  191. 

*'  Ilowison  declared  that  the  south  channel  was  'almost  closed  up '  in  1 846, 
yet  in  the  spring  of  1847  Reeves  took  the  brig  Henry  out  through  it,  and  con- 
tinued to  use  it  during  the  summer.  Or.  Spectator,  Oct.  14,  1847;  Hunt's 
Mercli.  Mofj.,  xxiii.  358,  SGO-l. 

**Kelley  and  Slacuin  both  advocated  an  artificial  mouth  to  the  Columbia. 
Solh  Conrj.,  3d  .SV.ss.,  //.  <!om.  I'e/it.  101,  41,  oO.  Wilkes  reported  ratlier 
adversely  than  otherwise  of  its  safety.  Ilowison  charged  that  Wilkes'  charts 
were  worthless,  not  because  the  survey  was  not  properly  made,  but  becauso 
constiint  alterations  were  going  on  w  liich  rendered  frequent  surveys  neces- 
sary, and  also  the  constant  explorations  of  resident  pilots.  Coast  and  Comi- 
try,  MS.,  8-9.  About  tiie  time  of  the  agitation  of  tlie  Oregon  Question  in  tho 
United  Stjites  and  Kiigland,  much  was  .said  of  tho  Columbia  bar.  A  writer 
in  the  Edinhurijh  IlfrUir,  .Tuly  1845,  declared  the  Columbia  'inaecc.ssilde  for 
8  months  of  the  year.'  Twiss,  in  his  Or.  Quph.,  370,  represented  theentrrneo 
to  the  Columbia  as  dangerous.  A  writer  in  Xili'x'  Uri/.,  Ixx.  284,  remarked 
that  from  all  that  had  been  said  and  printed  on  the  subject  for  several  years 
the  impression  was  given  tliat  the  moutli  of  the  Columbia  'was  so  dangiirous 
to  navigate  as  to  be  nearly  inaccessible.'  Findlay'g  Dinxlory,  i.  357-71;  iS.  /. 


26 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


colonists  objected  to  having  them  magnified  by  rumor 
rather  than  alleviated  by  the  means  usual  in  such 
cases,  and  while  they  discharged  Reeves,  they  used 
the  Spectator  freely  to  correct  unfavorable  impressions 
abroad.  There  were  others  who  had  been  employed 
as  branch  pilots,  and  who  still  exercised  their  vocation, 
and  certain  captains  who  became  pilots  for  their  own 
or  the  vessels  of  others;*"  but  there  was  a  time  fol- 
lowing Reeves'  dismissal,  when  the  shipping  which 
soon  after  formed  a  considerable  fleet  in  the  Colum- 
bia, ran  risks  enough  to  vindicate  the  character  of  the 
harbor,  even  though  as  sometimes  happened  a  vessel 
was  lost  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 


I  111 
II 


Friend,  Nov.  2,  1840;  /(/.,  March  15,  June  1, 1847;  Album  Mexicana,  i.  57.1-4; 
S.F.  l'ol!i)i('Kkiii,iv.  l\0; S. F.Cul!/oniiaH,i^c]^t.2, 1848;  Thornton ■•>()>•. umlVal., 
i.  ^05;  iViVs'  iiV;/.,  Ixix.  .'(81.  Senator  Benton  was  the  first  to  take  uji  the 
clmmpiouship  of  the  river,  which  lie  did  in  a  speecli  delivered  May  'JS,  1840. 
lie  sliowcd  that  while  Wilkes' narrative  fostered  a  poor  opinion  of  the  entrauco 
to  the  Colunihia,  tiie  cliart  accompanying  the  narrative  siiowed  it  to  lie  j,'ood; 
and  the  quesLions  ho  put  in  writing  to  James  lilair,  sou  of  Francis  I'.  IJIuir, 
one  of  the  midsliipnien  who  surveyed  it  (the  others  were  Reynolds  aud  Knox), 
proved  tlie  same.  Furtiier,  ho  liad  consulted  John  Maginn,  for  IS  years  pilot 
at  \ow  York,  nud  then  prcsiileiit  of  tlie  New  York  association  of  pilots, 
who  had  a  bill  on  jiilotage  i)eforo  congress,  and  liad  asked  him  to  compare  tlio 
entrance  of  New  Yoik  harbor  with  that  of  tlie  Columbia,  to  which  Maginn 
had  distinctly  returned  answer  tiiat  tlie  Columliia  had  far  the  better  en  trance 
ill  cverytliing  tiiat  constituted  a  goo<l  harbor.  I'oi'ij.  (i/olic,  184iV(i,  !(!..;  /(/'., 
!)JI-'J.  When  Vancouver  surveyed  the  river  in  '7!I2  tiiere  existt^d  but  oil) 
channel.  In  ISIl!)  when  IJelciier  surveyed  it  2  channels  existed,  and  Sand 
Isliiiid  was  a  mile  and  a  half  long,  covering  an  area  of  4  sipiaro  miles,  v  hero 
ill  \'incoiiver's  time  tliero  were  5  fathoms  of  water.  In  1841  Wilkes  found 
t!ie  south  channei  closed  with  accretions  from  L'hitsop  Spit,  and  tlie  midJlo 
sands  had  eliiingcd  tlieir  sliape.  In  1844,  as  wo  have  seen,  it  was  o|)eii,  and 
ill  lS4(i  almost  closed  again,  but  once  more  open  in  1847.  Siibse((ueiit  gov- 
crmnent  surveys  have  noted  many  changes.  In  I8,")0  tlio  soutji  channel  was 
ill  a  new  place,  and  ran  in  a  diilerent  direction  from  the  old  one;  in  I.S.'i'J  tho 
new  channel  was  fully  cut  out,  and  the  bar  had  moved  tliree  fourths  of  u 
iiiilo  eastward  witii  a  wider  entranci>,  and  .'1  feet  more  water.  The  nortii 
channel  had  contracted  to  half  its  width  at  the  Imr,  witli  its  northern  line  on 
the  line  <if  18."i(l.  I'lio  depth  was  rednci'd,  lint  there  was  still  one  fathom 
more  of  water  than  on  tln^  south  bar;  and  otiier  changes  liad  taken  place,  hi 
18.V,I  the  south  channel  was  again  closed,  and  again  in  ISliS  discovered  to  bo 
open,  with  a  fathom  more  water  than  in  the  north  elianntl,  which  held  pri'tty 
nearly  its  former  jiosition.  From  tlu'se  obserxations  it  is  manifest  (hat  tho 
north  channel  maintains  itself  with  but  slight  changes,  while  the  south  chaii- 
siel  is  subject  to  variations,  and  the  niidille  sands  and  t'latsop  ami  ( 'hinook 
Hiiits  are  constantly  shifting.  Iteport  of  Hvt.  Major  (iillespic,  F.ngineer  Corps, 
U.  S.  A.,  Dec.  18,  1.S78,  in  JhiUi/  Aflarhin. 

'"Captain  N.  Crosby  is  spoken  of  as  taking  vessels  in  ami  o.itof  the  river. 
This  gentleman  became  thorouglily  iilcntilied  «ith  the  interests  of  Oregon, 
nnd  especially  of  Portland,  uiulof  shipping,  and  did  nuich  toestuhlish  u  trudo 
with  China. 


INTERIOR  TRAFFIC. 


27 


IHirc  tlio 

itniuco 

1..;  /«•., 

but  on ) 

ml  Saiul 

s,  ^^llel•o 

■H  t'duiul 

iniddlo 

ii'ii,  ami 

it  gov- 

iim'l  \vii8 

IS.VJ  Uio 

tiis  of  a 

(•  iiortli 

I  line  on 

fiitlioin 

ilCl'.      Ill 

1(1  to  lio 
I  iiii'tty 
tiiat  llio 
til  I'liiiit- 
liinook 
Coi'lis, 


ic  river, 
()ri'j{oii, 
1  a  Irailo 


In  the  matter  of  interior  transportation  there  wa? 
not  in  1848  much  improvement  over  the  Indian  canoe 
or  the  fur  company's  barge  and  bateau.  The  maritime 
in(histrics  seem  rather  to  have  been  neglected  in  early 
times  on  the  north-west  coast  notwithstanding  its 
natural  features  seemed  to  suggest  the  usefulness  if 
not  the  necessity  of  seamanship  and  nautical  science. 
Since  the  Ijuilding  of  the  little  thirty-ton  schooner 
Didlij  at  Astoria  in  1811  for  the  Pacific  Fur  Com- 
])any,  few  vessels  of  any  description  had  been  con- 
.stnicted  in  Oregon.  Kelley  related  that  he  saw  in 
]8;)4  a  ship-yard  at  Vancouver  where  several  vessels 
had  Ijeen  built,  and  where  shi[)s  were  repali'ed,'"  which 
is  likely  enougii,  but  tliey  were  small  and  clumsy 
iilfiiii's/'^  and  few  i)robal)l3^  ever  went  to  sea.  Some 
haiges  and  a  sloop  or  two  are  mentioned  by  the 
iiu'liest  settlers  as  on  the  rivers  carrying  wiieat  from 
Oregon  City  to  Vancouver,  which  sei'ved  also  to  con- 
vey families  of  settlers  down  the  Columbia.^"  The 
Star  of  Ot'i'ijon  built  ia  the  Willamette  in  1841,  was 
the  second  vessel  belonging  to  Americans  constructed 
in  these  waters. 

The  first  vessel  constructed  l)y  an  individual  owner, 
or  for  colonial  trade,  wns  a  sloop  of  twenty-five  tons, 
built  in  1845  by  an  Englishman  named  Cooi<,  and 
called  the  Colapooi/o.  1  havi'ulso  mentioned  lliat  she 
])r(»ve(l  of  great  st'rvice  to  the  inmiigrants  of  that  year 
on  the  Columbia  and  Lower  Willami'tte.  The  first  keel- 
boats  above  the  falls  were  owned  by  llobert  Newell, 
and  built  in  the  winter  of  1845-G,  to  [)ly  between  Ore- 

''":?.-/h  r'nixj.,  .7</,S'.',iM.,  If.  Sup.  Ript.  joi,  r,') 

■'  The  Hc'liooiicr  (not  the  baric)  ]'iiii'(iiiri  r  wns  lirllt  at  \'am'ouvcr  in  bS'2f). 
She  was  about  !.")()  Ioiih  burden,  ami  |uioiiy  eoUisti'iieted  ;  and  was  lost  on  Itoso 
S[iit  at  the  norlli  end  of  the  (j>iieeii  ( 'haiiott"'  Jslaiiil  in  IS;;b  ('aiiUun  |)uii- 
euii  ran  her  ajii'ound  in  o]hii  day.  Tlie  erew  j;ot  ashore  <iii  the  nianiland,  uml 
reaehed  I''ort  Siiniisou,  Xass  Jlivi'f,  in  .Iiine.    /,'iilnrh'  I'lrnlliii'.ons,  MS.,  -I,'!. 

"'Mali's  Or.,  MS.,  'J;  I'llurt^'  '/'rn/ /n  r's  l.:/i ,  MS.,||-  <  h.  S/iiihttur, 
April  ]((,  1S4(I.  Theru  is  lueiitiou  in  the  S/iirhi/ur  of  ,hine 'J.'i,  lsl(l,  of  tho 
laiineliinj,'  at  N'aneouver  of  '/V.i'  I'rhirr  nf  H'kAn,  a  xesscj  i.f  'i\  iet  t  Keel,  IS 
feet  beam,  14  feet  below,  ^'  'h  ii  tomiaj;e  ref^ister  of  74,  .SJu'  was  ennstrmted 
liy  tlie  eomi)any".s  nhi|i  -  ■  ier,  Seailh,  and  ehristeneil  iiy  .Miis  lluiif^las, 
tacortud  by  Cupttiiu  Ikiillio  of  the  Modi  Mi ,  ainidNt  a  huge  coucoursi;  of  [luoplo. 


CONDITION  OP  AFFAIRS. 


1^1 
11  !- 


gon  City  and  Champoeg,  the  Mogul  and  the  Ben 
Franklin.  From  the  fact  that  the  fare  was  one  dollar 
in  orders,  and  fifty  cents  in  cash,  may  be  seen  the  esti- 
mation in  which  the  paper  currency  of  the  time  was 
held.  Other  similar  craft  soon  followo^l,^^  and  were 
esteemed  important  additions  to  the  comfort  of  trav- 
ellers, as  wc^l  as  an  aid  to  business.  Other  transpor- 
tation than  that  by  water  there  was  none,  except  the 
slow-moving  ox-wagon. °*  Stephen  H.  L.  Meek  ad- 
vertised to  take  freight  or  passengers  from  Oregon 
City  to  Tualatin  plains  by  such  a  conveyance,  the 
wagon  being  a  covered  one,  and  the  team  consist- 
ing of  eight  oxen.*^'  Medorum  Crawford  transported 
goods  or  passengers  around  the  falls  fit  Oregon  City 
for  a  number  of  years  with  ox-teams.'^" 

The  men  in  the  valley  from  the  constant  habit  of 
being  so  nmch  on  horseback  became  very  good  ridcr-s. 
The  Canadian  young  men  and  women  were  especially 
fine  equestrians  and  sat  their  lively  and  often  vicious 
Cayuse  horses  as  if  part  of  the  animol ;  and  on  Sun- 
day, when  in  gala  dress,  they  made  a  striking  aj>pear- 
ance,  being  handsomein  form  as  well  as  graceful  riders." 
The  Americans  also  adopted  the  custom  of  'loping' 
practised  by  the  horsenien  of  the  Pacific  coast,  whicli 
gave  the  rider  so  long  and  easy  a  swing,  and  carried 
him  so  fast  over  the  ground.  They  also  became 
skilful  in  throwing  the  lasso  and  catching  wild  cat- 
tle.    Indeed,  so  profitable  was  cattle-raising,  and  so 

''^Or.  SpfctntortMiiy^S,  1840.  ThcOrfaf  IIWcto  ran  in  opposition  to  Newi-U's 
boats  in  May;  and  two  other  clinkiT-built  boats  wi-ri'launcluMl  in  the  miino  month 
to  run  liotwcon  OiTgon  City  ami  I'orthind.  In  .luno  foUowing  I  notico  nii-n- 
ti'in"ftho-S'<(// /iV(v/'  I'drkil,  Captain Oray,  plyi'iK  l)ot\vi'('n  ()i",<,'on  and  Astoria 
witli  paswngorN,  /</.,. I nnr  1 1,  lS4fl;  llroini  n  Will,  ['((//c//,  MS.,  ;U);  lintuiii 
Mrrr.  Li/r  Or.  Citi/,  MS.,  12;    Wint'x  Qnocii  fharhUc  I.  Ka-iml.,  MS.,  .'I. 

•''Ilrown,  in  liis  \Villiim<lk<  I'dlii/,  MS.,  (I,  nay.s  tliat  licforo  1S4!I  thcrt' was 
not  a  Bpan  of  Iioi-hcm  lianu-Bsed  to  a  wagon  in  the  territory;  and  tiiat  the  lirst 
Bet  of  iiarnesa  lu^  waw  was  hronglit  from  C;difornia.  On  aeeo\int  of  tho 
roadless  condition  of  the  eonntry  at  itslirst  nettlement,  horses  wt're  little  nsed 
in  harness,  hut  it  is  eei-tain  that  many  horso-teams  eame  across  the  phiinn 
whose  harnesses  may  liaving  been  hanging  unused,  or  inudu  int^j  gearing  fur 
riding-animals  or  for  horsi's  doing  farm-work, 

<*•■*(>;•.  S^wcMnr,  Oet.  'JO,  184(1. 

f^ ('rnu'/orU'i  MLiKitiwirii's,  MS.,  13-16. 

»'il7iH<o'«  Larlj/  Dny*,  MS.,  31. 


MAIL  FACILITIES. 


29 


agreeable  the  free  life  of  the  herdsman  or  owner  of 
stock,  who  flitted  over  the  endless  green  meadows,  clad 
in  fringed  buckskin,  with  Spanish  spurs  jingling  on 
his  heels,  and  a  crimson  silk  scarf  tied  about  the 
waist,''"*  that  to  aspiring  lads  the  life  of  a  vaquero  of- 
fered attractions  superior  to  tho.;e  of  soil-stirring. 

He  who  would  a  wooing  go,  if  unable  to  return  the 
same  day,  carried  his  blankets,  and  at  night  threw 
himself  upon  the  Hoor  and  sle[)t  till  morning,  when  he 
might  breakfast  before  leave-taking. 

If  there  were  none  of  the  usual  means  of  travel, 
neither  were  there  mail  facilities  till  1848.  Letters 
were  carried  by  private  persons,  who  received  i)ay  or 
not  according  to  circumstances.  The  legislature  of 
1845  i)\  December  enacted  a  law  establishing  a  gen- 
eii:  p.  I  otllce  at  Oregon  City,  with  W.  G.  T' Vault''* 
as  j  •  st;;  Ler-general,  but  the  funds  of  the  provisional 
gu\Li»i)Mcnt  were  too  scanty  and  the  settlements  too 
scattered  to  make  it  possible  to  carry  out  the  inten- 
tion of  the  act.*^' 


^'  If  we  may  believe  some  of  these  same  youths,  no  longer  younr;,  they  were 
not  iihvayH  ho  {rityly  apparelled  and  niounteil.  Says  one:  'We  rodo  with  a 
r:i\vhide  xiiddie,  l)ii(lle,  and  la.sso.  Tlie  liit  wius  SpaniHh,  tlie  stirrups  wooden, 
tlie  sinch  liorse-liair,  and  over  all  these,  rider  and  all,  was  ii  Mauket  witli  a 
JKile  in  it  thi'oiigh  wiiich  tlie  head  of  the  riiler  ])rotruded.'  (^hiite  ii  suitahlo 
eostunie  for  rainy  weather.   Mr Miinti-Uli- 11  poiii  r,  ,\m\.  4,  1877. 

■'"W.  (!.  'J"\'ault  \\a.s  born  in  Arkansas,  whence  he  removed  to  Illinois  in 
IS-Hl,  anil  to  Oi'egoa  in  184 1.  lie  was  a  lawyer,  enerj^etio  and  adventui'ous, 
foremost  in  many  extiloring  expeditions,  and  also  a  stron^^  partisan  with 
soutliern-th'nioerai'y  pro  li'jt^ies,  lie  ]i().Hsessi  d  literary  abilities  and  had 
snmethinj,'  to  d.«  with  early  m-.vspnpers,  tii'st  witli  tlie  Sinrlntor,  as  jiiesident 
of  tlie()rei;on  printingic.  I'niiu'i  in,  aiidasits  lii'steilitor;  aflerwartl  aseditorof 
the  'J'lthir  /{ink  Si  iilii- !,  liio  I'lst  newspajHr  in  sontiiern  Oregon;  and  later  of 
'J'lir  liitcUliii  lu-r,  Uv  v'»  ijecteil  to  the  legislature  in  184(1.  Alter  tho 
establishment  o?  tl.-j  i  ,rr\vO./  iio  was  agidn  elected  to  tlie  legislature,  being 
^lle;d{er  of  tlie  ho 'B^  ?n  •-.;<  1  To  was  twice  prosecuting  attorney  of  tlic  Ist 
judicial  district,  ^on.prtsiii:  .Toek  ^''ii  ('oum_, ,  to  whicli  he  iiad  removed  cfter 
tlie  discovery  of  gold  in  !?• ;  'c  "...-ur  Valley,  and  held  other  luiblic  positions. 
\\'hen  tho  mining  ex<'itemcnt  Mas  at  its  height  in  Idaho,  lie  was  pradisin 
his  ]irofcssion  and  editing  the  Imlrx  in  Silver  City.  Toward  the  closi 
his  life,  he  deteriorateil  through  tho  inlluenceof  his  political  associations,  and 
lost  caste  among  his  fellow-pioneers.    He  died  of  smallpox  at  ihicksonvilli>  in 


S 


18til».  J )iiil If  Sdinn  UnioniM,  l''vh   1H(1{);  J)<riili/'.-<  Sn-iiii-lmoL;  1  •-'•_';  ./(((/•< 
Or.,  Si'iiliiivl,  Feb.  (t,  IH(H);  JMIn.^  Polh  ro.  Siiiiinl,  I'eb.  \tl,  I8tll». 


•;//<• 


(.0 


My  the  post-ollico  net,  postage  on  letters  of  a  single  sheet  eonveyed  for  a 
distance  not  exceeding  HO  miles  was  fixed  at  l.">  cents;  over  and  not  exceeding 
80  miles,  '2't  cents;  ver  i.nd  not  exceeding  'JtK)  miles,  ;U)  cents;  I.HX1  miles,  ."0 
ceutr.    Newspupc       -ach  •!  cents.    The  postmuster-gencriil  wus  to  receivo  10 


80 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


M 


The  first/  contract  let  was  to  Hiii^li  Burns  in  tho 
spring  of  184G,  who  was  to  carry  tho  mail  once  to 
Weston,  in  Missouri,  for  fifty  cents  a  sin;,le  slieet. 
After  a  six  months  trial  the  postmaster-general  had 
become  assured  that  the  oflfice  was  not  remunerative, 
the  expense  of  sending  a  semi-monthly  mail  to  eacii 
county  south  of  the  Columbia  having  been  borne 
chiefly  by  private  subscription;  and  advertised  that 
the  mail  to  the  different  points  would  be  discontinuetl, 
but  that  should  any  important  news  arrive  at  On^gou 
City,  it  would  be  des[)atched  to  the  several  offices. 
The  post-office  law,  however,  remained  in  force  as 
far  as  practicable  but  no  regular  mail  service  was  in- 
auiifurated  until  the  autumn  of  1847,  when  the  United 
States  department  'i;vo  Oregon  a  deputy-postmaster 
in  John  M.  Sliiveh,  a  soecial  aijfent  in  Cornelius 

Gilliam.  The  latter  i  ..  jdiately  advertised  for  pro- 
posals for  carrying  the  mail  from  Oregon  City  to 
Astoria  and  back,fr(mi  the  same  to  ^lary  River"' and 
back,  including  intermediate  offices,  and  from  the  same 
to  J^'ort  A'^ancouver,  Nisqually,  and  Admiralty  Inlet. 
From  this  time  the  history  of  the  mail  service  belongs 
to  another  period. 

Tlio  social  and  educational  affairs  of  tho  colony  had 
by  1848  begun  to  assume  shape,  after  the  I'asliion  (if 
older  conununities.  The  first  issue  of  the  S/)('c((if<n' 
contained  a  notice  for  a  meeting  <''*^'  masons  to  be  lu  Id 
the  21st  of  February  184r),  to  ^lopt  measures  for 
obtaining  a  charter  for  a  lodge.  The  notice  was  issued 
by  Jose[)h  Ifull,  P.  G.  Stewart,  and  William  V. 
Dougherty.  A  charter  was  issued  by  the  gran<l  lodge 
of  MissouVi  on  the  IDth  of  October  184(1,  to  Mult- 
nomah lodge,  No.  84,  in  Oregon  City.     This  charter 

nrr  cent  of  mU  iiioiicya  1>.V  him  iTcoivo(l  nixl  pnid  out,  The  act  wim  ininh-  con- 
fdniialilt'  to  tho  UniU'd  StiitcH  hiWH  rcgiiliitini^  the  poHtotlL'u  ilciiartiiK'iit,  so 
fill' as  tht'y  wiTti  applioahlit  to  tint  oiiniliUon  of  ()ri'j,'On,  Oc,  S/in'td/nr,  Vvh, 
0,  l.s-l((.  Sco  TA'atilt'N  iiislnu'tioiiH  to  poxtiiiaHti'i-H,  in  /i/.,  Maicli  r>,  lS4(i. 

"  Miry  Uivir  Hi^iiitiol  to  wlu'io  (Jorviilhti  uow  Htuudii.  VVhun  tiiut  town 
wua  tirst  laid  oU'  it  wua  uullud  MiiryaviUu. 


EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS. 


81 


was  brought  across  the  plains  in  an  emigrant  wagon 
ill  1848,  intrusted  to  the  care  of  P.  B.  Cornwall,  who 
turning  oft'  to  California  placed  it  in  charge  of  Orrin 
Koll<)<»'(jr,  who  brought  it  safely  to  Oregon  Citv  and 
delivered  it  to  Joseph  Hull.  Under  this  authority 
Multnomah  lodge  was  opened  September  11,  1848, 
Joseph  Hull,  \V.  M.;  W.  P.  Dougherty,  S.  W.,  and 
T.  C.  Cason,  J.  W.  J.  C.  Ainsworth  was  the  first 
wor»hi|)ful  master  elected  under  this  charter.*^' 

A.  dispensation  for  establishing  an  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  was  also  applied  for  in  184G,  but  not  obtained 
till  1852."^  The  Multnomah  circulating  library  was 
a  chartered  institution,  with  branches  in  the  diticrent 
counties;  and  the  membeis  of  the  Falls  Association, 
a  ^iterary  society  which  seem  •  to  have  been  a  [lart  of 
the  library  scheme,  contril)ute  I  ^3  the  Spectator  prose 
and  verse  of  no  mean  quality. 

The  small  and  scattered  population  and  the  scarcity 
of  school-books  were  sei'ious  drawbacks  to  education. 
Continuous  arrivals,  and  the  printing  of  a  largo 
edition  of  Webster s  Elementurij  Spelliiuj  Jiook  by  the 
Oi'egon  printing  association,  removed  some  of  the 
obstacles  to  advancement*^'  in  the  conunon  schools. 
Of  private  schools  and  academies  tbere  were  already 
several  besides  the  Oregon  Institute  and  tlie  (Cath- 
olic sc1k)o1s.     Of  the  latter  there  were  St  Jost-ph**"'  for 

•■''' Address  of  Grand  Master  riiaduiek,  in  Ynka  Union,  Jan.  1",  1.S74; 
Scn'/fi'  Triliiiiie,  Aug.  'J7,  1^7");  (>hjm)>iii  Trdiisrrijit,  Aug.  '_',  IH7.">. 

'•'Tlii.s  Mas  on  account  of  tlie  nii.sciirriage  of  the  wari'imt,  wliicli  was  sent 
to  Oregon  in  1S47  l>y  way  of  Ifonoluiu,  Imt  wliicli  did  not  rea<;li  tlicrc,  tliu 
jierson  to  wiioni  it  was  sent,  (Jilhert  Watson,  dying  at  tiie  Islands  in  IS4S. 
A.  V.  {'"rasei-,  who  was  sent  out  by  the  government  in  tlie  fnllowiii;,'  year  to 
supervise  the  i'i'ven\ie  service  on  the  I'acitic  coast,  was  then  aiiiiointeda  special 
conmiissiouei' to  estahlisii  the  order  in  Ciliforniii  and  ()rej;(in;  Imt  thi'  gold 
di.Hcoveiics  gave  him  so  nuich  to  ihi  that  he  did  not  get  t'  Oregi.n,  and  it  wa.s 
nut  until  ;<  years  nfterwaril  that  (!heineketa  lodge  No,  I  was  estalilishnl  at 
Salem.  'I'he  first  lodge  at  Portland  was  instituted  in  IS."),'l,  K.  .M,  I'.iirnum'a 
]']arly  Hist.  Odil  Fellowshii)  in  Or.,  in  ,l«ui:  uf  /'nirntliii^jn  c/ d'r'dfl  l,nil /i; 
I.  it.  <i.  I',  fur  /.s",\\  '207.VS4;  J[.  Jl.  (iiliVeyin  same,  •J(),S,'.i'  ( '.  |),  MiMire'8 
Historical  Koview  of  ()(hl  I'\'l!owsliii»  in  Or.,  ,.''>l/i  Aniiinrxitrj/  of  C/ii'ii,vl,<in 
7,<"/'/« ,  Duo.  1877}  S.  J\  AV//'  Ai/i;  .Ian,  7,  18115;  CuiiHllutioii,  etc.,  I'ortUmd, 
1871. 

«'.S'.  /.  /•'/•/(»</,  Sept.  1847,  140;  Or.  y,>,'rf„for,  Vvh.  18,  !S47. 

"'^  Named  after  .loseph  La  Hoipie  of  I'aria  who  furuished  the  funds  for  its 
erection.  Jh'Smvt'n  Or.  Mi.tK.,  41. 


88 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


boys  at  St  Paul  on  French  Prairie,  and  two  schools 
for  girls,  one  at  Oregon  City  and  one  at  St  jMary, 
taught  by  the  sisters  of  Notre  Dame.  An  academy 
known  as  Jefferson  Institute  was  located  in  La  Creole 
Valley  near  the  residence  of  Nathaniel  Ford,  who 
was  one  of  the  trustees.  William  Beagle  and  James 
Howard  were  the  others,  and  J.  E.  Lyle  principal. 
On  the  Tualatin  plains  Rev.  Harvey  Clark  had  opened 
a  school  which  in  184G  had  attained  to  some  prom- 
ise of  success,  and  in  1847  a  board  of  trustees  was 
established.  Out  of  this  germ  developed  two  years 
later  the  Tualatin  Academy,  incorporated  in  Se[)tem- 
ber  1849,  which  developed  into  the  Pacific  University 
in  1853-4. 

The  history  of  this  institution  reflects  credit  upon 
its  founders  in  more  than  an  ordinary  degree.  Har- 
vey Clark,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  one  of  the 
independent  missionaries,  with  no  wealthy  board  at 
his  back  from  whose  funds  he  could  obtain  a  few 
hundred  or  thousand  of  dollars.  When  he  failed  to 
find  missionary  work  among  the  natives,  he  settled 
on  the  Tualatin  plains  upon  a  land-claim  where  the 
academic  town  of  Forest  Grove  now  stands,  and 
taught  as  early  as  1842  a  few  children  of  the  other 
settlers.  In  184G  there  came  to  Oreg(m,  by  the 
southern  route,  enduring  all  the  hardships  of  tlie  be- 
lated immigration,  a  woinan  sixty-eight  years  of  ago, 
witli  lier  children  and  grandchildren,  lilrs  Tabitlia 
Prown.""  Her  kind  heart  was  pained  at  the  num- 
ber of  orphans  left  to  charity  by  the  sickness  among 

'"TftMtlui  Moflat  Brown  waa  bom  in  tho  town  of  Brinfiuld,  ^fass.,  Mny  1, 
1780.  llt'i'  fiitlitT  wiia  Dr  Joseph  ^fofl'iit.  At  tho  ago  of  1!)  who  niar- 
Kev.  Chirk  Brown  of  Stonington,  Conn.,  of  tho  lOpiscopnl  clninli.  In 
tlio  changes  of  his  ministerial  life  Brown  removed  to  Maryland,  where  ho 
died  early,  leaving  his  widow  with  .'1  children  surrounded  hy  an  illiterate 
iieoplo.  She  opened  n  school  and  for  8  years  continued  to  teaeli,  support- 
ing her  children  until  tho  12  hoys  were  apprenticed  to  trades,  and  asHislinjj 
them  to  start  in  business.  Tho  family  linally  moved  to  Missouii.  Here  her 
children  prospered,  but  ono  of  the  sons,  Orris  Brown,  visited  Oregon 
in  184;i,  returning  to  Missouri  in  1845  with  Dr  White  and  emigratin,'^  with 
his  mother  and  family  in  184(1,  His  sister  and  brother-indaw,  Virgil  K. 
I'l'inglc,  also  accompanied  him  ;  and  it  is  front  a  lutter  of  Mrs  i'ringlu  that 
tliia  skotoh  has  buuu  obtuinod. 


BENEVOLENT  MEN  AND  WOMEN. 


33 


schools 

Mary, 
iadeiiiy 

Creole 
d,  who 

James 
■incipal. 

opened 
)  prom- 
ees  was 

0  years 
50[)tem- 
iversity 

it  upon 

.     Har- 

of  the 

loard  at 

1  a  few 
ailed  to 

settled 
ere  the 
Is,  and 
e  other 
by  the 
the  be- 
loi'  ago, 
uhitha 
num- 
laniong 

May  1, 

Iwlio  mar- 

irli.     In 

vlu'i'o  ho 

illiterate 

Biiiniort- 

I  assisting 

IlliTc  liur 

Ori'gon 

in';  with 

.    gil  K. 

kiglu  that 


the  immigrants  of  1847,  with  no  promise  of  proper 
care  or  training.  She  sj)oke  of  the  matter  to  Harvey 
Clark  who  asked  her  what  she  would  do.  "  If  I  liad 
the  means  I  would  establish  myself  in  a  comfortable 
home,  receive  all  poor  children,  and  be  a  mother  to 
tliem,"  said  Mrs  Brown.  "  Are  you  in  earnest?"  asked 
Clark.  "  Yes."  "  Then  I  will  try  with  you,  and  see 
what  can  be  done." 

There  was  a  log  meeting-house  on  Clark's  land,  and 
in  this  building  Mrs  Brown  was  placed,  and  the  work 
of  charity  began,  the  settlers  contributing  such  articles 
of  furnishing  as  they  could  spare.  The  plan  was  to 
leceive  any  children  to  be  taught;  those  whose  |)arents 
coultl  afford  it,  to  pay  at  the  rate  of  five  dollars  a  week 
for  board,  care,  and  tuition,  and  those  who  had  noth- 
ing, to  come  free.  In  1848  there  were  about  forty 
children  in  the  school,  of  whom  the  greater  part  were 
boarders;*'  Mrs  Clark  teaching  and  Mrs  Brown 
having  charge  of  the  family,  which  was  healthy  and 
happy,  and  devoted  to  its  guardian.  In  a  short  time 
Kev.  Cushing  Eells  was  employed  as  teacher. 

There  came  to  Oregon  about  this  time  Rev.  George 
H.  Atkinson,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society  of  Boston.*'^    He  had  in  view  the  estab- 

""In  18."],' writes  Mrs  Bro\vn,  'I  had  40  in  my  family  at  $2.50  per  week; 
and  mixed  with  my  own  hands  3,421$  pounds  of  flour  in  less  than  5  montlis.' 
Vet  she  WHS  a  small  woman,  had  been  lamo  many  years,  and  was  nearly 
70  years  of  «^'c.  Sho  died  in  18u7.  Sec  Or.  Anjuii,  May  17,  1850;  Portland 
W'l'.-t  Shore,  Dec,  1879. 

•""Atkinson  was  bom  in  Newbury,  Vermont.  He  was  related  to  Josiah 
Littlu  of  Massachusetts.  One  of  his  aunts,  born  in  1700,  Mrs  Anne  Harris, 
lived  to  within  4  months  of  the  ago  of  100  years,  and  remembered  Well  the 
feeling  eaused  in  Newburyport  one  Sunday  morning  by  the  tidings  fif  the 
death  of  the  great  preacher  Whiteliehl;  and  also  the  events  of  the  I''rencli 
eui]iire  and  American  revolution.  Mr  Atkinson  left  Boston,  with  bis  w  ife, 
ill  October  1H47,  on  board  tlie  bark  Satiioscf,  Captain  HoUis,  ami  iraciieil 
the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  the  following  February,  whence  he  .sailed  again  for 
the  ( "oliindiia  in  the  Hudson's  Biy  (Jompany's  bark  Coirltt^.,  Captain  Weyiiig- 
ton,  May  2;!d,  arriving  at  Vancouver  on  the  20tli  of  .luno  1848.  He  at  once 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession,  organized  the  Oregon  associatimi  of 
Congregational  ministers,  also  the  (Jregon  tract  society,  and  joiiu'il  in  tlio 
effort  to  found  a  school  at  Forest  0 rove.  Ho  corresponded  for  a  time  with 
the  IIiiDii'  Minniotinri/,  a  Boston  publication,  from  which  1  have  gathered  snine 
fragnientsof  the  history  of  Oregon  fro'ii  1848  to  18.">l,  during  the  heightof  tlio 
gold  excitement.  Mr  Atki;^«on  becii'.ie  pastor  of  the  Congregational  eliureh  in 
Oregon  City  in  l8,')3;an<lwasformany  yearn  the  pasturof  the  tirstCongregutional 
UiBT.  On.,  Vol.  II.    S 


34 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


lishnicnt  of  a  college  under  the  patronage  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  and  finding  his  brethren  in  Oregon 
about  t©  erect  a  new  building  for  tlie  school  at  Tua- 
latin plains,  and  to  organize  a  board  of  trustees,  an 
arrangement  was  entered  into  by  which  the  orphan 
school  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees  as  the 
foundation  of  the  proposed  college,  which  at  first 
aspired  only  to  be  called  the  Tualatin  academy. 

Clark  gave  two  hundred  acres  of  his  land-claim  for 
a  college  and  town-site,  and  Mrs  Brown  gave  a  lot 
belonging  to  her,  and  five  hundred  dollars  earned  loy 
herself  Subsequently  she  presented  a  bell  to  the 
Coiiijrefjational  church  erected  on  the  town-site;  and 
immediately  before  Iier  death  gave  her  own  house  and 
lot  to  the  Pacific  University.  She  was  indeed  earnest 
and  honest  in  her  devotion  to  Christian  charity;  may 
her  name  ever  be  held  in  holy  remembrance. 

]\Ir  Clark  also  sold  one  hundred  and  fift}'  acres  of 
his  remaining  land  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution 
of  which  he  and  Mrs  Brown  were  tlie  founders.  It 
is  said  of  Clark,  "  he  lived  in  poverty  that  he  might 
do  good  to  others."  He  died  March  24,  1858,  at 
Forest  Grove,  being  still  in  the  prime  of  life.""  What 
was  so  well  besjun  before  1848  continued  to  jn^row 
with  the  development  of  the  country,  and  under  the 
fosteriiiij:  care  of  new  friends  as  well  as  old,  became 
one  of  the  leading  independent  educational  institu- 
titnis  of  the  north-west  coast.'" 

ehuivhin  Portlanil.  His  health  failing  about  180G,  he  gave  way  to  younger  men; 
l(ut  lie  continued  to  labor  as  a  niissionaiy  t)f  religion  and  tunipcranco  in  newer 
fields  a.s  his  sti'ength  iierniitted.  Nor  did  he  neglect  other  fields  of  labor  in 
tlie  interest  of  Oregon,  contributing  many  valuable  articles  on  the  general 
features  and  resources  of  the  country.  Adiled  to  all  was  an  unspotted  repu- 
tation, the  memory  of  wluch  will  be  ever  cherished  by  his  descendants,  'J  sons 
and  a  danght"r,  the  latter  married  to  Frank  Warren  jun.  of  Portland. 

•io/wvMfs'y/fV.  (>/•.,  MS.,  ;UI;  6'm)/Vy//V.  Or., 'Jin  ;  I)<ml>yx  ///W.  Or.,MS., 
54;  Or.  Art/iix,  April  10,  ISoS.  Clark's  daughter  married  (ieorge  U.  Durham 
of  Portland. 

""Tlie  first  board  of  trustees  was  composed  of  Rev.  Harvey  Clark.  Iliram 
Clark,  Kev.  Lewis  Tiiompson,  W.  H.  Oray,  Alvin  T.  Smith,  .lames  M.  Moore, 
Osborne  Jiussell,  and  (!.  H.  Atkinson.  Tlie  land  given  by  Clark  was  laid 
out  in  lilocks  and  lots,  except  '20  acres  reserved  for  a  rniii/iiin,  the  half  of 
winch  was  donated  by  ]{ev.  K.  Walkc.  A  building  was  erected  during  tlm 
reign  of  high  prices,  in  1830-1,  which  cost,  unfinished,  §7,0(X);  §0,000  of  which 


^t 


THE  PACIFIC  UNIVERSITY. 


35 


A  private  school  for  young  ladies  was  kept  at  Ore- 
gon City  by  Mrs  N.  ^I.  Thornton,  wife  of  Judge 
Thornton.  It  opened  February  1,  1847.  The  pupils 
were  taught  "  all  the  branches  usually  comprised  in  a 
thorough  English  education,  together  with  plain  and 
fancy  needle-work,  drawing,  and  painting  in  mezzotints 
and  water- colors.""^  Mrs  Thornton's  school  was  patro- 
nized by  James  Douglas  and  other  persons  of  distinc- 
tion in  the  country.  The  first  effort  n)ade  at  estab- 
lishing a  common-school  board  was  early  in  1847  in 


grow 


Ipcrmcii; 
Till  newer 

I  lnhor  in 
goneial 
il  n'lui- 

is,  '2  BOllij 

|r.,MS., 

II  turhiim 

lliram 
,  Mooiv, 
tn)4  laid 

half  i.f 
I  ing  tlui 
It  wiiicU 


came  from  the  sale  of  lots,  anil  by  contributions.  In  18r)2  Mr  Atkinson  went 
c'ast  to  solicit  aid  from  the  college  society,  wiiich  had  promised  to  endow  to 
some  extent  a  college  in  Oregon.  Tlie  Pacific  University  was  placed  the  ninth 
oil  tlieir  list,  with  an  annual  sum  granted  of  .^000  to  support  a  permanent  pro- 
lessor.  From  other  sources  he  received  !*8(K)  in  money,  and  )?7(M)  in  books  for 
a  liljrary.  Looking  about  for  a  ])rofessor,  a  young  theohjgical  student,  S.  11. 
^larsh,  son  of  Kev.  Dr  Marsh  of  Ihirlington  CiiUegc,  was  secured  as  principal, 
and  with  him,  anil  the  funds  and  books,  Mr  Atkinson  returned  in  liS.")!}.  In 
the  mean  time  .J.  M.  Keeler,  fresh  from  Union  college,  iSchcnectady,  New 
York,  had  taken  charge  of  the  academy  as  principal,  and  had  formed  a  pre- 
jiaratory  class  before  the  arrival  of  Marsh.  The  people  began  to  take  a  lively 
interest  in  the  university,  and  in  18.")-l-  snbscribeil  in  land.*  an<l  money  .Sii,,")(X>, 
and  partially  pledged  $;{,r)00  more.  On  the  l.'Uh  of  April  1S,")4  Marsh  was 
elioseu  iircsident,  but  was  not  formally  inaugurated  uniil  Au;,'ust  '-M,  bs.").'). 
This  year  Keeler  went  to  Portland,  ami  K.  J).  Shattuck  took  his  place  r  4 
]irincipal  of  the  academy  which  also  embraced  a  class  of  young  ladies.  'J'lie 
institution  struggled  on,  but  in  I S."i(J-7  some  of  its  most  advanced  student! 
left  it  to  go  to  the  better  endowed  eastern  colleges.  This  led  tlie  trustees  and 
president  to  nudio  ft  special  ell'ort,  and  .Marsh  went  to  New  York  ti>  secui'O 
t'urtlier  aid,  leaving  the  university  departmeiit  in  the  charge  of  lliv.  II.  Ly- 
man, professor  of  mathematics,  who  associated  with  him  l!ev.  ('.  Hells.  Tlio 
help  received  from  the  college  societj'  and  others  in  the  east,  enabled  the  uni- 
versity to  improve  the  general  ri'ii'iiiie  of  the  university.  The  tirst  graduato 
was  Harvey  W.  Scott,  who  in  ISfiH  took  his  Ihial  degree.  In  IS(!(1  there  were 
4  graduates.  In  .Juno  1S)J7  the  president  having  again  \  isited  the  east  for 
further  aid,  over  !?-.">, 000  was  subscribed  and  '2  additional  professors  secured: 
<J.  H.Collier,  professor  of  natural  sciences,  and  .1.  W.  Marsh,  pi'ofessur  iif 
languages.  In  May  ISOS  there  were  .S44,;i0.'{.(i()  invested  funds,  and  a  lilirary 
of  .">,0nO  volumes.  A  third  visit  to  the  east  in  ISC!)  secured  over  .S-';>.()iK»  fi^r 
a  presidential  cmlowmeut  fund.  The  uiuversity  had  in  IS7(I,  in  funds  and 
otlier  property,  S!Sr),000  for  its  support.  The  buildings  are  however  of  a  poor 
liuii'acter  for  college  purpo.ses,  being  built  of  wooil,  and  unt  well  ccinstnieted, 
and  i?IO(),0(K)  would  be  rei|uired  to  put  the  university  in  good  conilition. 
President  Marsh  died  in  I87!>,  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  K.  Herrick.  Tliough 
founded  by  ('ongregationalists,  the  I'aeilic  University  was  not  i'outi'iille(l  by 
them  in  a  sectarian  spirit;  and  its  professors  were  allowed  full  liberty  in  tiieir 
teaching.  Foi'est  ( Jrove,  the  seat  of  this  instituticm,  is  a  inetty  village  nestled 
among  groves  of  oaks  and  lirs  near  the  Coast  Pange  fouthilN.  ( 'entennial 
"^'ear  Hist.  Pacilic  Universitv,  in  y'oc/^f/j// Orf;/f)//«(//,  Fell.  I'J,  |s7ii;  iirtor''^ 
Or.  (Ill'/  ]\'iinli.,  IS'.MM);  0/-.'vlr;/».'(,  Sept.  I,  IsiVi;  l)<nilij.<  Hist,  il,:,  MS  ,  .U. 
"  ^Ii's  Thornton  Mroto  to  the  .V,  /.  Frii ml  tiuit  she  was  very  ennd'orlalily 
settled  in  a  logdiousc,  walked  a  mile  to  her  school  every  morning,  and  was 
iiover  nuiro  contented  in  her  life. 


38 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


Tualatin  County,  Rev.  J.  S.  Griffin  secretary;"  but 
no  legislative  action  was  taken  until  a  later  period. 
Besides  the  spelling-book  printed  in  1847,  Henry  H. 
Evarts  printed  an  almanac  calculated  for  Oregon  and 
the  Sandwich  Islands."  It  was  printed  at  the  Spec- 
tator office  by  W.  P.  Hudson. 

Professional  men  were  still  comparatively  rare, 
preachers  of  different  denominations  outnumbering 
the  other  professions.'*  In  every  neighborhood  there 
was  preaching  on  Sundays,  the  services  being  held  in 
the  most  commodious  dwellings,  or  in  a  school-liouse 
if  there  was  one.  There  were  as  yet  few  churches. 
Oregon  City,  being  the  metropolis,  had  three,  Catholic, 
]\Iethodist,  and  Congregationalist.'"'  There  was  a 
Methodist  church  at  Hillsboro,  and  another  at  Salem, 
and  the  Catholic  Church  at  St  Paul's,  which  com- 
pleted the  list  in  1848. 

The  general  condition  of  society  in  the  colony  was, 
aside  from  the  financial  and  Indian  troubles  which  I 
have  fully  explained,  one  of  general  contentment. 
Both  Burnett  and  Minto  declare  in  their  accounts  of 
those  times  that  notwithstanding  the  hardships  all 


% 
.■■« 


"  Or.  Rppctator,  Feb.  18,  1847. 

".v.  I.Frkml,  Feb.  1848;  Thornton's  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  27. 

"  I  find  in  the  »Si.  /.  Friend,  Sejit.  1847,  the  following  computation:  Inhabi- 
tants (white),  7,000,  This,  according  to  immigration  stitistics,  was  too  small 
ni)  estimate.  Alwut  400  were  Catholics.  Methodists  were  most  nnmeroiis. 
Tliere  were  G  itinerating  Methoilist  Kpiscopal  preachers,  and  8  or  10  local 
preachers,  Itesides  '2  Protestant  Methodist  clergymen.  liapti.st  missionaries,  '2 ; 
Congregational  or  Presbyterian  clergymen,  4;  and  several  of  the  Christian 
denomination  known  as  Campbellites;  regular  physicians,  4;  educated  lawyers, 
4;  quacks  in  both  professions  more  numerous.  I  have  already  mentioned  tho 
accidental  death  of  IJr  Long  by  drowning  in  the  Willamette  at  Oregon  City, 
lie  being  at  the  time  territorial  secretary.  He  was  succeeded  in  practice  and 
in  office  by  Dr  Frederick  Prigg,  elected  by  the  legislature  in  December  184(5. 
He  also  died  an  accidental  death  by  falling  from  the  rocky  bluff  into  the  river, 
in  October  1849.  Ho  was  said  to  be  a  man  of  fine  abilities  and  education,  but 
intemperate  in  his  habits.  Or.  Spectator,  Nov.  2,  1849;  Johmon'a  Cal.  and 
Or.,  274. 

'''■> l)(iid>i^8  Hifif.  Or.,  MS.,  71.  Harvey  Clark  first  organized  the  Congre- 
gational church  at  Oregon  City  in  1844.  Atkivmn's  Addresn,  3;  Oreaon  Vity 
Eiilcr)iriite,  March  24,  1870.  In  1848  llcv.  Horace  Lyman,  with  his  wife,  left 
Boston  to  join  Atkinson  in  Oregon.  He  did  not  arrive  until  late  in  1849.  He 
founded  the  first  Congregational  church  in  Portland,  but  subsequently  became 
a  professor  at  the  Pacific  University,  llotnt  Mmionary,  xxii,  43-4;  Or,  Sjac- 
tutor,  Nov.  1.  1849. 


QUALITY  OF  THE  POPULATION.  37 

endured,  there  were  few  who  did  not  rejoice  sincerely 
that  they  had  cast  their  lot  in  Oregon."^  Hos[)itality 
and  good-fellowship  prevailed;  the  people  were  tem- 
perate'^ and  orderly;  and  crime  was  still  rare." 

Amusements  were  fow  and  simple,  and  hardly  nec- 
essary in  so  free  and  unconventional  a  comnmnitv, 
except  as  a  means  of  bringing  the  people  together. 


'^Minto,  in  Camp  Fire  Orations,  ^IS).,  17;  Biiniett's  liecollcctioitu,  MS.,  i. 
170;  While's  Emiifralioii  to  Or.,  MS.,  11;  Simpsou'ii  A'«r.,  i.  170. 

''  Tlie  missionaries,  tlie  women  of  Oregon  city,  and  friends  of  temperance 
generally,  were  still  laboring  to  effect  prohibition  of  the  tratlic  in  spirituous 
lii|Uors.  The  legislature  of  1847  passed  an  amendment  to  tlie  organic  law, 
enacting  that  the  word  'prohibit'  should  be  inserted  in  the  place  of  'rcgidate' 
in  the  Gth  section,  wliicli  read  that  the  legislature  should  have  jiowcr  to 
'regulate  the  introduction,  manufacture,  and  sale  of  ardent  8j)irits.'  Or.  L'tirn, 
l!S43-l>,  44.  No  change  could  be  made  in  tlie  organic  law  without  submitting 
it  to  the  vote  of  the  people  at  the  ensuing  election,  which  l)eing  done,  a 
majority  were  for  prohibition.  Grovir's  Or.  Arrhicfx,  '273-4.  When  the  matter 
again  came  before  the  colonial  legislature  at  its  last  session,  tliat  part  of  the 
governor's  message  referi-ing  to  prohibition  was  laid  on  the  table,  (ju  motion 
of  Jesse  Applegate.  A  bill  to  amend  the  organic  laws,  as  above  provided,  was 
subsecjuently  introduced  by  Sanuiel  \\.  Thurston,  but  wa.s  rejected  l)y  vote, 
on  motion  of  Applegate.  /(/.,  '2'J3.  Applegute's  independent  spirit  revolted 
at  proliibition,  besides  which  he  took  a  personal  gratification  from  securing 
the  rejection  of  a  measure  emanating  from  a  missionary  source.  iSurely  all 
good  people  would  be  naturally  averse  to  liearing  an  uncultivated  savage  wlio 
was  full  of  bad  whiskey,  suiging  in  I'hinook: 

'Null!  six,  iKitliicli  liluu  lu  (blue  ruiu), 
Nikii  tickii,  bluo  lu, 
Iliyu  bluu  lu, 
llvitft  itio, 
rotlach  blue  lu." 

Which  freely  translated  would  run : 

'  Ilalli) !  fripiiil,  give  mo  Bomo  whiskey; 
1  \vunt  wlilskij,  |iliiity  uf  whiskey; 
Very  thirsty;  give  uiu  Bomo  whiskuy,' 

J/o.s«'  Pioneer  Times,  MS.,  50-7. 

"*In  the  Spectator  of  July  9,  184G,  there  is  mention  of  an  encounter  with 
knives  between  Ed.  Robinson  and  John  Watson.  Robinson  was  arrested  and 
brought  before  Justice  Andrew  Hood,  and  bound  over  in  the  sum  of  $'200. 
In  the  same  paper  of  July  '2;id  is  an  item  concerning  tlie  arrest  of  Diinwin 
!McLean  on  suspicion  of  having  murdered  a  Mr  Owens.  An  atl'ray  occurred  at 
Salem  in  August  1847  between  Joiiu  11.  llosworth  and  Ezekiel  I'opliam,  ia 
which  the  latter  was  killed,  or  suddenly  dropped  dead  from  a  disease  of  tiie 
heart.  Id.,  Sept.  '2,  1847.  In  1848  a  man  named  Leonard  who  hail  ])awned 
his  rifle  to  one  Ariin,  on  Sauvi5  Island,  went  to  recover  witliout  redeeiiiiiig  it, 
wlien  Arim  pursued  liim  with  liostile  intent.  Leonard  nui  until  he  came 
to  a  fallen  tree  too  large  for  iiiin  to  scale  in  haste,  and  finding  Arim  close  upon 
him  he  turned,  and  in  lii.s  excitement  fired,  killing  Arim.  Leonard  wa.s  arrested 
and  discharged,  there  being  no  witnesses  to  the  affair.  Arim  was  a  bully,  and 
Leonard  a  small  and  usually  quiet  man,  wlio  declared  he  had  no  intention  of 
killing  Arim,  but  fired  accidentally,  not  knowing  the  rille  was  loaded.  Leonard 
left  the  country  soon  after  for  tiie  gold-mines  and  never  returned.  ( 'niir/onl'.i 
A'«;\,  MS.,  107.  I  cite  these  examples  rather  to  show  the  absence  than  the 
preseuco  of  crime. 


38  CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 

Besides  church-going,  attending  singing-school,"**  and 
visitin<j:  among  the  neighbors  there  were  few  assem- 
blages.  There  was  occasionally  a  ball,  which  was  not 
legarded  by  the  leading  Protestant  citizens  as  the 
most  unquestionable  mode  of  cultivating  social  rela- 
tions. The  Canadian  families  loved  dancing,  and  balls 
were  not  the  more  respectable  for  that  reason;^"  but 
the  dancers  cared  little  for  the  absence  of  the  elite. 
Taking  them  all  in  all,  says  Burnett,  "  I  never  saw 
so  fine  a  population;"  and  other  writers  claimed  that 
though  lacking  in  polish  the  Oregon  people  were  at 
this  })eriod  morally  and  socially  the  equal  of  those  of 
any  frontier  state. "^^  From  the  peculiar  conditions  of 
an  isolated  colony  like  that  of  Oregon,  early  mar- 
riages became  the  rule.  Young  men  required  homes, 
and  young  women  were  probably  glad  to  escape  from 
the  overfilled  hive  of  the  parental  roof  to  a  domicile 
of  their  own.  However  that  may  have  been,  girls 
were  married  at  any  age  from  fourteen  upward,  and 
in  some  instances  earlier;*'^  while  no  widow,  whether 


!l 


'"James  Morris,  in  Camp  Fire  Oratiovn,  MS.,  20,  s,a.yn  that  tlie  first  siiig- 
iiiq-scliool  ill  the  country  was  taught  by  a  Mr  .Johnson,  and  tluit  he  went  to 
it  ilresist'il  in  a  suit  of  buck.skin  dyed  black,  wliich  looked  well,  and  did  not 
stretch  out  over  the  knees  like  the  uncolored  skin. 

''"J/os.s'  I'ionicr  Thmn,  MS.,  .32.  lu  Miiiin's  Enrly  Ditys,  MS.,  and  Mrs 
Minto's  Fi-male  I'ionerriinj,  MS.,  there  are  many  pictures  of  the  social  condi- 
tion of  the  colony.  The  same  in  Camp  Urc  Orations,  MS.,  a  report  1>y  my 
stenographer,  of  short  speeches  made  at  an  evening  session  of  the  pioneers  at 
their  annual  meeting  in  1878.  All  the  speakers  except  Mrs  Minto  declared 
they  had  enjoyed  emigrating  and  pioneering.  She  liiuught  both  very  hard 
on  females;  tliough  throughout  all  she  conducted  herself  as  ono  of  the 
noblest  among  women. 

*'  Home  Miasioiian/,  xx.  21.3-14. 

*"-'  As  a  guide  to  descent  in  the  pioneer  families  I  here  affix  a  list  of  the 
marriages  published  in  the  Spectator  from  the  beginning  of  1840  to  tlie  clo,se 
of  1848.  'I'hough  these  could  not  have  been  all,  it  may  be  presumed  that 
]ieople  of  social  standing  would  desire  to  publish  this  momentous  event: 
]S4(( — Feb.  2."),  Samuel  Campbell  to  Miss  Chellessa  Chrisman ;  March  29, 
Henry  Sewell  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Jones  (Jcri.sh;  April  2,  Stephen  Stiuits  to 
Miss  Cordelia  Forrest;  April  12,  Silas  llaight  to  Mrs  lle))ecci  Aim  Spalding; 
May  4,  I'icrre  Bonnin  to  Miss  Louise  Hoiideau ;  May  10,  Isaac  Staats  to  Miss 
Orlena  Maria  Williams ;  May  10,  Henry  Marlin  to  Miss  Kmily  Hipes;  .Fuue 
4,  D.ivid  Hill- to  Mrs  Lucinda  Wilson ;  June  14,  J.  W.  Nesinith  to  Miss  Caro- 
line (ioff;  June  1",  Alanson  Hinman  to  Miss  Martha  Klizabcth  Jones  Oerish; 
.luiie  28,  liobert  NewoU  to  Miss  Rebecca  Newman ;  July  2,  Mitchel  Whit- 
hick  to  Miss  Malvina  Englc;  July  4,  William  C.  Dement  to  Miss  Olivia 
Johnson;  J.  R.  Jackson  to  Miss  Sarah  Parker;  .Tuly  2"),  John  G.  Campbell 
to  Miss  Rothilda  E.  Ruck ;  July  2U,  Joseph  Watt  to  Miss  Sarah  Craft ;  Aug. 


CLIMATE  AND  TEMPERATURE. 


30 


vounj?  or  middle-aofcd,  lonjj  remained  unmarried.  This 
r  lal  dependence  of  the  sexes  was  favorable  to  the 
1  als  and  the  growtli  of  the  colony;  and  rich  and 
poor  alike  had  their  houses  well  filled  with  children. 
But  what  of  the  diseases  which  made  such  havoc 
during  the  early  missionary  occupation?  Strangely 
enough  they  had  disappeared  as  the  natives  died  or 
were  removed  to  a  distance  from  the  white  race.  Not- 
withstanding the  crowded  state  of  the  settlers  every 
winter  after  the  arrival  of  another  immigration,  and 
notwithstanding  insufficient  food  and  clothing  in  n)any 
instances,  there  was  little  sickness  and  few  deaths. 
Dr  White,  after  six  years  of  practice,  pronounced  the 
country  to  be  the  healthiest  and  the  climate  one  of 
the  most  salubrious  in  the  world.*^^  As  to  the  tem- 
perature, it  seems  to  have  varied  with  tlie  different 
seasons  and  years.  Daniel  Lee  tells  of  plucking  a 
strawberry-blossom  on  Christmas-day  1840,  and  the 


2,  Sidney  Smith  to  Miss  Miranda  Baylcy ;  Aug.  10,  Jehu  Davis  to  Miss  Mai- 
garette  Jane  Moreland;  Sept.  1,  H.  H.  Hyde  to  Miss  Henrietta  llohnan; 
Oct.  'J(5,  Henry  Buxton  to  Miss  liosannah  Woolly;  Xov.  1',),  Willi:nu  1'. 
•ugherty  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  L'hambeis ;  Nov.  "J4,  John  1'.  Brooks  to  Miss 
■y  Ann  Thomas.  LS47 — Jan.  '21,  W.  H.  Keea  to  Misa  Amanda  M.  F. 
:  Jan.  2,'5,  Francis  Topair  to  Miss  Angcliquc  Tontaine ;  Fel).  0,  IVttr  H. 
.  .11  to  Misa  S.  C.  Ijoccy  (Mrs  Charlotte  Sophia  Hatch,  who  came  to  Oregon 
vitii  her  hushand  by  sea  in  184;{,  died  June  30,  KS4{i);  April  IS,  Ahsjilom  F. 
Hedges  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Jane  Barlow;  .April  21,  Joseph  1>.  liogers  to 
Miss  Letitia  Flett;  Jlenry  Knowland  to  Mrs  Sarah  Knowland;  April  22, 
N.  K.  Sittou  to  Miss  Priscilla  A.  Rogers;  June  1."),  Jeremiah  Rowland  to  Mrs 
Mary  Ann  Sappington;  July  8,  John  Minto  to  Miss  Martha  Ann  Morrison; 
Aug.  12,  T.  1'.  Powers  to  Mrs  Mary  M.  Newton — this  was  the  Mrs  Newton 
whoso  husband  was  murdered  by  an  Indian  in  the  Umpqua  Valley  in  1S4(); 
Oct.  14,  W.  J.  Herren  to  Miss  Eveline  Hall;  Oct.  24,  ]).  H.  Cood  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Dunbar;  Oct.  2'.),  Owen  M.  Mills  to  Miss  Priscilla  Blair;  Dee.  28, 
Charles  Putnam  to  Miss  Rozelle  Applegate.  1848 — Jan.  ">,  Caleb  IJodi^'era 
to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Courtney;  Jan.  20,  M.  M.  McCarver  to  Mrs  .Fulia  ^Vini 
Buckalew ;  Jan.  27,  Ceorge  M.  Baker  to  Miss  Nancy  Duncan ;  Jan.  30,  ( Ie(ir;/o 
Siglcr  to  Mi.ss  Lovina  Dunlap;  Feb.  19,  R.  V.  Short  to  Miss  Mary  (icir; 
March  18,  Mo.ses  K.  Kellogg  to  Mrs  Elizabeth  Sturges;  Ajiril  l(i,  .bihu 
Jewett  to  Mrs  Harriet  Kimball — !Mrs  Kimball  was  the  widow  of  one  of  the 
victims  of  the  Waiilatpu  massacre;  May  4,  .John  U.  Jack.son  to  Mrs  .Matilda 
N.  Coonse;  May  22,  .John  U.  Bosworth  to  Misw  Susan  B.  Looney ;  .Tune  28, 
Andrew  .Smith  to  Mrs  Sarah  Elizabeth  Palmer;  July  2,  Edward  N.  White  to 
Miss  Catherine  Jane  Burkhart;  July  28,  William  Meek  to  Miss  Mary  Luel- 
ling;  Dee.  10,  C  Davia  to  ^lisa  Sarah  Ann  Johnson;  Dec.  20,  William  Logan 
to  Miss  Issa  Chrisman.  The  absence  of  any  marriage  notice  for  the  4  months 
from  the  last  of  July  to  the  10th  of  December  may  be  accounted  for  by  the 
rush  of  the  uinnarried  men  to  the  gold-mines  about  this  time. 
^  Tea  Years  in  Or.,  220. 


I 


m 


i. 


40 


CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS. 


weather  continued  Avorm  throufjliout  the  winter;  but  on 
the  12th  of  December  1842  the  Columbia  was  frozen 
over,  and  the  ice  remained  in  the  river  at  the  Dalle? 
till  the  middle  of  March,  and  the  mercury  was  C  below 
zero  in  that  month,  while  in  the  Willamette  Valley 
the  cold  wns  severe.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  winter 
of  1843  there  was  a  heavy  rainfall,  and  a  disastrous 
freshet  in  the  Willamette  in  February.  The  two 
succeeding  winters  were  mild  and  rainy,**  fruit  form- 
ing on  the  trees  in  April;  and  again  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  winter  of  184G-7  the  Columbia  was  frozen 
over  at  Vancouver  so  that  the  officers  of  the  MoJeste 
played  a  curling  match  on  the  ice.  The  winter  of 
1848-9  was  also  cold,  with  ice  in  the  Columbia.  The 
prevailing  temperature  was  mild,  however,  when  taken 
year  by  year,  and  the  soil  being  generally  warm,  the 
vegetables  and  fruits  raised  by  the  first  settlers  sur- 
prised them  by  their  size  and  quality.^  If  any  i'ault 
was  to  be  found  with  the  climate  it  was  on  the  score 
of  too  many  rainy  or  cloudy  days;  but  wlien  by  C(Mn- 
parison  with  the  drier  climate  of  California  it  was 
found  to  insure  greater  regularity  of  crops  tlic  farm- 
ing community  at  least  were  satisfied.^"  The  cattle- 
raisers  had  most  reason  to  dread  the  peculiarities  of 
the  Oregon  climate,  which  by  its  general  mildness 
flattered  them  into  nej.i'lecting  to  provide  winter  food 
for  their  stock,  and  when  an  occasional  season  of  snow 
and  ice  came  upon  them  they  died  by  hundreds;  but 
this  was  partly  the  fault  of  the  improvident  owner. 

The  face  of  nature  here  was  beautiful;  pure  air 
from  the  ocean  and  the  mountains;  loveliness  in  tho 

f*  Vlyman'H  Nofe  Hook,  MS.,  82-08;  Pabner'n  Journal,  1 19. 

•^  A  |iotttto  is  spoki'n  of  which  wcigliod  'M^  lbs.,  iind  another  .1J  lbs, ;  wliilo 
turniim  Moiui'timca  wei^'hud  fnjni  10  to  IH)  lbs.    Hliinchet  niisud  oiio  t.f  '7.1  lbs. 

'■''  I'ho  torm  'web-foot'  Imd  not  yet  Ix-on  nppliud  to  tho  Orof^oniaiiH.  It 
beoanm  L'urrunt  in  mining  tinieit,  and  is  miid  to  luivu  originiited  in  a  RiiiviiHtio 
remark  of  aconinieriial  travelK^-,  who  had  spent  tlie  niglit  in  a  farni-hoUHO  on 
tliu  niarHhy  banks  of  tlio  Loii^  Tom,  in  wliat  its  now  l^anu  County,  tliat 
children  Hhould  bo  provided  with  'vebbed  feet  in  tha*.  country,  '  W  e  havo 
tiiought  of  tiiat,' returned  the  iniBtrcKH  of  tiie  ]iouh(s  at  the  Haine  time  dis- 
rhiyinji  to  tlie  astoniHhed  visitor  her  bidiyV  fi'et  with  webs  bv'tueen  tiie  toes. 
The  story  lost  nothiiig  in  tho  telling,  and  Web-foot  bucaniu  tiiu  pscuilonyuto 
for  Urugouiuu. 


y 

\'ii 


TriE  COMMONWEALTH  ESTxVBLISHED. 


41 


I;  M'liilo 

I?:,' 11.8. 
lis.  It 
lircaHtio 
|)UMU  on 
that 
lu  liiivo 
liK^  (lia- 
lo  toca, 
luiiymo 


valleys  dignified  by  grandeur  in  the  purple  rani^es 
\vliicli  bordered  them,  overtopped  here  and  there  by 
hiiowy  peaks  whose  nearly  extinct  craters  occa^<ion{llly 
threw  out  a  puff  of  smoke  or  ashy  flame,^'^  to  remind 
tliu  beholder  of  the  igneous  building  of  the  dark  cliffs 
overhanging  the  great  river.  The  whole  country  was 
ivmarkably  free  from  poisonous  reptiles  and  insects. 
( )t"  all  the  serpent  class  the  rattlesnake  alone  was 
armed  with  deadly  fangs,  and  these  were  seldom  seen 
except  in  certain  localities  in  the  western  portion  of 
( )regon.  Even  the  house-fly  was  imported/^  coming 
like  many  plants,  and  like  the  bee,  in  the  beaten  trail 
(tf  white  men. 

Such  was  the  country  rescued  from  savagism  by 
this  virtuous  and  intelligent  people;  and  such  their 
general  condition  with  regard  to  improvement,  trade, 
(MJucation,  morals,  contentment,  and  health,  at  the 
period  when,  after  having  achieved  so  much  without 
aid  from  congress,  that  body  took  the  colony  under 
its  wing  and  assumed  direction  of  its  atfairs. 


"  Mount  St  Helen  and  Mount  Tkvker  were  in  a  stata  of  eruption  in  March 
IS.'iO,  nccordipt;  to  the  Sjif  'tutor  of  tliu  2lHt  of  tlmt  niontii.  The  siiine  juipcr 
(if  (K't.  18,  lh40,  records  a  Rtnrtliiig  explosion  in  tii(!  regio'.i  of  Mount  Hood, 
\\\\vn  tlie  waters  of  Silver  Creek  stopped  running  for  '2-*.  hours,  uud  also  the 
destruction  of  all  the  lish  in  the  stivain  by  poisonous  ga'.en. 

'■'MetUano  wiya  that  when  ho  eanio  to  Oregon  there  was  no ■■  a  fly  of  any 
kind,  hut  lleas  were  j)lenty,  F'trxt  Waijon  Train,  MS.,  14.  W.  H.  Hector  haa 
Haiil  the  same.  Lewis  and  Clarke,  and  Purker,  expiato  uj.ic>u  the  fleua  about 
the  Indian  camps. 


CHAPTER  II. 

EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 

1848-1849. 

TiiE  Magic  Power  of  Gold — A  New  Oregon — Arrival  of  Newell — 
SiiAUP  Tkakfic— The  Discovery  Announced — The  Stampede  .Sodth- 
WARD — Overland  Companies  —  Lassen'h  Immigrants  —  Hancock's 
Manl'sckii't— Character  of  the  Oregonians  in  California— Their 
General  Spccess — Revoh'tions  in  Trade  and  Society — Arrival  of 
Vessels— Increase  in  the  Trices  of  TRODrcTS- Change  of  Cur- 
rency— Tub  Question  of  a  Mint— Private  CoiNA<iE— Influx  of 
Foreign  Silver— Effect  on  Society — Legislation— Immigration. 

And  now  begins  Oregon's  ago  of  gold,  quite  a  dif- 
ferent utfair  from  Oregon's  golden  age,  wliieli  we  must 
look  for  at  a  later  epoch.  The  Oregon  to  which 
Lane  was  introduced  as  governor  was  not  the  sanio 
from  which  his  companion  Meek  had  hurried  in  pov- 
erty and  alarm  one  year  before.  Let  us  note  the 
change,  and  the  cause,  before  recording  the  progress 
of  the  new  government. 

On  the  3lstof  July  1848,  the  little  schooner //o«o- 
Inht,  Captain  Newell,  from  San  Francisco,  arrived  in 
the  Columbia,  and  began  to  h.ad  not  only  with  pro- 
vi,>iions,  but  with  shovels,  picks,  and  pans,  all  that 
could  be  bought  in  the  limited  market.  This  created 
no  surprise,  as  it  was  known  that  Americans  were 
emigrating  to  California  who  would  be  in  want  of 
liieso  things,  and  the  captain  of  the  schooner  was 
looktfd  upon  as  a  sharp  trader  who  knew  how  to  turn 
an  honest  penny.  Wiien  he  had  obtained  everything 
to  his  purpose,  he  ri>vealed  the  iliscovery  made  by 
^Marshall  in  California,  and  told  the  story  how  Oru- 


THE  NEWS  IN  OREGON. 


48 


{Toii  men  had  opened  to  the  world  what  appeared  an 
iiu'xhaustible  store  of  golden  treasure.^ 

The  news  was  confirmed  by  the  arrival  August  9th 
(it"  the  brig  Henry  from  San  Francisco,  and  on  tlio 
•j:!(l  of  the  fur  company's  brig  Mary  Dare  from  the 
]I;iwaiian  Islands,  by  the  way  of  Victoria,  with  Chief 
I'actor  Douglas  on  board,  who  was  not  inclined  to 
l)ili('ve  the  reports.  But  in  a  few  days  more  the 
tidinu's  liad  travelled  overland  by  letter,  ex-(xovernor 
lloiTos  having  written  to  some  of  his  former  Missouri 
ii iiiids  in  Oregon  by  certain  men  coming  with  horses 
til  the  Willamette  Valley  for  provisions,  that  much 
odld  was  found  on  the  American  Kiver.  No  one 
tlouhtod  longer;  covetous  desire  quickly  increased  to  a 
(It  lii  ium  of  hope.  The  late  Indian  disturbances  wore 
I'orgotten;  and  from  the  ripening  harvests  the  reap- 
( IS  with(^ut  conn)unctions  turned  away.  Even  their 
beloved  land-claims  were  deserted;  if  a  man  did  not 
go  to  California  it  was  because  he  could  not  leave  his 
iiiiiiily  or  business.  Some  prudent  persotfs  at  first, 
seeing  that  provisions  and  lumber  nmst  greatly  in- 
crease in  })rice,  concluded  to  stay  at  home  and  reaj> 
till-  advantage  without  incurring  the  risk;  but  tlieso 
were  a  small  pr(»j)ortion  of  the  able-bodied  men  of  the 
eolonv.  Far  more  went  to  the  gold  mines  than  had 
volunteered  to  light  the  Cay  uses;"  farmers,  mechanics, 
proi'essional  men,  })i'inters — every  class.  Tools  were 
(Iro]>ped  and  'ork  left  unfinished  in  the  shops.  The 
I'ainis  were  abandoned  to  women  and  boys.  The  two 
newspa[)ers,  the  Onyoii  Spectator  and  Free  Press,  held 

'  J,  W.  Mmnliiill  waH  on  iminiirnint  to  Oregon  of  1.S44.  TTo  went  to  rali- 
fnrniu  in  l.SJd,  ami  wim  cinjiloycd  liy  SuttcV.  In  IS47  lio  ^^l>«  fullowi'd  liy 
<  Imilt'.s  I'l'nnt'tt  iiml  Stt'plii'n  Stiiats  iii'i  .;'  "  Ixim  witc  at  Sutti'i''M  mill  when 
tilt'  iliMidvt  ly  of  g<il(l  wiiM  niudi'.  Jtroirn'n  Will.  I'lil.,  MS.,  7;  /''M-io/rs'  /Jt'i  nf 
Mtirxlfi/I,  s'tt. 

'  lliirnctt  Hiiys  tiiat  lit  IniHt  two  tliinlM  of  tlif  iio|)nlation  i'a|ialilc  of  lioar- 
iii,u'  arniN  Icfttoi'  Calilnrniii  in  tlu'  HUinnicr  ami  aiitiinin  of  ISIS.  Jlniil/irHmi/i, 
Ms,,  i.  ;i'J,"i.  '  Alioiit  two  tlioiisanil  iiciHons,'  wayw  tin'  ('nli/nriiifi  Siiir  innt 
t'lli/oniidii,  l>('i'.  II,  ISIS,  Only  live  old  mm  wvw  left  at  SaK'iii.  Jtrnini'ii 
)\  ill.  I'd/.,  .M.S.,  11.  Aiidt'i'son,  ill  liis  Smiliirixt  ('iiit.if,  Ms,,  ;t7,  n|iiakH  of 
till'  (ii'oat  cNodiiN,  ('om|iari'  ('ntuf.  nl'-^  \tir.,  MS.,  I(i(i,and  r/'/oc'.'i  Itivr  ■>/ 
ilif  Wis/,  4s;|- 5,  lijiriii'n,  Ur.  mul  ('dl.,  MS.,  S,  nay«  liu  iuiind  at  Ort-gon  City 
diih  a  low  woint'U  und  childi't'it  and  Honiu  IndiuiiH. 


44 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


out,  the  one  till  December,  the  other  until  the  spring 
of  1849,  when  they  were  left  without  compositors 
and  suspended.^  No  one  thought  of  the  outcome. 
It  was  not  then  known  in  Oregon  that  a  treaty  had 
boon  signed  by  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  but  it 
was  believed  that  such  would  be  the  result  of  the 
war;  hence  the  gold-fields  of  California  were  already 
regarded  as  the  property  of  Americans.  Men  of 
family  expected  to  return;  single  men  thought  little 
about  it.  To  go,  and  at  once,  was  the  chief  idea.* 
Many  who  had  not  the  means  were  fitted  out  by 
others  who  took  a  share  in  the  venture;  and  quite  dif- 
fcient  from  those  who  took  like  risks  at  the  east,  the 
trusts  imposed  in  tlic  men  of  Oregon  were  as  a  rule 
faithfully  carried  out.^ 

Pac.'k-trains  were  first  employed  by  the  Oregon  gold- 
soekors;  then  in  September  a  wagon  company  was 
organized.  A  hundred  and  fifty  robust,  sober,  and 
energetic  men  were  soon  ready  for  the  enter[)rise. 
The  train'  consisted  of  fifty  wagons  loaded  with  mining 
impleni'jnts  and  provisions  for  the  winter.  Even 
planks  for  constructing  gold-rockers  were  carried  in 
the  bottom  of  some  of  the  wagons.  The  teams  were 
strong  oxen;  the  riding  horses  of  the  hardy  native 
Cayuse  stock,  late  worth  but  ten  dollars,  now  bringing 
thii'ty,  and  the  men  were  armed.  Burnett  was  elected 
captain  and  Thomas  McKay  pilot.^  They  went  to 
Klamath  Lake  by  the  Applegate  route,  and  then 
turned  south-east  intending  to  get  into  the  California 
emigrant  road  before  it  crossed  the  Sierra.  After 
travelling  several  days  over  an  elevated  region,  not 
wi'll  watered  nor  lurnishing  good  grass,  to  their  surprise 


5-: 


'Tlio  S/wctiitor  from  February  to  October.  I  <lo  not  think  the  tWf  /Vf'.<« 
wnH  li'vivi!)!  lifter  its  Htoppiige,  tlioiiuh  it  run  lon^  enoutjh  to  print  Liinu'ii 
procliiniation,     TUv  Oniinn  Aiiii-ri<-iiii]\M\  exjiii'etl  in  the  uiilunin  nt   is-JS. 

*Alkinmin,  in  tho  llitmv  Mixuktnnry,  '1'2,  04;  BriHtow'ii  Ji'miomiti ly,  MS., 
2-1*;  Ix'iiiii'h  jiiilijin  itml  ('riinimtls,  71'. 

'' 'I'licro  wiiH  tiiu  nHual  di^rgcit'l  pi'i'itetrateil  liero  na  clauwhcru  ut  tliu  timu. 
Sue  /tr'iirii'ii  (>/•.  Misvel.,  MS.,  47. 

"  A'lMf'  j.Vu;\,  MS.,  il;  Lonjou'a  Vurtland,  MS.,  20}  Johit4on'»  Cut,  unU 
Or.,  18J-0. 


THE  EXODUS. 


43 


fl)(  V  came  into  a  newly  opened  wagon-road,  which 
jiiovcd  to  be  that  which  Peter  Lassen  of  California 
]in,l  that  season  persuaded  a  small  party  immigrating 
into  the  Sacramento  Valley  to  take,  through  a  pass 
\\  liicli  would  bring  them  near  his  ranchoJ 

The  exodus  thus  begun  continued  as  long  as 
watlier  permitted,  and  until  several  thousand  had 
li  It  Oregon  by  land  and  sea.  The  second  wagon  com- 
pany of  twenty  ox-teams  and  twenty-five  men  was 
iVoni  Puget  Sound,  and  but  a  few  days  behind  tlie 
fir^t,"*  while  the  old  fur-hunters'  trail  west  of  the 


■  After  proceeding  some  distance  on  Lassen's  trail  they  found  tliat  others 
villi  li!i(l  preceded  tliein  were  as  ignorant  as  they  of  wiiat  lay  before  them; 
ami  aftc  travelling  westward  for  eight  miles  they  came  to  a  sheer  wall  of 
Yink,  constituting  a  mountain  ridge,  instead  of  to  a  view  of  the  Sacramento 
\';illuv.  0:i  examination  of  the  ground  it  was  found  that  Lassenand  his  com- 
]i:iiiy  liad  been  deceived  as  well  us  they,  and  had  marched  back  to  within  half 
11  lailc  of  the  entrnneo  to  tiie  valley  before  iinding  a  way  out  of  it.  After 
t.\|iloi'ing  for  some  distance  in  advance  the  wagons  were  allowed  to  come  on, 
aiiil  the  sunnnit  of  tiio  sierra  was  readied  the  "JOth  of  Octolier.  After  passing 
tlrs  jind  entering  the  pino  forest  on  the  western  slope,  they  overtook  Lassen 
mill  a  portion  of  liis  party,  unable  to  proceed,  lie  hud  at  lirst  but  ten  wagons 
ill  his  company,  and  knew  nothing  more  about  the  route  than  from  a  generally 
correct  idea  of  tho  country  he  could  eonjecture.  They  proceeded  without 
luisliiip  until  coming  to  the  thick  tnnber  on  the  mountains;  and  not  having 
fiinc  enough  to  open  the  road,  they  were  compelled  to  convert  their  Wiigona 
iiitii  carts  in  order  to  make  the  short  turns  necessary  in  driving  around  fallen 
timber.  Progress  in  this  manner  was  slow.  Half  of  the  immigrants,  now  fear- 
fully incensed  against  iheir  leader,  had  abamloned  their  carts,  and  packing 
tliiir  gcMids  on  their  starving  oxen,  deserted  the  other  half,  without  knowing 
li'iw  tiicy  were  to  reach  the  settlements.  Wlien  those  bthind  were  overtaken 
by  tlir  Oiegonians  they  were  in  a  miserable  condition,  not  having  hud  breuil 
{ill  a  month.  'J'lieir  wants  were  supplieil,  und  tiu'y  were  assured  that  the  road 
tilimilil  be  opened  for  them,  Mhich  was  done.  Sixty  or  eighty  men  went  to 
the  front  w  ith  axes,  an<l  the  way  was  cleared  for  the  wagons.  When  the  for- 
e>t  \\us  passed,  there  Mere  yet  other  dillicidlies  whicli  Lassen's  small  and 
I'xlumsted  ciimpany  colM  nt'ver  have  removed.  A  tragedy  like  that  of  ]>on- 
iiii-  l.aUi  Mas  averted  liy  liiese  gold-seekers,  who  arrived  in  the  Saci'umento 
N'iiliiy  ub  mt  the  1st  of  Novendier.  Jtiinntt'n  I'linUt'ctiuiis,  MS.,  i.  H'JS-.liid; 
y.M, I /.,)/■.<  J'orlldiiil,  MS.,  '2~;  liarms'  Or.  ami  Cat.,  MS.,  ll-l'J;  I'ltlmir'n 
11  i(;/n/(  TiuiiiiH,  MS.,  4'A, 

"  f((iiiriirk's  'i'hlrtvcn  IVfirs'  He  wiener  on  tlw  XorthurM  Coant,  a  thick 
inaMi|Ncri|it  volume  containinK  an  account  of  the  inmigratiou  of  bS4.'),  the 
Hi!  I  lenient  of  the  I'nget  Sonntl  country  by  Americans,  the  joui'iiey  to 
Cilifiirnia  of  the  golddiuntci's,  und  a  long  list  of  personal  adventures  with 
liiili.'in.x,  und  other  matter  of  an  interesting  nature,  is  <  ntMif  my  authorities 
en  this  period.  Tho  mumiscript  was  written  at  the  dictation  of  Samuel  llan- 
Cdi'k  of  \Vhidbey  Island,  by  Major  Sewell.  See  ^^l)r^«■\■<  yalrs  n/ llif  IliM  rif 
mill  Hryouricn  iif' \\'iinhhi<jt(in  7'('/'. ,  ii.  lit-IiO.  It  Mould  seem  fi'om  Hancock's 
Ms.  thut  the  I'uget  SountI  Company,  like  the  ^Villumette  jieople,  overtook 
mill  iiHNisted  a  |mrty  of  innnigriints  who  had  been  forMtken  iiy  thut  'lilot  iii 
the  .Sierra  Nuvuila,  und  brought  tlient  through  to  the  Sucruniento  V'ulley. 


46 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


sierra  swarmed  with  pack-trains"  all  the  aut:imn. 
Their  first  resort  was  Yuba  River;  but  in  the  spring 
of  1849  the  forks  of  the  American  became  their  jirin- 
ci|)al  field  of  operations,  the  town  of  Placcrville,  first 
called  Hangtown,  being  founded  by  them.  Thoy 
M'cro  not  confined  to  any  localities,  however,  and  made 
many  discoveries,  being  for  the  first  winter  only  more 
numerous  in  certain  places  than  other  miners;  and  as 
they  were  accustomed  to  camp-life,  Indian-fighting, 
and  self-defence  generally,  they  obtained  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  clannish  and  aggressive.  If  one  of  them 
was  killed  or  robbed,  the  others  felt  bound  to  avenge 
the  injury,  and  the  rille  or  the  rope  soon  settled 
the  account.  Looking  upon  them  as  interlopers,  the 
Californians  naturallv  resented  these  decide<l  meas- 
uri's.  But  as  the  Orcgonians  were  honest,  sober,  and 
industrious,  and  could  be  accused  of  nothing  worse 
than  being  ill-dressed  and  unkempt  and  of  knowing 
how  to  protect  themselves,  the  Californians  mani- 
fested their  prejudice  by  applying  to  them  the  title 
*  Lop-ears,'  which  led  to  the  retaliatory  appellation 
of  *  Tar-heads,'  which  elegant  terms  long  remained  in 


use 


10 


It  was  a  huge  joke,  gold-mining  and  all,  including 
even  life  and  death.  But  as  to  rivalries  they  sigiii- 
iied  nothing.  Most  of  the  Oregon  and  Washinuton 
adventurers  who  did  not  lose  their  life  were  success- 
ful; opportunity  was  assuredly  greater  then   in  the 

Tliia  may  have  bpcii  the  other  division  of  Lnssen's  commuy,  thougli  Ilaiipotk 
HiijH  thiTC  were  '2r>  wiigoiiH,  which  does  not  agree  with  Ihirnett. 

"One  of  tlie  (irbt  eoiuimnies  with  puuiv-anininls  wan  under  .Tolin  E.  Ross, 
an  iiiinii;^rant  of  1.S47,  ana  a  lieutenant  in  the  C'.iyuse  war,  of  wiioni  I  kIimII 
have  more  to  say  hi  reafter.  Rush  states  tiiat  Levi  Scott  liad  aU'eady  Netth'd 
in  tlie  riniii|\ni  Vullej',  and  was  tlu'n  the  only  American  south  of  thi'Cala- 
jiooya  Mountains,  From  Seott's  to  the  lirst  house  in  California,  Reailinj,''s, 
was  It  days'  travel.    See  Jtvus'  Xiir.,  MS.,  passim. 

"7.'(..sV  X„r.,  MS.,  1,-.;  Craw/onrs  Xtir.,  MS.,  104,  204.  The  Anu-rican 
pioneers  of  California,  looking  for  the  origin  of  the  word  Oregon  in  a  Sjiaiiish 
jihrase  signil'ying  long-ears,  as  I  have  explained  in  vol.  i.  /(/.■<t.  <h\,  hit  upon 
this  (U'lectaliio  sohriipiet  for  the  .settlers  of  that  country.  With  e(|ual  justice, 
ailniltting  this  theory  to  hu  correct,  whiih  it  is  not,  the  Orcgonians  calleil 
tlieni  tar-heads,  lieeause  the  northern  ( 'alifoi'niii  IndiuUH  wvi'u  uliserved  to 
cover  their  hcuda  with  tur  ua  a  uign  of  mourning. 


■;■# 


OREGONIANS  IN  THE  MIXES. 


47 


Picrra  Foothills  than  in  the  Valley  Willamotto.  Still 
thcv  were  not  hard  to  satisfy;  and  they  hegan  to  ro- 
iiiru  early  in  the  spring  of  1849,  when  every  vessel 
Ihat  entered  the  Columbia  was  crowded  with  honie- 
living  Oregonians."  A  few  went  into  business  in 
(Ailii'ornia.  The  success  of  those  that  returned  stimu- 
lated others  to  go  who  at  first  had  not  been  able.^'^ 

"  Among  those  who  went  to  California  in  1848-9  are  the  following: 
lliiliert  lloiidorson,  Jamea  McBriJe,  William  Carpenter,  Joel  Palmer,  A.  L. 
Lovcjoy,  F.  W.  Pettygrove,  Barton  Lee,  \V.  W.  IJristow,  \V.  L.  Adims, 
Christopher  Taylor,  Jolin  E.  Ross,  P.  B.  Cornwall,  Walter  Alonteitli,  Horace 
lliiiMctt,  P.  11.  Burnett,  John  P.  Uogcrs,  A.  A.  Skinner,  M.  M.  Mot'arvir, 
rmlciick  Itanisey,  William  Dement,  IVter  Crawford,  Henry  WillianiHon, 
'rhiiiiias  McKay,  William  Fellows,  S.  (,".  Reeves,  James  Porter,  I.  W.  AMer- 
iiiaii,  William  Moulton,  Aaron  Stanton,  J.  R.  Rohb,  Aaron  Payne.  J.  Math- 
(lii  V,  (leorije  (Jay,  Samuel  Hancock,  liobcrt  Alexander,  Niniwon  Fvernian, 
,l.,l,';i  r.yrd,  Elisha  Byrd,  William  Byr.l,  Sr,  William  15yrd,  Jr,  T.  U.  lliil, 
l:a  PaLiensou,  William  Patterson,  Stephen  Bonser,  8a\il  Richards,  \V.  H, 
(oay,  Stephen  Stiuits,  J.  W.  Ncsmitii,  J.  S.  Snooks,  W.  I).  Canlield,  Alansoii 
Hunted,  John  M.  Sliivdy,  Edmund  Sylvester,  James  O'Neal,  Benjamin 
WiMid,  William  Whitney,  W.  P.  Dougherty,  Allen  McLeod,  John  Edmonds, 
('hiirlca  Adams,  John  Inyard,  Miriam  Poe,  Joseph  Williams,  Hilt,  lionser, 
William  Shaw,  Thomas  Carter,  Jellerson  Carter,  Ralph  Wilcox,  Benjamin 
lliirch,  William  H.  Rector,  Hamilton  Campliell,  Rohert  Newell,  Joiin  E. 
lliadley,  J.  Curtis,  H.  ]Jrown,  Jerendah  McKay,  Priest,  'J'urney,  Leonard, 
Shurt/.er,  Loomis,  Samuel  Cozinc,  Columbia  Lancaatef  Pool,  £uglish,  Thomp- 
Hciii,  .lohnson,  Robinson,  and  others. 

'-P.  W.  Crawford  gives  the  following  account  of  his  efforts  to  raise  the 
means  to  go  to  California:  Ho  was  an  immigrant  of  1847,  and  had  not  yet 
:'..(niired  property  that  could  l)e  converted  into  money.  Bein:,'  a  siii'veyor  ho 
spent  most  of  his  time  in  laying  out  town  sites  and  claims,  for  wiiich  he  re- 
crived  lots  in  payment,  and  in  Bome  eases  wheat,  and  often  nothiii;,'.  IIj 
had  a  claim  on  the  Cowlitz  which  lie  manu,t;(!d  to  get  plaiiteil  in  jjotatoes. 
Owning  «  little  skilF  culled  the  L',  lies/,  he  traded  it  to  (Jeer  for  a  hundred 
.'^iiilling  apple-trees,  but  not  being  able  to  return  to  his  claim,  lin  planted 
tlieiu  on  the  land  of  Wilson  Blain,  opposite  Oregon  City.  Having  cousidi'iablo 
wheal  at  McLoughlin's  mill  he  had  a  portion  of  it  ground,  ami  sold  tlie  Hour 
for  cash.  He  gave  some  MJieat  to  newly  arrived  emignnits,  and  traded  t ho 
rest  for  a  fat  ox,  which  ho  sohl  to  a  butchei'  at  Oregon  City  for  twenty-live 
iloUars  cash.  Winter  coming  on  he  a^jsisted  his  friend  1  teed  in  the  pionrcp 
bakery  of  Portland.  In  February  he  traded  a  Durham  bull  which  he  pur- 
iliasi'd  of  an  Indian  at  Fort  Laramie  and  drove  to  Oregon,  for  a  good  sailing 
liiiat,  with  which  ho  took  a  load  of  hoop-poles  down  the  ( 'oliiiiilita  to  lluiil's 
mill,  where  Nalmoii  barrels  were  made,  and  linmght  liack  some  passciiger.-i, 
and  a  few  goods  for  Capt.  Crosby,  having  a  rough  hard  time  VMnUiiig  his  way 
through  tiio  floating  ice.  On  getting  back  to  Portland,  (Vawtord  and  Will- 
iams, the  former  mate  of  the  SfmliiKj,  engaged  of  tlie  suiieriar;o  (Iray.  at 
sixty  dollars  eacli,  steerage  passjigii  on  the  I'lul'im  then  lying  at  Hunt's  mill. 
The  next  thing  Wa«  to  get  supplies  and  tools,  such  as  wvw  needeil  to  go  to 
the  mines.  For  these  it  was  nec;'ssjiiy  to  make-a  \  isit  to  N'micouvcr,  w  Inch 
niiild  not  be  done  in  a  boat,  as  the  river  was  still  full  of  ice,  mIiovc  the  month 
"f  the  Williamette.  He  sticieedeil  in  crossing  the  ( 'olunibiii  opposite  tho 
li'  ad  of  Sauve  Island,  and  walked  trom  the  landing  to  \'anciiuvcr,  a  ilistanco 
of  about  six  miles.  This  business  accomplished,  he  rejoined  his  companion 
ill  the  boat,  and  net  out  for  Ilunt'ii  mill,  Htill  endangered  l)y  floating  ice,  but 


48 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


There  was  a  complete  revolution  in  trade,  as  re- 
markable as  it  was  unlocked  for  two  years  before, 
when  the  farmers  were  trying  to  form  a  cooperative 
ship-building  association  to  carry  the  products  of  their 
farms  to  a  market  where  cash  could  be  obtained  for 
wheat.  No  need  longer  to  complain  of  the  absence  of 
vessels,  or  the  terrible  bar  of  the  Columbia.  I  have 
mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter  that  the  Henry 
and  the  Toulon  were  the  only  two  American  vessels 
trading  regularly  to  the  Columbia  River  in  the  spring 
of  1848.  Hitherto  only  an  occasional  vessel  from  Cal- 
ifornia had  entered  the  river  for  lumber  and  flour; 
but  now  they  came  in  fleets,  taking  besides  these  ar- 
ticles vegetables,  butter,  eggs,  and  other  products 
needed  by  the  thousands  arriving  at  the  mines, 
the  traffic  at  first  yielding  enormous  profits.  Instead 
of  from  three  to  eight  arrivals  and  departures  in  a 
year,  there  were  more  than  fifty  in  1849,  of  which 
twenty  were  in  the  river  in  October  awaiting  car- 
goes at  one  time."  They  were  from  sixty  to  six  or 
or  seven  hundred  tons  burden,  and  three  of  them 
were  built  in  Oregon."     Whether  it  was  due  to  their 


arriving  in  time  to  take  passage.  Such  were  the  common  incidents  of  life  in 
Oregon  before  the  gold  products  of  the  California  mines  came  into  circulation. 
Narrothr,  MS.,  179-187. 

"Alioiit  the  lust  of  December  1848  the  Spanish  bark  Jdren  Oiiipiizronnn, 
S.  C.  Reeves  captain,  arrived  from  San  Francisco  to  load  with  Oregon  pro- 
ductions for  the  California  markets.  She  wis  fastened  in  the  ioe  a  few  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Willamette  until  February,  and  did  not  get  out  of 
the  river  until  aliout  the  middle  of  March.  CrairJ'onVa  Xar.,  MS.,  17."1  91. 
The  brig  Mtihck  Ailhcl,  Hall  master,  left  the  river  with  a  cargo  Feb.  7,  1849. 
Following  are  some  of  the  other  arrivals  of  the  year:  January  Ith,  schr. 
tStnrHiiij,  (,'aptain  Menzies;  7th,  bk.  Anita,  Hall;  brig  Umlinc,  Britni;  May 
8tli,  bks.  Anita,  Hall;  Janet,  Uring;  ship  Mi'iri-itfn;  schrs.  Miliraitk'.'  ;  I'ul- 
dova;  '28t!i,  bk.  J.  ]V.  Carter;  \»'\^  Mar i/  and  Ellen;  Juno  Ifith,  silic.  Pio- 
tuer;  bk.  i'mlinc;  2.".d,  bk.  Cotnmbia;  brigs  llenrij,  Sacramento,  El  I'larcr; 
July  '2d,  (sliip  IVal/mle;  lOth,  brigs  lie'faxt,  L'Eloile  dii  Matin;  ship  Silric  de. 
Oranse;  Kciir.  <>.  ('.  Jini/mond;  brig  (Jiiito ;  28tli,  ship  /funtress;  bk,  /^tyiiini- 
ana;  scin'.  <>'en.  Lane;  Aug.  7th,  bk.  Carih;  1 1th,  bks.  Ilarjtooner,  Mnilinna; 
ship  Aurora;  brig  /'o>•^M^•  bks.  Drean  Bird,  Diamond,  Helen  M.  I.eidler; 
Oct.  17tli,  brigs  V»iVo,  Hawkes;  O.  ('.  Raymond,  Menzies;  Jonephlne,  Melton; 
Jno.  I'ltil;  Slary  and  Ellen,  (iier;  bks.  Toulon,  Hoyt;  Azim,  MeKenzie; 
22d,  brig  Sarah  MrFarland,  lircMjks;  24th,  brig  Woleott,  Kennedy;  Nov. 
rJth,  bk.  Louiaiana,  Williams;  brigs  Mart/  Wilder;  North  Bend,  tSartlett; 
lilth,  sliip  thintrrsK,  Upton;  15th,  bks.  Diamond,  Madonna;  2.'Jth,  brig  <S'rtc- 
ramenlii;  bk.  Sfjuin,  Norton;  brig  Dne  dr  Lorf/unes,  Travillot. 

'*The  Bchoonor  Milwaukie,  builtat  Milwaukio bj  Lot  Witoomboud  Joseph 


OREGON  SHIPPING. 


49 


f^cnoral  light  draft,  or  to  an  increased  knowledge  of 
the  channels  of  the  mouth  of  the  river,  few  accidents 
occurred,  and  only  one  American  vessel  was  wrecked 
at  or  near  the  entrance  this  year;''  though  two 
Freui^h  ships  were  lost  during  the  summer,  one  on 
thi'  l)ar  in  attempting  to  enter  by  the  south  channel, 
ilien  changed  in  its  direction  from  the  shifting  of  the 
sands,  and  the  other,  by  carelessness,  in  the  river 
between  Astoria  and  Tongue  Point.^" 

Tliat  all  this  sudden  influx  of  shipping,  where  so 
little  liad  '  jntured  before,  meant  prosperity  to  Oregon 
tradesmen  is  unquestionable.  Portland,  which  Petty- 
giove  had  turned  his  back  upon  with  seventy- five 
thousand   dollars,   was  now   a  thriving  port,   whose 

Kelly,  was  of  planking  put  on  diagonally  in  severfxl  thicknesses,  with  a  few 
tiiiiiiorary  saweil  tinil)ers  and  natui'al  crooks,  and  wuh  sold  in  San  Francisco 
lor  SI,<K)0.  The  (liiierul  Lam'  was  built  at  Oregon  City  by  Jolm  Mc(  'Icllan, 
iiiclid  l>y  McLouj_'ldin,  and  ran  to  San  Francisco.  Her  captain  was  (iil- 
111:111,  aftcrwaiil  a  l)ar  pilot  at  Astoria.  She  went  directly  to  Sacramento  with 
a  i'iirj.'<>  of  liiiid>er  and  farm  prtwhicts.  The  Piomer 'wna  put  together  by  a 
c(iiii|iiiny  at  Astoria.   Iloiiolidn  Friiin/,  Hcyit.  1,  1849. 

'•'  'J'hc  brig  Jdsi jihhie  Mas  becalmed,  whereupon  her  anchor  was  let  down; 
liut  a  gale  blowing  up  in  the  night  she  was  ilriven  on  the  sand  and  daslu'd  to 
I'icics  ill  the  breakers.  She  was  loaded  with  lumber  from  the  Oregon  City 
Mills,  which  was  a  total  loss  to  the  Island  Milling  Company.  Or.  tSjuclnfor, 

.lull,  10,  is:»o. 

'"This  latter  wreck  was  of  the  Sil He  dc  Grcis/^f  which  brought  Thornton 
home  from  JJoston.  She  was  formerly  a  packet  of  '2,000  tons,  built  of  live- 
ojilv,  and  running  between  New  York  and  Havre.  She  loaded  with  lumber 
fur  San  Francisco,  but  in  di-scending  the  river  ran  iipon  a  rock  and  split. 
Ki^liticn  years  afterward  her  figurediead  and  a  part  of  her  hull  stood  above 
the  water.  What  was  left  was  then  sold  to  .X.  S.  Mercer,  the  iron  being  still 
ill  ^,'1111(1  order,  and  the  locust  and  oak  knees  and  timbers  perfectly  sound. 
Ori'imi'inii,  ill  I'miif  Sound (tiizilfi-,  April  I.">,  lS(i7.  The  wreck  on  the  bar  was 
of  L' F.liiilc  dii  Mil/ill,  before  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  return  to 
Urcuoii  of  Archbi.diop  lUancliet,  and  the  arrival  of  the  Catholic  rcinlorco- 
iiK  lit  in  IS47.  Keturning  to  Oregon  in  1S4!),  the  captain  not  lindiiig  a  ]iilot 
iiiitsjili'  undertook  to  run  in  by  the  south  channel,  in  which  attempt  he  was 
fiiiimrly  so  successful,  but  its  course  having  shifted,  he  soon  found  his  siiip 
fa.st  oil  the  sands,  while  an  American  bark  that  had  foUoweil  him,  but  drew 
10  fict  less  water,  passed  safely  in.  The  small  life  boats  were  all  lust  in 
lowciiiiv'.  but  after  passing  throiij'h  great  dangers  the  ship  was  wmked  into 
UmIut  ISay  without  a  rudder,  witu  a  loosened  keel  and  most  of  the  pumps 
hiukeii.aid  having  been  rendered  by  Lattaof  the  Hudson's  I'ay  ( 'oiuiiiiny  and 
some  Indians.  A  liox  rudder  was  constructe>l,  and  the  vessel  taken  to  I'urt- 
laiid,  and  landed  where  the  warehou.si?  of  Allen  ami  J.,ewis  later  stood  Tim 
eaigo  bi'longed  to  Francis  Menes,  M'ho  saved  most  of  it,  and  who  opened  a 
htoii'  in  Oregon  City,  where  he  resideil  four  years,  liually  settliiiir  at  Si  Lmiis 
oil  I'Veiich  Prairie.  Ho  died  December  ISOT.  The  hull  of  the  .l/o/-////,./  S/nr 
w.is  soM  to  Couch  and  Flanders,  ami  by  them  to  (Jharles  Hulchins,  and  was 
hiiniiil  for  tlie  iron  and  copper,  Eugene  La  Forrest,  in  I'ui'tlitnd  Oiijuhmh, 
March 'JH,  l,S(iS. 

UiiT.  On.,  Vol.  II.    4 


i] 


60 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


shore  was  lined  with  a  fleet  of  barks,  brigs,  and  ships, 
and  where  wharves  and  warehouses  were  in  j:^reat 
demand."  In  Orejifon  City  the  mills  were  kept  busy 
making  flour  and  lumber,"  and  new  saw-mills  were 
erected  on  the  Columbia.^'* 

Tlie  farmers  did  not  at  first  derive  much  benefit 
from  the  change  in  affairs,  as  labor  was  so  high  and 
scarce,  and  there  was  a  partial  loss  of  crops  in  conse- 
quence. Furthermore  their  wheat  was  already  in 
store  with  the  merchants  and  millers  at  a  fixed  price, 
or  contracted  for  to  pay  debts.  They  therefore  could 
not  demand  the  advanced  price  of  wheat  till  the  crop 
of  1849  was  harvested,  while  the  merchant- millers 
had  almost  a  whole  year  in  which  to  make  flour  out 
of  wheat  costing  them  not  more  than  five  eighths  of 
a  dollar  a  bushel  in  goods,  and  which  they  sold  at  ten 
and  twelve  dollars  a  barrel  at  the  mills.  If  able  to 
send  it  to  San  Francisco,  they  realized  double  that 
price.  As  with  wheat  so  with  other  things,^  the 
speculators  had  the  best  of  it. 

"Couch  returned  in  August  from  the  east,  in  the  bark  Madonna,  with 
a.  A.  Flanders  as  mate,  in  the  service  of  the  Shermans,  shipping  mercluints 
of  New  Yorli.  Tliey  built  a  wharf , and  warehouse,  and  had  soon  lai(l  the  founda- 
tion <if  a  lianilsomc  fortune.  Eugene  La  Forrest,  in  Portland  Oreijouian,  Jan. 
20,  1S70;  JJrailj/,  in  TnniH.  Or.  Pioneer  At^soc,  JS70,  3;{-4.  Nathaniel  Crosljy, 
also  tif  Portland,  was  owner  of  the  O.  C.  litii/monil,  which  carried  on  so  profit- 
able a  trade  that  he  could  alTord  to  p.iy  the  master  $!.S00  a  month,  the  mate 
S-fH^,  and  ordinary  seamen  §1()0.  lie  hail  liuilt  himself  a  residence  costing 
§,"),0(K)  before  the  gold  discovery.  Jlono/itlii  Prii  ml,  Oct.  15,  1849. 

'"  MiLougldin's  miller  was  James  I}uchan,  a  Scotchman.  The  island  grist- 
mill was  in  charge  of  Robert  Pentland,  an  Englishman,  miller  for  Abernethy. 
Crniifiiril'/i  Xnr.,  MS. 

'"  A  mill  was  erected  in  1S4S  on  Milton  Creek,  which  falls  into  Seappooso 
Biiy,  an  inlet  of  the  lower  Willamette  at  its  junction  with  the  Columbia,  wliero 
the  town  of  Milton  was  subsecjuently  laiil  olf  and  had  a  brief  existence.  It 
was  owned  l>y  T.  Jf,  lli'msaker,  and  built  by  Joseph  Cumiingham.  It  began 
running  in  1S4!),  ami  was  subscfpicntly  soM  to  Captain  N.  Crosbey  and  Thomas 
W.  Smith,  who  employed  the  bark  Lnnitinnn,  Captain  Williams,  carrying 
lumber  to  San  Francisco.  <  'ri(irj'orit'/<  X(tr. ,  MS, ,  '217.  By  the  bark  Diamoial, 
whii'ii  arrived  from  IJoston  in  August,  Hiram  Clark  supercargo,  Abernethy 
received  a  lot  of  goods  and  took  (^lark  as  partner.  Together  they  built  a  saw 
and  planing  mill  on  the  Cohunbia  at  Oak  Point,  opposite  the  original  Oak 
Point  of  the  Winship  brothers,  a  more  convenient  place  for  getting  tindier  or 
loading  vessels  than  Oregon  City.  The  islan<l  mill  at  the  latter  place  was 
rented  to  Walter  Pomeroy,  and  subseijuently  sold,  as  I  shall  relate  hereafter. 
Another  ndll  was  erected  above  and  back  of  Tongue  Point  by  Henry  Marland 
in  1S41).   /'/.;  llonoUilu  Frlml,  Oct.  '^,  1849. 

"  In  the  Spi'ia'or  of  Oct.  IS,  bS4!>,  tho  price  of  beef  on  foot  is  given  at 
C  and  S  cents;  in  market,  10  and  12  cents  per  pound;  pork,  10  and  20  cents; 


MIND  AND  H.VBITS  UNSETTLED. 


SI 


ships, 

groat 

it  busy 

3  wore 

bonefit 
^h  and 
consc- 
ady  in 
1  price, 

0  could 
lie  crop 

millers 
our  out 
hths  of 

1  at  ten 
able  to 

)lc  that 
rs.2»  the 


'nnna,  with 
niercbants 
he  founcla- 

oniait,  Jan. 
iel  Crosby, 
II  so  protit- 
thc  luato 
ico  costing 

\\a\v\  grist- 
Lbernetliy. 

I  Scappooso 
Ibia,  wbero 

Itl'llCO.       It 

It  began 
liil  Tbrnuas 
y  tariyini^ 

IVbtnu'thy 
yiilt  ii  saw 
L'inul  Oak 
rtiinber  or 
I  place  \va3 
lliorcal'ter. 
Marlanil 

given  at 
[  '.20  cents; 


"When  the  General  Lane  sailed  from  Oregon  City 
\\\t\\  lumber  and  provisions,  there  were  several  tons 
if  eggs  on  board  which  had  boon  purchased  at  the 
market  price,  and  which  were  sold  by  the  captain  at 
thirty  cents  a  dozen  to  a  passenger  who  obtained  for 
them  at  Sacramento  a  dollar  each.  The  large  iiicreasu 
of  home  productions,  with  the  influx  of  gold  by  the 
icturn  of  fortunate  miners,  soon  enabled  the  fiirmers 
tc»  pay  off  their  debts  and  improve  their  })laces,  a  labor 
u[ion  which  the}'  entered  with  ardor  in  anticipation  of 
the  donation  law.  Some  of  those  who  could  arrange 
their  affairs,  went  a  second  time  to  California  in  184U; 
among  the  now  companies  being  one  of  several  hun- 
dred Canadians  and  half-broods,  under  the  charge  of 
Father  Delorme,  few  of  whom  over  rctr.rneil  alive, 
owing  to  one  of  those  mysterious  epidemics,  developed 
under  certain  not  well  understood  conditions,  attack- 
ing their  camp,'^^ 

On  the  whole  the  effect  of  the  California  gold  dis- 
covery was  to  unsettle  the  minds  of  the  peojde  and 
change  their  habits.  To  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
it  was  in  some  respects  a  damage,  and  in  others  a 
benefit.  The  fur-trade  fell  off,  and  this,  together  with 
the  operation  of  the  treaty  of  184G,  compelling  them 
to  pay  duties  on  goods  from  English  ports,  soon 
ciTected  the  abandonment  of  their  bu>siness  in  ITnited 
States  territory.  For  a  time  they  had  a  profitable 
tiade  in  gold-dust,  but  when  coined  gold  and  American 
and  Mexican  money  came  into  free  circulation,  thero 
was  an  end  of  that  speculation."  Every  circumstance 
now  conspired  to  drive  British  trade  out  of  Oregon 

butter,  02  ami  7')  cents;  cliecse,  50  cents;  flour,  .?1 1  per  barrel;  wlie.it,  .'?l..')0 
ami  !<'!  per  bushel,  and  oats  tlie  same,  rotatms  were  wtntb  s_'..">()  jk  r  bushel; 
apples,  5>I0.  These  were  the  artielcs  produced  in  tin-  enuntry,  iiud  theso 
))iiLe3  were  good.  On  the  other  hand,  grocei'ies  and  dry  ;,'()oils,  wbirli  were 
imported,  cost  less  than  formerly,  Ijccause,  while  cdnsuniptiou  was  1.  -s,  nioi'o 
targoes  were  arriving.  Iron  and  nails,  j^lasa  and  ptunt  were  still  bigli,  and 
eniiking-stovcs  brougiit  from  ^70  to  ^b'lO. 

'"  V.  X.  Matthieu,  who  was  one  of  the  company,  .«aystlint  ont  of  (iOO  oidy 
l.'iO  remained  alive,  and  that  Delorme  narrowly  escapeil.  Jt<j'ii'ji'',  MS.,  10; 
n'(ni,l„r.i  /IM.  Cnlli.  all.  in  O)-.,  180. 

"  lioterts'  litcoltectioHS,  MS.,  81;  AiiihrKou's  Xorthurst  Co(ut,  MS.,  38. 


62 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


■: 


as  fast  as  the  country  could  get  along  independently 
of  it;  and  inasmuch  as  the  fur  conn)any  had,  through 
tlio  dependence  of  the  American  community  upon 
them,  been  enabled  to  make  a  fair  profit  on  a  large 
amount  of  goods,  it  was  scarce!}^  to  be  regretted  that 
thev  shouhl  now  be  forced  to  give  wav,  and  retire  to 
nrw  territory  where  only  fur  companies  properly  be- 
long. 

Among  the  events  of  1849  which  were  directly 
due  to  the  mining  episode  was  the  minting  of  about 
fiftv  thousand  dolhu-s  at  Oreijon  Citv,  under  an  act 
of  the  colonial  legislature  ])assed  at  its  last  session, 
without  license  from  the  United  States.  The  rea- 
sons for  this  act,  which  were  recited  in  the  preandjle, 
were  that  in  use  as  currencv  was  a  lartjo  amount  of 
gold-dust  which  was  mixed  with  base  metals  and  im- 
])urities  of  other  kinds,  and  that  great  irregularities 
in  weighing  existed,  to  the  injury  of  the  conuuunitv. 
Two  members  only,  JStedorum  Crawford  and  W.  J. 
^Martin,  voted  against  the  bill,  and  these  entered  on 
the  recoi'ds  a  formal  protest  on  the  ground  that  the 
measure  was  unconstitutional  and  inexpedient.^^    The 


'^Ororrr'a  Or.  Arrhiirs,  311,  .315.  The  a.^t  was  approved  by  the  governor 
Feb.  1(»,  1849.  Ai'oordiiig  to  ii.s  urovisimis  tl;e  iiiiiit  vas  to  be  establislifd  at 
Oiegou  City;  its  ollicers,  fleeted  annually  by  Mie  house  of  representatives, 
were  to  give  eaeh  $!.3((,()00  bonds,  and  dia w  a  sa lary  of  §1  ,!('J9  eaeli  perannuin,  to 
be  ]>aid  out  of  jiroeeeds  of  the  institution.  The  director  was  empowered  to 
jiledge  the  faitli  of  the  territory  for  means  to  put  the  mint  in  operation  ;  ami 
was  reipiired  to  publish  in  some  newspaper  in  the  territory  a  fpiarterly  state- 
ment, or  by  sending  such  a  report  to  the  county  clei'k  of  eaeh  county.  1'lie 
act  provided  for  an  assayer  ami  melter  and  eoiiu'r,  ♦he  latter  being  forbidden 
to  use  any  alloys  whatever.  The  weight  of  tlie  pieces  was  to  be  live  penny- 
weights and  ten  pennyweights  respectively,  no  more  and  no  less.  The  dies 
for  stJimjiing  weie  reqnii'ed  to  have  on  one  siilc  the  Roman  iigure  five,  for 
the  jiieces  of  live  pennyweiglits,  and  the  Roman  Iigure  ten,  for  the  pieces  of 
ten  pennyweights,  the  reverse  sides  to  be  stamped  with  the  words  Oregon 
Territory,  and  the  date  of  the  year  around  the  face,  with  the  'arms  of  Ore- 
gon'in  the  centre.  What  then  constituted  the  'arms  of  Oregon' is  a  ques- 
tion, lb-own,  Will.  Vallii/  MS.,  l.S,  says  that  only  parts  of  the  impression 
remain  in  the  Oregon  archives,  and  that  it  has  gone  out  of  the  memory  of 
everybody,  including  Holderness,  secretary  of  state  in  1.S4S.  Thornton  says 
that  the  auditor's  seal  of  the  provisional  government  cons'sted  of  a  star  in 
the  centre  of  ,a  figure  so  arranged  as  to  represent  a  larger  star,  contaiidng  the 
letters  Auditor  ().  T.,  ancl  that  it  is  still  i)reserved  in  the  Oregon  archives. 
Jt'lir.'i,  MS. ,  0.  Rut  as  tlie  law  plainly  descrilicd  tlie  coins  as  having  the  arms 
of  Oregon  on  the  same  side  with  the  date  and  the  name  of  the  territory,  then 
if  the  idea  of  the  legislators  "was  carried  out,  as  it  seems  to  have  been,  a  beaver 


THE  QUESTIC:^  OF  COINAGE. 


63 


reason  for  the  passage  of  the  act  was,  really,  the  low 
iiiice  of  gold-dust,  the  inerdiaiits  having  the  jtower 
ti>  fix  the  rate  of  gold  as  well  as  of  wheat,  rocLiving 
it  for  goods  at  twelve  dollars  an  ounce,  the  Hudson's 
liav  Company  bu}  ing  it  at  ten  dollars  and  paying  in 
coin  procured  for  the  purpose."* 

The  effect  of  the  law  was  to  prevent  the  circulation 
of  o-old-dust  altogether,  as  it  forbade  weiuhiiig.  Xo 
stcj)S  were  taken  toward  building  a  mint,  which  wtaild 
have  been  impossible  had  not  the  erection  of  a  terri- 
torial government  intervened.  But  as  there  was 
henceforth  considerable  coin  ccmiing  into  the  country 
t<»  exchange  at  high  })rices  for  every  available  j»roduct, 
there  was  no  seiious  lack  of  money.-^  On  the  con- 
trary there  was  a  disadvantage  in  the  readiness  with 
which  silver  was  introducefl  from  California,  barrels 
of  Mexican  and  Peruvian  dollars  being  thrown  U|)»>n 
the  market,  which  had  been  sent  to  California  to  [)ay 
for  gold-tlust.  The  Hudson's  liay  Company  allowed 
only  fifty  cents  for  a  Peruvian  dollar,  while  the  Amer- 
ican mei'chants  took  them  at  one  hundred  cents.  Some 
of  the  Oregon  miners  were  shrewd  enough  t<»  l*uy  up 
^lexican  si!  vt  r  dollars,  and  even  less  valuable  coins, 
with  gold  du-u  at  sixteen  dollars  an  ounce,  and  take 


must  have  been  tlic  design  on  the  territorial  seal,  as  it  wa  on  the  ooir.s. 
All  ilisl)iir.seiMiiit.s  of  tlie  mint,  togetlier  witli  tiie  pay  uf  ollicers,  must  he  made 
ill  thestamiiiil  jMcccsautiiori/.eilhv  the  act;  iindwliatever  reniained  of  juntits, 
altir  deducting  ixjunses,  was  to  lie  ajiplied  to  jiay  tiiu  L'ayuse  war  exjienscs. 
I'cnaltics  weic  ]ii-()vitlcd  for  the  |iuiiirsiiliient  of  any  private  |)er!Soii  wjiu  ^IhpuM 
coin  gold  or  attenijit  to  pass  unstanii)e<l  gold.  Tlie  otiicers  ajijiointed  were 
.lames  Taylor,  director;  Truman  1'.  Towers,  treasurer;  W.  H.  Willson, 
jiielter  and  cciiner,  and  (!.  L.  Curry,  assayta'.  Or,  Sjinidfor,  Teli.  •2'2,  1S4!(. 

■'Jliinim'  Or.  (tin/  Cut.,  M.S.,  !);  limk'.-i  Kiitir^iri^in',  M.S.,  ,S;  j;ruir„'s  ]\'i!l, 
Val.,  MS.,  14.  This  condition  of  tli'j  currency  cau.scd  a  petition  to  he  drawn 
lip  and  numerously  signed,  .setting  fortii  that  in  coiiseipicnce  of  tiic  ncLilcrt  cf 
the  United  SUites  government  tiie  colonists  nnist  conihine  against  tliegictd 
of  tile  merchants  in  tiiis  matter.  Tliere  was  gcjld-thist  in  tlie  territory,  tin  y 
declared,  to  the  value  of  two  millions  of  dollars,  and  mori^  arriving.  Iicsidcs 
the  losses  they  were  forced  to  hear  hy  the  depreciation  of  guM -dust,  there 
was  the  inconvenience  of  handliuL' it  in  its  original  .state,  and  al.>o  tln'  loss 
attending  its  frequent  division.  Tliesc  ohjeetions  to  !i  gold-dust  mirrcncy 
liiiiig  likely  to  e.\ist  for  some  time,  or  as  long  as  mining  was  fullowcd,  tiny 
prayed  the  legislature  to  pass  a  coLnago  act,  which  was  duuu  as  I  liuve  said. 
Or.'  Arrhirrs,  MS..  188. 

■■' Dtudya  JJist.  Or.,  MS. 


M 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


Hi 


them  to  Oregon  where  dust  could  be  readily  obtained 
at  twelve  or  fourteen  dollars  an  ounce.'^*  The  gold 
coins  in  general  circulation  were  Spanish  doubloons, 
halves,  and  quarters.  Such  was  the  scarcity  of  con- 
venient currency  previous  to  this  overplus  that  silver 
coin  had  been  at  a  premium  of  ten  per  cent,"  but  fell 
raj)idly  to  one  per  cent. 

The  act  of  tlie  legislature  did  not  escape  criticism."^ 
But  before  the  law  could  be  carried  into  eft'ect  Gov- 
ernor Lane  had  issued  his  proclamation  j)lacing  the 
territory  under  tlie  government  of  tlio  United  States, 
and  it  became  ineficetual,  as  well  as  illegal.  The 
want,  however,  remaining  the  same,  a  partnership 
was  formed  called  the  Oregon  Exchange  Company, 
which  j)roceeded  to  coin  money  after  its  own  fashion, 
and  on  its  own  responsibility.  The  mendjers  were 
W.  K.  Kilborne,  Theophilus  Magruder,  James  Tay- 
lor, George  Abernethy,  W.  II.  Willson,  W.  II.  Rector, 
J.  G.  Campbell,  and  ^)^oyes  Smith.  Rector  "being  the 
oidy  member  with  any  mechanical  skill"  was  depu- 
tized to  furnish  the  stamps  an<l  dies,  which  he  did, 
using  a  small  machine  for  turning  iron.  The  engrav- 
ing was  done  by  Campbell.  When  all  was  in  readi- 
ness. Rector  was  emi»loyed  as  coiner,  no  assaying 
Ijciiig  do'ie  or  atteni[tt  made  t*^  part  the  silver  from 
the  gold.  Indeed,  it  was  not  then  known  in  Oregon 
that  there  was  any  silvt>r  in  the  crude  metal,  and  all 
the  pieces  of  the  satne  diMiomination  were  made  of  the 
sana-  wei^llt,  thoU!»h  the  color  varied  considerablv. 
About  thirtv  thousand  dollars  were  made  into  iive- 


''"W.  II.  Itri'tor'H  Om/oii  Kxrfinvije.  ComjKiii;/,  in  Or.  Arrhii-CK,  MS,,  10.1. 

•'  .l/(/,ss"  /'iiiiinr  7'//(((.v,  Ms.,  iV.t. 

'"Sdiiif  K(  vtic  Htiictiiics  wtro  jmssed  upon  it  liy  A.  E.  Wait,  n  liiwycr, 
ainl  III  tlmt  liiiu'  tilitiir  nf  tiic  S/'ii/iilnr,  who  (ii-cliii'i'd  with  riiiiihasis  timt  Iho 
juiipii'  I  if  ((nuKii  (Itsii'i'il  no  iuw  wliiih  ciinllic'tcd  willi  tlic  lawn  of  thv.  rnitcil 
iSuUi'h;  iiiit  only  asiicil  U>\-  the  tt'ni|ionn'y  priviitm'  iindor  the  provisional  pi\- 
t'liMiu  nt  of  loliiin^j  >,'oiil  to  nirrt  thi'  H'i|iiirt'nii'ntM  of  lmMin^■^<s  for  the  iiri'Mcnt; 
nid  tliat  if  lliin  act  waH  In  lie  nuniitti'cd  among  tiiosi^vhich  congicHM  was 
ntdviil  to  icinliini,  it  was  a  dirrit  inHidt  in  tlif  I'nilt'il  StjitoM.  Wait  may  iiavo 
liccu  li^iit  aH  to  the  ^'rriral  Nt'ntimcnt  of  th(^  jit'iiplc,  or  tf  tho  Ix'st  and  uutut 
])ati iiiiii'  mill  of  tlic  Ann'rican  jiarty,  Imt  it  is  |)lain  from  the  lanKnago  of  Iho 
memorial  to  the  Ic^iHlatinc  that  its  fiaiiit'iH  wnc  in  a  mood  to  dt>fy  tliu  guv- 
crniHunt  whicU  huu  hu  long  uitpuured  tu  bu  uutuiudful  vt  thcnt. 


BEAVER  MONEY. 


w 


taincd 
0  ixold 
jloons, 
»f  cou- 
,  silver 
)Ut  foil 

icism. 
t  Gov- 
n<^  the 
States, 
.  The 
lorsliip 
npany, 
asliiou, 
■s  were 
28  Tay- 
Reetor, 
in;j;thc 

dei)U- 
10  did, 
p'lif^rav- 

roadi- 
bsayinj,^ 
Ir  i'rom 
,)reg()ii 
III  id  all 

of  the 

•raMy. 

|()  five- 

MS.,  193. 

|i  lawyir, 
llmt  tlio 
U\  I'liitcil 
|i)iial  giiv- 
|ii'fH('iit; 

|iitiy  liiivu 
liiitl  iiiimt 
Le  of  llio 
rilio  gov- 


dollar  pieces;  and  not  quite  the  same  amount  into  ten- 
dollar  coins. ^^  This  coinaj^e  raised  the  pric^e  of  dust 
fiom  twelve  to  sixteen  dollars  an  ounce,  and  caused  a 
j^reat  saving  to  the  territory.  Being  thrown  into  cir- 
culation, and  quickly  followed  hy  an  ahundance  of 
money  from  California,  the  intended  check  (»n  the 
avarice  of  the  merchants  was  eflected.^'*  The  Oregon 
Kxchange  coinage  went  by  the  name  'beaver  money,' 
and  was  eventually  all  called  in  by  the  United  States 
mint  in  San  Francisco^  a  premium  buing  paid  upon  it, 
as  it  was  of  greater  value  than  the  denominations  on 
the  coins  indicated."* 

I  have  said  that  the  effect  of  hhe  gold  discovery 
was  to  change  the  liabits  of  the  )»eople.     Where  all 

•*  Tlic  ten-dollar  pieces  difTercil  from  the  fives  by  having  over  the  heaver 
only  the  letturs  'K.  M.  T.  U.  C.  S.'  uudijrneatli  whicii  were  seven  stars,     lie- 


Tm  DoiXAM. 


Ftn  DotLAM. 

matli  the  1)cavcr '.vas  'O.  T.,  1SI!).'  On  tlio  reverse  was  'Oregon  Kxeliango 
(  oinpany'  around  tiie  margin,  and  '  10  |).  'JUU,  Nivtivoliold'  with  'Ten  D,'  iu 
tlir  I'cnfre.    Thuriildii's  Of.  lii  lirn,  MS.,  "i, 

■'"»;/.  .inliiri.H,  Ms.,  I'CJ-.'i;  ilii>i'.-<  i:iilir/irtiti,  MS.,<>  10,  lu'.-for  sayH: 
'I  'ifterwanl  learned  that  Killioriie  timk  the  rcillingiMJll  ti>  l'in|ic|ua.  John 
(i.  I'aniiilull  lad  the  "'.ies  tlie  last  I  luiiw  of  li.eiii,  Mr  |iriiMii.ied  In  destroy 
Ihein;'  t.  ,<!iU'll  .1.  Henry  lll'own  aililM  that  they  were  jilaced  in  the  lUilody 
(if  liie  seeretary  of  Hlat<',  togethei'  with  a  .s|0  pii'ir,  mid  that  lie  had  niiulo 
brveral  ini|>reH«ionM  of  the  diis  in  lijoeU  tin.  .\  net  of  these  ini|iri>niiiii'(  wha 
jaiMinted  to  ine  in  \s'H  liy  Mr  Krown,  and  i^  in  my  eolltTiion. 

•"  "/•,  Arr/iirin,  MS,,  11)1,  IIMI.     Other  mention  of  the   'liiii\rr  im y '  in 

made  iu  Or,  J'ioiiur  Aiuo,  Tiuiih,,  1S!o,  7-,  and  I'mlhiiul  Umjoiiiin,  Dec.  8, 
J8(i((, 


«  i 

I 


66 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


was  economy  and  tlirift  Ijoforc,  thoro  was  now  a  ten- 
dency to  profligacy  and  waste.  This  was  natural. 
They  had  suii'ered  so  lon^^  the  oppiession  of  a  want 
that  eouhl  not  be  reheved,  and  the  restraint  of  desires 
that  could  not  be  j^ratilied  without  money,  that  when 
moiK^y  came,  and  with  such  ease,  it  was  like  a  draught 
of  brandy  U[»on  an  empty  stomach.  There  was  in- 
toxication, sometimes  delirium.  Such  was  esjiecially 
the  case  with  the  Canadians,^^  some  of  whom  brought 
home  thir[y  or  forty  thousand  dollars,  but  were  unable 
to  kee[)  it.  The  same  was  true  of  others.  The  pleasure 
of  spending,  and  of  buying  such  articles  of  luxuiy 
as  now  began  to  iind  their  way  to  Oregon  fj'(»m  an 
overstocked  California  market,  wis  too  great  to  bo 
resisted.  If  they  could  not  kee?>  their  money,  how- 
ever, they  j)ut  it  into  circulation,  and  so  contributed 
to  suj){)ly  a  want  in  tlu;  connnunity,  and  enable  those 
who  could  not  gt)  to  ilii^  mines,  through  fear  of  losing 
their  lan<l  claims,  or  other  cause,  to  share  in  the  golden 
harvest.^ 

It  has  l)een  held  by  some  that  th"  discovery  of 
gold  at  this  time  seriously  retarded  the  j>rogress  of 
Oregon.''*  This  was  not  the  case  in  geinMal,  though 
it  may  have  been  so  in  jiarticular  instances.  It 
took  agriculturists  temi>orarily  from  their  farms  and 
niechanics  from  their  shops,  thereby  checking  the 
steady  if  slow  iiarch  <»f  improvement.  Ihit  it  found 
a  market  for  agricultural  produ"t.s,  raising  pi'ices 
several  luuulred  [ler  cent,  and  (iiablcil  tin;  farmer  to 
get  gold  for  his  produce,  instead  of  a  poor  class  of 
goods  at  exoi'bitant  j»vices.  It  checketl  for  two  or 
three  vears  the  i)roifress  of  l>uil(lin!''.  \\  bile  mill- 
owners  obtained  enornn)Us  prices  I'or  tiieii*  lumber, 
the  wages  of  mechanics  acb  .meed  from  a  dolhir  and  a 
half  a  day  to  eight  dollais,  and  the  dav  laiiorer  was 
able    to  demand   and   obtain    four  dollars   per   «lay''' 

'M/if/fTj^oH'-i  Northwi'Ht  Coiutt,  MS.,  37-0}  JohmotCx  Cul.  oml  Oc.,  'JtKi-T. 
"  .S'(i//»v(n/','(  fimmr  f'rnihi.,  MS,,  7. 

•'♦  Ihivhj,  ill  Oi-flnii'l  Mmif/ilfi,  i.  .'1(1;   l/on«liihi  Fflniil,  May  ;»,  IWl. 
*'^  lirown'n  AuloljH'ijruii/iy,  .MS.,  ;{7j  Stioii'/H  Hki.  Or.,  MS,,  l.'». 


WAGES  AND  DEBTS.  8f 

^\  licro  lie  had  received  but  one.  IMen  who  before  were 
iiliiiost  hopelessly  iu  drl.«t  were  enabled  to  pay.  By 
tilt'  aineiided  curreucv  law,  all  debts  that  had  to  bo 
tolkcted  by  law  were  payable  in  gold  instead  of 
wheat.  Many  persons  were  in  debt,  and  their  orodit- 
cis  hesitated  to  sell  their  farms  and  thus  ruin  them; 
but  all  the  same  the  dread  of  ruin  hung  over  tl  ;  , 
CI usliing  their  spirits.  Six  months  in  the  gold  mines 
clianged  all,  and  lifted  the  burden  fnnn  their  hearts. 
Another  good  effect  was  that  it  drew  to  the  country 
a  class,  not  agriculturists,  nor  niechanics,  nor  jirofes- 
si(»n!il  men,  but  })iv.jJctors  of  various  enterprises  bene- 
ficial to  the  public,  and  who  in  a  short  time  built 
steamboats  in  [tlace  of  sloops  and  tlatboats,  and  estab- 
lished inland  transportation  for  passengers  and  goods, 
wliicli  gradually  di;s})laeed  the  pack-train  and  the 
liiiiversal  horseback  travel.  These  new  uieii  enalth'tl 
the  United  States  government  to  carry  out  some  of 
its  pi'oposed  measures  of  relief  in  favor  of  the  peo[)lo 
of  Oregon,  in  the  matter  of  a  mail  service,  tc  open 
ti;i<l.e  with  foreign  ports,  to  establisii  teh-graphic  com- 
!iiuiiicati(jn  with  (.'alilbrnia,and  evi'ntually  to  intro(hice 
n>ih'oa«ls.  These  were  certainly  no  light  beni'lits,  and 
\\t  le  in  a  measure  the  result  of  the  goKl  discovery. 
Without  it,  though  the  country  had  continued  to  till 
iij)  with  the  same  class  of  jieople  who  first  settled 
it,  several  generations  must  have  passed  bilbre  so 
much  could  have  been  elfected  as  was  now  (juickly 
iiccoiiiplished.  Kven  with  the  aid  ol' government  tho 
mmiti'v  must  have  progressed  slowly,  owing  to  its 
thstance  IVom  business  and  progn  ssional  <'enti'es,  and 
the  e\|iense  of  maintaining  iiiterct»nrse  w  ith  the  paieiit 
government.  Moi'cover,  (hiring  this  period  oi'  slow 
growth  the  avi'rage  condition  of  the  people  with  re- 
spect to  intelle<'tual  progress  would  luiN'e  retl'ogiaded. 
The  adult  population,  having  to  labor  for  the  sU|ipoit 
ol'  families,  and  being  deprive«l  through  dJNtaii"  •  and 
the  want  ttf  ni<»ney  fi'om  keeping  up  theii-  loinier 
intellectual  pursuits,  would  have  ceased  to  feel  their 


HP 
iiijl 


I 


68  EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 

former  interest  in  learning  and  literature.  Their  chil- 
dren, with  but  poor  educational  facilities  and  without 
the  example,  would  have  grown  up  with  acquire- 
ments inferior  to  tliosc  of  their  parents  before  emi- 
grating. Keared  in  poor  houses,  without  any  of  the 
elegancies  of  life,^"  and  with  but  few  of  the  ordinary 
eonvenieii'es,  they  would  have  missed  the  relining 
inlluences  of  healthy  environment,  and  have  fallen 
below  the  level  of  their  time  in  rejjard  to  the  higher 
enjoyments  of  hvmg.  The  people  being  chiefly  agri- 
cultural and  ])astoral,  from  their  isolation  would  have 
become  fixed  in  their  ideas  and  prejudices.  As  the 
njcans  of  living  became  plenty  and  little  exertion  was 
recpiired,  they  would  become  attached  to  an  easy, 
careless,  unthinking  mode  of  existence,  with  a  ten- 
den<'y  even  to  resent  iimovations  in  their  habits  to 
which  a  higher  degree  of  civilization  might  invite 
them.  Such  is  the  tendency  of  poverty  and  isolation, 
or  of  isolation  and  rude  physical  comforts,  without 
bome  constant  relining  agency  at  hand. 

One  of  the  innnediatc  effects  of  the  mining  exodus 
of  1S4H  was  the  suspension  of  the  legislature."'  On 
the  day  apj)ointed  by  law  for  the  assembling  (»f  the 
hgislative  body  only  nine  members  were  i»rescnt, 
representing  four  counties;  and  this  notwithstanding 
the  governor  had  issued  proclamations  to  fill  vacan- 
cies oceiining  through  the  resignation  of  members- 
elect.*'  I'^ven  after  the  sergeant-at-arnis  had  com- 
pelled the  ai)pearance  of  four  members  i'roui  Oiam- 

**!^tro)i,,\<  Hist.  Or.,  MS,,  21. 

"'  'J'ln-  iiu'iiiliiTs  cli'i'tdf  the  lt'),'inliituro  wore:  fmm  riiu'kairias,  A.  L.  Love- 
joy,  (1.  1,.  Ciiiiy,  .1.  I..  SiKiok;  'I'uiilutin,  Sainiu'l  ii.  'riiufMtuii,  1'.  II.  IJiir- 
lit'tl,  liali'li  Wiiiox;  CliiiniiKug,  AlliiTt  <  iaiiis,  IJulHTt  Ni'Wrll,  \V.  .1.  15aili;v, 
William  I'mtiT;  ^  ainliili,  A.  .1.  Jlciiilnic,  I,.  .\.  liiir,  William  Martin; 
I'lilk,  llani»im  l.iiivilli',  J.  \V.  NtNinitli,  ().  1{unh«11;  l.iiin,  IKiiiy  .1  I'lli  r- 
Hon,  A.iilci'Moii  (ox;  Li'wis,  Levi  1^.  Smitli;  (latNop,  A.  II.  'J'liiiiiipsuii;  N'aii- 
loiivi'i',  AdolpliiiH  I,.  I.cwin.   (Iriirtr'.H  Or.  Ariliin.'i,  'J.VS. 

'"'riic  iiit'mlitis  ili'ctt'il  to  lill  viuaiuii'H  wiiT  Saimul  I'arkjr,  in  (  liMiii- 
j«H'^{  Coiiiilj  ;  D.  Hill,  in 'lualatin;  A.  1''.  ]le(l^;ii»  and  .M.  <'ra«loril,  in  <  huk- 
Hina».  /(/. ,  V'dO.  'J"\v<i  ollicc  Hnl)Mtitiili'H  wure  I'li'i'tuil  — I'lionias  .1.  Loxuludy 
of  I'ulk  cuiuity,  uuJ  A.  M.  Luuku  at  Ik-ntuu,  uuitliur  of  whom  hurxxd. 


THE  WHEELS  OF  LEGISLATION. 


09 


]>oc!]f,  Polk,  and  Linn  counties,  there  wore  still  but 
tliircoon  out  of  twenty-three  allowed  by  the  appor- 
tii)iinieiit.  After  or^^anizing  by  choosing  Ilal|)h  \Vil- 
(•i>\  sj)oaker,  W.  G.  T'Vault  chief  clerk,  and  William 
]li>hnes  sergeant-at-arnis  and  door-keeper,  the  house 
adjourned  till  the  first  Monday  in  February,  to  give 
lime  lor  special  elections  to  fill  the  numerous  vacan- 
c-ii's. 

The  governor  having  again  issued  proclamations  to 
llu'  vacant  districts  to  elect,  on  the  5th  of  February 
Js4D  there  convened  at  Oregon  City  the  last  session 
<if  the  provisional  legislature  of  the  Oregon  colony. 
Jt  consisted  of  eighteen  members,  namely:  Jcsso 
Applcgate,  W.  J.  Bailey,  A.  Cox,  M.  Crawford,  G. 
L.  Curry,  A.  F.  Hedges,  A.  J.  Hembree,  13avid 
Jlill,  John  Hudson,  A.  L.  Lewis,  W.  J.  Martin,  8. 
I'aikcr,  H.  J.  Peterson,  William  Portms,  L.  A.  Rice, 
.S.  K.  Thurston,  J.  C.  Avery,  and  Ralph  Wilcox.** 

Lewis  County  remained  unre[)resented,  nor  did 
Avery  of  Benton  appear  until  brought  with  a  war- 
rant, an  organization  bei^'jif  effected  with  seventeen 
jiiciiibers,  Wilcox  declining  to  act  as  sjieaker,  Levi 
A  Jiice  was  chosen  in  his  place,  and  sworn  into  olHco 
by  S.  M.  Holderness,  secretary  of  state.  T'A'ault 
was  reelected  chief  clerk;  James  Cluse  enrolling  clerk; 

""llaliih  Wik'ox  WI18  lioni  in  Ontniii)  comity,  New  York,  July  0,  1S18.  Ho 
f:viiilimtr(l  (it  (loiiovii  iiiedical  oollogo  in  that  stiitc,  boou  aftiT  wiiii'li  lio  re- 


iiiuM'il  to  MisMoiiri,  .vliore  on  tlio  llth  of  Octolici'  |S|.">  lu!  niarricil,  fUiii'rat' 
ill!,  to  Oivgoii  till!  foUoA'ing  year.  In  .lanuury  lS-17  liu  was  ni>iioiiili'(l  Iiy 
Alirruotliy  county  jinlgu  of  Tualatin  r/Vc  W.  nurri;*  ii'signrd,  ami  tlio  hanio 
yi'ar  \\i\»  I'lfvtrd  to  tlio  logislaturo  fi'om  tlio  Kanie  county,  ami  ii'-cli'ctccl  in 
I  i|H.  llusiiloH  being  ciio^on  Hpualtcr  at  tliM  Hi;s;<ioii,  ho  wa.s  oloeteil  mifakcr  of 
i\\^:  lower  house  of  tho  territorial  logislaturo  in  IH.JO-l,  ami  prtmiilunt  of  tiio 
loiincil  in  llS,'),l-4.  During  tiie  years  18,")(l-8  ho  w.w  register  of  the  U.  S, 
liiml  oliii  e  at  Oiegoit  City,  anil  was  eleeteil  in  the  latter  year  eounty  juilgo  of 
Washington  (formerly  Tualatin)  eounty,  an  otliee  wliiiTi  he  lieM  till  Isd'J, 
\\]u'n  he  waH  again  elected  to  the  house  of  reiuesentativeM  for  two  yeais.  In 
.Inly  iMlo  he  was  a|i|iointed  clerk  of  the  II.  S.  disliict  louit  for  the  district 
efOrcgiiii,  and  I'.  S.  con  niiMHJoner  for  the  same  disliiet,  whiili  olllie  lie  eun- 
tintied  to  hold  ilown  to  the  time  of  his  death,  wliicli  o(  lUiied  hy  suicide, 
A|>ril  18,  1877,  having  shot  himself  in  a  state  of  'i.i.'tiil  (le|iri.'s.inm  caused  l>y 
liiialysia.  Notwithstanding  his  somewhat  free  livi.ig  he  had  continued  to 
enjoy  the  conlidence  of  the  imhlie  for  thirty  yea'st,  '|'li,.  I'mtland  liar 
juissed  the  \isual  eulogistie  resolutions.  Orcjuii  Clli/  l-^in  i/irist ,  .\\>v\\M,  I.s77; 
.S,  /'.  .l/^»,  April  l!t,  IH77;  ('al.  C/ir'.iti<iii  Ailroitili;  Mi'y  :«.  I'^TT;  I'l^rtmntl 
(.h-ijiitiHiii,  April  '21,  1877;  JMudy,  m  Or.  I'iontci'  .la>o.  Traim.,  1»7J,  117  B. 


Ill: 


CO 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


I'i' 


!lt 


;   a, 

i: 
t 

ii 


i'  J 

ij;  t, 

■\  ' 

Ii!  ii 


Stephen  H.  L.  Meek  sergcant-at-arms,  and  Wilson 
Blain  chaplain. 

Abernethy  in  his  message  to  the  lcgi«lature  informed 
tliem  that  his  proclamation  had  called  them  together 
for  the  purpose  of  transacting  the  business  which 
should  have  been  done  at  the  regular  session,  relating 
chiefly  to  tlie  adjustment  of  the  expenses  of  the 
Cayuse  war,  which  it  was  expected  the  United  States 
government  would  assume;  and  also  to  act  u[)on  the 
amendments  to  the  organic  law  concerning  the  oath 
of  office,  the  prohibition  of  the  sale  and  mauui'acUue 
of  ardent  spirits,  and  to  make  the  clerks  of  the  sev- 
eral counties  recorders  of  land  claims,  which  auKiid- 
ments  had  been  sanctioned  by  the  vote  of  the  peo[>le 
at  the  regular  election.  Information  had  been  re- 
ceived, he  said,  that  the  officers  necessary  to  establish 
and  carry  on  the  territorial  goveriunent,  for  which 
tluy  had  so  long  hopetl,  were  on  their  way  an«l  would 
soon  arrive;^"  antl  he  plainly  indicated  that  he  ixpecteil 
the  matters  pointed  out  to  be  settled  in  a  certain  way, 
before  the  new  government  should  be  established, 
coiiliniiing  the  acts  of  the  retiring  organization.*' 

"J'iie  laws  passed  relating  to  the  Cayuse  war  were 
an  act  to  [)rovide  for  the  pay  of  the  connnissioned  olH- 

*"'J'liis  iiifoi'inntioi)  si'i'iim  to  liiivp  l)ooii  liroiiylit  to  OroL'oii  in  .Tnimary 
lS->!t,  liy  O.  ('.  I'l'iilt,  (im;  of  tlio  as.sooiiitf  jtidgcx,  wliii  Imiiiu'iii'il  to  1k'  in  ( 'iili- 
foiiiia,  uliitluT  III'  hail  goiiu  in  |ini'Miit  ot  lii'altli.  111.^  I'oniini.ssion  nut  liiin 
at  .Monti'iiy  ulioiit  the  la.st  of  \ov.,  ami  in  IK'C.  lie  left  fort)ri';on  on  tho 
liaik  I'litliiif  wliiiii  after  II  lonu'  vuya^'e,  and  lieitii;  eanied  into  .^lioalwater 
liay,  linallv  K"t  into  tho  ( 'olunibia  in  .Ian.  ^ali  luOr.  'ilalv^niiuii,  Aug.  7,  \So'2; 
Or.  Si<(f/,iltif,  .Ian.  '_'.">,  1S4!». 

*'  lie  .suliuiitted  the  lepoi't  of  the  adjutant-general,  liy  whieh  it  appeared 
tliat  the  amount  dm,'  to  privates  and  non-eoninii.-i.sione'!  olliiiis  was  !:<  1(10, - 
.'{|  I. .")(!,  hesides  the  pay  of  tile  otlieel»  iilid  those  persons  employi'd  in  tho 
dill'erent  departments,  lie  reeominelided  that  a  law  should  lie  passed  ailthor- 
i/iiiL,'  scrip  to  lie  issued  for  that  aiiioiiiit,  redeeiiiaMe  at  an  early  date,  and 
lieariiiL;  interest  until  paid.  'J'hi'  lielief  that  llie  general  government  would 
Iieeoiiie  lesponsihle  Would,  he  said,  liiaki^  the  scrip  salalile,  and  eiialile  thu 
lioldeis  to  whom  it  should  lie  issued  to  leali/.e  soiuithim,'  immediati'ly  for 
their  services.  (imnr'H  Or.  Ariliifi  ■<,  '2~',\.  'I'liis  was  tlu' lieginiiiiiL!  of  specu- 
lation ill  Oregon  wiirMcrip.  As  to  (h<'  report  of  the  commis.sary  and  ipiarter- 
iiiastergeiu'ral,  the  govrnior  left  tli;it  fur  the  lei.'islature  to  esamine  into,  ami 
the  accounts  so  far  as  presenled  in  these  departments  amounted  to  soiiietliing 
like  !ji!,"i7.(MK(,  making  the  cost  of  the  war  without  the  sidaries  ot  the  commis- 
Hioiied  olIieei'H  over  .**Hl(l,(KM».  ThiH  w.is  siilisenueutly  much  rcilucud  by  a 
cuiumiasiuu,  ua  i  bhiill  hIiuw  in  thu  [itiipcr  iilucu. 


ACTS  PASSED. 


01 


rcrs  oniploycd  in  the  service  t)f  the  territory  <luriii«Tj 
tilt'  liostilities,  and  an  aet  ref^ulatinuf  tlu>  issuinjjf  and 
i((lcmj)tion  of  scrij),"  making  it  |»ayal)le  to  tin;  |i(M's(»n 
ti  wlinni  first  issued,  or  hearer,  the  treasurer  hcinuf 


dt( 


lilt  ln'nzed  to  exclian'jfe  or  redeem  i 


t  wl 


lenever  ortercc 


fi; 


Avitli  interest.  Another  aet  provided  for  the  manner 
(if  (Xcliani^^o,  and  interest  payments.  An  act  was 
piisst'd  niakinj^  a  elianufi'  in  the  oath  of  (»fHc<>,  and 
iii.ikinuc  county  chirks  recorders  of  land  claims,  to 
\\liicli  the  jjfovernor  refused  his  sii^Miatur*'  on  the  plea 
that  the  f^nited  Stati>s  laws  would  provide  for  tho 
iiiamiei"  of  reeordin<^  claims.  On  the  (»ther  hand  th(3 
|i  ''i>lature  refused  to  amend  the  orufanic  law  hv  nut- 
i'wvj;  in  the  word  'j)rohil)it'  in  place  of  'regulate,'  hut 
l';is>ed  an  act  makin<jf  it  necessary  for  every  jhtsou 
n|>]tlyin,;^  for  a  license  to  sell  or  manufacture  ardent 
>|>iiits,  to  take  an  oath  not  to  sell,  hartei",  or  '^ive 
li'jUiir  to  any  Indian,  fixinj^  the  penalty  at  one  lumdreil 
•  li'lliirs;  and  no  distilleries  were  to  be  allowed  heyond 
the  limits  of  the  whit(>  settlements.  With  this  poor 
substitute  for  the  entire  interdiction  he  had  so  lomjf 
(I'  --ired,  the  Lfovernttr  was  compelled  to  he  so  I'ar  sat- 
i-tii'd  as  to  append  his  sijjrnature. 

Ilesides  the  act  provi(liii<r  for  wiMiurhinijf  and  stamj)- 
iiii4'  ,l;'oI(I,  of  which  1  have  sjxiken,  little  more  was  done 
tli.iii  is  here  inentiomd.  Some  contests  took  place 
hetween  niemhei's  over  jtroposed  enactments,  an<l 
-lessee    AppleiLjfab',*''  as   customary   with    him,   offered 

'•"I'lii'  fir.it  not  in<>iitiin)cil  here  I  liiivc  Imvii  nimlili'  t<>  liiul.  I  (|ii(it('  tlio 
ni-.Si,,,i,ti,„\   Fil).  '.»•_»,  |S.J!».      Ill  i.liuc  i.f  it   1   liinl  ill  liic  O/-.   I.uir^.  Isi;!  !1, 


."id  H, 


ui  lilt  priiviilin^  fm-  'tlic  liii;il  scttlciiniit  of  rjnim-' 


/, 


1st    till-   (t| 


fvi  iiiiiHiit  fur  a  III  I  nil  iici'iiuiit  lit  tli('<  avtisr  war,'  nv  wliii 


li  a  l> 


.1  111 


I  ;;(>ii 

riilll- 


iiii>>iiiiicis  was  a|ii>i)iiiti'il  tu  si'ttlc  and  ii.ljiist  flinic  ilaiins;  suiil  iniiimUsiDii- 
111  lifiii^'  'riidiiiaH  Mav'ruili'r,  Saiiiiic!  Iliin'li.  ainl  Wisliy  Sli.iiiiiuii,  wlmso 
iiiit\  was  tit  cxliiliit  ill  ilctail  ii  statniii'iit  of  all  aii'miiils,  w  ln'tiu'r  for  iinMicy 
IT  lil'(i|i('rt  y  flirilislinl    tlio  (,">Vi'rilliU'llt,  nr   fur  Sfivircs  ri'lidi'li'il,    'I'lllin- as  a 


llll/l'll,    .Sll 


lili.'l', 


(ir  nlUcer  II 


f  tlm  iiriiiy.'     'I'liis  iiiii,'lit  ln'  i-iiiistnu'il  as  an  ait 
t'l  |iri)vi(ic  fur  till'  pay  of  cDiiiiinssioiKMl  ollici'i-M. 

"  l^^•('r  since  tin.l  ])a«niiiu'  tiiii>u,L;li  mnitlK'ni  ()ri>j,'fm  mi  liii*  rxpldriiii.'  I'vpc- 
liilimi.  lie  liint  (Mitortainoil  a  iiiuli  oiii 


.f  til 


iiitrv:  ami  lu'  linm.'Iit  in 


II  liill  til  cliartrr  an  as.mii'iatinii  i-alli'il  tlii>  Klamath  ( 'uiiiiiaiiN',  uliiili  was  ti> 


puwer  to  tri'at  with  tln>  natives  iiiul  pMrrliiiHi 


liiinls  frniii  thi'iii.  Mr 
l!iil:.'(s  iipiiiisril  the  liill,  aiiil  ((tiered  a  resuliiiinn.  'that  it  was  nut  in  tho 
I' '\Mr  of  tliu  luiuso  to  t^ruut  u  cliurtur  to  any  individual,  or  loiiipuny,  for 


11 


62 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


resolutions  and  protests  ad  arhkrium  ct  propoaitum. 
Ajiother  man,  Samuel  R.  Thurston,  an  cmij,^rant  of 
1847,  displayed  indications  of  a  purpose  to  make  his 
talents  recognized.  In  the  course  of  proceedings  A. 
L.  Lewis,  of  Vancouver  county,  offered  a  resolution 
that  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  be  required 
to  report,"  presently  asking  if  there  were  an  Indian 
superintendent  in  Oregon  at  all. 

The  governcyr  replied  that  H.  A.  G.  Leo  had  re- 
signed the  superintendency  because  the  compensation 
boi'e  no  proportion  to  the  services  required,  and  that 
since  Lee's  resignation  he  had  performed  the  duties  of 
superintendent,  not  being  able  to  find  any  ci>mpetent 
person  who  would  accept  the  office.  In  a  second  com- 
munication he  reported  on  Indian  affairs  that  tho 
course  pursued  had  been  conciliatcjry,  and  that  the 
Indians  had  seemingly  become  quiet,  and  had  ceased 
tluir  clamor  for  pay  for  their  lands,  waiting  for  tho 
United  States  to  move  in  the  matter;  and  theCavuso 
niui'derers  had  not  been  secured.  With  regard  to  tho 
confiscation  of  Indian  lands,  he  returned  for  answer 


i 


troiitii)!!;  for  wild  lamls  in  the  territory,  or  for  holJui^  treaties  with  the  Imliau 
trilKS  for  tile  purchiifle  of  lands,' all  of  which  was  very  apparent.  I>iit  Mr 
Apple^'ate  introdiu'ed  the  counter  resolution  '  that  if  the  doctrine  in  tho  reso- 
lution last  passed  he  true,  tlien  the  powers  of  the  Oi'egon  government  are  un- 
e(pial  to  tlu!  wants  of  tho  people,'  which  was  of  course  eijually  true,  as  it  waa 
only  provisional. 

'*"  He  wislied  to  know,  he  said,  whether  the  suiierintendent  had  upon  hiii 
own  or  tlie  authority  of  any  other  otiicer  of  the  government  eonliscated  to 
the  use  of  the  people  of  Oregon  any  Indian  country,  and  if  so,  w  hy  ;  if  any 
grant  or  charter  had  been  given  hy  him  to  any  citi/eii  or  citizens  for  the  set- 
tlement of  any  Imlian  country,  and  if  so,  by  wluit  authority;  and  wliethi  r  lio 
had  enforced  the  law  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liipiorto  Indians.  'A.  Lee  Lewis,' 
Bays  Applegate,  'a  bright  young  man,  the  son  of  a  chief  factor,  afterward 
superintendent  of  Indian  alfairs,  was  tho  first  representative  of  Vancouxer 
<listrict.'  \'i< irsof  //int.,  MS,,  4.">.  Another  Hritish  subject,  who  tooU  a  part 
in  the  provisional  government,  was  Richard  Lane,  apiiointed  by  Abcincthy 
ftainty  judge  of  Vancouver  in  1847, 1'iii'  I'ugald  McTavish  resigned.  Or.  S/irr- 
^(^)/•,  Jan.  '2\,  1847.  Lane  came  to  Oregon  in  Is;t7  as  a  clerk  to  the  Hudson's 
llay  ( 'ompany.  Ho  was  a  rii)e  sch.olar  and  a  good  lawyer,  lie  UmiI  for 
some  time  at  Oregon  t  'ity,  and  afterward  at  Olympia,  holding  various  otiices, 
nmo'M^  others  those  of  clerk  of  on<!  branch  of  the  territoiial  legi>l,iluii'  of 
\\'asliington,  clerk  of  the  supreme  and  district  courts,  county  auditor,  and 
eleik  of  the  city  corporation  of  Olympia.  Ho  ilied  at  The  DalKs  in  tho 
spring  of  1877,  from  an  overdose  of  niorphinc,  apparently  taken  with  sui- 
cidal intent.  He  was  then  about  sixty  years  of  age.  JJalks  .Uountuiiitir, 
iu  Hiiiltle  J'ucijic  Tribune,  March  "J,  1877. 


IMMIGRATION. 


68 


the  Iinliim 
Jiut  Mr 
tlio  rcso- 

nt  iiro  Un- 
as it  waa 


that  ho  believed  Lee  had  invited  the  settlement  of 
Americans  in  the  Cayuse  country,  but  that  he  knew 
nothing  of  any  charter  having  been  granted  to  any 
olio,  anil  that  he  presumed  the  settlement  would  have 
l»tin  made  by  each  person  locating  a  claim  (»f  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  reiterated  the  opinion 
expressed  to  Lee,  when  the  superintendent  sought 
Ills  advice,  that  the  Cayuses  having  been  engaged  in 
war  with  the  Americans  the  appropriation  of  their 
lands  was  justifiable,  and  would  be  so  regarded  l)y  the 
ncigliboring  tribes.  As  to  liquor  being  sold  to  tlio 
Indians,  though  he  believed  it  was  done,  he  had  never 
yet  been  able  to  prove  it  in  a  single  instance,  and 
reconnnended  admitting  Indian  testimony. 

The  legislature  adjourned  February  IGth,  having 
put,  so  far  as  could  be  done,  the  provisionid  govern- 
ment in  order,  to  be  confirmed  by  act  of  congress, 
even  to  passing  an  act  providing  for  the  payment  of 
the  several  departments — a  necessary  but  hitherto 
much  neglected  duty  of  the  organization*^ — and  also 
to  the  election  of  territorial  officers  for  another  term.*" 
These  were  never  permitted  to  exercise  official  I'unc- 
tions,  as  but  two  weeks  elapsed  between  the  close  of 
the  session  and  the  arrival  of  Lane  with  the  new  order 
of  things. 


up<)ii  liU 

t'Utl'll    to 

;  if  liny 

tilt;  sct- 
iftlii  r  ho 
0  l.fwis,' 
ftrrwanl 

ncinivor 
lU  a  part 

pfiiu'tliy 

liiilsiin'a 
i\iil  fur 
s  iptlicos, 

lalUI'c  of 

till',  anil 
s  in  tlio 
iitli  s\ii- 
(ifui/ictr, 


Note  finally  the  effect  of  the  gold  discovery  on 


iiumiLjration. 


California  in   1849   of  coui'se  offered 


^•'TIic  salary  of  the  governor  was  nominally  8')00,  hut  rrally  nothing,  ns 
the  cnnilition  uf  tliu  treasury  m'us  such  as  to  make  drafts  upon  it  wiii'thicsa 
ixcipt  in  a  fuw  casea.  Al)t'nH'thy  iliil  not  recuivo  iiis  paj'  from  the  piov  isjunal 
guvfrnnii'iit,  ami  us  the  teri'itorial  act  iliil  not  conlirm  thu  statiitis  pa.ss.d  liy 
the  s>'\iM-al  colonial  legislatures,  he  Iwul  no  redress.  After  Oregon  had  Ihmmiiho 
u  state,  anil  when  liy  u  series  of  misfortunes  he  had  lost  nearly  all  his  pcisscs- 
ti'Miis,  after  more  than  "JO  years' waiting  Al)ernetliy  received  his  salaiy  as 
giivernor  of  the  Oregon  colony  by  an  appropriation  of  the  OrcLiipii  h  ;^i>laliiio 
Oi't.  1^7-.  The  amount  was  §-,!)S(i.'JI,  which  congress  was  askid  t"  luaku 
good  to  the  state. 

'"A.  L.  Jjoveioy  waa  elected  supremo  '.'dgo  in  plaeo  of  Coluinliia  Lan- 
caster, appointed  l>y  the  governor  in  jilacc  i.,  'riiorntun,  w ho  resi;.Mied  in  l.s(7. 
W.  S.  Mattock  was  chosen  circuit  juilge;  .Sannul  I'arker,  iiioseiutiiiii  attor- 
iiiy;  'I'huophilus  Magrnder,  secretary  of  the  territory;  \V.  K.  Kiiliorne, 
treasurer;  John  (!.  Campltell,  auditor;  W.  II.  ISeimett,  niarslial,  and  .V,  Leo 
Lewis,  Buperiutendeut  ut  Indian  atl'uirs.  Of.  SiircMor,  Feb.  .2,  lts4<J, 


C4 


EFFECT  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


the  ffreat  attraction.  Tlic  four  or  five  hundrod  who 
were  not  dazzled  with  the  visions  of  innnediate 
wealth  that  beckoned  southward  the  great  army  of 
gold-seekers,  but  who  suffered  with  them  the  common 
discomforts  of  the  way,  were  glad  to  part  company 
at  the  place  where  their  roads  divided  on  the  western 
slope  of  the  Rocky  Mtmntains. 

On  the  Oregon  part  of  the  road  no  particular  dis- 
counigcment  or  distress  befell  the  travellers  until 
they  leached  The  Dalles  and  began  the  passage  of  the 
mountains  or  the  river.  As  no  emigration  had  ever 
passed  over  the  last  ninety  miles  of  their  journey  to 
the  Willamette  Valley  without  accident  or  loss,  so 
these  had  their  trials  with  floods  and  mountain  de- 
clivities,*' arriving,  however,  in  good  time,  after  having 
])een  detained  in  the  mountains  by  forest  fires  which 
blocked  the  road  with  fallen  timber.  This  was  an- 
other form  of  the  inevi'::ible  hardship  which  year 
after  year  fell  upon  travellers  in  some  shape  on  this 
jiart  of  their  journey.  The  fires  were  an  evidence 
that  the  rains  came  later  than  usual,  and  that  the 
I'ormer  trials  from  this  source  of  discomfort  were  thus 
absent.*"^  Such  was  the  general  absorption  of  tho 
public  mind  in  other  affairs  that  the  immigration  re- 
ceived little  notice. 

Before  cfold  was  discovered  it  was  land  that  drew 
men  to  the  Pacific,  land  seen  afar  off  through  a  rosy 
mist  which  made  it  seem  many  times  more  valuable 
and  luautiful  than  the  prolific  valleys  of  the  middle 
and  western  states.  And  now,  even  before  the  dona- 
tion law  had  })assed,  the  tide  had  turned,  and  gold  was 
the  magnet  more  potent  than  acres  to  attract.  Ilow 
far  population  was  diverted  from  the  north-west,  and 
to  what  extent  California  contributed  to  the  develop- 


"Cii-n.  Smith  in  his  r.-port  to  i\\c  secretary  of  war  saiil  that  the  roads  to 
Orejjon  were  iiuule  to  come  into  it.  hut  not  to  gomitcjf  it,  referring  to  tiie  steep 
desoents  of  the  western  declivities  of  tiio  Cascade  Mountains. 

**A  innt;  dry  autumn  in  1S4S)  was  followed  i)y  fresla'ts  in  tlie  Willamette 
Valley  in  Dec.  and  Jan.,  which  carried  olF  between  S40,tKK)  anil  ^oO.OOO  worth 
of  property.   Or.  Sjmclator,  Jan.  iO,  18d0. 


ABSENCE  OF  THE  IXFERNO. 


65 


iiicnt  of  the  resources  of  Oregon,"  the  proijress  of  this 
jiistory  will  show.  Then,  perha})s,  after  all  it  will  be 
Mtu  that  the  distance  of  Oregon  from  the  Sierra 
Fdothiils  proved  at  this  time  the  greatest  of  blessings, 
iH'ing  near  enough  for  connnercial  communication,  and 
yet  so  i'ar  away  as  to  escape  the  more  evil  conse- 
(|ucnce ;  attending  tlie  mad  scramble  for  wealth,  such 
as  social  dissolution,  the  rapine  of  iniollect  and  prin- 
ciple, an  overruling  spirit  of  gambling — a  delirium  of 
development,  attended  by  robbery,  murder,  and  all 
unclean ness,  and  followed  by  reaction  and  death. 


"  When  J.  Q.  Thornton  was  in  Washington  in  1848,  ho  had  made  a  seal 
fcir  the  turritory,  the  dc.-iign  of  wliich  was  apiiropriate.  In  the  centn-asliield, 
two  co'iipiirtiiieiits.  Lower  coniiiartinent,  ia  the  foregrountl  a  plougli;  in 
thi!  (h.staiiL'e,  iiinuiitains.  In  tliu  upiier  (.'mnpartinont,  a  sliip  uinler  full  sail. 
Tlie  I'l'e.-it  a  l)eavL'r;  tlic  sinistor  .suiUMprter  an  Iiiiliaii  witli  liow  and  arrow, 
and  a  niaiitlu  of  Mkins  over  his  8houldt;rs;  tlic  dcxtur  supporter  5in  eaglo 
witii  wiiifii  ili.s[(layed;  the  motto — tiliii  volit  jn-ojirii.-t — I  tly  with  iny  own  wing. 
Fuld  (if  tlio  lower  compartment  argent;  of  the  upper  blue.  Tlii.t  se.il  was 
pri'Sfiited  to  the  governor  and  secretary  in  ISoO,  and  hy  them  adopted.  IJy 
att  of  .Ian.  liS54,  it  was  directed  to  he  dc|io.sited,  and  reconled  in  tlie  otlice 
iif  the  .si'iTi'tary,  to  remain  a  ^mhlie  record;  hiit  so  far  as  can  l)e  ascertained 
it  was  never  ilone.  Or.  O'ln.  Law-t,  1S45-I8G4,  p.  027.  For  fae-simile  of  seal 
see  p.  4ST,  thin  vol. 

Hist.  Or.,  Vol.  U.   5 


iii 


lilt' 


t1 

■ik- 


1:1 


CHAPTER  III. 

LANE'S   ADMINISTRATION. 

1849-1850. 

Indian  Affairs— Trohbles  in  Ciuvlitz  Valley — Fort  Nisqually  At- 
tacked— Akkival  ok  the  Unitei>  .States  Ship  'Massachisetts'— A 
MiLiiAKY  Post  Estaiilisued  near  XisycALLY — Thornton  as  8db- 
Lndian  Aoent  -Meetino  of  the  Legislative  Assemulv — Measures 
Aiioi'TEn — .TriPiriAi,  Districts— A  Tuavei.lin(}  Coi'rt  ok  Jistice  — 
The  Mot'ntki)  Kifle  Keoiment— Estaiilishment  ok  Militahy  I'(»sts 
AT  Eout  Hall,  Vancouver,  Steilacoom,  and  The  Dalles— The  \'an- 
coi  vEii  Claim— (;eneral  Peusiker  F.  .Smith — His  Dhunken  .Sol- 
MEKs— The  Dalles  Claim — Trial  and  Execution  of  the  Whitman 
Murderers. 

GovERXOR  Lane  lo.st  no  time  in  starting  the  political 
wIu'cIm  (»r  the  territory.  Fir.st  a  census  must  ho  taken 
in  oi'der  to  make  the  proj)er  apportionment  helbre  or- 
(lerini;  an  election;  and  this  dutv  the  ii)arshal  and  his 
dejiuties  qui(?kly  ji'-rformed.*  ^le.'Miwhile  the  governor 
applied  himsfir  to  that  hranch  of  his  dlhce  which  made 
him  su[)erinten(lent  of  Indian  atfairs,  the  Indians 
themselves — those  that  \verc  left  of  them — heing 
]>rom])t  to  remind  him  of  the  many  years  they  hatl 
been  living  on  promises,  and  the  crumhs  which  were 
drop|)ed  from  the  tables  of  their  white  l)i'otlu'rs.  The 
result  was  more  promises,  more  fair  woids,  and  fui'ther 
assurances  of  the  intentions  of  the  great  chief  of  the 
Anjerieans  toward  his  naked  and  hungry  red  chddren. 
Nevertheless   the   superintendent  did   decide   a  case 

'Till'  i-ensHs  returns  sliowod  a  total  of  S,TS.'>  Am(M'ii'iui.s  of  nli  u^r^  nml 
both  Hi'Xi'S  and  'i!tS  fort'i^'iiors.  From  tliis  ciiiinu'ration  niiiy  1"'  )^.itli<i  "il 
Homo  iik'a  of  tlio  gruat  cxoilus  to  tlio  K"1>1  niiiit's  of  hotli  Anu'rii'iiiis  and  Bril- 
i.sli  Hiilijeots.  liuliiiiit)  utiil  Iluwaiiaiis  wc'i'u  nut  C'luniicrati'd.  Hoiwliiln  J'l'ni.il, 
Oct.  184S),  ol. 

(OUl 


PACIFICATIONS. 


•7 


at^f.iiiist  some  white  men  of  Linn  City  who  ]ia«l  pos- 
Msscd  tliemsolvos  of  the  site  of  a  native  fishinn^  villajjje 
I  11  the  west  hank  of  the  Willamette  near  the  falls, 
altt  r  maliciously  setting  tire  to  the  wretched  hahita- 
tioiis  and  c;  nsumiuj^  the  poor  stock  'jf  supplies 
ioiitaiiied  therein.  The  Indians  were  restored  to 
tliiir  original  freehold,  and  quieted  with  a  pi-oiiiise 
wf  iiidenniirication,  which,  on  the  arrival  of  the  first 
ten  thousand  dollar  ap})ro])riation  lor  the  Indian  ser- 
vice in  A[>ril,  was  reileemed  hy  a  few  presc;nts  t»f  small 
value,  the  money  heiuj,'  required  for  other  purpctscs, 
none  having  been  forwarded  for  the  use  of  the  ti;rri- 
lory.* 

In  order  to  allav  a  growinjj  feeling  of  uneasiness 
auHMii;  the  reuioter  settlements,  occasioned  hv  tlu- 
iiis(»lcnt  demeanor  of  tlie  Kliketats,  who  frecpiently 
visited  the  Willamette  and  j)erpe*^rated  minor  ollcnces, 
from  demanding  a  prepared  meal  to  stealing  an  ox  or 
a  horse,  as  the  ]Molallas  had  done  on  previous  occa- 
si  ins,  Lane  visited  the  trihes  near  The  Dalies  ami 
along  the  north  side  of  the  Columbia,  including  tho 
Kliketats,  all  of  whom  at  the  sitrht  of  the  new  white 
chief  |)rofessed  unalterable  I'riendship,  thinking  that 
now  surelv  somethini;  besides  words  would  be  foith- 
coming.  A  few  tritlintx  !>ifts  vrcre  l)estowe<l.''  l*res- 
cMlly  a  messenger  arrived  from  l*uget  Sound  with 
information  (»f  the  killing  of  an  Anjerican,  Leander  C. 
Wallace,  of  Cowlitz  Valley,  and  the  wounding  of  tw(» 
others,  by  the  Sno(|ualimichs.  It  was  said  that  thty 
had  concocted  a  plan  for  capturing  Fort  Nis<(ually 
by  fomenting  a  (piarrel  with  a  small  and  inolfensixe 
tiilte  living  near  the  I'oi't,  and  whom  they  enqiloyed 
.soiiR'timesas  iierdsmen.  They  reckoned  upon  the  com- 
jiany's  interference,  which  was  to  furnish  the  ojipor- 
tunity.     As  they  had  expected,  when  tlu'V  bi'gan  the 

' /r>tioliilii  Fi-ifwf,  Oct.  1849,  ")8;  L(vu\i  l!<i,l.  in  , ;•/,•(/  Ooii'j.,  .M  Si'o'., 
II.  /;.,•.  Ih,r.  1,   l.-,ii. 

^  Latif  Njiy.-i  tho  ainuunt  i-xpfiuU'il  on  preaonts  wns  !ibout§'J(Xt;  unci  Unit  In; 
iiiaili-  jicuco  bttwvfn  tliu  WuUu  Wullus  untl  Yakiniua  who  were  altout  logo 
to  wur. 


08 


LAXirS  ADMIXISTRATIOX. 


ill 


!!'! 


Ks 


nfrriiy,tli('  Indians  attacked  ran  to  the  fort, and  Tolniic, 
who  was  in  oharujc,  (»rdero(l  the  gates  o|»'n«'d  to  nivu 
thctn  rrl'ugo.  At  this  inoniont,  when  the  Snoquali- 
michs  were  making  a  dash  to  crowd  into  the  fort  c»n 
tii(.'  jU'rlcnce  of  lollowing  thiMF  enemies,  Walhice, 
( 'hailt's  Wren,  and  a  Mr  Lewis  were  ri(hng  toward 
it,  ha\  in'-'  conic  fi-om  tlio  Cowlitz  to  trade.  On  seeing 
their  danger,  tiie\'  also  made  all  haste  to  get  inside, 
hnt  were  a  moment  too  late,  uhen,  the  gates  being 
closed,  the  disappointed  savages  tired  upon  them,  as  [ 
ha  ,(!  said,  hesides  killing  one  of  the  fi'iendly  Jnrlians 
who  did  iKtt  gaiti  the  shelter  of  the  fort/  Thihault, 
a  (."anadian,  then  hegan  firing  on  t!ie  assailants  from 
oi  e  (»f  the  bastions.  The  liuiians  finding  they  had 
faded  retreated  before  the  company  could  attack  them 
in  full  force.  Then;  was  no  doubt  that  had  the  Sno- 
•  (Ualiniichs  suceeded  in  capturing  the  fort,  tluy  would 
have  massacred  every  whiti;  person  on  the  Sound. 
Kin«ling  that  they  had  conunitted  themselvi-s,  thev 
sent  wo- I  to  th»!  AuKjrican  settlers,  inunbering  about 
;t  d(»/en  families,  that  they  were  at  liberty  to  go  out 
of  the  country,  hviving  th<'ir  property  bcjiind.  Ihit 
to  this  offer  the  settlers  returni^d  answer  that  they 
intended  to  Htav,  and  if  their  property  was  threatened 
should  fight.  Jn.stead  of  fleeing,  they  built  block 
houses  at  Tuinwater  and  ('owlit/  praiiie,  to  which 
they  couhl  I'ctire  in  case  of  alai'ni,  and  sent  a  messen- 
ger to  (lie  governor  to  inform  him  of"  their  situation. 
There  were  theii  at  Oregon  (Jity  neither  ainiies  nor 
ori'ani/ed  courts.     Lieutenant  JIawkinsand  five  men 


n 


•Tliiii  in  III'  ipidiiijt  to  tlui  noi'oimtiif  llu'  iifruirjiivpiilty  m'voiul  aittlioriticH, 
Sen  Tiiliiiii'  ill  till'  l'"ili.  .M  i««iu<  (if  Triifh  T<llii\i\  niiiuII  xhi't't  |>iililisht'i|  at 
I'lii't  StfiliuMMiiii  in  iS.'iS;  iiJHo  ill  II'k.1.  I'lcjif  Siiiarl,  Ms.,  'XI-',.  \  wtilcr  in 
•  III'  >  iliini/iiii  S/iii  i/inl  iif  Aiiril  1 1 ,  1  MiS,  HdVn  that  \Vifii  lii><l  liin  luii'k  ii^iiiiiiiit 
the  Willi  mi'l  Mas  <'i!(riiijr  m,  Imt  wuh  Nliiit  out  liy  Walt  r  |{ohh,  llic  iKik, 
who  Willi  I  iHi  of  till'  \ini|iiiillii'H  Miii  on  j,'iiuril.  'I'lii«  \m  iter  also  hiivh  that 
I'lilkiiiiiiii,  a  <  hill  III  till'  Sniii|iialiiiiii'liH,  altiTwrnil  f.kiiioiiH  in  tlii'  liuliim  nmii'm, 
>MiM  iiiMili'  till'  loit  talliiiiK  with  'roliiiii',  wliili'  tlir  iliicfH  ln'ollnr  nhot  at  ami 
killril  Wiillini'.  'riii'iin  I'tiilt'iiiciitM,  wliili'  Hot  iiitrntioiially  I'aUr,  wtro  lolori'il 
li,V  niiiior,  uiiil  liy  ihi'  |ii'i'juilii'<' ii^iiiiiHt  tin*  I'm  • 'iiii|iiiiiy,  uliirli  hail  ilit(iri,^'in 
villi  till'  liint  Hi'ltli'i'H  of  till'  l'iu{(<t  Soiiii.l  rt'^iciii.  at  it  hail  lunl  in  tlii'  n'){iiiii 
Boiitli  of  till'  t'olmiiliiii.  .Sec  iilao  A'o/xW.i'  It'troUi;  •tioim,  MS,,  3o}  Uulihinoit't 
UivwtU  (j/'  J'i/nii«,  Ms.,  17. 


TROUBLRS  AT  XlSQUVLLY, 


80 


)linio, 
)  nivc 
ifjuali- 
mt  oil 

I)  wart  I 

inside, 

n,  as  [ 

ndians 
ihuult, 
s  from 
oy  liad 
k  tlii'iii 
10  Sn'»- 
'  would 
Sound. 
s,  thfV 
k  a1>oiit 
()  out 

Hut 
t  tlity 

tctu'd 

I. lock 

which 

CSSl'U- 

latioii. 
cs  iior 

•(•   UM'U 

tliiiiitii's. 
ili^lii'il  lit 
wrilir  ill 
U  ii^aiii^t 

III)'   rlrlK, 

uiyH  tliat 
liau  wiUH, 
lilt  at  aii'l 
In  coll  "It'll 
litH  (iiT^iii 
llic  \('}!i'ili 

1^l6/ll.'<ull'« 


who  had  not  desi'i'tod  coustituied  tho  Miili(ary  forccat 
Liiiics  couunaud.  AotiiiL,^  with  (.•haractciistic  proiiipt- 
iitss,  lie  SL't  out  at  OIK'*'  W.v  J.'u^fl  Sound,  acconi|ianiid 


th 


<.'S(' 


:'n»»" 


:h   1 


iini 


/ 1. 


uipiily 


Iv   of 


aims   am 


aiMUiiniition,  and  IcavniL!"  .jicorui 


L.  ( 


uiTV  art  nil; 


ntaiy  i»y  his  a|t|)ointnioiit,  I'ritclictt  not  yt(  ha\inn- 
arrived.  At  TuinwatLT  he  was  overtaken  l»y  an  ex 
press  Ironi  A'aneouver,  notilyiiiL;  him  ol'  !  he  arris  al 
of  tin'  propeller  M(iss<ii/nisrtts,  Captain  Wood,  I'roui 
IJoston,  l»y  way  of  Valparaiso  and  t!u  Hawaiian 
i>lands,  liavini^  on  ltoar<l  two  eonipanies  of  artillery 
under  J)i'evet-MaJ(»r  Hathaway,  who  sent  l^ane  uurd 
that  it'  he  so  desired,  a  pai't  of  his  loree  should  he 
moved  at  once  to  the  Sound.'' 

iiane  retuined  to  the  ( 'ohunhia,  at  i\\o  same  time 
despatehiui;' a  letter  to  Tolmie  at  l"'ort  Nisipiaily,  re- 
(jnestinL*'  him  to  inform  the  hostile  Indians  that  should 
lliev  conunit  any  further  outra'ts  they  would  he  \  is- 
ited  with  ehastisemeiit,  lor  now  he  had  finhtin^'  nun 
ei!ou,>h  to  (lest  roy  (hem :  also  makiii'^"  a  reipiest  that 
no  aniMiunit'on  should  he  furnished  to  the  Indians." 
His  plan,  he'  informed  the  set'retary  of  war  aftei- 
vai'd,  was,  in  tin;  event  of  a  military  post  heinj;' 
e>tahlislie('  on  the  Sountl,  to  secure  the  cooperation 
of  Major  Hathaway  in  ai-i'estin^-  and  puni^Iiini;'  the 
Indians  aecordiny  to  law  for  the  nnirder  ot Wmeric.iu 
citizens. 

(hi  leachincf  Vancouver,  ahout  the  middle  of  June, 
lie  found  the  Miissiir/uisi-fts  rea<ly  to  lepart,'  and 
I  lat  liaway  eneam|»ed  in  the  reai'ofth<'  Hudson's  Hjiy 
Company's  fort  with  one  com|taiiy  of  artillery,  the 
ether,  under  ( *a[itain  li.  II.  Hill,  liavin<4'  heen  left  at. 
Astoria,  (juarti  red  in  tin;    hnildin<4s    ereetid    hy    the 

^Tlii'  traiiKport  .I/k-tk.'Amii'^'I  <  ii'crcil  tl,r  ('oliinilii.'t  May  Tili,  \'\  \\\<-  .-.iil 
iiiu' ilin'cliiiiis  (if  ( 'a|itiim  (  MlHtmi,  Millimil  dilliiiill  y.    Ilinu'liiiii  t'luinl,  N'uv. 


I'^l!•. 


Til 


iJii'  lii'Mi  jiiivi'iiinn  III  M'ssrl  In  |.'(l  'lalily  iiiln  tlu'  ii\ri. 


II  Itf  s   Itl  I 


'I.   In  llir  S< 


If, 


ill  .il"!  (  'nl, 


.)/,! 


<i.,:<is, 


II.  /;.  h, 


i.-.iiii  liiinilfH  wvt  .  In   I'mlliiliil,  wllclc  r^Uv  wurt   liiailril  «illi  IuiiiIh  r 


fur  III!'  iiNc  III'  till'  i.'iiM'i'iiiii  lit  1*1  i  'iilil'ii  hill  ill  luiililiiiu  anii,\  iiiiiiitrrK  at  lit  ni- 
liii;   till'  I',  S.   tl'Ullttlliii't       liitr   ,\:\H  iilxi'wim'  t'llililuyt'il,    lii'jnll  1  /.'</'/,,  in  ..'/'< 

I'ki'j/.,  «'(/  .S'iM.,  //.  AV.  J  Of.  I,  '^^4. 


m\ 


:i;! 


1  t)i| 


i 


'It' 


'  J 


on 


70  LAXir.S  ADMINISTRATION". 

>S7/f(/7,'\  crew  ill  184(5/  It  was  soon  arranged  hotwoc 
Hathaway  and  ]jano  that  Hill's  (.'oinpany  should  c.^- 
lahlisli  a  i»ost  near  Xisqually,  when  the  Indians  would 
1)1'  called  upon  to  surrcndei*  tht;  murderer  of  Wallace. 
The  ti'o<)j)s  wci'e  removed  from  Astoiia  ahout  the  mid- 
dli-  of  .July,  |troc<'eding  l)y  the  English  vessel  Jlar- 
jitMnicr  to  Xis(jually. 

On  the  l.'Uh  of  Ma}'^  the  governor's  pntelamation 
was  issued  dividing  the  territory  in(o  judicial  districts; 
the  lirsl  disti'ict,  (o  wliicli  IJryant,  who  arrived  (»n  the 
Dili  iif  April,  was  assigned,  consisting  of  Vancouver 
and  sevei-al  counties  innnediati'lv  south  of  theColum- 
hia;  the  second,  consisting  of  the  remaining  counties 
in  the  Willamette  \'alley,  to  whi«'h  Pratt  was  assigned; 
and  the  third  the  comity  of  Li-wis,  oi-  all  the  country 
north  of  the  ( 'olumhia.  and  west  of  Vaiicouver  county, 
in«'Kiding  tin;  Puget  Sound  territory,  for  which  tluTO 
was  no  judg(j  then  appointed."  'I'he  .Imie  election 
ga\e  ( )regon  a  I)i>ii(i  J'ulr  delegate  ti>  congi'ess,  chosen 
l»y  the  people,  of  whom  we  shall  know  more  presently. 

When  the  governor  reached  his  capital  Im  found 
that  several  commissions,  which  had  heen  intetuled  ti> 
overtake  him  al  St  liouis  or  licavenworth,  hut  which 
failed,  had  heen  forwarded  l»y  Lieutenant  IJeale  to 
( 'aliforiiia.  and  thence  to  Oregon  ( 'ity.  'I'liese  related 
to  the  Indian  department,  ap|»oiiiting  as  siih  Indian 
agents    .1     (y    Thornton.    ( Jeorge    ('.    I'reston,    and 

llohcrt     Newell.'"  the    .\hernethy    deleg.if.      Iieillg    re- 

wardt  d  at  last  with  this  uniudi<ial  otiice  l»v  a  relentiu''' 
proident.  .\s  I*ieston  did  not  Mrri\e  with  his  com- 
mission, the  territory  uas  divided  into  two  distriets, 

" 'I  111'  wlicili-  fill i|l'«isti'il  "f  nil   iiillU  illlil   tilt'.       TIh'V  Wrl'i'  rii||||iltllii'H  I, 

mill  M  lit  till'  Ut  I'l'^'inii  lit  lit'  ('.  S.  iii'tilli'i'V.  ninl  ntliit'i'iil  im  t'lilliiws:  Miiim 
.1.  S.  Ihilliiiuiiy  ■'iiiiiiiiainliiiL:'.  ('ii|iti)iii  It.  II.  Hill,  i'iiiiiiiiiiiiiliii|i{  ('iiiii|iaiiy  .\l ; 

l^<l    lii'lll.,  .1.    li.  Oilmnll,    InI    liillt.,  'I',   'rillliiit.  '.M    lii'Ul.,  li.  'rilllllllli|;,'i>,    I'lilll 
|illll,V   M:    '.M    lirllt.,  .1.    |)r|iii'lit,  <'iiMI|iilli\   I.;    'Jil    lirlll.,  .1.  .1.   WiHiil-*,  i|iial'ti>l'- 
immkIit  mill  1  iiiiiiiiiNNaiy;  '.M  lii'Ul.,  .1.  \\.  \'\\,  iiil|iitaiit.    Huiinhtlu  I'^'h/in  "niii, 
A|iiil  I  »,  isi'i 

*l';»iiii»,  ill  A'l  ((•  Tni-nitiii  /-'./;/' r,  .July  II.  |SH(t. 

'"Ami  rim  n  Miiiuixir,  |,S.M(,  |(1S  •!;    <//•,  S/;  rhilur,  O.t.  4,  IHII). 


i  (I 


TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. 


71 


fnxl  Tliornton  assiLfiU'd  l)y  the  i^ovcriKir  to  tlu>  north 
ol' the  Columbia,  wliiif  Xcwrll  was  ^^ivcii  tlio  ••oiiiiti-y 
.sttiitli  of  tlu!  river  as  iiis  district.  This  ari'aiin'fiuriit 
M'lit  Thornton  to  tiie  (lisatroctoil  roi^ioii  of  PuLjct 
Siiiind.     On  the   'JOth  <»t'  tJiily  h(^  proceejU'd  to  Xis- 

al)sent   lor   se\ cral   weeks,  oh- 


iiiillv,  where    Me  was 


taiimiLj  the  ini'orniation  whiili  was  endKuhed  in  tlte 
Kjiort  of  the  snperintt'iuh-nt,  eonciMiiinLf  t!ie  nunihers 
;iiid   (hspositioiis  (»r  the  dirtei-ent  triht's,  Cuj-ni^hed  to 


liiiii 


l»V 


Tol 


nne 


Whih 


e    on    this    mission,    dininij;; 


\vhiih  he  \isited  some  of  the  Indians  and  made  llieiii 
siiudl  presi-nts,  he  conceived  it  his  duty  to  ofrei*  a 
nuard  t'oi*  tlie  aj)pr(>htn-iion  of  the  principal  actors 
III  I  hi'  alfair  at  Nis(pial!y,  neaily  ecpial  to  the  ami»unt 
|i,ii(l  hy  Oi^'den  for  the  ransom  of  all  the  captives 
lifter  the'  Waiilatpu  massacre,  amountini;  to  nearly 
li\e  hundied  dollars.     'I'his  assumption  of  authority 


louse( 


t    tl 


le    ire 


.f    t 


lie  !L(overnor,   who   jti'ol»alily   ex- 


prcssi'd  himself  somewhat  strongly,  tor  'l'h(»rnti>n  re- 
siyni'd,  and  us  Xev.ell  shortly  after  went  to  th»^  ^-old 
mines  the  hus'r-^'^s  of  c(»nciliatin'^  and  iiunishiiii^  tlio 
Indians  a;j;ain  dev  >lved  uiM»n  the  }jjo\i!inor. 


On  the  null  of  July  the  first  territorial  legislative 
iissemhly  met  at  Orei,^on  City.  AccordiiiLj  to  the  ait 
rstahlishiiiir  the  ]i;overnment,  the  legislature  wan 
oi'ii^'.inized  with  niiie  councilmen,  of  three  classes, 
whose  ti'rms  should  »'\pire  with  the  lii-st,  second,  ami 
lliird  years  respectively;  and  eighteen  nieniliers  of 
tlic  house  of  ri'preselilativi'S,  who  should  serve  for  olio 
Near;  the  law,  howcNcr,  jirovidiii'^  for  an  incie.iM'  in 
llif  iiumher  of  I'l'pre.seiitatives  from  time  to  time,  in 
proportion  to  the  numher  of  (|ualilied  voters,  until  the 
iiia\iiiium  of  thirtN'  should   he  rtailied.' '     Alhr  the 


^yil4r,tn;i.,i;,lS,»f.,  II.  Kv.  nor.  I,  1(11. 

'•  Till' imincH  iif  till' I'oiiiiciliiii'ii  were:  W.  r.  Iliii  k,  iif  CliiikiiiniiN;  WjIniiii 
itlniii,  of  'riiiihitin;  SiiimiiiI  I'liiko'  iiinl  WchIiv  Sliaiiii<>ii,  i>t  r|iiiiii|iiii'^;  ,1. 
(iiiiM'N,  of  \'aiiiliill!   W.  II   MiMJi  y,  111  l.iini;   Niillinhirl  I'uril,  ci|  I'nlk;   \iiiijii 

llillll|illlrv,  lit  lli'litiili;    S.  T.   MiKritn.  nl  <  'Ill|i4ii|>.  \.i\\  I",  llll<l  Viillrullv  rl'  I'lillll' 
tl'M.      'I'lic  Ilii'liilirl'H  iif  tllr  iliiiliit' I'li'i'ti'il  VMl'i':    ,\.    I,.  I.iik'i'ji>\  ,  W.  I ).  Iliilliiitll, 


1  ! 

11' 

!     1 
•     1 

1- 

'f 

i 
! 

M: 


ri- 
ll 

Ut 

I  "  i 


!     ' 


72  LAXE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 

usual  congratulatioiiH  Lane,  in  his  message  to  tho 
legislature,  alluded  bricitly  to  tho  Cayuses,  who,  he 
]»i(iiuisud,  sJKtuld  he  brought  to  justice  as  soon  as  the 
liMe  regiment  then  on  its  way  should  arrive.  Con- 
gress would  ]ti()l)ahly  appropriate  money  to  pay  the 
<leltt,  amounting  to  about  one  hundred  and  ninety 
tlmusand  dollars.  He  also  spoke  of  the  Wallace 
aflkir,  and  said  the  murderers  should  be  punished. 

]lis  suggestions  as  to  the  wants  of  i\\v,  tr-rritory 
weic  piactical,  and  j-elated  to  the  advantages  of  good 
roads;  to  a  judicious  system  of  revenues;  to  the  re- 
vision of  the  loose  and  defective  condition  of  the 
statute  laws,  declared  by  the  organic  act  to  be  opera- 


tive   in    the  territor 


y 


.ii 


t( )    e( 


lucati( 


on  and   common 


schools;  to  the  organization  of  the  militia;  to  election 


matters  and   provi( 


ding   f 


or   a 


pl)orti 


lonmg  the  n-pre- 


sentutioii  of  counties  and  districts  to  the  coimcil  and 
house  of  representatives,  and  defining  the  «|nalilica- 
ti(»n  of  voters,  with  otiier  matters  appertaining  to 
govermnent.  Jle  lel't  the  <]Uestion  of  the  >eat  of  gov- 
ermiient  to  their  choice,  to  decide  whether  it  shouM 
be  fixed  by  them  or  at  s(mie  future  session.  He  re- 
I'erred  with  pUasure  to  the  return  of  many  absentees 
from  tlie  nnnes,  an«l  hoped  they  would  resume  the 
(•ultivation  «)f  their  farms,  which  fn»m  Iviiig  idle 
Would  give  the  country  only  a  short  cr<»p,  tlutugh 
there  was  still  etiough  for  luune  eonsunii)tion."     Jle 

Hiiil  (i.  Walliii^',  of  Cliii'k.'iniim;  |).  Hill  uixl  W,  W.  Kiij.',  of  Tiialutiii;  \V. 
\V.  ( 'li.i|>iiiiiii,  W,  S.  Miitliiclv,  mill  iluliiH iiini,  uf  <'lw(iii|>iii 'j;  A.  .1.  Ilciii- 
lute,  I:.  Kiiiiii'y,  iiikI  <I.  i(.  W'liliiii^',  uf  ^anlllill;  .laculi  ruiisii-  aiiil  .1.  S. 
hiiiila|>,  (if  Liiiiii  II.  N.  \'.  lliiliiit'H  ami  S.  Kiinli,  uf  I'ulk;  .1.  .Miilkiy  and 
<•.  II.  Siiiilli,  lif  llciitiiti:  ami  M,  'I'.  SilliimniM  fiuiu  ( 'latHuii,  l.vu  i.'<,  ainl  \'aif 
<  iiilM'l  riiiiiiticH.  Iliuitihihi  I'Vii  ml,  ^iiv.  I,  |.S|!(;  .\  iin  ri'Hn  .Ihiiiiiinr,  |S|!t,  .'il'.;. 
TIh' |iriMiiltiil  iif  tliti  iiiiimil  waH  Sainiitl  TaikiT;  tlio  ilnk,  .\.  .\.  Iloliiiismi; 
MCr^i'.'iiit  at  MiiiiN,  ( '.  I>a\i.i;  i|iiiii-kri'|M'r,  S.  Kiiiiiiv  ;  t'liM|ilaiii,  |ia\iil  l.iMlic. 
S|>riik*>i' uf  tliii  liiiiiHt',  .\.  I  .  LiArjiiy;  I'liicf  ilcik,  VViliiaiii  i'm-tri';  aK^intaiit 
•  irik,  11,  lii'iiiji.s;  Kt'i';;.'iiiitat'ai'iii.M,  W'illiaiii  JlnJnii'Hi  iIihu  kr<'|>i  i,  |i.  1 1.  Hai- 
lr.> ;  1  lia|ilaiii,  II.  .IuIiii.mi:!!.  /Iiiimlulii  Frkml,  Nov.  I,  1H41);  i/i:  SfnThiii-r.iM, 

"  l.aiirN  I'l'iiiarkM  uii  tlm  laWH  uf  tlm  )>i'iiviNii>iiiil  pnvrniiiii'iit  «<ti'  iiiuri) 
tliltliii.l  than  llatlci'iii^',  i  uii.siili'lin^'  what  a  iniiiilivr  lanl  Ikiii  Hiiii|i|y  ailu|iti'il 
fiiMii  llii-  lii\»a  luiU'.  M(^H«i;('  ill  Or.  ,Sj'i  finlnr.  Oi  t.  -I,  IMIJ;  Jli>t  Cuui/.,  l»i 
.Vi .-»(,,  .s',  />iir.  ,'i.',  \iii.  7  I'.';   Trilinin  AimniKif,  lH>'iO->>i, 

**J'(ilitU  <>j)U-e  Ji',i<l.,  Um,  ii.  OH   I'J. 


ACTS  AND  MEMORIAL. 


ii 


pivdicti'd  that  the  great  migration  to  California  w^uld 
Ix'iH'lit  Oregon,  as  many  of  the  gokl-seekors  would  re- 
main on  the  I*acitie  eoa.st,  and  look  for  homes  in  the 
fertile  and  lovely  valleys  of  the  new  territory.  And 
last,  hut  by  no  means  least  in  imi)ortancc,  was  llic 
reference  to  the  expected  donation  of  land  for  wliieh 
the  people  were  waiting,  and  all  the  more  anxiously 
that  there  was  much  douht  entertained  of  the  tenure 
hy  whi(  h  their  claims  were  now  held,  since  the  only 
pait  of  the  old  organic  law  re[)ealed  was  that  which 
granted  a  title  to  lands.*'  ]Io  advised  them  to  cidl 
the  attention  of  congress  to  this  suhjeet  without 
(Klay.  In  short,  if  Lane  had  been  a  pioneer  <tf  ls4."5 
In,'  could  not  have  touched  U[)o!i  all  the  topics  nearest 
the  public  heart  more  successfully.  Hence  his  imme- 
diate jtopularity  was  assured,  and  whatever  he  mi^ht 
[)roj)ose  was  likely  to  r(!ci'ive  respectful  considei-ation. 
The  territorial  act  allowed  the  first  legislative  as- 
sendily  one  hundred  days,  at  three  iloUars  ji  day,  in 
which  to  ])erforin  its  work.  A  memorial  to  congress 
occupied  it  two  wei'ks;  still,  the  assenddy  closed  its 
lahois  in  sev(Mdy-six  da^s,'"  having  enacted  what  the 
S/ifctafiu'  descrihed  as  a  "  lair  and  respectabh^  i'(»de  (»f 
laws,"  andadojited  one  hundi'cd  acts  of  the  Iowa  stat- 
utes. The  mt'Uiorial  set  forth  the  loyalty  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  natural  advantages  of  the  country,  not 
i'orgetting  the  oft-rejieatiMl  i'e(pjest  that  congres.s 
would  giant  six  hundri'd  and  forty  aci-es  of  land  to 
each  actual  settle)',  including  widows  and  orphans; 
and  that  the  donations  shouM  be  niadi^  to  conform  to 
tiie  claims  and  impi-ovements  «if  the  settlers;  but  if 
congress  decided  to  have  the  lands  surv«'yed,  and  to 
make  grants  by  subdixisions,  that  the  settler  might  bo 
permitted  to  take  his  land  in  subdivisions  as  low  jis 
twenty  acres,  so  as  to  include  his  inipit>vements.  with- 
out regard  to  si'ction  ortmvnship  lines.     Tin 


eoNern- 


'■'oc.  (;<,i.  l.iiiiH,  l.si.'l  <i,  (10. 


'''The  liiiiil  nil  jiiiii  iiiiicnt  was  (111  flic  -lltli  nf  St  |,ttiiilii'r,  n  tccihh  liMviiig 
liri'ii  liiki'ii  til  iitti'iiil  to  I'litlii  I  III  4  till'  ripi'iiiii  >\li(;it  ill  Aiiunst,  tlicrc  liciu^ 
I ilii  1'  IiiiihIn  til  ciiiiiliiy  ill  tliin  lulior.  IhnidjK  Uial,  Or,,  M8.,  :{-•'>. 


wv 


74 


LANE'S  ADMIXISTUATION. 


ill 


It   ' 


\ii 


nicnt  wan  roniindod  that  suoli  a  irrant  had  been  ItJiiij 
expected;  that,  indeed,  oonj^ress  was  responsiljle  for 
the  e:sj)eetati<»n,  whieh  had  caused  tlie  renunal  to 
Oii'i^oM  «.f  so  larj4;e  a  niunher  (>!'  people  at  a  <ifreat  cost 
to  themselves;  that  they  were  happy  to  have  oflected 
by  siicli  eniiirratioii  the  objeets  which  tiic  j^^ovcrnnient 
liad  in  view,  and  to  have  been  prospectively  the  pro- 
moters of  the  hap[)iness  of  millions  yet  unborn,  and 
that  a  sei'ti  Ml  of  land  to  each  would  \u>  more  than  pay 
them  for  their  trouble.  The  meai»trial  asked  payment 
for  the  cost  of  the  C'ayuse  wai',  and  also  for  an  ap[)ro- 
))riation  of  ten  thousand  <lollais  to  [)ay  the  debt  of 


tile   late  jLjovernnieiit,  which,  adopted  as 


a  neci'ssi 


ty: 


and  weak  and  ini'Hicient  as  it  had  Imh'Ii,  still  snUiced  to 
regulate  soviety  and  jiromote  the  <;rowth  of  whole- 
som<'  institutions.*'  A  furtlu-r  ap[»ropriation  (»f  twenty 
thousand  dolliir.-;  was  asked  for  the  erecti<ni  of  [tublic; 
bdiMinjjjs  at  tlie  seat  of  j^ovtTnmeiit  suitable!  tor  the 
w.Miisaetion  of  the  public  business,  which  was  ih»  nion; 
tliMii  li.id  been  a|>pi'opiiate(l  to  the  otlu'r  ti-rritoi'ies 
for  the  same  j»urpos  >.  A  sum  sullicient  for  the  erec- 
tion »•!'  a  penitentiary  was  also  wanted,  an<l  declared 
t<»  be  as  much  in  the  interest  of  tlio  United  States 
as  of  till'  teii'itoi'v  (tf  Orei^on. 

With  i'e;4ard  t(»  the  scliool  lands,  sectioi:s  si\t(!en 
and  thirty-six,  which  wouhl  fall  upon  th*  claims  of 
some  s(!ttlers,  it  was  eiirnestly  recommended  that 
conjjfress  should  pass  a  law  anthorizinn'  the  tnwnship 
authnrities,  if  the  settlers  so  disturbed  should  «le>ire, 


ti»  select  other  lands  in  their  iila 


ees. 


At  tl 


le   same 


tmi 


e  coilLTress   \v 


as  reminded  that   niid'-r  the  di-itiil 


•u- 


lion  act,  live  hundred  tlionsand  acres  nf  land  were 
<^iven  to  lach  ni'W  state  on  «;oniin;^  into  the  uniiMi; 
and  the  people  of  ( )re'4on  ask<'d  that  the  territ»»ry  \h- 
allowed  to  St  leet  sueli  lands  imni'-diatily  on  the  pul>lie 


II  ( 


OIILTI'MS  IHMT  I 


IIIK 


t  tU'lA  <l<lit.        Ill    l<Stl-_>    tllr  Xtlltl 


ni't    t'dliwlltlllin.'    till'   KririllllN     ic.llllllinwiiiii.  r   n 
(lilit,  iiiiii  i<!;i.slir  (if   till-  il 


f    til 


I'Hili 


•likt 


lll'l>     IIIIHNI'll     nil 


]>|ii\  llii'iu!    ^<i\i  t  lillirllt 


nil' 


if  Hi'rip  liiiMiiH,  A  rr|Mti-t  imtili-  m  iMil 
hIiiiwh  Unit  <  liiiiiiH  tn  tliu  uinuuiii  xf  ^,ri7i.()'.'  on!)'  Iiml  Ixhii  (iruviii.  .Miuiy 
wuru  uuvov  pn'Buntcil. 


JUDICIAL  DISTRICTS. 


75 


surveys  IxliiLf  inn(l«>,  and  nho  tliat  ft  law  bo  passed 
jiutlioiiziiii,'  tliu  apjintpriatioii  of  huuI  laruls  to  llio 
.•sii|i|M»rt  III"  till!  coiMiiioii  scliools. 

A  iiiilitai y  road  iVom  some  point  on  thv  Colunihia 
lulow  the  cascades  to  ]'uget  Sound  was  asked  lor; 
iil>i)  oiH-  IroMi  the  sound  to  a  point  on  Ww  ( 'olunilti.i, 
mar  Walla  Walla;'"  also  one  from  Tlie  Dalles  to  the 
Willamette  X'alley;  also  that  ex|)lorations  Ik;  made 
I'll-  .1  road  from  Hear  Jiiver  to  the  I  lumhojdt,  crossiuin' 
ill.'  I)liic  MiMMitains  north  of  Klamath  j^akc,  and 
riitcrin^"  the  Willamette  N'alley  near  Mount  .leffcrson 
iiiid  the  Santiam  ITivir.  Other  territorial  and  [tost 
roads  were  askc«l  foi",  and  an  apjn-opriation  to  make> 
iiiiprovemcjds  at  the  falls  of  the  Willamette.  Tin- 
u>ual  oflicial  rohhery  under  form  »»f  the  extim^niish- 
iiieiit  of  the  Indian  title,  and  their  removal  from  the 
neii^hhorhood  t)f  the  white  settlements,  was  unhhish- 
iii'-K'    ui''j('d.     'i'lM>    proprietv   of  niakin<'"    letters   to 

•^    I  '^  11*.  ^ 

Ore-on  suhject  to  the  same  postaL,^'  as  lette|-s  within 
the  Stall's  was  sn^L^ested.  Attention  was  calhd  to 
tlie  dillicllltii'S  hetween  Ainei'ican  citizens  and  (he 
J'u''ct  Sonml  ALM'icnltnral  ('ompanv  with  re..';ii(l  to 
tlie  extent  (»f  the  ('ompanv's  claim,  which  was  a  lar^'e 
Hart  (tf  country  enclosed  within  imdeli'  ed  and  ima^i- 
n;iiv  lines.  Tliev  deniecl  the  li'>ht  of  «  iti/.ens  of  the 
I  nited  States  to  locate  on  said  lands,  w  hile  the  people 
iontende<l  that  the  company  had  no  ri'^lit  to  iiny 
lands  exceiit,  siich.   as   thev   actnalK'   occnpii'^l  at   the 


time  of  llie  (  )re!4dn  treaty  of  IS-K;.  'I'lie  Hi(,\,.|-|||||,  ii) 
was  requested  to  purchase  the  land«.  li'^htfully  1  <  Id 
hy  treats  in  order  lo  put  an  end  to  disputes.  The 
iiieiuoi'ial  closed  li\  eoolly  a^kiuj;  for  a  railroad  and 
tcleyiaph  to  tilt'  j'aeilic,  thou,u:ii  tla-re  were  not  people 
choui;h  in  all  Oresjfon  tt»  make  a  i;iMKl->i/.ed  country 
toun.'" 

This  dtx'unient    framed,  the  husiness  o|'  laym^  out 

'' I'li-rn- ( '.  riiiii)>niii  tiiiil  ( 'uriirliiiM  Itujii-rx  rxplori  il  tlif  \i,Hi|iiall\  T.-ihn  hh 
I'liily  iiH  |.s;,)i,  ^mu)s  lioiii  t'lirt  W:»llii  Wiiliii  to  Fni't  \ii>i|uiilly  l»y  tl.  a  ixuic. 
n,  \/»,/fi/.,c,  Miiy  |;i,  |,'>47. 

'•(*»••  y.xi  AfihiriM,  .Ms.,  I7(l-|mi;  .IIk(  i'i)HiJ,,J<i  S<KH.,Sfit,  J/»v  I'm:..  ,  ll. 


!:>! 


I  J 


76 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


the  judicial  districts  was  attended  to.  Having  first 
chan_i(i'd  the  names  of  several  counties,*'  it  was  decreed 
that  tlie  first  judicial  district  slumld  consist  of  Clack- 
amas, ATarion,  and  Linn;  tiie  second  district  of  JJcii- 
toM,  l*olix,  Yandiill,  and  \VasliinL,'ton;  and  tiie  third  of 
Clarke,  Clatsop,  and  Lewis.  The  time  for  holdinj^ 
court  was  also  fixed. ''^' 

While  awating  a  donation  law  an  act  was  passed 
dfclariiig  the  latt;  land  law  in  for(\\  and  that  any  [»er- 
soii  who  had  c()m[ili<'d  or  should  thereal'ter  comply 
with  its  j)ro\isions  should  he  deemed  in  j)ossession  to 
evt  ry  part  <»f  the  land  within  his  recorded  boundary, 
not  excee«liii«;  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  ]^ut  the 
same  act  jin>vided  that  no  foreij^ner  should  he  en- 
titled to  the  heuefits  of  the  law,  who  should  not 
lia\(',  within  six  months  thereafter,  filed  his  declara- 
tion of  intention  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States.  •■'•' 

The  new  land  law  amended  the  old  to  make  it  con- 
form to  the  teri'itoiial  act,  <le(laiiiiL;-  that  nont;  i)ut 
A\!iite  male  citi/eiis  of  tiie  United  States,  over  eiL(h- 
teeii  Vtai's  of  aj.je,  slioldd  he  entitled  to  take  claims 
imder  the  act  revive*!.  The  privilege  of  lioi(hiig 
claims  (huiMg  absence!  from  the  tt  iritoi-y  by  jiaving 
live  dollars  annually  was  repealed;  but  it  was  declared 
not  necessary  to  nsidc  u|ion  the  land,  if  the  claimant 
continued  to  improve  it,  provided  the  claimant  shoidd 
not  be  ab.sent  more  than  six  months.     It  was  also  de- 

'"'riif  liiMt  Icnitoriiil  U'giHliitnre  ilmiijjcil  tlio  namo  nf  Clintnnoo^  cmiiify  to 
Million;  (•('  'I'liulatin  to  Wiibliiiijjton,  miil  of  N'aiicniivi'i'  to  ('liU-Kc  (tr.  S/mc- 
(idn,;  0(  t.    iMli. 

'' A :<  tlurr  WiiMyrt  no  jml'^'c  for  the  tliinl  jmln  i.il  ilistvict,  ainl  tlic  timo 
for  lioliliiii;  till'  i-oiiit  ill  I.fxvi^  romity  Imil  limi  ii|i|ioiMli  <i  I'of  tin-  Ntrdiiil  Moii- 
il.iy  ill  M.iy  iiiul  N'ovciiilii'r,  (lovcnioi-  Lano  |iri\:iiliil  niioii  tlir  li'i;i'<iiitiiro  to 
atta<li  till'  roiiiity  of  |,i  m  is  to  tiio  liiNt  jmlicijl  ili-<ti'i<'t  \>liirli  wan  to  Imlil 
ili  lil^l  Ni'Hiioii  on  till'  liiMt  Moiiilay  in  Si'|ili'iiiliri ,  aii<l  to  aiipoint  tln'  tiiMt 
.Moiiiliiy  ill  ( (it  111  II' I'  (or  jioliliiii;  tln'  ilisli  i.|,  I'.niit  at  Sti'il.irooiu  ir,  tin'  roiiuly 
iif  l.iwis.  'I'lii-)  rliMii;;!'  ua'<  liMiJi'  ill  ohJit  to  luiii^;  tlir  liial  ol  tlir  Siiii|iia- 
liiiiii'lis  in  a  m'lison  of  the  year  wluu  it  woiilil  Im'  jtoftMiltlo  lor  tlu'  coiiit.  to  trit^  il 
to  I'lij.'i  t  Soimil. 

•' '  |)iiriMK'  till*  niiintli  of  May  Mcvcral  liiinilrcil  fori'ij^nirs  wcit  natiirali/i'il.' 
Jfiiiiiihihi  I'riiiiit,  Oil,  I,  |s.|;i.  'I'licii'  \Mi«  Ik  iloiilit  ill  till'  iiiiinl  of  .lui  ;o 
llryaiil  wImIIh  r  liawaiians  iiniM  iM't'onir  niitiirali/.cii,  tin'  law  of  ri.ii;^irsH  lning 
uxplicir.  iM  to  iii!){r(H<ii  ami  IniliaiiN,  liut  nut  iiii'iitiouin({  .SmulwicU  iHluntUiif, 


S3CH00L  LAW. 


77 


clarcd  tliat  land  claims  sliould  doscend  to  liuirs  at  1m\v 
ii-  iKi'soiial  jtroporty. 

All  .ut  was  passed  at  this  session  wliieli  ntadc  it 
iiiil.iut'iil  lor  any  negro  or  mulatto  to  come  int«)  or 
iv>ide  ill  the  territory;  that  masters  of  vessels  i)ring- 
iii.;  theiii  sjiould  he  held  responsihle  for  tluMr  ('on«hiet, 
iuid  tiny  sliould  not  he  permitted  in  leave  the  jK>rt 
wlii'i'.'  tlie  vessel  was  lyinijj  except  with  the  consent 
I  if  tlie  master  ot"  the  vi'ssel,  who  should  cause  them 
Im  depart  with  the  vessel  that  l)roui;Iit  them,  or  some 
other,  within  fortv  davs  after  the  time  ol'  their  ar- 
ii\.il.  ^Tasters  or  owners  of  vessels  failinijf  to  ohservo 
llti^  law  were  made  suhjeot  to  imv  not  less  than  five 
liiiiidi'ed  dollars,  and  imprisonment.  If  a  netj^i'o  or 
iiiiilatto  should  he  found  in  the  territory,  it  iiceumo 
the  duty  of  any  judge  to  issue  a  warrant  for  his 
;irfe>t.  and  cause  his  removal;  and  if  the  same  negro 
or  mulatto  were  twice  found  in  the  ti-rritorv,  he  should 
he  tilled  and  imprisoned  at  tin;  discretion  of  the  court. 
Thi-<  law,  however,  did  notapply  to  the  negi-oes  already 
ill  the  territory.  The  act  was  ordered  published  in  the 
jii'\\spiH)ers  of  California.*' 

The  next  most  interesting  action  of  tin;  li'gislativo 
asseiiihly  was  the  enactment  of  a  school  law,  which 
pi<i\ided  lor  the  estahli^hment  of  a  permanent  \\rv- 
ihii  ihle  fund,  the  interest  <tn  which  should  he  divided 
annually  among  the  districts;  hut  as  th<'  school  lands 
c'liild  not  he  made  immediately  availahl»>,  a  tax  of  two 
iiiills  was  levied  for  the  suppoi't  of  common  schools  in 
the  interim.  The  act  in  its  several  chaptei-s  ci-eated 
the  otiices  of  .school  commissioner  and  directors  foi-  each 
roinity  and  delinetl  their  duties;  also  the  duties  (»f 
ti  acliers.  The  eighth  <'hapter  I'elating  to  the  powers 
of  district  meetings  provide<l  that  until  tic  counties 
wei'c  districted  the  people  in  any  iieighhoihood,  on 
tell  (lavs'  notice,  jxiven  hv  anv  two  le-'al  voters,  niiu'lit 
call  a  meeting  and  organize  a  di.stri<l;  and  the  district 

"Or.  Statute*,  ISJO^l,  181-'2,  240  7;  Dir.  Sjunh,^,  i.  .lOtMo,  :»T'J,  377-8. 


h 

B 


i: 


78 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


nicotinic  might  impose  an  a<l  valorem  tax  on  all  taxa- 
ble property  in  tin;  <li.strict  lor  the  erection  of  school 
housi's,  and  to  <lefray  the  incidental  exjienses  (»t'  the 
districts,  and  lor  the  support  of  teachers.  All  chil- 
dren between  tlie  ages  of  four  and  twi-nty-one  years 
were  entitled  to  the  benelits  of  public;  education. '* 

It  is  un?u'cessary  to  the  purposes  of  this  history  to 
follow  the  lei;islature  of  the  first  territorial  assemblv 
further.  No  money  having  been  reciived'-'  for  the 
payment  of  the  legislators  or  the  piinting  of  the  laws, 
tlie  legislators  magnanimously  waived  their  light  to 
take  the  remaining  thirty  davs  allowed  them,  and  thus 
left  some  work  for  the  next  a.«!.seml.>ly  to  do.-" 

On  the  2 1st  of  September  the  assembly  was  noti- 
fied, by  a  special  message  from  tlie  governoi-,  of  the 
ileal h  of  ex- President  .lames  K.  l*olk,  the  friend  of 
Oreijfon,  and  the  revered  (;f  the  western  demoeracv. 
As  a  personal  friend  <»f  Lane,  also,  his  death  created  .1 
•rofound  sinsation.  The  legislature  after  draping 
)oth  houses  in  mourning  adjourned  for  a  week.    1*ub- 


li.-  ol 
hi-hl 


»se(|Uii's  \\  ( 


re  celebrated,  and  Lane  delivered   a 


y  eulogistic  address. 


l*erhaps  the  admirers  of 


I'olk's  administration  and  political  jirinciples  wei-e  all 
the  more  earnest  to  dt)  him  honor  that  his  su<'iessor 


\  '' 


i.i 


II 
III 


"Says  I'.ui'k  in  liis /.'///•'rjvMf.t,  MS.,  11-1'J:  'Tlii'y  I'm!  f'>  iniilic  the  first 
lu-^rimmn,'  in  mi  Imh.Is  in  Or(j.'(in  <  'ity,  and  j;i)l  up  tin'  |iit'«rnt  Nilmcil  l.iw  .it  tliu 
liist  NCNMon  in  i.S-ll».  ll  \mih  liinwn  mostly  « Iter  tln'Oiiin  liiw,  a  nil  Mili.-ii  ijin  ntly 
ainrmlcii.  K.  ('.  Idutty  taught  tlio  lirst  (I'linniiuui  ncIikoI  at  (lit ';.'>>u  (  ity  in 
ls."iO.'  Itt'siilcs  (iiartciin;,'  tin- Tualatin  Aiailtniy  ami  I'milli'  rnivcisity.  ii 
cliartiT  was  f^'iantt'il  ti»  tlii^  ClafkaniaM  Cnunly  Kinialo  Seminary,  willi  <i. 
Alirimtiiy.  A.  1,.  I.iivr)iiy,  .laniot  'I'aylor,  lliiam  Clark,  (J.  II.  Atkinsun, 
iii'/rkiali  ■Inlin.Miu,  anil  Wilsnn  l>iain  as  tiiistri'N. 

-■'/..(// 1 '.■)  Hi  jit.   in  ,ll>t.  ('iiiKJ.,  Jil  S<xn.,   II.    L'.i-.    Par.,  i. 

-'*Ono  (if  till'  mi'mliiTii  trils  u.s  Noini'tliin^;  almut  tlio  lojjislatnr'':  'I  liavr 
licanl  Hiinic  pi'iijilc  way  that  tin-  lir.st  li'>;i.-slatui<'  was  liiltir  tiian  any  mn'  wo 
liaM'  liail  siiii  r.  I  think  it  mhh  as  ^'iioil.  It  was  I'nniimM'il  of  iiiun' snlistan- 
tial  mi  n  than  they  ii.-iv  c  hail  in  sinri';  men  w  ho  ii'|irr.Hi'nlciI  th'  |>i'ii|>l('  iictti'i'. 
Till' ,si'(  <>nil  oni'  was  |iriil>alily  as  ^'iiiiil.  'rhc  thir<t  nm^  nut  in  Salmi,  it  is 
my  ini|ii't'.«,sinn  they  hail  dcli  riiii'iit>  il  a  littlr;  Imt  I  wuiilil  nut  liki'  to  say  mi, 
liicansi'  I  Was  in  the  liist  nni'.  1  kmiw  there  were  nn  HUeh  nien  in  it  as  ^'n  to 
the  iiMisliitiire  niiw.'  /i'(i/'.<  l.'ii/i  r/'iisi  s,  .MS.,  I  I.  ''I'lnunly  ililien  ni  e  mm  mi,' 
miiiilKiM  was  that  each  one  was  must  partial  tn  the  htate  i'rnin  which  he  lia<l 
Mil  i;;  la  til  I,  ami  with  tiie  nperations  of  whieli  he  was  familiar.  This  iliiliciilty 
iiiiiveil  ('.  sei-iouH  one,  ami  letanlt'il  the  progress  of  LutiiufHH  tlirou^Uuat.'  Or, 
ilttictator,  Oct.  IS.  Ili41>. 


1 


ACCOMMODATION  COURT. 


n 


taxa- 

scliool 
l)t'  tlio 
I  fhil- 
I  years 

oiy  to 
;cinl>ly 
or  tlio 
V  laws, 
-lit  to 
kI  thus 

IS  noti- 
(.f  tho 
iiiul  ot" 
ocracv. 
i'ated  a 
Irapiiii,^ 
Vul- 
\vvvd  a 
llTS  ot' 
err  all 
iciTssor 


till'  iirst 

iw  at  tho 

.1  i|iii  iitly 

III  t  ily  ill 

l\ir--ily,  a 

with  <J. 

IVtUillsall, 


'  I   llllVtl 

lilU'    \MI 

Mllistllll- 

|!r  lictti  T. 

Illl.      It  \a 

II  say  i!i), 

im  ^;ii  t<» 

[•I'  lillinin,' 

III  III'  liail 

]liili<iilty 

III.'  or. 


ill  office  was  a  wlii;^^  with  whoso  appointments  they 
were  predetermined  not  to  ho  i)leased.  TIk;  officers 
elected  hy  tho  lejjfislaturo  were:  A.  A.  Skinner,  com- 
missioner to  settle  the  Cayuso  war  <lel)t;  lieriiard 
(iciioise,  territorial  auditor;  James  Taylor,  treasurer; 
Win.  T.  Matlock,  lihrarian;  James  Mcliride,  suj)erin- 
tcndcnt  of  schools;  (\  !M.  Walker,  pro.secutiiii;  attor- 
ney first  judicial  di.strict;  ])avid  Stono,  prosecutim,' 
jittoniey  second  judicial  <listrict;  Wilson  l^lain,  puhlic 
juiiitcr;  A.  L.  Lovejoy  and  W.  W.  liuck,  connnission- 
t  rs  to  let  the  printin^j;  of  the  laws  and  journals.  ( )ther 
oilices  heiii^^  .still  vacant,  an  act  was  passed  providinjjf 
Inr  ;i  sj)ecial  election  to  he  held  in  each  of  the  several 
counties  on  the  thinl  ^fonday  in  October  for  the 
(It ction  of  probate  jud;.(es,  clerks,  sheriffs,  assessors, 
treasurers,  school  couunissioncr.s,  and  justices  of  tho 
peace. 

As  bv  tho  territorial  act  the  tjovornor  had  no  veto 
pnwei-,  con,<^n>ss  havinj.^  resc^rved  this  riL,dit,  there  was 
niitliin'jf  for  him  to  do  at  ()re<jon  Citv;  and  beiiiLT 
ji(rnstome<l  of  late  to  the  stir  and  incident  of  military 
camps  he  lonujed  for  activity,  and  employed  his  time 
\  i>ilin_iL'"  the  Indians  on  the  coast,  and  sfntliiiL*'  eoui'iers 
to  tilt'  Cayuses,  to  endeavor  to  [irevail  upon  them  to 
^ive  iij)  the  Waiilatpu  murderers.'''^  The  lej^^islativo 
assembly  havin«^  in  tlu'  mean  time  pas.sed  a  special 
act  to  enable  him  to  brinj.^  to  trial  the  Snotjualimiclis, 
niid  Thornton's  munilicent  offer  of  rtsward  liavim^ 
|iinmpted  the  avaricious  savaiji^es  to  <^ive  up  to  ( 'aptain 
II  ill  at  Steilacoom  certain  of  their  number  to  be  dialt 
with  aceordin,i(  to  tho  white  man's  law,  Lane  bad  the 
satisfaction  of  seein;,'',  about  the  last  <i|'  SepttiiilMr, 
the  Iirst  district  court,  marshal  and  juiymcii,  i;raiid 
and  petit,  on  the  way   to  Puget  Sound, "^  win  re  the 


' l.iiiii'i^  Aitlobiotjra/i/iy,  MS,,  ,"i;  ,?/•<<  Cmiij.,  Jnti'i<sii.,  Sin.  I>i, 


Mil. 


I)t.  iii.  If. 


'I'lirro  wuH  a  nooil  ili'ul  of  fccliii;;  on  tln'  jiart  of  tlit'  IFiKiMipn's  ll.iy  ("m 


!!• 


tiaiiy  I'liiicurnin^    Ijiii'''h   coiirHi',   tln>iii;li  ui'i'iinliiij,'   to  'i'liliiiii'H  aciomit,  in 
I'luth  Tdli-r,  thu  luiliuua  wciv  euiuiuiitiu^  huHtUitiua  ugauiut  tUvm  lu  wlU  ua 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


;^iM  iiM 

''*  IM    IIIIIZ2 
If   Itf    12.0 


iiiiiM 

1-4    III  1.6 


'71 


m 


^m' 


^^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


V 


^v-^ 


■■^ 


\ 


\ 


33  WIST  MA'N  STRUT 

WHSTIR,N.V    l4SaO 

(716)  87a-45uJ 


<^ 


^ 


5^ 


I. 


:\ 


\ 


<N 


80 


LANE'S  ADMDnSTRATION. 


American  population  vras  still  so  small  that  travelling 
courts  were  obliged  to  bring  their  own  juries. 

Judge  Bryant  provided  for  the  decent  administra- 
tion of  justice  by  the  appointment  of  A.  A.  Skinner, 
district  attorney,  for  the  prosecution,  and  David  Stone 
for  the  defence.  The  whole  company  proceeded  by 
canoes  and  horses  to  Steilacoom  carrying  with  thera 
their  provisions  and  camping  utensils.  Several  Indians 
had  boon  arrested,  but  two  only,Quallawort,  brother  of 
Patkanim,  head  chief  of  the  Snoqualimichs,  and  Kas- 
sas,  another  Snoqualimich  chief,  were  found  guilty. 
On  the  day  following  their  conviction  they  were 
hanged  in  the  presence  of  the  troops  and  many  of 
their  own  and  other  tribes,  Bryant  expressing  himself 
satisfied  with  the  finding  of  the  jury,  and  also  with 
the  opinion  that  the  attacking  party  of  Snoqualimichs 
had  designed  to  take  Port  Nisqually,  in  which  attempt, 
had  they  succeeded,  many  lives  would  have  been  lost."' 
The  cost  of  this  trial  was  $1,899.54,  besides  eighty 
blankets,  the  promised  reward  for  the  arrest  and  de- 
livery of  the  guilty  parties,  which  amounted  to  §480 
more.  Many  of  the  jurymen  were  obliged  to  travel 
two  hundred  miles,  and  the  attorneys  also,  each  of 
whom  received  two  hundred  and  fil'ty  dollars  for  his 
services.  Notwithstanding  this  expensive  lesson  the 
same  savages  made  away  in  some  mysterioi  inner 
with  one  ot  the  artillerymen  from  Fort  Steil.  )m  the 
following  winter.** 

against  the  Americana.  Roberts  says  that  when  Lane  was  returning  from 
the  Hound  in  Juno,  ho,  Roberta,  being  at  tlio  Cowlitz  farm,  rode  out  to  meet 
him,  and  answered  Ins  imiuirios  concerning  tlio  best  way  of  preserving  tl»e 
lioaco  ()f  the  country,  tiien  changing  from  tlio  old  regime  to  the  new.  'I  was 
astonishi'd,'  saya  Ivoberts,  'to  hear  him  remark  "Damn  them  1  (the  Indians)  it 
would  <lo  my  soul  good  to  be  after  tliom."  This  would  never  have  escaped 
tho  lips  of  Or  McLonglilin  or  Douglas.'  Rci'oUeclwnn,  MS.,  15,  Tiiero  was 
always  this  lasping  of  the  rude  outspoken  western  sontiment  on  tho  feelings 
of  till)  studiously  trained  Hudson's  llay  Company,  Ihit  an  Indian  to  theni 
was  ft  did'erent  creature  from  tho  Iiidian  toward  whom  tho  sottleis  were 
hostile,  In  tiio  one  ease  ho  was  a  means  of  making  woaltli;  in  tlio  other  of 
destroying  jiroperty  and  life.  Could  tho  Hiidson's  Hay  Company  have  changed 
places  witli  tho  settlers  they  might  have  changed  feelings  too, 

'^lin/aiU'a  liviit.  to  Gov.  Lane  in  dht  Cony.,  Sd  tfeu,,  //.  Ex,  l)oc,  L 
100-7;  //((//«■«'  Scraps,  22;  Oi\  Spectator,  Oct.  18,  1840. 
.  "  Toltnle'a  Pwjet  Souiid,  MS.,  30. 


THE  MOUNTED  E,iFLE  REGIMENT. 


81 


bravelling 

s. 

Iministra- 
Skinner, 
,vid  Stone 
jeeded  by 
nth  thera 
al  Indians 
brother  of 
,  and  Kas- 
nd  guilty, 
they  were 
1  many  of 
ng  himself 
.  also  with 
qualimichs 
;h  attempt, 
been  lost.''* 
ides  eighty 
ist  and  de- 
id  to  $480 
to  travel 
)o,  caeh  of 
ars  for  his 
lesson  the 
inner 
|l..     om  the 


Iroturnlng  from 
Tpdo  out  to  tncot 
]  preserving  the 
lenew.  'Iwiis 
Itliu  liuliuns)  it 
Ir  have  eHoapeil 
15.  There  waB 
[on  the  feelings 
'mliuu  to  them 
J  Bottlera  were 
[in  tlie  other  of 
r  have  oliungod 

k  Ex,  DoC',  !• 


The  arrest  of  the  Cayuse  murderers  could  not  pro- 
ceed until  the  arrival  of  the  mounted  rifle  regiment 
then  en  route,  under  the  command  of  Brevet-Colonel 
W.  W.  Loring.^^  This  regiment  which  was  provided 
expressly  for  service  in  Oregon  and  to  garrison  i)osts 
upon  the  emigrant  road,  by  authority  of  a  congressional 
act  passed  May  19,  1846,  was  not  raised  till  the  spring 
of  1847,  and  was  then  ordered  to  Mexico,  although 
the  secretary  of  war  in  liis  instructions  to  the  gov- 
ernor of  Missouri,  in  which  state  the  regiment  was 
formed,  had  said  that  a  part  if  not  the  whole  of  it 
would  be  employed  in  establishing  posts  on  the  route 
to  Oregfjn.''"  Its  numbers  being  greatly  reduced  dur- 
ing the  Mexican  campaign,  it  was  recruited  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  and  at  length  set  out  upon  its  march  to 
the  Columbia  in  the  spring  of  1849.  On  the  10th  of 
]\[ay  the  regiment  left  Fort  Leavenworth  with  about 
GOO  men,  thirty-one  connnissioned  ofhcers,  several 
women  and  children,  the  usual  train  agents,  guides, 
and  teamsters,  IGO  wagons,  1,200  mules,  700  horses, 
and  subsistence  for  the  march  to  the  Pacific.^^ 

Two  posts  were  established  on  the  way,  one  at  Fort 

"  The  command  was  first  given  to  Frt'mont,  who  resigned. 

'^Seo  letter  of  W.  L.  Maroy,  secretary  of  war,  in  Or.  S/iectator,  Nov.  11, 
1847. 

"  The  oflicers  were  Bvt.  Lieut.  Col.  A.  Porter,  Col.  Benj,  S.  Eolierts,  lUt. 
Mnjor  ('.  F.  lluH",  Major  (Jeorgc  IJ.  Crittenden,  15vt.  Major  J.  .S.  Sinionaou, 
livl.  Majnr  S.  S.  Tucker,  Bvt.  Lieut.  Col.  J.  B.  Baciiunstos,  Bvt.  Major 
KiMiiioy,  Captains M.  E,  Van Buren,( Seorge MeLanc,  Nouh  Newton, Llew rllyu 
iloucH,  jut.  Captain  J.  P.  Hatch,  R.  Ajt.,  Bvt.  Caplains 'i'lins.  (..'hiihoriK!  .Ir., 
(Imdiin  (lriin!,'or,  James  Stuart,  and  Thos.  C.  Kheltj  1st  Lieut.s  (.'liarlcs  L, 
itniniaii,  A. .).  Lindsay, .Julian  May,  F.  S.  K.  llusscll;  'Jd  Licuta  D.  M.  l''riwt, 
1!.  (,».  ,M.,  I.  N.  I'ahner,  J.  McL.  Addison,  W.  B.  l-ani',  W.  K.  Jones,  ( Icorgo 
W.  Iliiwlnnd,  C.  E.  Ervine;  surgeons  L  Moses,  Charles  H.  Smith,  and  \V.  !•'. 
Fil^^'ar.  The  following  were  persons  travelling  witli  the  regiment  in  \ariou9 
(Mliaiitics;  (leorgo  (iihbs,  deputy  collector  at  Astoria;  .AMcn  II.  Stcilc,  w  lio 
Kt'tilt'il  in  Oregon  City,  v.'iiere  lie  practised  me»licino  till  IHli.'l,  wlien  lu'  liccanu'ik 
Hiir;.;('Mn  in  tlio  army,  linally  settling  at  Olympia  in  l8(iH,  where  in  ISTS  I  nut 
liiiu.  and  he  fnrnislied  a  brief  btit  pitliy  uceo\int  in  mainiscript  of  tlie  niaich 
of  till'  Oregon  Mounted  lUlio  Regiment;  W.  Frost,  I'rew,  Wileox,  Li  ach, 
BUhop,  Kitdien,  Dudlev,  and  l{4iymoud.  I'resent  also  was  J.  I>.  Haines,  a 
native  of  Xenia,  Ohio,  born  in  I8'J8.  After  a  renidenco  in  Portland,  and 
romov.d  to  .Tack.-ionville,  im  was  eli'eted  to  tlin  house  of  representatives  from 
JiaUson  county  in  ISO'i,  nnd  from  Bukor  county  in  1870,  and  to  tiie  statti  sen- 
nt«  ill  IN78.  lie  married  in  1871  an<l  has  several  uhildrun.  iSalein  Stalcsman, 
Kov.  Ij,  1878;  r.  s.  Off.  lie,).,  1840,  100,  107. 
UuT.  Ob,,  You  II.   e 


82 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION". 


Laramie,  with  two  companies,  under  Colonel  Benja- 
min Roberts;  and  another  at  Cantonment  Loring, 
three  milgs  above  Fort  Hall,^*  on  Snake  River,  with 
an  equal  number  of  men  under  Major  Simonson, 
the  command  being  transferred  soon  after  to  Colonel 
Porter.^"  Tiie  report  made  by  the  quartermaster  is 
an  account  of  discomforts  from  rains  which  lasted  to 
die  Rocky  Mountains;  of  a  great  migration  to  the 
California  gold  mines^*  where  large  numbers  died  of 
cholera,  which  dread  disease  invaded  the  military 
camps  also  to  some  extent;  of  the  almost  entire  worth- 
lessness  of  the  teamsters  and  men  engaged  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  who  had  no  knowledge  of  their  duties, 
and  M'ere  anxious  only  to  reach  California;  of  the 
loss  by  death  and  desertion  of  seventy  of  the  late  re- 
cruits to  tbe  regiment  f  and  of  the  loss  of  property  and 
life  in  no  way  different  from  the  usual  experience  of 
the  annual  emigrations.^'* 

It  was  desis^ned  to  meet  the  rifle  rcfjiment  at  Fort 
Hall,  with  a  supply  train,  under  Lieutenant  G.  W. 
Hawkins  who  was  ordered  to  that  post/''  but  Hawkins 

^'Cantonment  Lorinp;  wits  soon  alinnJoned,  bring  too  far  from  a  1)aso  of 
BupplioH,  .'iiiil  fonigu  l)oini^  scari'o  in  the  neiglilwrliood.  JJrackfll'n  Vuvidnj, 
l'2(i-7;  oixt  ro»;/.,'y.s7  ,SV.vs.,  If.  Ex.  Dor.  5,  \^t.  i.  182,  18")-(J,  188. 

"■' Stw'li!  says  tliiit  Simonson  was  anvatoil  for  soino  dereliction  of  duty,  and 
came  to  \'aneouver  in  thin  Bituation;  also  that  Major  Crittenden  was  arrested 
on  the  way  for  dnmkennesH.  llijh'  lli'<fimnit,  MS.,  '2. 

""  .Major  Cross  eompnted  the  overland  emigration  to  tho  Pacific  coast  at 
3.">,00:);  -JO.OOO  of  whom  travelled  the  ronte  by  the  I'latto  with  50,000  cattle. 
3hl  CoiKj.,  ;J(I  S<. ■<.■<.,  II.  K.i\  Doc.  I,  MO. 

"Oc.  Sjieclutor,  Oct.  18,  1840;  U'cnVs  Qncm  Charlotte  Island  Ejeiwd., 
MS.,  4. 

""On  reachinc  Tho  Dalles,  the  means  of  transportation  to  Vancouver  was 
found  to  b(!  '  'A  ^taekinaw  boats,  1  yawl,  4  canoes,  and  1  whale-boat.'  A  raft 
was  eimstructed  to  carry  4  or  •'">  tons,  and  loaded  with  goods  eiiielly  private, 
8  men  being  placed  on  board  to  manage  the  craft.  They  attempted  to  run 
the  cascades  and  six  of  them  were  drowned.  Or.  S/icrlntor,  Ovt.  IH,  1840.  A 
part  of  the  eonnnand  with  wagons,  teams,  and  riding  horses  crossed  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains  by  the  Mount  Hood  road,  losing  'nearly  twi^  thirds'  of  the 
broken-down  horses  on  the  way.  The  loss  on  the  journey  amounted  to  4") 
wagons,  1  ambulance,  ,'M)  horses,  and  20.")  nudes. 

""  .l/Y''''.'/"'''''"  I'V./w,  Ms.,  40,  There  were  fifteen  freight  wagons  and  a 
lienl  of  lieef  cattle  in  the  train.     Gen.  Joel  I'alnier  aettul  as  guide,  the  com- 

i>any  taking  the  southern  i-outo.  Palmer  went  to  within  a  few  days  of  Fort 
lall,  w  here  another  government  train  was  encountered  escorting  tho  customs 
olllcer  of  California,  Cen.  Wilson  and  family,  to  Sai;ramento.  The  grass 
having  been  vaton  along  the  llumboblt  route  by  the  cattlo  of  the  immigration, 


MILITARY  POSTS. 


88 


missed  Loring's  command,  ho  having  already  loft  Fort 
ilall  when  Hawkins  arrived.  As  the  supplies  wore 
iK-eded  by  the  companies  at  the  now  post  they  were 
left  there,  in  consequence  of  which  those  destined  to 
( )regon  were  in  want  of  certain  articles,  and  many  of 
tlie  men  were  barefoot  and  unable  to  walk,  as  their 
horses  were  too  weak  to  carry  them  when  tlio}  ar- 
rived at  The  Dalles. 

Oil  reaching  their  destination,  and  finding  no  accom- 
modations at  Fort  Vancouver,  the  regiment  M'as  (iuar- 
tored  in  Oregon  City,  at  a  great  expense,  and  to  the 
disturl)ance  of  the  peace  and  order  of  that  moral  and 
tfm[)erate  community;  the  material  from  whicli  com- 
piinics  had  been  recruited  being  below  the  usual  stan- 
tlard  of  enlisted  men.*'' 


Lflaml  K.rpi'd., 


The  history  of  the  establishment  of  the  Oregon 
military  posts  is  not  without  interest.  Under  orders 
to  take  command  of  the  Pacific  division.  General  ]?er- 
sii'or  F.  Smith  left  Baltimore  the  24th  of  November, 
and  New  Orleans  on  the  18th  of  December  1848,  pro- 
ceeding by  tlic  isthmus  of  Panama,  and  arriving  on 
the  '23d  of  February  fohowing  at  Monterey,  where 
was  Colonel  ^Mason's  head-quarters.  Smith  remained 
in  (  ahfornia  arranging  the  distributicm  of  posts,  and 
the  atl'airs  of  the  division  generally. 

In  May  Captain  llufus  Ingalls,  assistant  quarter- 
niaster,  was  directed  by  Major  H.  D.  Vinton,  chief 


I'lilnipr  wna  engaged  to  coiuluct  this  company  l)y  the  new  route  fniiii  I'it 
llivci',  (ipeiu'll  the  previcjiis  initunin  )iy  tlie  Ore^'ou  jiold-.sfi'Ufis.  At  the 
(Ki-isiiii,' iif  a  Htn^iin  llo\vi;!g  from  the  Sierra,  one  of  the  [niity  nainiMl  lirouii 
slmt  hiiUMclf  tlirougli  tlie  arm  liy  aeoiileiit,  and  the  limh  w.is  aiii|iuliitcilhy 
two  smv'eoiis  of  an  emi/^iaut  eoniimny.  This  incident  detained  I'ahiier  in  the 
iiiHuntnins  siivenil  weeUa  at  u  eabiu  HU])posed  to  have  i)e('n  liuilt  i>y  Konie  of 
l.iissiMi'.i  jtaity  the  year  before.  A  hou  of  (ien.  Wilson  and  tineo  men  ic- 
iMuinrd  witii  liim  until  the  snow  and  ieo  made  it  dangerous  getting  ilown  to 
till'  Siu'iiiniento  N'idley,  when  Ih'own  was  h'ft  w  ith  his  atti'ndiints  and  i'almi'r 
Meat  honie  to  Oregon  hy  sen.  The  unhieivy  invalid,  long  familiarly  known  iis 
'mil -lUMied  Itrown.'has  for  many  years  resitUid  in  Oregon,  and  has  lii'cn  eon- 
111  c  tid  with  the  Indian  department  anil  other  hranehes  of  the  ituhlic  berviee. 
ridimr'n  W'ikjoii  Tniiii,  AlS.,  4.'t-.S. 

*"Tliis  is  w  hat  Steele  says,  and  also  that  one  of  thetn  who  deserted,  namoil 
liiley,  was  hunged  in  Sau  Fniueiseu.  h'ijii'  livijimvnt,  MS.,  7. 


84 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


IMi:    .     i 


of  the  quartermaster's  department  of  the  Pacific  divis- 
ion, to  proceed  to  Oregon  and  make  preparations  for 
the  establishment  of  posts  in  that  territory.  Taking 
passage  on  the  United  States  transport  Anita,  Cap- 
tain Ingalls  arrived  at  Vancouver  soon  after  Hatha- 
Nvay  landed  the  artilleynien  and  stores  at  that  place. 
The  Anita  was  followed  by  the  Waljjole  with  two 
years'  supplies;  but  the  vessel  having  been  chartered 
for  Astoria  only,  and  the  stores  landed  at  that  place, 
a  difficulty  arose  as  to  the  means  of  removing  them 
to  Vancouver,  the  transfer  being  accomplished  at 
great  labor  and  expense  in  small  river  craft.  When 
the  quatermaster  began  to  look  about  for  material 
and  men  to  construct  barracks  for  the  troops  alread}"^ 
in  the  territory  and  those  expected  overland  in  the 
autumn,  ho  found  himself  at  a  loss.  Mechanics  and 
laboring  men  were  not  to  be  found  in  Oregon,  and 
Captain  Ingalls  emplo3'cd  soldiers,  paying  them  a 
dollar  a  day  extra  to  prepare  timber  from  the  woods 
and  raft  lumber  from  the  fur-courpany's  mill  to  build 
(]uarters.  But  even  with  the  assistance  of  Chief 
Factor  Ogden  in  procuring  for  him  Indian  labor,  and 
placing  at  his  disposal  horses,  bateaux,  and  sloops,  at 
moderate  charges,  he  was  able  to  make  but  slow 
progress.*'  Of  the  buildings  occupied  by  the  artillery 
two  belonged  to  the  fur  company,  having  received 
alterations  to  adapt  them  to  the  purposes  of  bar- 
racks and  mess-rooms,  while  a  few  small  tenements 
also  owned  by  the  company"  were  hired  for  offices 
and  for  sei-vants  of  the  quarter-master's  department. 
It  was  undoubtedly  believed  at  this  time  by  both 

*' Vinton,  in  31st  Cong.,  Sd  Seas.,  S,  Doc.  1,  pt.  ii.  203.  Congress  passed 
in  Sepionil)or  ISfK)  an  act  appropfiatin>{  $3'2r),834  to  meet  the  unexpecteil 
(intliiy  oucuHioned  by  the  riso  in  prices  of  labor  and  army  subsisteiico  in 
Culiforniii  and  Oregon,  as  well  as  extra  pay  demanded  by  military  oUieers. 
See//.  S.  Art..Hnml  li'ci.,  ]HM,  lUJ-U. 

♦Mn  tlio  testimony  t<iken  in  the  settlement  of  the  Hndson's  Bay  Com- 
rany's  claims,  page  ISO,  U.  <S'.  AV.,  JI.  U.  Co.  Claims,  Gray  deposed  that  tiie 
V.  8.  troops  did  not  occupy  tiio  liuildinga  of  the  company  bnt  remained  in 
camp  until  they  had  erected  buildings  for  tiieir  own  use.  This  is  a  misstate- 
inent,  as  the  reports  of  tliu  (puirtei'- masters  Vinton  and  Ingalls  show,  in  old 
Cony.,  M  iicus.,  S.  Doc.  1.,  pt.  ii.  l'2:i,  'J83. 


VANCOUVER  AND  STEILACOOM. 


85 


the  Hudson's  Bay  Compay  and  the  officers  of  the 
United  States  in  Oregon,  that  the  government  would 
.soon  purchase  the  possessory  right  of  the  company, 
which  was  a  reason,  in  addition  to  the  chgibility  of 
the  situation,  for  beginning  an  estabHshment  at  Van- 
couver. This  view  was  entertained  by  both  Vinton^'* 
and  Ojjfden.  There  bein<x  at  that  time  no  title  to  land 
in  any  part  of  the  country  except  the  ])ossessorv  titlo 
(if  the  fur  company  under  the  treaty  of  184G,  and  the; 
mission  lands  under  the  territorial  act,  Vancouver 
was  in  a  safer  condition,  it  might  be  thought,  with 
r('!j;ard  to  rights,  than  any  other  point;  rights  which 
Hathaway  respected  by  leasing  the  company's  lands 
iov  a  military  establishment,  while  the  subject  of 
purehaso  by  the  United  States  government  was  iii 
abeyance.  And  Ogden,  by  inviting  him  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  lands  claimed  by  the  company,  not  in- 
closed, may  have  believed  this  the  better  manner  of 
preventing  the  encroachments  of  squatters.  At  all 
events,  matters  proceeded  amicably  between  Hatha- 
wav  and  Ogden  durini;  the  residence  of  the  former  at 
\  ancouver. 

The  same  state  of  tenancy  existed  at  Fort  Steila- 
coom  where  Captain  Hill  established  himself  August 
27th,  on  the  claim  of  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural 
Company,  at  a  place  formerly  occupied  by  a  I'armer 
or  herdsman  of  the  company  named  Heath. ^*  Tolmie 
jiointed  out  this  location,  perhaps  with  the  same  views 
entertained  by  Ogden,  being  more  willing  to  deal  with 
the  officers  of  the  government  than  with  srjuattors. 

On  the  28th  of  September  General  Smith  anived 
in  Oregon,  accompanied  by  Vinton,  with  the  pui'|)(tse 
111'  examining  the  country  with  reference  to  the  Inca- 
tioii  of  military  posts;  Theodore  Talbot  being  ordei'ed 
to  examine  the  coast  south  of  the  Columbia,  looking 

*'  Vinton  said  in  hia  report:  'It  is  peculiarly  tlpsirablo  that  we  slumM  lit- 
ccimu  (iwner.s  ot  their  property  at  Fort  Vancouver.'  31st  t'owj.,  i'U  Sign,,  S. 
I>'"\  I,  j)t.  ii.  '2ti:\. 

"  Siiliriiicrx  Oh/m)ii(i,  ^[S. ,  20;  M<i>\ic\i  Xvtrx  on  Hinf,  nml  Iksourcvs, 
IIWj.  'l\r.,  MS.,  i,  lO'.Jj  Olympia  Wash.  Standard,  April  11,  150S. 


m 


86 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION". 


ml  :! 


■  iS 


for  harbors  and  suitable  places  for  light-houses  and 
defences.*^  The  result  of  these  examinations  was  the 
approval  of  the  selections  of  Vancouver  and  Steila- 
coom.  Of  the  "acquisition  of  the  rights  and  prop- 
erty reserved,  and  guaranteed  by  the  terms  of  the 
treaty,"  Smith  spoke  with  the  utmost  respect  for  the 
claims  of  the  companies,  saying  they  were  specially 
confirmed  by  the  treaty,  and  that  the  public  interest  de- 
manded that  the  government  should  purchase  them;*^ 
a  sentiment  which  the  reader  is  aware  was  not  in 
accord  with  the  ideas  of  a  large  class  in  Oregon, 

It  had  been  contemplated  establishing  a  post  on 
the  u]iper  Willamette  for  the  j)rotection  of  companies 
travelling  to  California,  but  the  danger  that  every 
soldier  would  desert,  if  placed  directly  on  the  road  to 
the  gold  mines,  caused  Smith  to  abandon  that  idea. 
He  made  arrangements,  instead,  for  Hathaway's  com- 
mand to  remove  to  Astoria  as  early  in  the  spring  as 
the  men  could  work  in  the  forest,  cutting  timber  for 
the  erection  of  the  required  buildings,  and  for  station- 
ing the  riflemen  at  Vancouver  and  The  Dalles,  as  well 
as  rcconunending  the  abandonment  of  Fort  Hall,  or 
(.^antonment  Loring,  owing  to  the  climate  and  unpro- 
ductive nature  of  the  soil,  and  the  fact  that  immi- 
grants were  tjiking  a  more  southerly  route  than 
formerly.  Smith  seemed  to  have  the  welfare  of  the 
territory  at  heart,  and  recommended  to  the  govern- 
ment many  things  which  the  people  desired,  among 
others  fortifications  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  in 
[•reparation  for  which  he  marked  oft'  reservations  at 
Cape  Disappointment  and  Point  Adams.  He  also 
suggested  the  survey  of  the  Rogue,  Umpqua,  Alseya, 
Yaquina,  and  Siletz  rivers,  and  Shoalwater  Bay;  and 
the  erection  of  light-houses  at  Cape  Disappointment, 
Cape  Flattery,  and  Protection  Island,  representing 
that  it  was  a  military  as  well  as  commercial  necessity, 

*''31d  Conff,,  Ut  Scss,,  S,  Doc.  47,  viii.  IO87IO;  Itep.  Com.  Ind.  Aff.,  ISOo, 
107-9. 

*^3Ist  Cong.  Ist  Sesa.,  S.  Doe.  47,  viii.  104. 


DESERTION  OF  TROOPS. 


87 


the  safety  of  troops  and  stores  which  must  usually 
be  transported  by  sea  requiring  these  guides  to  navi- 
gation. Ho  recommended  the  survey  of  a  railroad  to 
tiie  Pacific,  or  at  least  of  a  wagon-road,  and  that  it 
hfliould  cross  the  Rocky  Mountains  about  latitude  38°, 
tletlect  to  the  Humboldt  Valley,  and  follow  that  direc- 
tion until  it  should  send  off  a  branch  to  Oregon  by 
way  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  and  another  by  way  of 
the  Sacramento  Valley  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco.*^ 

Before  the  plans  of  General  Smith  for  the  distribu- 
tion of  troops  could  be  carried  out,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  of  the  riflemen  deserted  in  a  body,  with  the 
intention  of  going  to  the  mines  in  California.  Gov- 
ernor Lane  immediately  issued  a  proclamation  for- 
bidding the  citizens  to  harbor  or  in  any  way  assist  the 
runaways,  which  caused  much  uneasiness,  as  it  was 
isaid  the  people  along  their  route  were  ])hiced  in  a 
serious  dilemma,  for  if  they  did  not  sell  them  provi- 
sions they  would  be  robbed,  and  if  they  did,  they 
would  be  punished.  The  deserters,  however,  having 
organized  with  a  full  complement  of  officers,  travelled 
faster  than  the  proclamation,  and  conducted  them- 
selves in  so  discreet  a  manner  as  to  escape  suspicion, 
imposing  themselves  upon  the  farmers  as  a  company 
■sent  out  on  an  expedition  by  the  government,  getting 
beef  cattle  on  credit,  and  receiving  willing  aid  instead 
of  having  to  resort  to  force.*^ 

"  Before  leaving  California  Smith  liad  ordereil  an  exploration  of  the  coun- 
try oil  tliu  Koutlieru  boiuuliiry  of  Oregon  for  u  practiciililo  emigrant  and  luili- 
tiiry  roiul,  and  also  for  a  railroatl  pass  about  tliat  latitude,  detailiiif^  ("aptuiii 
W.  II.  Warner  of  the  topographieal  engineers,  with  an  escort  of  tlio  second 
iiiliintry  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Casey.  They  left  Sacramento  in  August, 
find  examined  tlio  country  for  several  weeks  to  the  east  of  tho  head-waters  of 
tiic  Sacramento,  coming  upon  a  pass  in  tlio  Sierra  Nevada  with  an  elevation 
of  not  more  than  38  feet  to  tho  mile,  Warner  explored  tho  country  ea.-.t  and 
uiii'ili  of  Cooso  Lake,  but  in  returning  through  the  mountains  by  anotlu-r 
route  was  killed  by  tho  Indians  before  completing  his  work.  His  namo 
A\iis  )  iN^M  to  a  nu)untain  range  from  this  circumstance.  Francis  Beicicr,  tho 
guide,  and  George  Cave  were  also  killed.  Lieut.  R.  S.  Williamson  of  tho 
expeiirion  made  a  report  in  favor  of  iit*i  Fit  River  route.  See  Slut  Vonij.,  lat 
t!,>.'<.,Sn.JJor.  2,  17-22,  47. 

*' Slavic's  Itijle  liiyiDicHl,  MS.,  7;  BrachetVs  U.  S.  Cavalry,  127;  Or.  Spec- 
tator, Ml):  2,  ISoO, 


Is 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


'li.u 


But  their  success,  like  their  organization,  was  of  brief 
duration.  Colonel  Loring  and  the  governor  went  in 
pursuit  and  overtook  one  division  in  the  Umpqua 
Valley,  whence  Lane  returned  to  Oregon  City  about 
the  middle  of  April  with  seventy  of  them  in  charge. 
Loring  pursued  the  remainder  as  far  as  the  Klamath 
River,  where  thirty-five  escaped  by  making  a  canoe 
and  crossing  that  stream  before  they  were  overtaken. 
He  returned  two  weeks  after  Lane,  with  only  seven- 
teen of  the  deserters,  having  suffered  much  hardship 
in  the  pursuit.  He  found  the  fugitives  in  a  miserable 
plight,  the  snow  on  the  Cascade  Mountains  being  still 
deep,  and  their  supplies  entirely  inadequate  to  such 
an  expedition,  for  which  reason  some  had  already 
started  on  their  return.  Indeed,  it  was  rumored  that 
several  of  those  not  accounted  for  had  already  died 
of  starvation.*^  How  many  lived  to  reach  the  mines 
was  never  known. 

Great  discontent  prevailed  among  all  the  troops, 
many  of  whom  had  probably  enlisted  with  no  other 
intention  than  of  deserting  when  they  reached  the 
Pacific  coast.  Several  civil  suits  wero  brought  by 
them  in  the  district  court  attempting  to  prove  that 
they  had  been  enlisted  under  false  promises,  which 
were  decided  against  them  by  Judge  Pratt,  vice  Bry- 
ant, who  was  absent  from  the  territory  when  the  suits 
came  on.^" 

Later  in  the  spring  Hathaway  removed  his  artillery 
compaiiy  to  Astoria,  and  went  into  encampment  at 
Fort  George,  the  place  being  no  longer  occupied  by 
the  fur  company.  A  reserve  was  declared  of  certain 
lands  covered  by  the  improvements  of  settlers,  among 
whom  were  Shively,  McClure,  Hensill,  Ingalls,  and 
Marlin,  for  which  a  price  was  agreed  upon  or  allowed."'^ 


"Oc.  .S';)ec<a<or,  April  18,  1850. 

'"Soo  case  of  John  Curtiu  vn,  James  S.  Hathaway,  Pratt,  Justice,  in  Or, 
Spertalor,  April  18,  1850. 

^'  Iiigalla  remarked  concerniug  this  purchase;  '  I  tlo  not  believe  that  any 
of  them  hail  the  slightest  right  to  a  foot  of  the  soil,  cimsequently  no  right  to 
have  erected  iniprovemeuta  there.'    Whether  ho  meant  to  say  that  no  ouo 


GOVERNMENT  RESERVATIONS.  88 

Here  the  troops  had  a  free  and  easy  life,  seeing 
much  of  the  gold  hunters  as  they  went  and  came  in 
the  numerous  vessels  trading  between  San  Fran- 
cisco and  the  Columbia  River,  and  much  too  of  the 
most  degraded  population  in  Oregon,  both  Indian  and 
white.  A  more  ill-selected  point  for  troops,  even  for 
artillery,  could  not  have  been  hit  upon,  except  in  the 
event  of  an  invasion  by  a  foreign  power,  in  which  case 
they  were  still  too  far  inside  the  capes  to  prevent  the 
enemy's  vessels  from  entering  the  river.  They  were 
so  far  from  the  real  enemy  dreaded  by  the  people  it 
was  intended  they  should  defend — the  interior  tribes 
of  Indians — that  much  time  and  money  would  be 
required  to  bring  them  where  they  could  be  of  service 
in  case  of  an  outbreak,  and  after  two  years  the  place 
was  abandoned. 

The  mounted  riflemen,  being  transferred  to  Van- 
couver, whitlier  the  citizens  of  the  Willamette  saw 
them  depart  with  a  deep  sense  of  satisfaction,^^  cclo- 
hiatcd  their  removal  by  burning  their  old  quarters.''^ 
At  their  new  station  they  were  employed  in  building 
barracks  on  the  ground  afterward  adopted  as  a  mili- 
tary reservation  by  the  government. 

The  first  reservation  declared  was  that  of  Miller 
Island,  lying  in  the  Columbia^'*  about  five  miles  above 
Vancouver.  It  contained  about  four  square  miles,  and 
was  used  for  haymaking  and  grazing  purposes,  in  con- 
neetion  with  the  post  at  that  place.  This  reserve  was 
made  in  February  1850.     No  reservation  was  declared 

had  a  riglit  to  Imild  housos  in  Oregon  except  military  officers,  or  that  tho 
yiduiul  liclongeil  to  tho  Hudson's  liay  Company,  I  uni  uiiablo  to  dotermino 
from  the  record.     Sec  S.'il  (ajiiij.,  2(1  Si'-hk.,  If.  K.v.  Dor.  I,  i.  pt.  ii.  I'JS. 

"Says  tho  Spectator,  Nov.  1,  1849,  'tho  abounding  drunkt-nnesa  in  our 
stri'vts  is  sonictliing  new  under  tho  sun,' and  suggests  tliat  tlio  ollicers  do 
sdUH'thing  to  ahiito  tho  evil.  ]}ut  tho  f)flicer8  were  seldom  sober  themselves, 
llatliiiway  oven  attempting  suicide  while  suffering  from  mania  a  i)ulu.  hi., 
A[>\'\\  IS,  liioO. 

'" .V/-OH;/'.f  //i."'.  Or.,  MS.,  3. 

^'  Much  trouble  had  been  experienced  in  procurinf^  grain  for  the  horses  of  tho 
mounted  troops ;  t)nly  (i.OOO  bushelsof  oats  being  obtainable,  and  100  tons  of  hay, 
owing  to  tiie  neglect  of  farming  this  year.  It  was  only  by  putting  the  sol- 
ilici's  to  haymaking  on  the  lowlands  of  the  0(ilund)iii  that  tho  stock  of  tlio 
ri'giuKiit  was  provided  for;  lience,  no  doubt,  the  reservatiou  of  Miller  LsloJid. 


00 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


K    r 


m 


at  Vancouver  till  October  31st  of  that  year,  or  until 
it  was  ascertained  that  the  government  was  not  pre- 
pared to  purchase  without  examining  the  claims  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  On  the  date  mentioned 
Colonel  Loring,  in  command  of  the  department,  pub- 
lished a  notice  that  a  military  reservation  had  been 
made  for  the  government  of  four  miles  square,  "com- 
mencing where  a  meridian  line  two  miles  west  from 
the  flag-staff  at  the  military  post  near  Vancouver,  O. 
T.,  strikes  the  north  bank  of  the  Columbia  River, 
thence  due  north  on  said  meridian  four  miles,  thence 
due  cast  four  miles,  thence  south  to  the  bank  of  the 
Columbia  River,  thence  down  said  bank  to  the  place 
of  beginning."^^  The  notice  declared  that  the  reserve 
was  made  subject  alone  to  the  lawful  claims  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  as  guaranteed  under  the 
treaty  of  1846,  but  promised  payments  for  improve- 
ments made  by  resident  settlers  within  the  described 
limits,  a  board  of  officers  to  appraise  the  property. 

This  large  reserve  was,  as  I  have  before  indicated, 
favorable  to  the  British  company's  claims,  as  the  only 
American  squatter  on  the  land  was  Amos  M.  Short, 
the  history  of  whose  settlement  at  Vancouver  is  given 
in  the  first  volume  of  my  History  of  Oregon.  Short 
took  no  notice  of  the  declaration  of  reserve,'^^  think- 
ing perhaps,  and  with  a  show  of  justice,  that  in  this 
case  he  was  trespassed  upon,  inasnmch  as  there  was 
plenty  of  land  for  government  reservations,  which  did 
not  include  improvements,  or  deprive  a  citizen  of  his 
choice  of  a  home.  Ho  remained  upon  the  land,  con- 
tinuing to  improve  it,  until  in  1853  the  government 
restricted  the  military  reservations  to  one  mile  square, 
which  left  him  outside  the  limits  of  this  one. 


^Or.  Spectator,  Oct.  31,  1850;  32d  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  II.  Ex.  Doc.  1,  pt. 
ii.  124. 

^''Short  had  shot  and  killed  Dr  D.  Gardner,  and  a  Hawaiian  in  his  service, 
for  trespass,  in  the  spring  of  ISjO.  IIg  was  examined  and  acquitted,  of  all  of 
which  Colonel  Loring  must  have  het-n  aware.  Or.  Spectator,  April  18,  18J0; 
/(/.,  May  2,  1850.  Ho  was  himself  rcganled  as  a  trespasser  hy  the  fur  com- 
pany, (j.  S.  Ev,  Hudson's  Hay  Company  Claims,  90. 


AT  THE  DALLES. 


ot 


The  probate  court  of  Clarke  county  made  an  appli- 
cation for  an  injunction  against  Loring  and  Ingalls  at 
tliu  first  term  of  the  United  States  district  court  held 
at  Vancouver,  beginning  the  29th  of  October  1850,  to 
stop  the  further  erection  of  buildings  for  military  pur- 
])()ses  on  land  that  was  claimed  as  the  county  seat. 
The  attorney  for  the  United  States  denied  that  the 
kgi.slative  assembly  had  the  power  to  give  lands  for 
county  seats,  did  the  territorial  act  permit  it,  or  that 
the  land  could  be  taken  before  it  was  surveyed;  and 
diclured  that  the  premises  were  reserved  by  order  of 
the  war  department,  which  none  might  gainsay." 
Tlie  court  sustained  the  opinion.  At  a  later  period  a 
k'nal  contest  arose  between  the  heirs  of  A.  M.  Short 
and  the  Catholic  missionaries.  The  military  reserva- 
tion, however,  of  one  mile  square,  remains  to-day  the 
sunie  as  in  1853. 


On  the  13th  of  May  Iviajor  Tucker  left  Vancouver 
witli  two  companies  of  riflemen  to  establish  a  supj^ly 
post  at  The  Dalles.*^'  The  officers  detached  for  that 
station  were  Captain  Claiborne,  Lieutenants  Lindsay, 
May,  and  Ervine,  and  Surgeon  C.  H.  Smith.  A 
reservation  of  ten  miles  square  was  made  at  this 
place,  and  the  troops  employed  in  erecting  suitable 
store-houses  and  garrison  accommodations  to  make 
this  the  head-quarters  for  the  Indian  country  in  the 
event  of  hostilities.  Both  the  Protestant  and  Cath- 
olic missions  were  found  to  be  abandoned,'^"  though 
the  claims  of  both  were  subsequently  revived,  which 
together  with  the  claim  of  the  county  seat  of  Wasco 
oount}^  occasioned  lengthy  litigation.  The  military 
reservation  became  a  fourth  flictor  in  an  imbroglio  out 
of  which  the  Methodist  missionary  society,  through 

'"'The  solicitor  for  the  complanants  in  this  case  was  W.  W.  Chapman ;  tho 
nttni'noy  for  the  U.  S.,  Amory  llolbrook.  Tho  decision  w;is  rendered  by 
J iul>;o  William  Strong  in  favcn-of  tho  defendants.  Or.  Six'itnUir,  Nov.  7,  IS.IO. 

'■'* SiccVs  lafle  nciiimcnl,  MS.,  a;  CardurWit  Umii/raiU  Company,  MS.,  2; 
Voh  's  Ride,  3i;};  3M  Comj.,  2d  .bV»».,  11.  Ex.  Doc.  1,  pt.  ii.  12S. 

<>*  Deady'<i  hist.  Or.,  MS.,  0. 


r 


Hi! 


dd 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


its  agents  in  Oregon  and  in  Washington,  continued  to 
extort  money  from  the  government  and  individuals 
for  many  years.  Of  The  Dalles  claim,  as  a  case  in 
chancery,  I  shall  speak  further  on  in  my  work. 

As  if  Astoria,  Vancouver,  and  The  Dalles  were  not 
enough  of  Oregon's  eligible  town  sites  to  condemn  for 
military  purposes,  Loring  declared  another  reservation 
in  the  spring  of  1850  upon  the  land  claims  of  Mock 
and  Luelling  at  Milwaukie,  for  the  site  of  an  arsenal. 
This  land  was  devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit  trees, 
a  most  important  industry  in  a  new  country,  and  one 
which  was  progressing  well.  The  appropriation  of 
property  which  the  claimants  felt  the  government 
was  pledged  to  confirm  to  them  if  they  desired,  was 
an  encroa(  Ument  upon  the  rights  of  the  founders  of 
American  Oregon  which  they  were  quick  to  resent, 
and  for  M'hich  the  Oreyfon  delegate  in  conijress  was 
instructed  to  find  a  remedy.  And  he  did  find  a 
remedy.  The  complainants  held  that  they  preferred 
fiu^htinuf  their  own  Indian  wars  to  submittiim'  to  mili- 
tary  usurption,  and  the  government  might  withdraw 
the  riiie  regiment  at  its  earliest  convenience.  All  of 
wJiich  was  a  sad  ending  of  the  long  prayer  for  the 
military  protection  of  the  parent  government. 

And  all  the  while  the  Cayuse  murderers  went  un- 
punished. Lane  was  enough  of  a  military  man  to 
understand  the  delays  incident  to  the  circumstances 
under  which  Loring  found  himself  in  a  new  country 
with  undisciplined  and  deserting  troo[)S,  hut  he  was 
also  possessed  of  the  fire  and  energy  of  half  a  dozen 
regular  army  colonels,  l^ut  before  he  had  rec(nve(l 
any  assistance  in  procuring  the  arrest  of  the  Indians, 
he  had  unoflieial  information  of  his  removal  by  the 
whig  administration,  which  succeeded  the  one  by 
which  he  was  appointed. 

Tiiis  change,  tiiough  eagerly  seized  upon  by  some 
as  a  means  of  gaining  places  for  themselves  and  secur- 
ing the  control  of  public  aflliirs,  was  not  by  any  means 


INDIAN  AGENT. 


93 


itinued  to 

idividuals 

a  case  in 

irk. 

i  were  not 

idcinn  for 

3servation 

of  Muck 
,n  arsenal, 
ruit  trees, 
y,  and  one 
riation  of 
3vernmcnt 
sired,  was 
)unders  of 

to  resent, 
igress  was 
did  find  a 
^'  ])referrcd 
iig  to  niili- 

witlidraw 
All  of 

er  for  the 
lit. 

went  un- 
y  num  to 
Lunstances 
vv  country 
ut  he  was 

f  a  dozen 
I  rec(.'ived 
Indians, 

al  l»y  the 
one   by 

i)y  some 

Imd  secur- 

iiy  moans 


:-e. 


api'roeablo  to  the  majority  of  the  Oregon  people.  No 
sooner  had  the  news  been  received  than  a  meeting 
was  liold  in  Yamhill  precinct  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
]ircssing  regret  at  the  removal  of  General  Lane  from 
the  office  of  governor.*'"  The  manner  in  which  Lane 
liad  discharged  his  duties  as  Indian  agent,  as  well  as 
executive,  had  won  for  him  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
]ile,  with  whom  the  dash,  energy,  and  democratic 
j'laMkness  of  his  character  were  a  power  and  a  charm. 
There  was  nothing  that  was  of  importance  to  any  in- 
dividual of  the  connuunity  too  insignificant  for  his 
attention;  and  whether  the  interest  he  exhibited  was 
genuine,  whether  it  was  the  suavity  of  the  [)olitician, 
or  the  irrepressible  activity  of  a  true  nature,  it  was 
C(iua]ly  eft'ective  to  make  him  popular  with  all  but 
the  conservative  element  to  be  found  in  any  comnni- 
nity,  and  which  was  represented  principally  in  Oregon 
l»y  the  Protestant  religious  societies.  Lane  being  a 
Catholic  could  not  be  expcctetl  to  represent  them.'^^ 
As  no  official  notice  of  his  removal  had  been  re- 
reived,  Governor  Lane  proceetled  actively  to  carry 
into  execution  his  plans  concerning  the  suppression 
(if  Indian  hostilities,  which  were  interrupted  tem- 
])orarily  by  the  pursuit  of  the  deserting  riflemen. 
J)ui'ing  his  al)sence  on  this  self-imposed  duty  a  diifi- 
cuhy  (\'curred  with  the  Chinooks  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Cohunbia,  in  which,  in  the  absence  of  established 
courts  in  that  district,  the  military  authorities  were 
calK'd  upon  to  act.  It  grew  out  of  the  nmrder  ot'  Will- 
iam [Stevens,  one  of  lour  ])assengors  lost  from  the  brig 
J'urivst  while  crossing  the  bar  of  tlie  Columbia.  Tin  ee 
of  the  men  were  drowned.    Stevens  escaped  alivo  but 

'''^Tho  principnl  movers  in  this  drmonstrntion  More:  Mtittlicw  1'.  nomly.  T. 
^ril'iiiilc,  A.  S,  Watt,  .r.  WiiUiu;,',  A.  .r.  llciiilji-uo,  S.  Al.  (iiliuorc,  uiul  X.  M. 
t  iii,;litiiii.   Or.  Sjicrliitoi;  Miiivli  7,  !!>.")(). 

''  It  in  told  to  1110  l)y  tlio  person  in  whoso  intcrtht  it  wns  done,  that  Lane, 
uhili'  (,'ovi'Mior,  prniiitted  liiiimrlf  to  1)0  chosen  iirl)itriit(ir  in  ii  liinil-jiitiiiiin,.} 
ease,  ami  rudo  a  long  tliHtaneti  in  tlio  rain,  haviiij,'  i  >  eross  swollen  sticaiiiH  on 
lioif^diaek,  to  help  (i  Woman  whoso  huahand  wa-i  al.seiit  in  tho  niiiu'H  to  resist 
tlie  aUenipt  of  an  niiprinei])!cd  tenant  to  hold  the  elaini  of  her  huHhaiid,  Uiu 
iullueiiuo  was  HulUcient  witii  the  jury  to  get  tho  ubauxiuus  tenant  removed. 


M 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


exhausted  to  the  shore,  where  the  Chinooks  murdered 
him.  Jones,  of  the  rifles,  who  was  at  Astoria  with 
a  small  company,  hearing  of  it  wrote  to  the  governor 
and  his  colonel,  saying  that  if  he  had  men  enough 
he  would  take  the  matter  in  hand  at  once ;  but  that 
the  Indians  were  excited  over  the  arrest  of  one  of 
the  nmrderers,  and  he  fer^^ed  to  make  matters  worse 
by  attempting  without  a  sufficient  force  to  apprehend 
all  tlio  guilty  Indians.  On  receiving  the  information. 
Secretary  Pritchett  called  for  aid  on  Hathaway,  who 
sent  a  company  to  Astoria  to  make  the  arrest  of  all 
persons  suspected  of  being  concerned  in  the  murder;*'' 
but  by  this  time  the  criminals  had  escaped. 

Negotiations  had  been  in  progress  ever  since  the 
arrival  of  Lane  for  the  voluntary  delivery  of  the  guilty 
Cayuses  by  their  tribe,  it  being  shown  them  that  the 
only  means  by  which  peace  and  friendship  could  ever 
bo  restored  to  their  people,  or  they  be  permitted  to 
occupy  their  lands  and  treat  with  the  United  States 
government,  was  the  delivery  of  the  Whitman  mur- 
tlerers  to  the  authorities  of  Oregon  for  trial. "^  At 
length  word  was  received  that  the  guilty  members  of 
the  tribe,  who  were  not  already  dead,  would  be  sur- 
rendered at  The  Dalles.  Lane  went  in  person  to 
receive  them,  escorted  by  Lieutenant  Addison  with  a 
guard  of  ten  men.  Five  of  the  murderers,  Tiloukaikt, 
Tamahas,  Klokamas,  Isaiachalakis,  and  Kiamasunip- 
kin,  were  found  to  bo  there  with  others  of  their  people. 
They  consented  to  go  to  Oregon  City  to  be  tried,  otfer- 
ing  ilfty  horses  for  their  successful  defence."* 

The  journey  of  the  prisoners,  who  took  leave  of 
their  friends  with  marked  emotion,  was  not  without 
interest  to  their  escort,  who,  anxious  to  underataud  the 

«»  Or,  Spectator,  Mnrch  21,  nnd  April  4,  ISoO. 

*'  Ldiif'K  Autohioijraphij,  iMH.,  flO, 

**  IJIiiiiclipt  nasi'i'ta  tliat  tlio  CayuscH  conRcntcd  only  to  como  dmvn  niul 
havo  a  talk  with  tlio  whito  nutlioritios,  mid  douius  tluit  tlioy  were  tlio  nctuiil 
ciiniinalH,  wiio  lio  siiya  wcro  nil  doad,  liaving  l)ecu  killed  by  the  volunteers. 
I'alh.  Vh.  ill  Or.,  1H>».  Tlioro  apjir'arH  to  lio  nothing  to  justify  such  a  state • 
ment,  exeunt  that  the  niurderora  Hubniittcd  to  ruuuivo  tbe  couauktiuna  uf  tlie 
cliurcii  in  tliuir  luat  momenta. 


THE  CAYUSE  MURDERERS. 


motives  which  had  actuated  the  Indians  in  surrendur- 
ino"  themselves,  pHed  them  with  questions  at  every 
opportunity.  Tiloukaikt  answered  with  a  singular 
mingling  of  savage  pride  and  Christian  humility. 
When  offered  food  by  the  guard  from  their  own  mess 
ho  regarded  it  with  scorn.  "What  hearts  have  you," 
lu'  demanded,  "to  offer  to  eat  with  me,  whose  hands 
arc  red  with  your  brother's  blood?"  When  asked 
why  he  gave  himself  up,  he  replied:  "Did  not  your 
missionaries  teach  us  that  Christ  died  to  save  his 
people?    So  die  we  to  save  our  people." 

This  apparent  magnanimity  produced  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  some  minds,  who,  not  well  versed  in  Indian  or 
in  any  human  character,  could  not  divest  themselves 
of  awe  in  the  presence  of  such  evidences  of  moral 
Cfroatness  as  these  mocking  answers  evinced. 

The  facts  are  these:  The  Cayuses,  weary  of  wan- 
dering, with  the  prospect  before  them  of  another  war 
with  white  men,  had  prevailed  upon  those  who  anumg 
tlionselves  had  done  most  to  bring  so  much  wretched- 

•  •  •  • 

noss  upon  them,  to  risk  their  lives  in  restoring  them 
to  their  former  peace  and  prosperity.  Doubtless  the 
representations  which  had  been  made,  that  they  would 
1)0  defended  by  white  counsel,  had  had  its  influence  in 
indu'  ing  them  to  take  the  risk.  At  all  events  it  was 
a  t  .(SO  requiring  a  desperate  remedy.  They  were  not 
ignorant  that  between  twenty  and  thirty  thousand 
Americans,  chiefly  men,  and  several  government  expe- 
ditions had  traversed  the  road  to  the  Pacific  the  year 
previous;  nor  that  their  attempt  to  expel  the  few  white 
jtoople  from  the  Walla  Walla  valley  hatl  boon  an  igno- 
minious failure.  There  was  scarcely  a  chance  tluit 
wliite  men's  laws  would  acquit  them ;  but  on  the  other 
liand  there  was  the  apparent  certainty  that  unless  the 
fow  gave  up  their  lives,  all  nmst  perish.  Ct)uld  a  chief 
fuoo  his  people  whom  he  had  ruuied  without  an  effort 
to  save  them?  All  tliat  was  courageous  or  manlv  in 
the  savage  breast  was  roused  by  the  emergency;  and 
^vho  shall  say  that  this  pride,  which  doggedly  accepted 


06 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


a  terrible  alternative,  did  not  make  a  moral  hero,  or 
present  an  example  equivalent  to  the  average  Chris- 
tian self-sacrifice? 

The  trial  was  set  for  the  22d  of  May.  The  pris- 
oners in  the  mean  time  were  confined  on  Abernethy 
Island,  in  the  midst  of  the  falls,  the  bridge  connect- 
ing it  with  the  mainland  being  guarded  by  Lieutenant. 
Lane,  of  the  rifles,  who  was  assigned  to  that  duty.'*" 
The  prosecution  was  conducted  by  Amory  Holbrook, 
district  attorney,  who  had  arrived  in  the  territory 
in  March  previous,  and  the  defence  by  Secretary 
Pritchett,  R.  B.  Reynolds,  of  Tennessee,  paymaster 
of  the  rifle  regiment,  and  Captain  Claiborne,  also  of 
the  rifles,  whom  Judge  Pratt  assigned  to  this  duty; 
and  whether  from  a  sense  of  justice,  or  from  a  desire 
to  win  the  fifty  horses  offered,  the  trio  made  a  vigor- 
ous effort  to  clear  their  clients. 

The  plea  first  set  up  was  that  the  United  States, 
at  the  time  the  massacre  was  committed,  possessed 
no  jurisdiction  over  Oregon.  This  was  overruled  by 
showing  that  an  act  of  congress  had  been  passed  in 
1844,  which  declared  all  the  Indian  territory  west  of 
the  Mississippi  subject  to  the  laws  regulatmg  inter- 
course with  the  Indiar-.,  and  that  the  territorial  act 
of  1848  gave  jurisdiction  to  the  district  courts  to  take 
cognizance  of  the  crimes  of  which  the  prisoners  were 
accused.  Counsel  for  the  defence  then  pleaded  not 
guilty  to  three  indictments  for  murder,  brouglit  to 
show  the  kilHng  of  Dr  Whitman,  Mrs  Whitman,  and 
Mr  Saunders,  and  attempted  to  procure  a  change  of 
venue  to  Clarke  county,  on  the  ground  of  the  excited 
Btate  of  the  public  mind  in  Clackamas.  This  petition 
was  also  overruled. 

On  the  second  day  a  continuance  of  the  case 
was  asked  for  on  an  insufficient  aflSdavit,  and  denied. 
Much  difficulty  was  experienced  in  securing  a  jury, 
twenty  persons  being  challenged.  At  length  the  trial 
proceeded.    When  the  women  who  had  witnessed  the 

*^  Laut^a  Autobiography,  MS.,  130. 


THE  TRIAL. 


07 


butchery  of  their  husbands,  sons,  fathers,  and  brothers 
were  put  upon  the  stand  to  identify  the  murderers, 
the  fochng  was  intense;  and  was  heightened  by  the 
evident  sympathy  for  the  prisoners  of  certain  persons 
who  had  come  in  with  the  new  order  of  things,  and 
wlio  thought  it  more  shocking  to  convict  the  Indians 
than  that  they  should  have  committed  the  crimes  for 
which  they  were  being  tried.  The  witnesses  for  the 
defence  were  few.  Sticcas  testified  to  having  given 
Wliitman  a  warning  similar  to  that  which  he  gave 
Spalding,  but  which  he  had  no  time  to  take.  Si)ald- 
iug  told  his  story  of  the  warning  received  by  him. 
Dr  McLoughlin  was  called  upon  to  say  that  he  had 
counselled  Whitman  to  remove  to  the  Willamette  as 
early  as  1840  or  1841;  and  Osborne,  after  having  been 
a  witness  for  the  prosecution,  was  made  to  state  that 
he  knew  Whitman  to  be  anxious  about  his  situation 
among  the  Cayuses.  But  all  this  did  not  change  the 
nature  of  the  crimes  committed,  rather  confirming  the 
theory  of  premeditated  guilt  than  helping  the  case  of 
the  criminals. 

The  solenmity  and  quiet  of  religious  services  char- 
acterized the  trial,  at  which  between  two  and  three 
hundred  persons  were  present.  At  its  close,  when  the 
jury  had  returned  the  verdict  of  guilty,  there  was  no 
unseemly  approval ;  only  a  long  drawn  sigh  of  relief 
that  the  dreadful  business  was  approaching  the  close. 

Attending  this  episode  were  the  usual  hypocrisies 
of  society.  It  was  predetermined  by  the  people  that 
those  Indians  should  die.  For  myself  I  think  they 
were  guilty  and  ought  to  have  died.  But  I  Wiudd  not 
on  that  account  as  a  narrator  of  facts  indulge  in  divers 
little  fictions  to  make  the  nffa'r  more  pathetic.  Nor 
was  it  at  all  necessary  in  the  Spectator  to  pat  the 
iudiio  on  the  back  for  being  "so  firm  and  fearless." 
Tlure  was  not  the  slightest  danger  that  Pratt  woidd 
go  against  the  people  in  this  matter.  But  he  rided 
as  he  did,  not  so  much  from  any  just  or  noble  senti- 
ment, ns,  first,  because  there  was  present  no  inducement 

Ui».  Ob,,  Vol..  U.    7 


» 


LANE'S  ADMUnSTRATION. 


if 


to  do  otherwise,  the  fifty  horses  not  going  to  the 
judge;  and  secondly,  he  well  knew  the  country  would 
be  too  hot  to  hold  him  should  he  do  otherwise. 

Sentence  of  death  was  passed  upon  each  of  the  five 
prisoners,  the  3d  of  June  being  appointed  for  their 
execution.  Soon  after  their  condemnation,  which 
they  received  some  in  sullen  silence,  some  with  signs 
of  terror,  all  confessed  to  having  shared  in  the  mur- 
ders except  Kiamasumpkin,  who,  while  admitting 
that  he  was  present  at  the  massacre,  persistently  de- 
clared that  his  hands  were  not  imbued  in  the  white 
man's  blood.*® 

When  Lane  had  signed  the  death  warrants,  he  pre- 
pared his  resignation,  to  take  effect  the  18th  of  June; 
and  leaving  Pritchett  acting  governor,  for  the  clerical 
duties  of  which  office  Lane  had  little  liking,  he  set 
out  on  an  expedition  to  southern  Oregon,  where  he 
thought  he  might  do  something  to  pacify  the  Rogue 
River  Indians,  now  as  formerly  committing  depreda- 
tions upon  travellers.®'^  His  personal  affairs  were  left 
in  charge  of  his  son.®* 

No  sooner  was  he  well  away  than  Pritchett  began 
to  talk  of  a  reprieve,  and  even  of  liberating  the  Ca- 
yuses,  but  the  marshal  was  incorruptible.®"     It  was 

•"  Blanchct'a  attempts  to  excuse  his  neophytes  are  open  to  reproach.  Not- 
■withBtamling  that  three  ineu  were  assigned  to  their  ilefcnco,  and  that  the 
trial  was  regular  and  even  solemn  in  its  proceedings,  and  the  evidence  clear, 
ho  calls  it  '  a  sham  trial  which  deceived  no  one. '  lie  relates,  with  a  simplicity 
that  woulil  1)0  affecting  if  it  were  not  absurd  after  the  proofs,  that  Tiloukaikt 
and  the  four  others  on  the  eve  of  their  death  made  a  declaration  in  duplicate 
before  two  witnesses,  a  sergeant  and  a  corporal  of  the  U.  M.  R.,  that  each  uf 
the  five  was  innocent.  Cain.  Vh.  in  Or.,  181. 

*' Or.  Si)ectiitor,  May  30,  1850;  Lane'n  Aulobiographij,  MS.,  58;  Steele,  in 
Or.  Council  Juitt:,  1S57-8,  app.,  42-3. 

•'  Niitlianiel  Lane,  who  accompanied  his  father  to  Oregon,  resided  perma- 
nently in  the  country  to  the  date  of  his  death,  the  2'2d  of  July  1878,  at  the  ago 
of  r»4  years.  His  home  was  in  East  Portland.  His  character  was  that  of  au 
honest  and  honorable  citizen  and  kind  neighbor.  Portland  Ori'gonian,  July 
23,  1878.  He  was  twice  married.  His  children  by  the  first  marriage  were 
Joe  and  Ben.  Lane,  and  Carrie,  wife  of  George  Haynes.  His  other  childriu 
were  Nat.  and  Harry  Lane,  and  Jane,  wife  of  Stephen  Bailey.  Jiosuburg  Plain- 
Uealrr,  July  24,  1878. 

«*  Meek,  on  being  anproachod  upon  this  subject,  at  first  talked  in  an  oblig- 
ing tone,  and  expressed  nis  willingness  to  do  any  favor  for  the  secretary,  wlio 
wasabout  to  write  a  reprieve  at  once.  '  But,  Pritchett,'  said  Meek,  aeciugtho 
cU'ect  uf  his  professions  uf  friendship,  '  let  us  now  talk  like  men.     I  have  iu 


EXECUTION. 


99 


even  feared  that  a  rescue  might  be  attempted  by  the 
Indians  on  the  day  of  execution,  and  men  coming  in 
from  the  country  round  brought  their  rifles,  hiding 
thorn  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  not  to  create 
alarm.""  Nothing  occurred,  however,  to  cause  excite- 
ment. The  Catholic  priests  took  charge  of  the  spir- 
itual affairs  of  the  condemned  savages,  administering 
tiie  sacraments  of  baptism  and  confirmation,  Father 
A'cyret  attending  them  to  the  scaffold,  where  prayers 
for  the  dying  were  offered.  "  Touching  words  of  en- 
couragement," says  Blanchet,  "  were  addressed  to 
them  on  the  moment  of  being  swung  into  the  air: 
'Onward,  onward  to  heaven, children;  into  thy  hands, 
0  Lord  Jesus,  I  commend  my  spirit.'""*  Oh  loving 
and  consistent  Christians!  While  the  world  of  Prot- 
estantism regarded  the  victims  slain  at  Waiilatpu  as 
martyrs,  the  priests  of  Cathohcism  made  martyrs  (jf 
the  murderers,  and  wafted  their  spirits  straight  to 
heaven.  So  far  as  the  sectarian  quarrel  is  concernetl 
it  matters  nothing,  in  my  opinion,  and  I  care  not 
whose  converts  these  heathen  may  have  been,  if  of 
either;  but  sure  I  am  that  these  Cayuses  were  mar- 
tyrs to  a  destiny  too  strong  for  them,  to  the  Jugger- 
naut of  an  incompressible  civilization,  before  whose 
wheels  they  were  compelled  to  prostrate  themselves, 
to  that  relentless  law,  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  be- 
fore which,  in  spite  of  religion  or  science,  we  all  in 
turn  go  down. 

With  the  consummation  of  the  last  act  of  tho 
Cayuse  tragedy  Lane's  administration  may  l)e  said  to 
have  closed,  though  he  was  for  several  weeks  ()ccui)ie(l 
with  his  duties  as  Indian  agent  in  the  south,  a  full 
account  of  which  I  shall  give  later.     Having  made  a 

my  pocket  the  death-warrant  of  them  Indians,  nigned  by  Governor  Lane. 
Till'  marshal  will  execute  them  men  as  certain  as  tiie  day  arrives,'  I'ritchctt 
looki'd  surprised  and  remarked:  'That  is  not  wiiut  yuu  just  said,  tluit  yoit 
Would  do  anything  for  me.'  '  You  were  talking  then  to  Meek,'  .loe  rctunieil, 
'not  to  tho  marshal,  who  always  does  his  duty.'  Virlor'n  llimro/the  Wtal, 
4(NJ.    Tiie  marshal's  honor  was  loss  corrupt  than  his  grammur, 

•«  ltaron'<<  Merc.  Lif<-  Or.,  MS.,  '25. 

"  fath.  Ch.  in  Or.,  182. 


100 


LANE'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


treaty  with  the  Rogue  River  people,  he  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia and  busied  himself  with  gold  mining  until  the 
spring  of  1851,  when  his  friends  and  admirers  recalled 
him  to  Oregon  to  run  for  delegate  to  congress.  About 
the  time  of  his  return  the  rifle  regiment  departed  to 
return  by  sea  to  Jefferson  barracks,  near  St  Louis, 
having  been  reduced  to  a  mere  remnant  by  deser- 
tions,'^ and  never  having  rendered  any  service  of  im- 
portance to  the  territory. 

''^Brachetta  U.  8.  Cavalry,  129-30.    It  waa  recruited  afterward  and  sent 
to  Texas  under  its  colonel,  Brevet  General  P.  F.  Smith. 


11 


aifi 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 

1849-1850. 

TuK  Eaelt  JcDiaABT— Island  Mills — Arrival  op  Willum  Strong — 
Opposition  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company — Arrest  of  British  Ship 
Captains — George  Gibbs — The  'Albion'  Affair — Samuel  R.  Thurs- 
ton Chosen  Delegate  to  Congress — His  Life  and  Character — Pro- 
ceeds TO  Washington — Misrepresentations  and  Unprincipled 
Measures— Rank  Injustice  toward  McLoughlin — Efficient  Work 
for  Oregon — The  Donation  Land  Bill — The  Cayuse  War  Claim 
AND  Other  Appropriations  Secured — The  People  Lose  Confidence 
IN  their  Delegate — Death  of  Thurston. 


During  the  transition  period  through  which  the 
territory  was  passing,  complaint  was  made  that  the 
judges  devoted  time  to  personal  enterprises  which  was 
dcmaiided  for  the  public  service.  I  am  disposed  to 
think  that  those  who  criticised  the  judges  of  the 
United  States  courts  caviled  because  they  overlooked 
the  conditions  then  existing. 

The  members  of  the  territorial  supreme  court 
were  Chief  Justice  Bryant  and  Associate  Justice 
Pratt.^    Within  a  few  months,  the  chief  justice's  health 

'  0.  C.  Pratt,  was  born  April  24,  1819,  in  Ontario  County,  New  York.  Ilo 
inttTud  Wi'st  Point,  in  tho  cl.'iss  of  1837,  and  took  two  years  of  tliu  couroo. 
His  stand  during  thia  timo  was  good,  but  ho  did  not  find  tcclniioid  military 
training  congenial  to  his  tastes,  excepting  tho  higher  mathematics,  un  I  he 
obtiuned  the  consent  of  his  parents  to  resign  hia  cadetship,  in  order  to  corn- 
jilulo  liis  study  of  law,  to  which  he  had  devoted  two  years  previous  to  entc- 
uig  tho  Military  Academy.  Ho  passed  his  examination  before  tho  suprenie 
court  of  New  York  in  1840,  and  waa  admitted  to  tho  bar.  During  this  yc;u' 
ho  took  an  active  part  in  tho  presidential  campaign  aj  an  advo^'iito  of  the 
eUx'tion  of  Martin  V'an  Burcn.  In  1843  ho  moved  to  Galena,  Illinois,  and 
cslahlished  hitnsclf  as  an  attorney  at  law.  In  1844  he  cntcreil  hc:irtily  into 
politics,  as  a  friend  of  Polk,  and  attracted  attention  by  liis  cogent  discussion 
tif  tho  issues  then  uppermost,  tho  annexation  of  Texas,  and  tho  Oregon  fjue i- 
tiuu,    lu  1847  ho  was  a  mombor  of  tho  convention  to  make  the  first  rovisiou 

(101) 


108 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


>■•! 


having  become  impaired,  he  left  Oregon,  returned  to 
Indiana,  resigned,  and  soon  after  died.  Associate 
Justice  Burnett,  being  in  California,  and  very  lucra- 
tively employed  at  the  time  that  he  learned  of  his 
appointment,  declined  it;  and  as  their  successors, 
Thomas  Nelson  and  William  Strong,^  were  not  soon 
appointed,  and  came  ultimately  to  their  field  of  duty 
around  Cape  Horn,  Judge  Pratt  was  left  unaided 
nearly  two  years  in  the  judicial  labors  of  the  territory. 

By  act  o^  congress,  March  3, 1 859,  it  was  provided,  m 
the  absence  of  United  States  courts  in  California,  viola- 
tions of  the  revenue  laws  might  be  prosecuted  before  the 
judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  Oregon.  Under  this  stat- 
ute, Judge  Pratt  went  to  San  Francisco,  by  request  of 
the  secretary  of  the  treasury,  in  1849,  ud  assisted  in 
the  adjustment  of  several  important  admiralty  cases. 
Also,  about  the  same  time,  in  his  own  district,  at  Port- 
land, Oregon,  as  district  judge  of  the  United  States 
for  the  territory  of  Oregon,  he  held  the  first  court  of 
admiralty  jurisdiction  within  the  limits  of  the  region 
now  covered  by  the  states  of  Oregon  and  California. 

Another  evil  to  the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  commU' 
nity,  and  to  the  security  of  property,  arose  soon  after 
the  advent  of  the  new  justices — Strong,"  in  August 

of  tho  constitution  of  Illinois.  In  the  service  of  the  government  ho  crosseil 
thi3  plains  to  Santa  Fe;  thence  to  California.  In  1848  ho  became  a  member 
of  the  supremo  court  of  Oregon,  as  noted.  He  was  a  man  of  striking  ami 
distinguished  personnel,  lino  Bcnaibilities,  analytic  intelligence,  ek>quent, 
K'arneil  i.i  tho  law,  and  honorable. 

■■'  William  Strong  was  born  in  St  Albans,  Vermont,  in  1817,  where  he  re- 
Bided  in  early  childhood,  afterward  removing  to  Connecticut  and  New  York. 
Ho  was  educated  at  Yale  college,  began  life  as  principal  of  an  academy  at 
Ithaca,  Now  York,  and  followed  this  occupation  while  studying  law,  remov- 
iu.i?  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  tho  mean  time.  On  being  appointed  to  Oregon  ho 
took  passage  with  his  wife  on  tho  United  States  store-ship  Supply  in  Novem- 
ber 1849  for  San  Francisco,  and  thence  proceeded  to  the  Columbia  by  tho 
sloop  of  war  Falmouth.  Judge  Strong  resided  for  a  few  years  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Columbia,  but  finally  made  Portland  his  home,  where  he  has  long 
practised  law  in  company  with  his  sons.  During  my  visit  to  Oregon  in  1873 
.ludgo  Strong,  among  otliers,  dictated  to  my  stenographer  his  varied  experi- 
ences, and  important  facts  concerning  the  history  of  Oregon.  Tho  nianu- 
sci'ipt  thus  made  V  entitled  Stronj's  Uktory  q/*  Oregon.  It  contains  a  long 
series  of  events,  beginning  August  1850,  and  running  down  to  tho  time 
when  it  was  given,  and  is  enlivened  by  many  anecdotes,  amusing  and  curi- 
ous, of  early  times,  Indian  characteristics,  political  aflfairs,  and  court  notes. 

"  Strong,  who  seems  to  have  had  an  eye  to  speculation  as  well  aa  other  olll- 


DECADENCE  OF  THE  FUR  COMPANY. 


103 


1850,  and  Nelson,  in  April  1,  1851 — from  the  inter- 
ference of  one  district  court  with  the  processes  of 
another.  Thus  it  was  impossible,  for  a  time,  to  main- 
tain order  in  Judge  Pratt's  district  (the  second)  in  two 
instances,  sentences  for  contempt  passed  by  him  being 
practically  nullified  by  the  interference  of  the  judge 
of  the  first  district. 


Among  the  changes  occurring  at  this  time  none 
were  more  perceptible  than  the  diminishing  import- 
ance of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  business  in 
Oregon.  Not  only  the  gold  mania  carried  off  their 
servants,  but  the  naturalization  act  did  likewise,  and 
also  the  prospect  of  a  title  to  six  hundred  and  forty 
arres  of  land.  And  not  only  did  their  servants  desert 
them,  but  the  United  States  revenue  officers  and  Ind- 
ian agents  pursued  them  at  every  turn.*  When  Thorn- 
ton Avas  at  Puget  Sound  in  1849  he  caused  the  arrest 
of  Captain  Morris,  of  the  Ilarpooner,  an  English  ves- 
sel which  had  transported  Hill's  artillery  company  to 
Xisqually,  for  giving  the  customary  grog  to  the  Ind- 
ians and  half-breeds  hired  to  discharge  the  vessel  in 
the  absence  of  white  labor.  Captain  ^Torris  was  held 
U)  bail  in  five  hundred  dollars  by  Judge  Bryant,  to 
a[)pear  before  him  at  the  next  term  of  court.  What 
the  decision  would  have  been  can  only  be  conjectured, 
as  in  the  absence  of  the  judges  the  case  never  came 
to  trial.  Morris  was  released  on  a  promise  never  to 
return  to  those  waters. ° 

But  these  annoyances  were  light  compared  to  those 
Avliieh  arose  out  of  the  establishment  of  a  port  of 

ciaU,  had  purchased  a  lot  of  side-saddles  before  leaving  New  York,  and  other 
gociils  at  auction,  for  sale  in  Oregon.  His  saddlej  costhiin  §7.50  and  fc;|3,  and 
1k'  sdl  I  thuni  to  women  who.so  husbands  had  been  to  the  gold  mines  for  650, 
•*ii.l,  and  ^~o.  A  gross  of  playing  cards,  purchased  for  a  cent  a  pack  at  auc- 
tion, sold  to  the  soldiers  for  $1.50  a  pack.  Brown  sugar  purchased  for  5c.  a 
iioiiiiil  by  tlio  barrel  brought  ten  times  that  amount;  and  so  o:i,  the  good.i 
liciui^  sold  for  him  at  the  fur  company's  store.    Stronja  lli.it.  Or.,  MS  ,  iI7-l]0. 

*  llulnTts  says,  in  his  RecoUectiom,  MS.,  that  Douglas  left  Vancouver  just 
i  1  time  to  save  his  peace  of  mind;  and  it  was  pcrlnpj  partly  with  that  object, 
for  hu  was  a  strict  aisciplinarian,  and  could  never  have  bent  to  the  new  order 
of  things. 

"liuberla  Recolkction8,l,i9,.,Vi. 


lOA 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


11  r 


F 


entry,  and  the  extension  of  the  revenue  laws  of  the 
United  States  over  the  country.  In  the  spring  of 
1849  arrived  Oregon's  first  United  States  revenue 
officer,  John  Adair,  of  Kentucky;  and  in  the  autumn 
George  Gibbs,  deputy-collector.*  No  trouble  seems 
to  have  arisen  for  the  first  few  months,  though  the 
company  was  subjected  to  much  inconvenience  by 
having  to  go  from  Fort  Victoria  to  Astoria,  a  distance 
of  over  two  hundred  miles,  to  enter  the  goods  designed 
for  the  American  side  of  the  strait,  or  for  Fort  Nis- 
qually  to  which  they  must  travel  back  three  hundred 
miles. 

About  the  last  of  December  1849  the  British  ship 
Albion,  Captain  Richard  O.  Hinderwell,  William 
Brotchie,  supercargo,  entered  the  strait  of  Fuca  with- 
out being  aware  of  the  United  States  reveime  laws 
on  that  part  of  the  coast,  and  proceeded  to  cut  a  cargo 
of  spars  at  New  Dungcness,  at  the  same  time  trading 
with  the  natives,  for  which  they  were  prepared,  by 
permission  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  London, 
with  certain  Indian  goods,  though  not  allowed  to  buy 
furs.  The  owners  of  the  Albion,  who  had  a  govern- 
ment contract,  had  instructed  the  captain  and  super- 
cargo to  take  the  spars  wherever  they  found  the  best 
timber,  but  if  upon  the  American  side  of  the  strait,  to 
pay  for  them  if  they  could  be  bought  cheap.  But 
during  a  stay  of  about  four  months  at  Dungeness,  as 

^  Gibbs,  who  came  with  the  rifle  regiment,  was  employed  in  various  posi- 
tions on  the  I'acific  coast  for  several  years.  Ho  became  interested  in  philology 
nnd  published  a  jyictioiiai-j/  of  the  Ch'nwoh  Janjoii,  and  other  matter  concern- 
ing the  native  races,  as  well  as  the  geograpliy  and  geology  of  the  west  coast. 
In  Siicklii/  and  Coopcr'n  Xatural  Jlistori/  it  is  said  that  he  spent  two  years  in 
southern  Oregon,  near  the  Klamath;  that  in  18o3  he  joined  McClcllan'.s  sur- 
veying i^arty,  nnd  afterwaril  made  explorati(  is  with  1.  I.  Stevens  in  Wash- 
ington. In  IS.")!)  he  was  still  employed  as  geo  uist  of  the  north-west  boundary 
survey  with  Kcnnerly.  He  was  for  a  slici  time  collector  of  customs  at 
Astoria.  He  went  from  there  to  Puget  Soi  ,  where  ho  applied  liimself  to 
the  study  of  the  habits,  languages,  nnd  tradi  is  of  tlie  nativtis,  which  study 
enabled  him  to  make  some  valuable  contribuv 
tution.  Mr  Gibbs  died  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  A 
fine  scholarly  attainments, '  says  the  Oli/mpia  t 
'  and  ardently  devoted  to  science  nnd  polite  litcn 
wag  withal,  and  on  several  occasions,  in  con 
l)erby  (-lohn  Phoenix)  nnd  others,  perpetrated 
wide  publicity.    Hia  friends  were  many,  warm,  and  earnest,' 


IS  to  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
V  11 ,  1 S73.  'He  was  a  man  of 
'•ijic  Tribune,  May  17,  187.1, 
ure.  He  was  something  of  a 
.lution  with  the  late  Lieut, 
sella"  that  obtained  a  world 


% 


A  DISREPUTABLE  AFFAIR. 


105 


no  one  had  appeared  of  whom  the  timber  could  be 
jiurchascd,  the  wood-cutters  continued  their  work  un- 
interruptedly. In  the  mean  time  the  United  States 
surveying  schooner  Ewinr)  being  in  the  sound,  Lieu- 
tenant McArthur  informed  the  officers  of  the  Albion 
that  they  had  no  right  to  cut  timber  on  American 
bt»il.  When  this  came  to  the  ears  of  deputy-collector 
Glbbs,  Adair  being  absent  in  California,  he  appointed 
Eben  May  Dorr  a  special  inspector  of  customs,  with 
authority  to  seize  the  Albion  for  violation  of  the 
revenue  laws.  United  States  district  attorney  Hol- 
brook,  and  United  States  marshal  Meek,  were  duly 
informed. 

The  marshal,  with  Inspector  Dorr,  *•  ^jaired  to 
Steilacoom,  where  a  requisit'on  was  made  on  Cap- 
tain Hill  for  a  detachment  of  men,  and  Lieutenant 
Gibson,  five  soldiers,  and  several  citizens  proceeded 
down  the  sound  to  Dungeness,  and  made  a  formal 
seizure  of  the  ship  and  stores  on  the  2 2d  of  April. 
The  vessel  was  placed  in  charge  of  Charles  Kinney, 
the  English  sailors  willingly  obeying  him,  and  navi- 
gating the  ship  to  Steilacoom.  Arrived  here  every 
man,  even  to  the  cook,  deserted,  and  the  captain  and 
supercargo  were  ordered  ashore  where  they  found 
succor  at  the  hospitable  hands  of  Tolmie,  at  Fort 
Xisqually. 

It  was  not  a  very  magnanimous  proceeding  on  the 
part  of  officers  of  the  great  American  republic,  but 
was  about  what  might  have  been  expected  from  Indian 
fiifjiters  like  Joe  Meek  raised  to  new  dignities.^  We 
smile  at  the  simple  savage  demanding  pay  from  navi- 
gators for  wood  and  water;  but  here  were  officers  of 
the  United  States  government  seizing  and  confiscating 
a  British  vessel  for  cutting  a  few  small  trees  from 


'  f=ce  3M  Covq.,  2d  Sfss.,  S.  Doc,  30,  15-16.  'We  have  met  licforc,'  said 
Brotdiio  to  Meek  aa  the  latter  presented  himself.  'You  did  meet  me  ut 
Vancouver  several  years  ago,  but  I  was  then  nothing  but  Joe  Meek,  and 
}(iu  ordered  nie  asliore.  Circnmstanees  are  elmnged  since  then.  I  atn  Colonel 
Joseph  L.  Meek,  United  States  marshal  for  Oregon  Territory,  and  you,  sir, 
are  only  a  damned  smuggler !    Go  ashore,  sir !'  Victor's  Rivtrq/' the  (l'c«<,  505. 


106 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


il€^^^!i^ 


land  lately  stolen  from  the  Ir.'liflTis,  relinquished  by 
Great  Britain  as  much  through  a  desire  for  peace  as 
from  any  other  cause,  and  which  the  United  States 
government  afterward  sold  for  a  dollar  and  a  quarter 
an  acre,  at  which  rate  the  present  damage  could  not 
possibly  have  reached  the  sum  of  three  cents  1 

Kinney  proved  a  thief,  and  not  only  stole  the  goods 
intrusted  to  his  care,  but  allowed  others  to  do  so,*  and 
was  finally  placed  under  bonds  for  his  appearance  to 
answer  the  charge  of  embezzlement.  The  ship  and 
spars  were  condemned  and  sold  at  Steilacoom  Novem- 
ber 23d,  bringing  about  forty  thousand  dollars,  which 
was  considerably  less  than  she  was  worth ;  the  money, 
according  to  common  report,  never  reaching  the  treas- 
ury." A  formal  protest  was  entered  by  the  captain 
and  supercargo  immediately  on  the  seizure  of  the 
Albion,  and  the  whole  'Correspondence  finally  came 
before  congress  on  the  aiatter  being  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  secretary  of  state  by  the  British 
minister  at  Washington. 

In  the  mean  time  congress  had  passed  an  act  Sep- 
tember 28,  1850,  relating  to  collection  matters  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  containing  a  proviso  intended  to 
meet  such  cases  as  this  of  the  Albion, ^'^  and  by  virtue 
of  which  the  owners  and  officers  of  the  vessel  were 
indemnified  for  their  losses. 

This  high-handed  proceeding  against  the  Albion,  as 
we  may  well  imagine,  produced  much  bitterness  of 
feeling  on  the  part  of  the  British  residents  north 
of  the  Columbia,"  and  the  more  so  that  the  vessels 

'Or.  S/ii-ctn/oi;  Dec.  19,  18")0. 

•This  inoiicy  foil  into  IkuI  liaiula  and  was  not  accounted  for.  Accordinj? 
to  Meuk  'the  oilicors  of  the  court'  found  a  priviito  uso  for  it,    Victm''8  liivit' 

of  the  WiHt,  rm. 

'"That  where  nny  ship  or  goods  may  have  been  subjected  to  seizuro 
i)y  any  ollioer  of  the  ciiHtonia  in  tlio  collection  district  of  Upper  Cidifornia  nr 
tlie  district  of  Oregon  jirior  to  the  j)asHiige  of  this  act,  and  it  shall  bo  niailo 
to  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  that  the  owner 
sustained  loss  l)y  reason  of  any  ini]iroper  seizure,  the  said  secretary  is  author- 
ized to  extend  such  relief  as  ho  nwiy  deem  just  and  proper.  Slut  Comj.,  Id 
8<'8K.,  (Jiiilcif  Sintrs  Adn  aiiiinrn.,  I'lS-d. 

"  '  1  fancy  I  oni  pretty  coi>l  about  it  now,'  says  Roberts,  'but  then  it  did 
rather  dam^)  my  democracy.'  liceoltecliuns,  M8.,  17. 


^,««*«'*l     '    \     N 


THE  REVENUE  LAWS. 


107 


r  but  thou  it  did 


of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  not  exempt 
from  these  exactions.  When  the  troops  were  to  be 
romoved  from  Nisqually  to  Steilacoom  on  the  estab- 
lishment of  that  post.  Captain  Hill  employed  the 
Forager,  one  of  the  company's  vessels,  to  transport 
the  men  and  stores,  and  the  settlers  also  having  some 
shingles  and  other  insignificant  freight,  which  they 
wished  carried  down  the  sound,  it  was  put  on  board 
tlie  Formjer.  For  this  violation  of  the  United  States 
revenue  laws  the  vessel  was  seized.  But  the  secretary 
of  the  treasury  decided  that  Hill  and  the  artillerymen 
were  not  goods  in  the  meaning  of  the  statute,  and 
that  therefore  the  laws  had  not  been  violated.^^ 

Soon  after  the  seizure  of  the  Albion,  the  company's 
schooner  Cao?6oro  was  seized  for  carrying  goods  direct 
from  Victoria  to  Nisqually,  and  that  notwithstanding 
the  duties  were  paid,  though  under  protest.  The 
Oalhoro  was  released  on  Ogden  reminding  the  col- 
lector that  he  had  given  notice  of  the  desire  of  the 
company  to  continue  the  importation  of  goods  direct 
from  Victoria,  their  readiness  to  pay  duties,  and  also 
that  their  business  would  be  broken  up  at  Nisqually 
ami  other  posts  in  Oregon  if  they  were  compelled  to 
ini]iort  by  the  way  of  the  Columbia  River. ^' 

in  January  1850  President  Taylor  declared  Port- 
land and  Nisqually  ports  of  delivery ;  but  subsequently 
the  office  was  removed  at  the  in;^tance  of  the  Oregon 
(Ich^gate  from  Nisqually  to  Olympia,,  when  there 
follt)\vod  other  seizures,  namely,  of  tlie  Mary  Dare, 
and  the  Beaver,  the  latter  for  landing  Miss  Rose 
l^irnio,  sister  of  James  Birnie  formerly  of  Fort  George, 
at  Fort  Nisqually,  without  first  leaving  landed  her  nt 
( )lynipia."  The  cases  were  tried  before  Judge  Strong, 
who  ver}'  justly  released  the  vessels.  Strong  was 
accused  of  bribery  by  the  collector;  but  the  n lends 
of  the  judge  hold  a  public  meeting  at  Olympia  sua- 

"  Leftrr  of  N.  M.  Mfiridnh  to  S.  It.  Th  iirston,  la  Or.  Spectator,  May  2, 1850. 
".'?///»  Voiiti.,  ;?(/«"««.,  Sin.  Doc.  30,  7. 
^^liobcrta'  JiecoUections,  MS.,  10. 


108 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


Hi 


taming  him.  The  seizure  cost  the  government  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  and  caused  much  ill-feeling.  This 
was  after  the  appointment  of  a  collector  for  Puget 
Sound  in  1851,  whose  construction  of  the  revenue 
laws  was  even  more  strict  than  that  of  other  Oregon 
officials.  ^» 

Thus  we  see  that  the  position  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  in  Oregon  after  the  passage  of  the  act 
establishing  the  territory  was  ever  increasingly  pre- 
carious and  disagreeable.  The  treaty  of  184G  had 
proven  altogether  insufficient  to  protect  the  assumed 
rights  of  the  company,  and  was  liable  to  different 
interpretations  even  by  the  ablest  jurists.  The  com- 
pany claimed  their  lands  in  the  nature  of  a  grant,  and 
as  actually  alienated  to  the  British  government. 
Before  the  passage  of  the  territorial  act,  they  had 
taken  warning  by  the  well  known  temper  of  the 
American  occupants  of  Oregon  toward  them,  and  had 
offered  their  rights  for  sale  to  the  government  at  one 
million  of  dollars;  using,  as  I  have  previously  inti- 
mated, tlie  well  known  dtanocratic  editor  and  politician, 
George  N.  Sanders,  as  their  agent  in  Washmgton. 

As  early  as  January  1848  Sir  George  Simpson 
addressed  a  conridential  letter  to  Sanders,  whom  he 
had  j)revious]y  met  in  Montreal,  in  which  he  defined 
his  view  of  the  rights  conlirmed  by  the  treaty,  as  the 
right  to  "cultivate  the  soil,  to  cut  down  and  export 
the  timber,  to  carry  on  the  fisheries,  to  trade  for  furs 
with  the  natives,  and  all  other  rights  we  enjoyed  at 
the  time  of  framing  the  treaty."  As  to  the  free  navi- 
gation of  the  Columbia,  he  held  that  this  riglit  like 
the  others  was  salable  and  transferable.  "  Our 
j)osses.sions,"  lie  said,  "embrace  the  very  best  situa- 
tions in  the  whole  country  for  offensive  and  defensive 
operations,  towns  and  villages."    These  were  all   in- 

"  S.  p.  MoBPS  was  the  first  cnllfctor  on  Pugot  Sonnil.  RdlnTts  wiyH  con- 
cerning hint  tliivt  liu  'tiKik  ulniimt  cvtry  Itrititili  Mliiiitliiit  ciunu.  lliHcunduct; 
wiiH  iK'ncatli  tlio  government,  auil  iirolably  wua  from  buuouth,  uUo.'  Jkcol- 
kclwita,  MS.,  lU. 


PROPOSALS  OF  SALE. 


109 


eluded  in  the  offer  of  sale,  as  well  as  the  lands  of  the 
Piif^et  Sound  Agricultural  Company,  together  with 
their  flocks  and  herds;  the  reason  urged  for  making 
the  offer  being  that  the  company  in  England  were 
apprehensive  that  their  possession  of  the  country 
might  lead  to  "endless  disputes,  which  might  be  pro- 
ductive of  difficulties  between  the  two  nations,"  to 
avoid  which  they  were  W'liing  to  make  a  sacrifice,  and 
to  withdraw  within  the  territory  north  of  49.°^*' 

Sanders  laid  this  proposition  before  Secretary 
Buchanan  in  July,  and  a  correspondence  ensued 
between  the  officers  and  agents  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  and  the  ministers  of  both  governments,  in 
the  course  of  which  it  transpired  that  the  United 
St^t-o  'government  on  learning  the  construction  put 
\\]nn  tlie  company's  right  to  transfer  the  navigation 
of  the  Columbia,  was  dissatisfied  with  the  terms  of 
tlio  treaty  and  wished  to  make  a  new  one  in  which 
this  right  was  surrendered,  but  that  Great  Britain 
declined  to  relinquish  the  right  without  a  considera- 
tion. "  Her  Majesty's  government,"  said  Addington, 
"have  no  proposal  to  make,  they  being  quite  content 
to  leave  things  as  they  are." 

The  operation  of  the  revenue  laws,  however,  which 
had  not  been  anticipated  by  the  British  companies  or 
government,  considerably  modified  their  tone  as  to 
the  importance  of  their  right  of  navigation  on  the 
Columbia,  and  their  privileges  generally.  Instead  of 
l)iing  in  a  position  to  dictate  terms,  they  were  at  the 
mercy  of  the  United  States,  which  could  well  afford 
to  allow  them  to  navigate  Oregon  waters  so  long  as 
tliey  ])aid  duties.  Under  this  pressure,  in  the  spring 
of  1849,  a  contract  was  drawn  up  conveying  the 
rights  of  the  company  under  their  charter  and  the 
treaty,  and  appertaining  to  forts  Disappointment, 
(Tcorgo,  Vancouver,  Umpqua,  Walla  Walla,  Boise, 
Okanagan,  Colvillo,  Kootenai,  Flat  Head,  Nisqually, 
Cowlitz,  and  all  other  posts  belonging  to  said  com- 

"5/(it  Cong.,  gd  Seu.,  Stu.  Doe.  *0,  4-5. 


110 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


panics,  together  with  their  wild  lands,  reserving  only 
their  shipping,  merchandise,  provisions,  and  stores  of 
every  description,  and  their  enclosed  lands,  except 
such  portions  of  them  as  the  United  States  govern- 
ment might  wish  to  appropriate  for  military  reserves, 
which  v/ere  included  in  the  schedule  offered,  for  the 
sum  of  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  agree- 
ment further  offered  all  their  farms  and  real  property 
not  before  conveyed,  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars,  if  purchased  within  one  year  by  the 
government;  or  if  the  government  should  not  elect 
to  purchase,  the  companies  bound  themselves  to  sell 
all  their  farming  lands  to  private  citizens  of  the 
United  States  within  two  years,  so  that  at  the  end 
of  that  time  they  would  have  no  property  rights 
whatever  in  the  territories  of  the  United  States. 

Surely  it  could  not  be  said  that  the  British  com- 
panies were  not  as  anxious  to  get  out  of  Oregon  as 
the  Americans  were  to  have  them.  It  is  more  than 
likely,  also,  that  had  it  not  been  for  the  persistent 
animosity  of  certain  persons  influencing  the  heads 
of  the  government  and  senators,  some  arrangement 
might  have  been  effected;  the  reason  given  for  re- 
jecting the  offer,  however,  was  that  no  purcliaso 
could  be  made  until  the  exact  limits  of  the  company's 
possessions  could  be  determined.  In  October  1850, 
Sir  John  Henry  Pelly  addressed  a  letter  to  Webster, 
then  secretary  of  state,  on  the  subject,  in  which  ho 
referred  to  the  seizure  of  the  Albion,  and  in  whicli  ho 
said  that  the  price  in  the  disposal  of  their  property 
was  but  a  secondary  consideration,  that  they  were 
more  concerned  to  avoid  the  repetition  of  occurrences 
which  might  cndanj^er  the  peace  of  the  two  govern- 
ments, and  proposed  to  leave  the  matter  of  valuation 
to  be  decided  uy  two  commissioners,  one  from  each 
government,  who  should  be  at  liberty  to  call  an 
umpire.  But  at  this  time  the  same  objections  existed 
in  the  indefinite  limits  of  the  territory  claimed  whii.'h 
would   require   to   bo   settled    before   commissioners 


li<< 


ABANDONMENT  OF  POSTS. 


ill 


could  be  prepared  to  decide,  and  nothing  was  done 
then,  nor  for  twenty  years  afterward/'^  toward  the 
purchase  of  Hudson's  Bay  Company  claims,  during 
which  time  their  forts,  never  of  much  value  except 
for  the  purposes  of  the  company,  went  to  decay,  and 
tlie  lands  of  the  Puget  Sound  Company  were  covered 
with  American  squatters,  who,  holding  tliat  the  rights 
of  the  company  under  the  treaty  of  1846  were  not  in 
the  nature  of  an  actual  grant,  but  merely  possessory 
BO  far  as  the  company  required  the  land  for  use  until 
their  charter  expired,  looked  upon  their  pretensions 
as  unf(junded,  and  treated  them  as  trespassers,^^  at 
the  same  time  that  they  were  compelled  to  pay  taxes 
as  proprietors.^" 

Gradually  the  different  posts  were  abandoned.  The 
land  at  Fort  Umpqua  was  let  in  1853  to  W.  W. 
Chapman,  who  purchased  the  cattle  belonging  to  it,** 
which  travellers  were  in  the    habit  of  shooting  aa 

"  J.?(/  Cong.,  M  Sess.,  If.  Ex.  Doc.  2,  pt.  iii.  473-4. 

"Roberts,  who  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Puget  Sound  Company,  took 
cliiugo  of  the  Cowlitz  farm  in  1840.  Matters  went  on  very  well  for  two  yeais. 
Tlicn  camo  the  gold  excitement  and  demoralization  of  the  company's  servants 
con.sequent  upon  it,  and  tho  expectation  of  a  donation  land  law.  Ho  left  tlie 
farm  which  ho  found  it  impossible  to  carry  on,  and  took  up  a  land  claim  as  a 
si'ttkr  outside  its  limits,  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
lint  pioneer  farming  was  not  eitlier  agreeable  or  profitable  to  him,  and  was 
besides  interrupted  by  an  Indian  war,  when  he  bocumo  clerk  to  tho  (puirtcr- 
master  general.  When  tho  Frazer  River  mining  excitement  came  on  he 
thmiglit  ho  might  possibly  make  something  at  tho  Cowlitz  by  raising  provis- 
ions. lUit  when  his  hay  was  cut  and  put  up  in  cocks  it  was  taken  away  by 
iiiiiicd  men  M'ho  liad  squatted  on  tho  land;  and  when  the  case  came  into 
coiiit  the  jury  decided  that  they  knew  nothing  about  treaties,  but  did  under- 
stand  the  riulits  of  American  citizens  under  the  land  law.  Then  f(jllowed 
nisou  and  otlier  troubles  with  tho  sfpmtters,  who  took  away  his  crops  year 
utter  year.  Tho  lawyers  towliom  he  appealed  could  do  nothing  for  him,  and 
it  was  only  by  tho  interference  of  other  people  who  becanu;  ashamed  of  seeing 
a  good  man  persecuted  in  this  manner,  that  tho  squatters  on  the  Cowlitz 
farm  were  Inudly  compelled  to  desist  from  these  acts,  and  Herberts  was  left  in 
peace  until  tiio  AV'ashington  delegate,  (tarlleld,  secured  patents  for  his  clients 
the  Kcnuitters,  and  Roberts  was  evicted.  There  certainly  sJKMild  have  l)een 
«niii(!  >vay  of  preventing  outrages  of  this  kind,  and  tlie  government  should 
ha\  I!  seen  to  it  that  its  treaties  were  respected  by  tho  people.  Jhit  the  peo- 
)ile's  representatives,  to  win  favor  with  their  constituents,  persisttntly  IxMped 
to  instigate  a.  feeling  of  oppositiim  to  tho  claims  of  tho  llritish  companies,  or 
to  ii(sito  a  doubt  of  their  validity.   See  lioliertM'  IJrrollcctiouK,  MS.,  7.'». 

"*The  Puuet  Sound  (Company  paid  in  one  year  ?7,(HK)  in  taxes.  They  were 
nntute  cnougn,  says  Roberts,  not  to  refuse,  aa  tho  records  coulil  bo  used  to 
show  tho  value  of  their  property.  Ufcolkctinni,  MS.,  01. 

•'".!.  C.  aihhx,  in  U.  S.  Ev.  11.  U.  V.  Cluiim,  20}  W.  T.  Tolmie,  Id.,  104| 
ir.  ir.  (Jhupman,  Id,,  11, 


112 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


game  while  they  belonged  to  the  company.  The 
stockade  and  buildings  were  burned  in  1851.  The 
land  was  finally  taken  as  a  donation  claim.  Walla 
Walla  was  abandoned  in  1855-6,  during  the  Indian 
war,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  Indian  Agent 
Olney,  and  was  afterward  claimed  by  an  American 
for  a  town  site.  Fort  Boisd  was  abandoned  in  1856 
on  account  of  Indian  hostilities,  and  Fort  Hall  about 
the  same  time  on  account  of  the  statute  against  selling 
ammunition  to  Indians,  without  which  the  Indian 
trade  was  worthless.  Okanagan  was  kept  up  until 
1861  or  1862,  when  it  was  left  in  charge  of  an  Indian 
chief  Vancouver  was  abandoned  about  1860,  the 
land  about  it  being  covered  with  squatters,  English 
and  American.^^  Fort  George  went  out  of  use  before 
any  of  the  others,  Colville  holding  out  longest.  At 
length  in  1871,  after  a  tedious  and  expensive  ex- 
amination of  the  claims  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  and 
Puget  Sound  companies  by  a  commission  appointed 
for  tlie  purpose,  an  award  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
thousaixd  dollars  was  made  and  accepted,  there  being 
nothing  left  whicii  the  United  States  could  confirm 
to  any  one  except  a  dozen  dilapidated  forts.  The 
United  States  gained  nothing  by  the  purchase,  unless 
it  were  the  military  reserves  at  Vancouver,  Steila- 
coom,  and  Cape  Disappointment;  for  the  broad  acres 
of  the  companies  had  been  donated  to  squatters  who 
applied  for  them  as  United  States  land.  As  to  the 
justice  of  the  cause  of  the  American  people  against 
the  companies,  or  the  companies  against  the  United 
States,  there  will  be  always  two  opinions,  as  there 
have  always  been  two  opinions  concerning  the  Oregon 
boundary  question.  Sentiment  on  the  American  side 
as  enunciated  by  the  Oregon  pioneers  was  as  follows: 
They  held  that  Great  Britain  had  no  rights  on  the 
west  shore  of  the  American  continent;  in  which 
opinion,  if  they  would  include  the  United  States  in 
tbo  same  category,  I  would  concur.     As  I  think  I 

••-      ;-.  JfecJt,  in  U.  S.  El).  II.  D.  C.  Claitna,  90, 


THE  FINAL  ISSUE. 


11! 


'.    The 
..     The 
Walla 
Indian 
Agent 
merican 
in  1856 
lU  about 
it  soiling 
1  Indian 
up  until 
n  Indian 
8 GO,  the 
English 
so  before 
■est.     At 
isive  ex- 
Bay  and 
ippointcd 
and  fifty 
ere  being 
confirm 
■ts.     The 
Isc,  unless 
Ir,  Steila- 
lad  acres 
;ters  who 
s  to  the 
against 
United 
as  there 
Oregon 
lean  side 
follows: 
on  the 
I   which 
itates  in 
think  I 


have  clearly  shown  in  the  History  of  the  Northwest 
Coast,  whether  on  the  ground  of  inherent  rights, 
or  rights  of  discovery  or  occupation,  there  was  little 
to  choose  between  the  two  nations.  The  people  of 
Oregon  further  held  that  the  convention  of  1818 
conferred  no  title,  in  which  they  were  correct.  They 
held  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  under  its 
charter,  could  acquire  no  title  to  land — only  to  the 
occupancy  of  it  for  a  limited  time;  in  which  position 
they  were  undoubtedly  right.  They  denied  that  the 
Pugct  Sound  Company,  which  derived  its  existence 
from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  could  have  any  title 
to  land,  which  was  evident.  They  were  quick  to  per- 
ceive the  intentions  of  the  parent  company  in  laying 
claim  to  large  bodies  of  land  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Cohunbia,  and  covering  them  with  settlers  and  herds. 
They  had  no  thought  that  when  the  boundary  was 
settled  these  claims  would  be  respected,  and  felt  that 
not  only  they  but  the  government  had  been  cheated — 
the  latter  tlirough  its  ignorance  of  the  actual  facts  in 
tlie  case.  So  far  I  cannot  fail  to  sympathize  with 
their  sound  sense  and  patriotism. 

]3ut  I  find  also  that  they  forgot  to  be  just,  and  to 
realize  that  British  subjects  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Cohunbia  were  disappointed  at  the  settlement  of  the 
boundarv  on  the  49th  parallel;  that  they  naturally 
sought  indemnity  for  the  distraction  it  would  be  to 
their  business  to  move  their  property  out  of  the 
territory,  the  cost  of  building  new  forts,  opening  new 
(arms,  and  laying  out  new  roads.  But  above  all  they 
forgot  that  as  good  citizens  they  were  bound  to  re- 
spect the  engagements  entered  into  by  the  govern- 
ment whether  or  not  they  approved  them;  and  while 
they  were  using  doubtful  means  to  force  the  British 
companies  out  of  Oregon,  were  guilty  of  ingratitude 
both  to  the  corporation  and  individuals. 

Tiie  issue  on  which  the  first  delegate  to  congress 
elected  in  Oregon,  Samuel  R.  Thurston,  received  hia 

Hut.  Oa.,  Vol.  II.    8 


%u 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


P 


i  i' 


majority,  was  that  of  the  anti-Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany sentiment,  which  was  industriously  worked  up 
by  the  missionary  element,  in  the  absence  of  a  large 
number  of  the  voters  of  the  territory,  notably  of  the 
Canadians,  and  the  young  and  independent  western 
men.'*^     Thurston  was  besides  a  democrat,  to  which 


party  the  greater  part  of  the  population  belonged; 
but  it  is  the  testimony  of  those  who  knew  best  that 
it  was  not  as  a  democrat  that  he  was  elected.'"  As  a 
member  of  the  legislature  at  its  last  session  under  the 
provisional  government,  he  displayed  some  of  those 
traits  which  made  him  a  powerful  and  useful  champion, 
or  a  dreaded  and  hated  foe. 

Much  has  been  said  about  the  rude  and  violent 
manners  of  western  men  in  pursuit  of  an  object,  but 
Thurston  was  not  a  western  man;  he  was  supposed  to 
be  something  more  elevated  and  refined,  more  cool 
and  logical,  more  moral  and  Christian  than  the  peo- 
ple beyond  the  Alleghanies;  he  was  born  and  bred 
an  eastern  man,  educated  at  an  eastern  college, 
was  a  good  Methodist,  and  yet   in  the  canvass  of 


t 


"Thurston  received  470  votes;  C.  Lancaster,  321;  Meek  and  Griffin,  40; 
J.  W.  Ncsmith,  106.  Thurston  was  a  democrat  and  Nesmith  a  whig.  Tribune 
Almannc,  1S50,  51. 

*•  Mrs  E.  F.  Odell,  n^r.  McClench,  who  came  to  Oregon  as  Thurston's 
wife,  and  who  cherishes  a  high  regard  for  his  talents  and  memory,  has  fur- 
iiiahcd  to  my  library  a  biographical  sketch  of  her  first  husband.  Though 
strongly  tinctured  by  personal  and  partisan  feeling,  it  is  valuable  as  a  view 
from  Tier  standpoint  of  the  character  and  services  of  the  ambitious  young  niiiu 
who  lirst  represented  Oregon  in  congress — how  worthily,  the  record  will 
determine.  Mr  Thurston  was  born  in  Monmoutli,  Maine,  in  1810,  and  roarud 
in  the  little  town  of  Peru,  subject  to  many  toils  and  privations  common  to 
the  Yankee  youth  of  that  day.  Ho  possessed  a  thirst  for  knowledge  also 
common  in  Nev  England,  and  became  a  hard  student  at  the  Wcslcyan  semi- 
nary at  Rcndflcld,  from  wliich  ho  entered  Bowdoin  college,  graduating  in  tlio 
class  of  1843.  Uo  then  entered  on  the  study  of  law  in  Brunswick,  wliere  Im 
was  soon  admitted  to  practice.  A  natural  partisan,  he  became  an  ardent 
democrat,  and  was  n  .■  oiiiy  fearless  but  aggressive  in  his  leadership  of  tlio 
politicians  of  the  school.  Having  married  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  McClench,  uf 
Fayette,  he  removed  with  her  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  in  1845,  where  he  cditud 
the  Burlington  Gazette  till  1847,  when  he  emigrated  to  Oregon.  From  his 
education  as  a  Methodist,  his  talents,  and  readiness  to  become  a  partisan,  ho 
naturally  affiliated  with  the  Mission  party.  Mrs  Odell  remarks  in  her  liloj- 
raphy  of  Thurston,  MS.,  4,  that  he  was  'not  elected  as  a  partisan,  though  his 

f»olitical  views  were  well  understoo*!;'  but  L.  F.  Grover,  who  knew  him  well 
n  college  days  and  afterward,  says  that  'he  ran  on  the  issue  of  the  missionary 
.aettlera  against  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.'  Public  L\fe  in  Or,,  MS.,  05. 


CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THURSTON. 


HI 


3ay  Com- 
^orked  up 
of  a  large 
bly  of  the 
it  western 
,  to  which 

belonged ; 

best  that 
-d.'^  Asa 
I  under  the 
e  of  those 
.  champion, 

md  violent 
object,  but 
supposed  to 
,  more  cool 
m  the  peo- 
n  and  bred 
jrn  college, 
canvass  of 

and  Griffin,  4G; 
whig.  Tribune. 


24 


r 


1849  he  introduced  into  Oregon  the  vituperative  and 
invective  st^de  of  debate,  and  mingled  with  it  a  species 
of  coarse  blackguardism  such  as  no  Kentucky  ox 
(h'ivcr  or  Missouri  flat-boatman  might  hope  to  excel 
Were  it  more  effective,  he  could  be  simply  eloquent 
and  impressive;  where  the  fire-eating  style  seemed 
likely  to  win,  he  could  hurl  epithets  and  denuncia- 
tions until  his  adversaries  withered  before  them." 

And  where  so  pregnant  a  theme  on  which  to  rouse 
the  feelings  of  a  people  unduly  jealous,  as  that  of  the 
a"-*  rcssiveness  of  a  foreign  monoplv?  And  what  easier 
than  to  make  promises  of  accomplishing  great  things 
tor  Oregon?  And  yet  I  am  bound  to  say  that  what 
this  scurrilous  and  unprincipled  demagogue  promised, 
as  a  rule  he  performed.  He  believed  that  to  be  the 
best  course,  and  he  was  strong  enough  to  pursue  it. 
riad  he  never  done  more  than  he  engaged  to  do,  or 
liad  he  not  privately  engaged  to  carry  out  a  scheme 
of  the  Methodist  missionaries,  whose  sentiments  he 
mistook  for  those  of  the  majority,  being  himself  a 
j\rethodist,  and  having  been  but  eighteen  months  in 
Oivgon  when  he  left  it  for  Washington,  his  success 
as  a  |)olitician  would  have  been  assured. 

Barnes,  in  his  manuscript  entitled  Oregon  and  Call- 
fiirnia,  relates  that  Thurston  was  prepared  to  go  to 
CaHfornia  with  him  when  Lane  issued  liis  proclama- 
tion to  elect  a  delegate  to  congress.    He  immediately 

'•' '  I  have  heard  an  old  settler  give  an  account  of  a  discussion  in  Polk 
county  between  Nesmitli  and  Thurston  during  the  canvass  for  the  election  of 
(Idcgiitc  to  congress.  He  said  Nesniith  had  been  accustomed  to  brow> 
liciit  every  man  tliat  came  about  him,  and  drive  him  off  either  by  ridicule  or 
finr.  In  both  these  capacities  Nesmith  was  a  strong  man,  and  they  all 
tlioiiiiht  Nesniith  had  the  field.  But  when  Thurston  got  up  they  were 
iistDiiislied  at  his  eloquence,  and  particularly  at  his  bold  manner.  My  inform- 
nut  says  that  at  one  stage  Nesmith  jumped  up  and  began  to  move  toward 
Tlnnatou;  anil  Thurston  pointed  his  finger  straight  at  him,  after  putting  it 
on  \ns  Hide,  and  said:  "  Don't  you  take  another  step,  or  a  button-hole  will  be 
si'tu  througli  you,"  and  Nesmith  stopped.  But  the  discussion  proved  that 
Thurston  was  a  full  match  for  any  man  in  the  practices  in  which  his  antago- 
nist was  distinguished,  and  the  result  was  that  Thurston  carried  the  election 
by  a  large  majority.'  Orover'a  Pub.  Life,  MS.,  90-7. 

'•' '  He  was  a  man  of  such  impulsive,  harsh  traits,  that  he  would  often  carry 
colli'go  feuds  to  extremities.  I  have  known  him  to  got  so  excited  in  recount- 
ing 8onic  of  his  struggles,  that  he  would  take  a  chair  and  smash  it  all  to  pieces 
ovur  the  table,  evidently  to  exhaust  the  extra  amount  of  vitality.'  Id.,  94. 


116 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


II 


1 1". ' 


decided  to  take  his  chance  among  the  candidates,  with 
what  result  we  know.'^ 

The  first  we  hear  of  Thurston  in  his  character  of 
delegate  is  on  the  24th  of  January  1850,  when  he 
rose  in  the  house  and  insisted  upon  being  allowed  to 
make  an  explanation  of  his  position.  When  he  left 
Oregon,  he  said,  he  bore  a  memorial  from  the  legisla- 
tive assembly  to  congress  which  he  could  not  produce 
on  account  of  the  loss  of  his  baggage  on  the  Isthmus. 
But  since  he  had  not  the  memorial,  he  had  drawn  up 
a  set  of  resolutions  upon  the  subjects  embraced  in  the 
memorial,  which  he  wished  to  offer  and  have  referred 
to  their  appropriate  committees,  in  order  that  while 
the  house  might  be  engaged  in  other  matters  he 
might  attend  to  his  before  the  committees.  He  had 
waited,  he  said,  nearly  two  months  for  an  opportunity 
to  present  his  resolutions,  and  his  territory  had  not 
yet  been  reached  in  the  call  for  resolutions.  He 
would  detain  the  house  but  a  few  minutes,  if  he  might 
be  allowed  to  read  what  he  had  drawn  up.  On  leave 
being  granted,  he  proceeded  to  present,  not  an  abstract 
of  the  memorial,  which  has  been  given  elsewhere,  but 
a  series  of  questions  for  the  judiciary  committee  to 
answer,  in  reference  to  the  rights  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  and  Puget  Sound  Agricultural  Associ- 
ation.^^ This  first  utterance  of  the  Oregon  delegate, 
when  time  was  so  precious  and  so  short  in  which  to 
labor  for  the  accomplishment  of  high  designs,  gives 
us  the  key  to  his  plan,  which  was  first  to  raise  the 
question  of  any  rights  of  British  subjects  to  Oregon 
lands  in  fee  simple  under  the  treaty,  and  then  to 
exclude  them  if  possible  from  the  privileges  of  the 
donation  law  when  it  should  be  framed."^ 

iM  Thurston  was  in  ill-health  when  he  left  Oregon.  He  travelled  in  a  small 
boat  to  Astoria,  taking  six  days  for  the  trip;  by  sailing  vessel  to  San  Francisco, 
anil  to  Panamd  by  the  steamer  Carolina,  being  ill  at  the  last  plaue,  yet  having 
to  ride  across  the  Isthn.us,  losing  his  baggage  because  he  M'as  not  able  to  look 
after  the  thieving  carriers.  His  determination  and  ambition  were  remarkable. 
Odell'x  IJioi/raphy  of  Thurston,  MS. ,  50. 

"For  the  resolutions  complete,  see  Cong.  Globe,  1S49-60,  21,  pt.  i.  220. 

''^That  Thurston  exceeded  the  instructions  of  the  legislative  assembly 
there  is  uo  i^uestiou.    &w  (Jr.  Archives,  MS.,  18u-U. 


IGNOBLE  MEASURES. 


117 


The  two  months  which  intervened  between  Thurs- 
ton's arrival  in  Washington  and  the  day  when  he  in- 
troduced his  resolutions  had  not  been  lost.  He  had 
studied  congressional  methods  and  proved  himself  an 
apt  scholar.  He  attempted  nothing  without  first  hav- 
iiiijf  tried  his  ground  with  the  committees,  and  pre- 
pared the  way,  often  with  great  labor,  to  final  success. 
On  tlie  6th  of  February,  further  resolutions  were 
introduced  inquiring  into  the  rights  of  the  Hudson's 
l>ay  Company  to  cut  and  manufacture  timber  growing 
on  the  public  lands  of  Oregon,  and  particuarly  on 
lands  not  inclosed  or  cultivated  by  them  at  the  time 
of  the  ratification  of  the  Oregon  treaty;  into  the 
right  of  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural  Company  to 
any  more  land  than  they  had  under  inclosure,  or  in  a 
state  of  actual  cultivation  at  that  time;  and  into  the 
right  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  under  the  sec- 
ond article  of  the  treaty,  or  of  British  subjects  trad- 
ing with  the  company,  to  introduce  through  the  port 
of  Astoria  foreign  goods  for  consumption  in  the  ter- 
ritory free  of  duty,***  which  resolutions  were  referred 
to  the  judiciary  committee.  On  the  same  day  he  in- 
troduced a  resolution  that  the  committee  on  public 
lands  should  be  instructed  to  inquire  into  the  expedi- 
ency of  reporting  a  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a 
land  oflSce  in  Oregon,  and  to  provide  for  the  survey 
of  a  portion  of  the  public  lands  in  that  territory,  con- 
taining such  other  provisions  and  restrictions  as  the 
conmiittee  might  deem  necessary  for  the  proper  man- 
aj^enient  and  protection  of  the  public  lands.** 

In  the  mean  time  a  bill  was  before  the  senate  for 
the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title  to  land  west 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains.  This  was  an  important 
preliminary  step  to  the  passage  of  a  donation  act.''^ 

•^  Cong.  Globe,  1849-50,  295. 

'"/</.,  295.  A  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribiaie  remarks  on 
Thurston's  resolutions:  'There  are  squalls  ahead  for  the  Hudson's  Kay 
Cdiiiimny,'  Or.  Spectator,  May  2,  18J0. 

"SuoOc.  Sjieclator,  April  18,  1850;  31st  Cony.,  1st  Sess.,  U.  S.  Acts  and 
H''".,  •Hi-r,  ,/oA(/.so«'.s  Ca/.  ami  Or.,  332;  Coh<j.  Ulobe,  1S49S0,  1070-7;  Jd., 
1010;  Ur.  Sptclator,  Aug,  8,  1850. 


118 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


It  was  chiefly  suggested  by  Mr  Thurston,  and  was 
passed  April  2 2d  without  opposition.  Having  se- 
cured this  measure,  as  he  believed,  he  next  brought 
up  the  topics  embraced  in  the  last  memorial  on  which 
he  expected  to  found  his  advocacy  of  a  donation  law, 
and  embodied  them  in  another  series  of  resolutions, 
so  artfully  drawn  up^^  as  to  compel  the  committee  to 
take  that  view  of  the  subject  most  likely  to  promote 
the  success  of  the  measure.  Not  that  there  was 
reason  to  fear  serious  opposition  to  a  law  donating  a 
liberal  amount  of  land  to  Oregon  settlers.  It  had  for 
years  been  tacitly  agreed  to  by  every  congress,  and 
could  only  fail  on  some  technicality.  j3ut  to  get  up  a 
sympathetic  feeling  for  such  a  bill,  to  secure  to  Ore- 
gon all  and  more  than  was  asked  for  through  that 
feeling,  and  to  thereby  so  deserve  the  approval  of  the 
Oregon  people  as  to  be  reelected  to  congress,  was  the 
desire  of  Thurston's  active  and  ardent  mind.  And 
toward  this  aim  he  worked  with  a  persistency  that 
was  admirable,  though  some  of  the  means  resorted  to, 
to  bring  it  about,  and  to  retain  the  favor  of  the  party 
that  elected  him,  were  as  unsuccessful  as  they  were 
reprehensible. 

From  the  first  day  of  his  labors  at  Washington  this 
relentless  demagogue  acted  in  ceaseless  and  open  hos- 
tility to  every  interest  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
in  Oregon,  and  to  every  individual  in  any  way  con- 
nected with  it.^ 

Thurston,  like  Thornton,  claimed  to  have  been  the 
author  of  the  donation  land  law.     I  have  shown  in  a 

"  Conij.  Globe,  1S49-50,  413;  Or.  Statesman,  May  9,  18ii! . 

'^  Hero  is  a  sample  of  the  ignorance  or  mendacity  of  tie  iiian,  \»  hichevcr 
you  will.  A  circular  issued  by  Thurston  while  in  Washiiiiitou  :  j  save  letter- 
writing,  says,  speakinj;  of  the  country  iu  which  Vancouver  is  located:  'It 
was  formerly  called  Clarke  county;  but  at  a  time  when  T'ci+lsh  sway  was  in 
its  palmy  days  in  Oregon,  the  county  was  changed  from  Claire  to  Vancouvi;!', 
iu  honor  of  the  celebrated  navigator,  and  no  less  celebiated  slanderer  of  our 
government  and  people.  Now  that  American  influence  rules  in  Oregon,  it  is 
due  to  the  hardy,  wayworn  American  explorer  to  realtor  the  name  of  this 
county,  and  grace  it  again  with  tlie  name  of  him  whose  history  is  interwoven 
witli  tliat  of  Oregon.  So  our  legislature  thought,  and  so  I  have  no  duulit 
they  spoke  and  acted  at  their  receut  session. '  t/oA/Mou'.t  Cat.  and  Or. ,  '2(i7. 
It  was  certainly  peculiar  to  hear  this  intelligent  legislator  talk  of  countius 


THE  DONATION  LAND  BILL. 


119 


and  was 
,ving  se- 
broufjlit 
an  which 
tion  law, 
solutions, 
mittee  to 
I  promote 
here  was 
onating  a 
It  had  for 
Tress,  and 
o  get  up  a 
re  to  Ore- 
3Ugh  that 
)val  of  the 
IS,  was  the 
ind.     And 
tency  that 
esorted  to, 
the  party 
they  were 


ington  this 
open  hos- 
Company 
way  cou- 

been  the 
khown  in  a 


Un,  whichever 
I  :y  save  lotto r- 
ms  located;  'It 
111  sway  svas  iu 
ItoVancouVL'V. 
Inderer  of  ouv 
a  Oregon,  it  is 
name  of  this 
1  is  iiiterwovou 
lave  no  doubt 
\and  Or. ,  2tiT. 
hk  of  counties 


previous  chapter  that  a  bill  creating  the  office  of  sur- 
veyor-general in  Oregon,  and  to  grant  donation  rights 
to  settlers,  and  for  other  purposes,  was  before  congress 
in  both  houses  in  January  1848,  and  that  it  failed 
through  lack  of  time,  having  to  await  the  territorial 
bill  which  passed  at  the  last  moment.  Having  been 
crowded  out,  and  other  affairs  pressing  at  the  next 
session,  the  only  trace  of  it  in  the  proceedings  of  con- 
gress is  a  resolution  by  Collamer,  of  Vermont,  on  the 
25th  of  January  1849,  that  it  should  be  made  the 
special  order  of  the  house  for  the  first  Tuesday  of 
February,  when,  however,  it  appears  to  have  been 
forgotten;  and  it  was  not  until  the  22d  of  April  1850 
that  Mr  Fitch,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  territo- 
ries, again  reported  a  bill  on  this  subject.  That  the 
bill  brought  up  at  this  session  was  but  a  copy  of  the 
[)revious  one  is  according  to  usage :  but  that  Thurston 
had  been  at  work  with  the  committee  some  peculiar 
features  of  the  bill  show.^ 

There  was  tact  and  diplomacy  in  Thurston's  char- 
acter, which  he  displayed  in  his  short  congressional 

in  Oregon  Iwifore  the  palmy  days  of  British  sway,  and  of  British  residents 
naming  counties  at  all.  While  Thurston  was  in  Washington,  the  postmaster- 
goiRial  changed  the  name  of  the  postolfice  at  Vancouver  to  Columbia  City. 
Or.  liUUesmau,  May  28,  1851. 

**  Tliomton  alleges  that  he  presented  Thurston  before  leaving  Oregon  with 
a  copy  of  his  bill,  Or.  J  list.,  MS.,  13,  and  furtlier  that  'the  donation  law  wo 
now  have,  except  the  1 1th  section  and  one  or  two  unimportant  amcn<liiicnt8, 
is  an  exact  cojiy  of  the  bill  I  prepared.'  Or.  Pinnecr  Asm.  Tranx.  1S74,  94. 
Yit  when  Thurston  lost  liia  luggage  on  tlie  Isthmus  he  lost  all  his  papers, 
anil  could  not  liave  made  an  'exact  copy'  from  memory.  In  another  place  he 
says  tliat  before  leaving  Washington  he  drew  up  a  land  bill  which  ho  Hunt  to 
Cdllanier  iu  Vermont,  and  would  have  us  believe  that  this  was  the  iden- 
tical bill  which  finally  passed.  Not  knowing  further  of  tlie  bill  than  what 
was  stated  by  Thornton  himself,  I  would  only  remark  upon  the  evidence 
tliat  Collamer's  term  expired  before  1850,  though  that  might  not  have  pre- 
vtiilcd  him  from  introducing  any  suggestions  of  Thornton's  into  the  bill 
reported  in  January  1849.  But  now  comes  Thornton  of  liis  own  accord,  and 
achiiits  he  has  claimed  too  much.  He  did,  he  says,  prepare  a  tcrritoriiil  and 
alsi)  a  land  bill,  but  on  'further  reQction,  ancl  after  consulting  others,  I 
ilci'incd  it  not  well  to  have  these  new  bills  offered,  it  having  been  suggested 
that  the  bills  already  pending  in  both  houses  of  congress  could  1)0  amended 
Ijy  inc(jrporating  into  them  whatever  there  waa  in  my  bills  not  alreudy  pro- 
vided for  in  the  bills  wluch  in  virtne  of  their  being  already  on  the  calendar 
Would  bo  reached  before  any  bills  subsequently  introduced.'  From  a  letter 
dated  August  8,  188*2,  which  is  intended  oa  on  addendum  to  the  Or.  Jliat,, 
MiS,,  of  Thornton. 


120 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


career.  Ho  allowed  the  land  bill  to  drift  along,  mak- 
ing only  some  practical  suggestions,  until  his  resolu- 
tions had  had  time  to  shik  into  the  minds  of  members 
of  botii  he  !ses.  When  the  bill  was  well  on  its  way 
he  proposed  amendments,  such  as  to  strike  out  of 
the  fourth  section  that  portion  which  gave  every  set- 
tler or  occupant  of  the  public  lands  above  the  age  of 
ciijliteen  a  donation  of  three  hundred  and  twentv  acres 
of  land  if  a  single  man,  and  if  married,  or  becoming 
married  within  a  given  time,  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  one  half  to  himself  in  his  own  right,  and  the 
other  half  to  his  wife  in  her  own  right,  the  surveyor- 
general  to  designate  the  part  inuring  to  each;""'  and 
to  make  it  read  "  that  there  shall  be,  and  herol)y  is 
granted  to  every  white  male  settler,  or  occupant  of  the 
public  lands,  American  half-breeds  included,  members 
and  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  Puget  Sound 
companies  excepted,"  etc. 

Hv  pro])OHed  further  a  proviso  "that  every  foreigner 
making  claim  to  lands  by  virtue  of  this  act,  before 
he  shall  receive  a  title  to  the  same,  shall  prove  to 
the  surveyor-general  that  he  has  commenced  and  com- 
pleted his  naturalization  and  become  an  American 
citizen."  The  i)roviso  was  not  objected  to,  but  the 
previous  amendment  was  declared  by  Bowlin,  of  Mis- 
souri, unjust  to  the  retired  servants  of  the  fur  com- 
pany, who  had  long  lived  on  and  cultivated  farms. 
The  debate  U[)on  this  part  of  the  bill  became  warm, 
and  Thurston,  being  i)resscd,  gave  utterance  to  the 
following  infamous  lies: 

"This  comi)any  has  been  warring  against  our  gov- 
ernment these  fort}^  years.  l)r  jNIcLoughlin  has  been 
their  chief  fugleman,  first  to  cheat  our  government 
out  of  the  whole  country,  and  next  to  prevent  its 
settlement.    He  has  driven  men  from  claims  and  from 


'*  This  was  tho  principle  of  the  donntion  law  ns  passed.  Tiio  Burveyor- 
goncnil  usually  innuirod  of  tiic  \.ifo  lier  clioioe,  and  was  nidlaut  cni'iij^li  to 
giv(!  it  Iut;  iienuu  it  UHUally  iiappencd  that  the  purtiuu  huving  tiiu  dwullin^ 
aiul  inipi'uvumcnta  upon  it  went  tu  the  wifo. 


THE  CHIEF  OF  LIARS. 


181 


tlic  country  to  stifle  the  efforts  at  settlement.  la 
184;")  lie  sent  an  express  to  Fort  Hall,  eight  hundred 
miles,  to  warn  the  American  emigrants  that  if  they 
attempted  to  come  to  Willamette  they  would  all  be 
cut  off;  they  went,  and  none  were  cut  off. . .  I  was 
instructed  by  my"  legislature  to  ask  donations  of  land 
to  American  citizens  only.  The  memorial  of  the 
Oroixoii  legislature  was  rej)orted  so  as  to  ask  dona- 
tions to  settlers,  and  the  word  was  stricketi  out,  and 
citizens  inserted.  This,  sir,  I  consider  fully  bears  mo 
out  in  insisting  that  our  public  lands  shall  not  be 
thrown  into  the  hands  of  foreigners,  who  will  not 
bocctiMo  citizens,  and  who  sympathize  with  us  with 
crocodile  tears  only.^°...I  can  refer  you  to  the  su- 
])rcnio  judge  of  our  territory^'  for  i)roof  that  this  13r 
M<  lionghlin  refuses  to  file  his  intention  to  become  an 
American  citizen.'*'^  If  a  foreigner  would  bona  tide 
flic  his  intentions  I  would  not  object  to  give  him  land. 
There  ai'e  many  Englishmen,  members  of  the  Hudson's 

'"''I'lio  iisHortiou  contained  in  tliin  pnragiiiiili  tliut  tlie  woril  'settli'r' was 
nltoicil  til  '(.iii/cn' in  tlio  nicni'nial  wiih  iilso  iintruu.  1  liavv  a  cony  <if  tlio 
nirmorinl  sIlmiciI  \>y  the  oliii'f  clierit  of  litjtli  the  lioiiHo  ami  ooiincil,  anil  in- 
sii'ilu'  1,  '  I'a.sseil  .luly  '2(i,  1.S41),'  in  w  iiich  congress  i.s  asked  to  inako  a  grant  of 
tilOiii  Its  iif  land  'to  each  actual  Hettler,  including  M'idows  and  orpi  ans.'  Or. 
Ai-'l,ir,s,  MS.,  177. 

^'  llrviint  was  then  in  Washington  to  assist  in  the  missionary  scheme,  of 
wliiih,  as  the  assignees  of  Al)einetiiy,  liotli  he  and  Lane  were  ahettors. 

■'"'I  lunstoii  also  knew  this  to  he  untrue.  William  . I.  Herry,  writing  in 
tlie  .V/"  •Vii'o/',  Pee.  'Jd,  ISoO,  says:  '  N'ow,  I  as.se!t  that  Mr  Thurston  knew, 
]^r('\i<ius  to  the  election,  that  Dr  McLoughlin  had  tiled  his  intentions.  I 
liiiiiil  liihk  say,  in  a  stump  sjieech  at  the  C'ity  Hotel,  that  he  expected  his(tho 
iliirliii's)  \(ite.  At  the  election  1  iiapiiened  to  l»e  oni^  of  the  judges.  I>r 
Mrl,oiii,'hliu  came  up  to  vote;  the  (pu'stion  was  asked  liy  myself,  if  lie  had 
lili'il  liis  intentions.  I'he  clerk  of  the  court,  (leorge  L.  <'urry,  I"  ';,,  who  W'A 
htMinliiii;  near  the  window,  said  that  he  had.  He  voted.'  Says  N'  Ijoughlin: 
'I  'Iriliiiid  my  intention  to  l)ecoine  an  .Vmerican  citizen  on  the  ;ii.ilh  uf  May, 
IMIi.  MS  any  one  may  see  who  will  examine  the  records  t.i  iho  court.'  (h: 
,Si"'-hi>i:i\  Scjit.  I'J,  1H.">(>.  Waldo,  testilies;  'Thurston  lird  ou  tlu!  doctor. 
lliMliij  it  hecanse  tin;  doctor  would  not  vote  for  him.  lie  lii'd  in  congress, 
mid  gut  otliers  to  write  lies  from  heie  aliout  him-  nu'U  who  knew  nothin;.{ 
iiliiiiit  it,  Tliey  falsilled  aliout  the  old  thictor  cheating  the  people,  setting  the 
ImiIIiims  (in  them,  and  treating  them  Imdly.'  ('litii/iivx,  MS.,  I.'i.  Says  Apide- 
giite;  'ThiMstcin  a.sserted  among  many  othei-falsehooils,  that  the  doc  tor  utterly 
ri'tiisiil  to  liecome  an  American  citizen,  and  Judge  Ihyant  endorsed  the  asser- 
tinii.'  Ilisiiirlrfil  I'lirrcHiioiiili  iirr,  MS.,  14.  Says  (Jrover;  ''I'he  old  doctor 
Was  In.iUiiit;  to  liecoining  a  leading  A'  ican  citizen  until  this  dillieulty  oc- 
cnnvliii  re;;ard  to  his  laml.  lie  Iwi  '  .en  out  natnralizjttion  papei's,  .All 
Ills  hir  I'niMi  young  manhood  had  heen  spent  in  the  north-weMt;  uud  hu  WUH 
utit  j^ning  til  ieavo  the  country.'  I'liblk  L{f'e  iit  Or.,  M.S.,  1)1, 


1 

1 

II 

_ 

1- 

1 

122 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


Bay  Company,  who  would  file  their  intention  merely 
to  get  the  land,  and  then  tell  you  to  whistle.  Now, 
sir,  I  hope  this  house,  this  congress,  this  country,  will 
not  allow  that  company  to  stealthily  get  possession  of 
all  the  good  land  in  Oregon,  and  thus  keej)  it  out 
of  the  hands  of  ihose  who  would  become  good  and 
worthy  citizens."  ^ 

Having  prepared  the  way  by  a  letter  to  the  house 
of  representatives  for  introducing  into  the  land  bill  a 
section  depriving  McLoughlin  of  his  Oregon  City 
claim,  which  he  had  the  audacity  to  declare  was  first 
taken  by  the  Methodist  mission,  section  eleventh  of 
the  law  as  it  finally  passed,  and  as  it  now  stands  upon 
the  sixty-eighth  page  of  the  General  Laivs  of  Ore- 
gon, was  introduced  and  passed  without  opposition. 
Judge  Bryant  receiving  his  bribe  for  falsehood,  by 
tlie  reservation  of  Abernethy  Island,  which  was  "con- 
firmed to  the  legal  assigns  of  the  Willamette  Milling 
and  Trading  Company,"  while  the  remainder,  except 
lots  sold  or  given  away  by  McLoughlin  previous  to 
the  4th  of  March  1849,  should  be  at  the  disposal  of 
the  legislative  assembly  of  Oregon  for  the  establish- 
ment and  endowment  of  a  ^miversity,  to  be  located 
not  at  Oregon  (^ity,  but  at  such  place  in  the  territory 
as  the  legislature  mi|jht  designate.  Thus  artfully  did 
the  servant-  of  the  Methodist  mission  strive  i'or  the 
ruin  of  ISIcLoughlin  and  the  a[)probation  of  his  con- 
stituents, well  knowing  that  they  would  not  feel  so 
much  at  liberty  to  reject  a  bounty  to  the  cause  of 
education,  as  a  gift  of  any  other  kind.*" 

»»r.'o«,/.  oi„hc  JS4DS0,  1070. 

*"lii  TlniiHtoii'n  letter  to  tlio  liounoof  rcprcscntativcB  lie  nppoalod  to  thorn 
to  pu88  tlif  luiul  bill  without  delay,  on  tho  ground  that  Oregon  was  lieeoniing 
dei)oi)ulated  through  the  neglect  of  congreHB  to  keep  its  engagement.  'J'ho 
people  of  tho  Htutiti  had,  he  declared,  loat  all  eonlidence  in  their  previouH  belief 
that  a  donation  law  would  l>o  passed;  and  tho  people  in  the  territt)ry  weio 
ceasing  to  improve,  were  going  to  (.'alifornia,  and  wlieu  they  were  fortunate 
enough  to  nuike  any  money,  were  returning  to  the  Atlantic  States,  '  ( )ur  pop- 
ulation,' he  said,  '  is  dwindlingaway,  and  our  anxieties  and  fears  eanea,sily  l>o 
perceived.'  Of  the  high  water  of  IS4l)-."iO,  which  carried  away  property  and 
damaged  mills  to  the  amour '.  'if  alio\it  S^U(^<)<H),  he  said:  '  The  owners  w  ho  have 
means  dare  not  rebuild  because  they  iiave  no  title.  Katu  man  is  eolleeting 
his  means  in  anticipation  that  he  may  leave  tho  country.'    And  this,  although 


OVERREACHED  HIMSELF. 


123 


»n  merely 
e.  Now, 
intry,  will 
session  of 
ep  it  Out 
good  and 

iho  house 

and  bill  a 

!gon  City 

was  fircjt 

eventh  of 

mds  upon 

js  of  Ore- 

pposition. 

eliood,  by 

was  "con- 

tc  Milling 

er,  except 

revious  to 

lisposal  of 

establisli- 

e  located 

territory 

tfully  did 

0  lor  tlio 

'  his  con- 

t  feel  so 

cause  of 


bali'il  to  thorn 

luiiient.     Tho 

lii'viuusbt'lii'f 

.■nitory  wcro 

h'u  forlnimto 

'Oui'imi)- 

I  I'uii  wisily  1 10 

iiopuity  imtl 

Ici'Hwliolmvu 

I'dUui'tin^ 

HUH,  altliougit 


at 


i  ■ 


In  his  endeavor  to  accomplish  so  much  villany  the 
tleleofate  failed.  The  senate  struck  out  a  clause  in  the 
fourth  section  which  required  a  foreiorier  to  emigrate 
iVoni  the  United  States,  and  which  he  iiad  persuaded 
the  house  to  adopt  by  his  assertions  that  without  it 
the  British  fur  company  would  secure  to  themselves 
all  the  best  lands  in  Oregon.  Another  clause  insisted 
oil  by  Thurston  when  he  found  he  could  not  exclude 
British  subjects  entirely,  was  that  a  foreigner  could 
not  become  entitled  to  any  land  notwithstanding  his 
intentions  were  declared,  until  he  had  completed  his 
naturalization,  which  would  require  two  years;  and 
this  was  allowed  to  stand,  to  the  annoyance  of  the 
Canadian  settlers  who  had  been  twenty  years  on  their 
claims.*^  l^u^.  the  great  point  gained  in  Thurston's 
cstimxti  »n  '  'he  Oregon  land  bill  was  the  taking- 
away  fr.tvx  i!  ,,  former  head  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
(^onipany  •  f  his  dearly  bought  claim  at  the  falls  of 
tho  Willamette,  where  a  large  portion  of  his  fortune 
wa^*  in\csted  in  improvements.  The  last  proviso  of 
tho  fourth  section  forbade  any  one  claiming  under  tho 
land  law  to  claim  under  the  treaty  of  1846.  McLough- 
lin,  having  declared  his  intention  to  become  an  Ameri- 
can citizen  was  no  longer  qualified  to  claim  under  the 
troaty,  and  congress  having,  on  the  representations  of 
Thurston,  taken  from  McLoughlin  what  he  claimed 
i.ndor  the  land  law  there  was  left  no  recourse  what- 
ever." 


lit'  Imil  told  .Tolmson,  CaVifcr<<ia.  Cit- 
llii'  I'outriii'y.  Sue  Or.  i^oec'iilvr.  -it).', 
'J'licro  wi'i'o  ;W  mills  iu  Uv«^  in  .t  V'x 
jiin]iiirti>iii  (if   tlii'in  groHK'l    A'1>';h. 


Oierjon,  wliicli  see,  pngo  QM,  exactly 
I'Jtli.aiul  odinpnrc  with  tho  following: 
tnkin^r  of  thu  cuiihus  of  1850,  iiiiil  a  fair 
■J'lu'y  were  f.-attcrcd  through  all  tho 
rouiitii'H  from  tlu'  houikI  to  fit  hea<  'jf  th'  iv'illainctto  Valliy.  Or.  Sinlrxmnii, 
Ajiiil  '.'.">,  I8."il;  iind  with  this:  '  iH  ,  uaiis  of  1S40  Bhoved  a  populiitioii  of 
o\tr  II, (KM),  about  '2,00<.)  lu'liig  .ihst-nt  in  tho  miiii'M.  'J'ho  ci'iiniih  of  IS.'iO 
Kli.ixM'd  ovor  l,M,()00,  witiiout  fountiiig  tho  largo  immigration  of  that  ytiar  or 
till'  lew  Ki'tthiH  ill  tho  most  southern  part  of  Orogoii.'  Or,  Statexmaii,  April 
Kith  mid  '-'."i,  IS.'il. 

"r,,/,,/.  Oi.bc,  ISJiO-nO,   18.W. 

'•'Says  Aiiphgato:  'It  immt  liavci  excited  a  kind  of  flondisli  niorriment  In 
till' liciirtH  of  llryiiiit  and  'riiiiiHtoii;  for  iiotwitliHtaiidiiig  their aHsortionn  to 
till'  I'liiitiiiry,  lioth  well  know  tliiit  liio  doetor  liy  reiioiinoing  liiH  allogianoo  to 
<  ill  at  llritaiii  hiid  forfeitci'  all  uiaiiim  ua  a  UritiuU  aubjeut.'  JJiMoricul  Cor* 
ri  -/'iiiuti III!',  MS,,  13. 


19* 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


I  have  said  that  Thurston  r-laiined  the  Orcfifoii  land 
bill  as  his  own.  It  was  his  own  so  far  as  concerned 
the  amendments  which  damaged  the  interests  of  men 
in  the  country  whom  he  designated  as  foreigners,  hut 
who  r<!ally  were  the  first  white  persons  to  maijitain  a 
settlement  in  the  country,  and  who  as  individuals, 
were  in  every  way  entitled  to  the  same  privileges 
as  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  who  had 
at  the  first  opportunity  ofi'ered  themselves  as  such. 
In  no  other  sense  was  it  his  bill.  There  was  not  an 
important  clause  in  it  which  had  not  been  in  contem- 
plation for  years,  or  which  was  not  suggested  by  the 
frequent  memorials  of  the  legislature  on  the  subject. 
He  worketl  earnestly  to  ha^  e  it  pass,  for  on  it,  he 
believed,  hung   his   reelection.  earnestly  did  ho 

labor  for  the  settlement  of  this  g  nieasure,  and  for 
all  other  measures  which  he  knew  U)  be  most  desired, 
that  though  they  knew  he  was  a  most  selfish  and 
unprincipled  politician,  the  people  gave  him  their 
gratitude.'*'* 

A  lre(iuent  mistake  of  young,  strong,  talented,  Imt 
inexperienced  and  unprincii)led  politicians,  is  that  of 
going  too  fast  and  too  far.  Thurston  was  an  exceed- 
ingly clever  fellow;  the  measures  which  he  took  upon 
himself  to  champion,  though  in  some  respects  unjust 
and  infamous,  were  in  other  respects  matters  which  lay 
very  near  the  heart  of  the  Oregon  settler.  But  like 
Jason  Lee,  Thurston  overreached  himself  The  good 
that  he  did  was  dimmed  by  a  sinister  shadow.  In 
September  a  printed  cony  of  the  bill,  containing  the 
obnoxious  eleventh  section,  with  a  copy  of  his  letter 
to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  other  like  matter, 
was  received  by  his  confidants,  together  with  an  in- 
junction of  secrecy  until  sufficient  time  should  have 

"(■rover,  Piihlic  Li/<'  in  Orfijon,  MS.,  08-0,  cnlls  tlio  liind  liill  ''J'hurBtoira 
work,  l)U8t(l  upon  Liiin'Bhill;'  ImtGrover  Hiiiii)ly  took  'I'luirstoirH  wonl  lor  it, 
lie  iH'iiij;  then  a  young  niiui,  wlioni  Tliiirston  perHumled  into  going  to  Oregon. 
ilolinHon'H  Cnl.  ami  Or.,  wliieli  is,  iis  to  the  Oi'egon  jtart,  merely  n  reprint  of 
Tlun'Bton'H  iiniM'rM,  eiilU  it  Tiinrnton's  bill,  ilines,  <tr.  mul  liiHlilnfioiiii,  does 
the  Hanie;  lint  any  one  eonverHunt  with  tho  eougroaitiouttl  uud  leginlutive 
history  of  On-gon  knuwH  better. 


i 


McLOUGHLIN'S  REPLY. 


125 


passed  for  the  bill  to  become  a  law/*  When  the  vile 
injustice  to  John  McLoughlin  became  known,  those 
of  Thurston's  friends  who  were  not  in  the  conspiracy 
met  the  charge  with  scornful  denial.  They  would  not 
believe  it.""  And  when  time  had  passed,  and  the  mat- 
ter became  understood,  the  feeling  was  intense.  Mc- 
Loughlin, as  he  had  before  been  driven  by  the  thrusts 
of  his  enemies  to  do,  replied  through  the  Spectator 
to  the  numerous  falsehoods  contained  in  the  letter.*" 
He   iaiew  that  although  many  of  the  older  settlers 

•' '  Kw-p  this  still,'  writes  the  arch  schemer,  'till  next  mail,  when  I  shall 
send  tlicm  generally.  The  debate  on  the  California  bill  closes  next  Tuesday, 
wlicn  1  Ik)]iu  to  get  passed  my  land  bill;  keep  dark  'til  next  mail.  Thurston. 
.luncO,  lS.-)0.'  Or.  S/iectator,  Sept.  12,  1850. 

*' \\'ils(j!-  Blain,  who  was  at  that  time  editor  o"  the  Spectator,  as  Rol)ert 
M'Hiii!  WHS  proprietor,  found  himself  nnable  to  ere  u.,  lie  rumor.  '  Wc  ven- 
tiii'i'  tlio  assca-tiun,'  he  says,  '  that  the  story  was  started  by  some  malicious  or 
iiiisLliiif-iiiaking  person  for  tlio  purpose  of  preventing  the  improvement  of 
t'liukaiiMS  rapiils.'  Or.  Sfii'cta'or,  Aug.  '22,  ISoO. 

'"  lb'  says  tliat  I  have  realized,  up  to  the  4th of  March  1849,  §200,000  from 
Side  of  lots;  tills  is  also  wholly  untrue.  I  have  given  away  lots  to  the  Metho- 
(listjs,  (iitliolics,  I'resbyteriuns,  Congregationalists,  and  baptists.  1  have 
^'ivcn  eiulit  lots  to  a  Roman  Catholic  nunnery,  and  eight  lots  to  the  Clacka- 
iiKi.s  Fiiiiali)  I'rotesta:  t  seminary,  incorporated  by  the  Oregon  legislature, 
'lliL'  tiustins  are  all  I'rotestants,  thougli  it  is  well  known  I  am  a  Roman 
Catlicilii'.  In  short,  in  one  way  and  another  1  have  donated  to  the  county, 
to  .scliiinls,  to  churches,  and  private  individuals,  more  than  three  liundred 
town  lilts,  and  I  never  realized  in  cash  Si'20,000  from  all  the  original  sales  I 
ever  iiiailc. .  .1  was  a  chief  factor  in  the  Hudson's  llay  Company  sei'vice,  and 
liy  the  nilis  of  the  company  enjoy  a  retired  interest,  as  a  matter  of  right, 
('apt.  .\b'Ncil,  a  native-born  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  America,  holds 
till'  saiuc  rank  that  I  held  in  t)io  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  service.  Ho  never 
wa.s  n  i|uiri(l  to  become  a  British  subject;  he  will  be  entitled,  by  the  laws  of 
tliL'  oiiiuiiaiiy,  to  the  same  retired  interest,  no  niatter  to  what  country  he  may 
owe  a'li  i,'iauce. '  After  declaring  that  lie  had  tjiken  out  naturalization  papers, 
ami  that  '1  Imrston  was  aware  of  it,  and  had  asked  him  for  his  vote  and  inllu- 
viwv,  but  iliat  he  had  voted  against  him,  he  suys:  '  But  ho  proceeds  to  refer 
to  Juil^c  liryant  for  the  truth  of  his  statement,  in  which  lie  atlirms  that  I 
nssigncil  to  •ludgc  liryant  as  a  reason  why  1  still  refused  to  declare  my  inten" 
tiiMi  til  licciinie  an  American  citizen,  that  I  could  not  do  it  without  prejudic- 
in;;  my  standing  in  England.  I  am  astonislied  how  the  supreme  judge  could 
have  niaili!  sucli  a  statement,  as  he  had  a  letter  from  me  pointing  -Mit  tliat  £ 
IuhI  lU'ilai'i'd  my  intention  of  liecoming  an  American  citizen.  Tlie  cause 
«liiili  liil  to  my  writing  this  letter  is  that  the  island,  called  Abcrnethy's 
Islainl  liy  .Mr  T  lurston,  and  which  he  proposes  to  donate  to  Mr  Abernelhy, 
Ills  hi'ii's  and  u.isigns,  is  the  same  island  which  Mr  Hathaway  and  others 
jiiinpnl  ill  1841,  and  formed  themselves  into  a  joint  stock  company,  and 
eii'ctt  il  a  saw  and  grist-mill  on  it,  as  already-  stated.  From  a  desire  to  pre- 
Ni'ivf  the  peace  of  tlie  country,  I  deferred  bringing  tlie  case  to  a  trial  'til  the 
gov(  riiiiii'iit  extendeil  its  jurisdiction  over  the  country;  but  when  it  had  done 
sii,  a  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  Judge  Bryant,  and  before  the  courts  were 
iii',i:aiii/('il,  .liidge  Bryant  bought  the  island  of  (teorge  Aburnethy,  Kh([.,  who 
liiiil  lioiigiit  the  stock  of  the  other  associates,  and  as  the  island  was  in  Judge 
Ui yam's  district,  uud  aa  there  were  only  two  judges  iu  the  territory,  I 


126 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


understood  the  merits  of  the  case,  all  classes  were 
to  be  appealed  to.  There  were  those  who  had  no 
regard  for  truth  or  justice;  tliose  who  cared  more 
for  party  than  principle;  those  who  had  ignorantlj 
believed  the  charges  made  against  him;  and  tliose 
who,  from  national,  religious,  or  jealous  feelings,  were 
united  in  a  crusade  against  the  man  who  represented 
in  their  eyes  everything  hateful  in  the  British  char- 
acter and  unholy  in  the  Catholic  religion,  as  well  as 
the  few  who  were  wilfully  conspiring  to  complete  the 
overthrow  of  this  British  Roman  Catholic  aristocrat. 
There  were  others  besides  McLoughlin  who  felt 
themselves  injured;  those  who  had  purchased  lots  in 
Oregon  City  since  the  4th  of  March  1849.  Notice 
was  issued  to  these  property-holders  to  meet  for  the 
purpose  of  askin^f  congress  to  confirm  their  lots  to 
them  also.  Such  a  meeting  was  held  on  the  1 9th  of 
September,  in  Oregon  City,  Andrew  Hood  being 
chairman,  and  Noyes  Smith  secretary.  The  meeting 
was  addressed  by  Thornton  and  Pritchctt,  and  a 
memorial  to  congress  prepared,  which  set  forth  that 
the  Oregon  City  claim  was  taken  and  had  been  held 
in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  provisional  and 
territorial  governments  of  Oregon;  and  that  the 
memorialists  considered  it  as  fully  entitled  to  pro- 
tection as  any  other  claim;  no  intimation  to  tlic 
contrary  ever  having  been  made  up  to  that  time. 
That  under  this  impression,  both  before  and  since  the 
4th  of  March  1849,  large  portions  of  it,  in  lots  and 
blocks,  had  been  purchased  in  good  faith  by  many 
citizens  of  Oregon,  who  had  erected  valuable  buildings 
thereon,  in  the  expectation  of  having  a  complete  and 
sufficient  title  when  congress  should  grant  a  title  to 

thought  I  couhl  not  at  the  time  bring  tlic  case  to  a  Batisfnctory  dcciaion.  1 
therefore  defei'reil  bringing  tlio  case  to  a  time  when  the  bench  woiihl  Itc  full . . . 
Can  tiie  people  of  Oregon  City  believe  that  Mr  Tliurston  did  not  know,  soiih' 
months  before  he  left  this,  that  Mr  Abernothy  had  sold  his  rights,  whatever 
they  were,  to  Judge  Bryant,  and  therefore  i)roposing  to  congress  to  doniiti' 
tliiti  island  to  Mr  Abernetliy,  his  iieirs  and  assigns,  was  in  fact,  proposing  to 
donate  it  to  Judge  Bryant,  his  heim  and  ossigUB.'  Or.  SptcUUor,  Bept.  VI, 
1800. 


OREGON  CITY  CLAIM. 


m 


the  original  occupant.  That  since  the  date  mentioned, 
the  occupant  of  the  claim  had  donated  for  county, 
educational,  charitable,  and  religious  purposes  more 
than  two  hundred  lots,  which,  if  the  bill  pending 
should  pass,  would  be  lost  to  the  public,  as  well  as  a 
great  loss  sustained  by  private  individuals  who  had 
{)urchased  property  in  good  faith.  They  therefore 
jiiayed  that  the  bill  might  not  pass  in  its  present 
ionn,  believing  that  it  would  work  a  "severe,  inequi- 
tiihle,  unnecessary,  and  irremediable  injustice."  The 
memorial  was  signed  by  fifty-six  persons,*'  and  a  reso- 
lution declaring  the  selection  of  the  Oregon  City 
claim  for  reservation  uncalled  for  by  any  consider- 
able portion  of  the  citizens  of  the  territory,  and  as 
invidious  and  unjust  to  McLoughlin,  was  offered  by 
Wait  and  adopted,  followed  by  another  by  Thorn- 
ton declaring  that  the  gratitude  of  multitudes  of 
pi'ople  in  Oregon  was  due  to  John  McLoughlin  for 
assistance  rendered  them.  In  some  preliminary  re- 
marks, Thornton  referred  to  the  ingratitude  shown 
tlioir  benefactor,  by  certain  persons  who  had  not  paid 
their  debts  to  "^TcLoughlin,  but  who  had  secretly 
sii;iiod  a  petition  to  take  away  his  property.  Mc- 
Loughlin also  refers  to  this  petition  in  his  newspaper 
defence;  but  if  there  was  such  a  petition  circulated 
or  sent  it  does  not  appear  in  any  of  the  public  docu- 
ments, and  must  have  been  carefully  suppressed  l)y 
Thurston  himself,  and  only  used  in  the  committee 
rooms  of  members  of  congress.** 

*'Tlio  names  of  the  signers  were:  Antlrew  Hood,  Noyes  Smith,  Forhca 
Riircl.iy,  A.  A.  Slcinner,  Jaiiiea  D.  Holmaii,  W.  C,  Holir.an,  .1,  Qiiinn  Thorn- 
ton, Walter  Pomeroy,  A.  E.  Wait,  Joseph  C  Lewis,  James  M.  Moore,  HolMrt 
Mdiiiv,  H.  11.  Tiiompson,  Gcorco  H.  Atitinaon,  M.  ('rawford,  Wni.  Hmxl, 
Tliniiias  liowc,  Wm.  B.  Campljell,  John  Fleming,  O.  Hniian,  Roliert  Caiitiild, 
Alix.  Ihiaser.  Samuel  Welch,  (iustavus  A.  Cone,  Alliert  (Juines,  W,  11. 
TiKknr,  Arcii.  McKinloy,  Richard  McMahon,  l)avid  IhunHiiles,  Hc/eitiah 
Jiilmson,  l*.  11.  Hatch,  J.  L.  Morrison,  Joseph  Parrott,  Ezra Finlicr,  (Jen.  T. 
Alliii,  li.  I).  0.  Latourotte,  D.  D.  Tompitins,  Wm.  Barlow,  Amory  Holhrook, 
Matthew  Richardson,  Jolin  McClosky,  Wm.  Holmes,  H.  Bums.  Wni.  (  liap- 
inaii,  Wm.  K.  Killwrn,  J.  R.  Ralston,  B.  B.  Rogers,  (has.  Friedenheig, 
Aliialiam  Wolfe,  Samuel  Vance,  J.  B.  Backonstos,  .John  J.  Chuiidkr.  S.  W, 
Mo.s.f,  .lames  W'nston  Jr.,  Septimus  Huelc,  Milton  Elliott.  Or.  Sjwctafor, 
bcpt.  -2(1,  IHoO. 

*''  L'uimiduring  the  fact  tltat  Thorntou  hod  been  in  the  first  iustanco  the 


128 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


Hi' 


¥ 


Not  long  after  the  meeting  at  Oregon  City,  a  pub- 
lic gathering  of  about  two  hundred  was  convened  at 
Salem  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  disapproval  of  the 
resolutions  passed  at  the  Oregon  City  meeting,  and 
conimendation  of  the  cause  of  the  Oregon  delegate.*^ 

In  November  a  meeting  was  held  in  Linn  county 
at  which  resolutions  were  passed  endorsing  Thurston 
and  denouncing  McLoufjhlin.  Nor  were  there  want- 
ing  those  who  uplield  the  delegate  privately,  and  who 
wrote  approving  letters  to  him,  assuring  him  that  he 
was  losing  no  friends,  but  gaining  them  by  the  score, 
and  that  his  course  with  regard  to  the  Oregon  City 
claim  would  be  sustained.^ 

Mr  Thurston  has  been  since  condemned  for  his 
action  in  the  matter  of  the  Oregon  City  claims.  But 
even  while  the  honest  historian  must  join  in  reprobat- 

imsuccessf  ul  agent  of  the  leading  missionaries  in  an  effort  to  take  away  the  claim 
of  McLouglilin,  it  might  be  tlifiicult  to  luulerstand  how  he  could  appeiu'  in  the 
role  of  the  doctor's  defender.  But  ever  since  the  failure  of  that  secret  mission 
there  had  been  a  coolness  between  Abernethy  and  his  private  delegate,  who, 
now  that  he  had  been  superseded  by  a  bolder  and  more  fortunate  though  no 
less  unscrupulous  num,  had  publicly  espoused  the  cause  of  tlie  victim  of  all 
this  plotting,  who  still,  it  was  supposed,  had  means  enough  left  to  pay  for  the 
legal  advice  he  was  likely  to  need,  if  ever  he  was  extricated  from  the  anomalous 
position  into  which  he  would  be  thrown  by  the  passage  of  the  Oregon  land  bill. 
His  affectation  of  proper  sentiment  imposed  upon  McLoughlin,  who  gave  him 
employment  for  a  considerable  time.  As  late  as  1870,  however,  this  doughty 
defender  of  the  just,  on  tlic  appearance  in  print  of  Mrs  Victor's  Jfirir  of  the 
Wi'nt,  in  which  the  autlior  gives  a  brief  statement  of  the  Oregon  City  claim 
case,  having  occasion  at  that  time  to  court  tlie  patronage  of  the  Methodist 
church,  made  a  violent  attack  through  its  organ,  the  Pacijic  Vhrintian  Advo- 
cate, upon  the  author  of  that  book  for  taking  the  same  view  of  tlie  case  which 
is  announced  in  the  resolution  published  under  his  own  name  in  the  Sjicrtator 
of  September  20,  1850.  But  not  havi)ig  ever  been  able  to  regain  in  the  church 
a  standing  which  could  be  made  prohtable,  and  finding  that  history  would 
vindicate  the  right,  he  has  made  a  request  in  Ids  autobiography  that  the  fact 
of  his  having  been  McLouchlin's  attorney  should  bo  mentioned,  '  in  justice  to 
tiie  doctor !  It  will  be  left  for  posterity  to  judge  whether  Thornton  or 
McLoughlin  was  honored  by  the  association. 

'"William  Shaw,  a  member  of  the  committee  framing  these  resolutions, 
says,  in  his  Pioneer  Life,  MS.,  14-15:  'I  came  here,  to  Oregon  City,  and 
spent  what  money  I  had  for  flour,  eottee,  and  one  thing  and  another;  and  I 
went  back  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  and  bought  1,000  pounds  of  Hour 
from  Douglass.  I  was  to  pay  him  for  it  after  I  came  into  tlio  Valley.  lie 
trustetl  me  for  it,  altiiough  he  had  never  seen  mo  before.  I  took  it  up  to  the 
Dalles  and  distributed  it  an)ong  the  cmiurants. '  W.  C.  Hector  has,  in  later 
years,  declared  that  McLoughlin  was  the  father  of  Oregon.  McLoughlin  little 
uiulerstood  the  innnncr  in  which  pulilic  sentiment  is  manufactured  for  party 
or  even  for  individual  purposes,  when  he  exclaimed  indignantly:  'No  man 
could  be  found  to  assert '  that  he  hud  done  the  things  alleged. 

'^Udell's  Uioy.  qi'  Thumton,  M.S.,  20. 


UPHOLDING  THE  WRONG. 


129 


a  pub- 
L>ncd  at 
1  of  the 
ng,  and 
legato.** 

county 
hurston 
e  want- 
ind  who 

that  he 
,e  score, 
jon  City 

for  his 
IS.  But 
oprobat- 

ray  the  claim 
ippear  in  the 
3cret  mission 
legate,  who, 
:e  though  no 
victim  of  all 
u  pay  for  the 
leanomalous 
;on  lantl  bill. 
Iho  gave  him 
;l\is  doughty 
Jxinr  of  the 
n  City  claim 
B  Methodist 
[istinn  Adro- 
.  case  whicli 
ho  Siic'-tator 
|i  the  chinch 
story  would 
Ihat  the  fact 
[in  justice  to 
'hornton  or 

liesolutionB, 
\i  City,  and 
Ither;  and  I 
lids  of  tlour 
Jalley.  Ho 
lit  up  to  the 
lias,  in  later 
Imhlin  little 
Id  for  party 
'No  inttu 


mg  his  unscrupulous  sacrifice  of  truth  to  secure  his 
t)l)ject,  the  people  then  in  Oregon  should  be  held  as 
deserving  of  a  share  in  the  censure  which  has  attached 
to  liiin.  His  course  had  been  marked  out  for  him  by 
those  who  stood  high  in  society,  and  who  were  leaders 
of  the  largest  religious  body  in  Oregon.  He  had  been 
elected  by  a  majority  of  the  people.  The  people  had 
been  pleased  and  more  than  pleased  with  what  he  had 
done.  When  the  alternative  had  been  presented  to 
them  of  condemning  or  endorsing  him  for  this  single 
action,  their  first  impulse  was  to  sustain  the  man  who 
had  shown  himself  their  faithful  servant,  even  in  the 
wrong,  rather  than  have  his  usefulness  impaired.  Al- 
most the  only  persons  to  protest  against  the  robbery 
of  ^McLoufjhlin  were  those  who  were  made  to  suffer 
with  him.  All  others  either  remained  silent,  or  wrote 
encouraging  letters  to  Thurston,  and  as  Washington 
was  far  distant  from  Oregon  lie  was  liable  to  be  de- 
ceived.''^ 

When  the  memorial  and  petition  of  the  owners  of 
lots  in  Oregon  City,  purchased  since  the  4th  of  March 
1840,  came  before  congress,  there  was  a  stir,  because 
Thurston  had  given  assurances  that  he  was  acting 
in  accordance  with  the  will  of  the  people.  But  the 
memorialists,  with  a  contemptible  selfishness  not  unu- 
sual in  mankind,  had  not  asked  that  McLouglilin's 
claim  migjit  be  confirmed  to  him,  but  only  that  their 
lots  miuht  not  he  sacrificed. 

Thui'ston  sought  everywhere  for  support.  While 
in  Washington  he  wrote  to  Wyeth  for  testimony 
against  McLoughin,  but  received  from  that  gentleman 
only  the  warmest  praise  of  tlie  chief  factor.  Sus- 
pecting Thurston's  sinister  design  Wyeth  even  wrote 

^'  Thornton  wrote  several  articles  in  vindication  of  McLouKhlin's  rights; 
Imt  he  ^va8  employed  by  the  doctor  as  an  attorney.  A.  E.  Wait  luso  denounced 
Tluiistou's  course;  but  he  also  was  at  one  time  employed  by  tlio  doctor, 
\N  iiit  siiid :  '  I  believed  him  (Thurston)  to  bo  strangely  wanting  in  discretion; 
morally  and  politically  ccviuptj  towering  in  ambition,  and  unscrupulous  of 
tlic  iiR'ans  by  w.iich  to  obtain  it;  tickle  and  suspicious  in  friendship;  implaca- 
lilc  and  revengeful  in  hatred,  vulgar  iu  apooch,  and  prone  to  falsehood.'  Or. 
%-(a(o)-,  March  20,  1851. 

Hut.  Ob.,  Vol.  II.    9 


180 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


II 


\ni 


to  Wlnthrop,  of  Massachusetts,  cautioning  him  against 
Thurston's  misrepresentations.  Then  Thurston  pre- 
pared an  address  to  the  people  of  Oregon,  covering 
sixteen  closely  printed  octavo  pages,  in  which  he  re- 
counts his  services  and  artifices. 

With  no  small  cunning  he  declared  that  his  reason 
for  not  asking  congress  to  confirm  to  the  owners  lots 
purchased  or  obtained  of  McLoughlin  after  the  4th 
of  March,  1849,  was  because  he  had  confidence  that 
the  legislative  assembly  would  do  so ;  adding  that  the 
bill  was  purposely  so  worded  in  order  that  McLough- 
lin would  have  no  opportunity  of  transferring  the 
property  to  others  who  would  hold  it  for  him.  Thus 
careful  had  he  been  to  leave  no  possible  means  by 
which  the  man  who  had  founded  and  fostered  Oregon 
City  could  retain  an  interest  in  it.  And  having  openly 
advocated  educating  the  youth  of  Oregon  with  the 
property  wrested  from  the  venerable  benefactor  of 
their  fathers  and  mothers,  he  submitted  himself  for 
reelection,^^  while  the  victim  of  missionary  and  per- 
sonal malice  began  the  painful  and  useless  struggle  to 
free  himself  from  the  toils  by  which  his  enemies  had 
surrounded  him,  and  from  which  he  never  escaped  dur- 
ing the  few  remaining  years  of  his  life."^ 

^'^  Address  to  the  Electors,  12. 

^  McLoughlin  dioil  September  3,  1857,  aged  73  years.  He  waa  buried  in 
the  enclosure  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Oregon  City;  and  on  his  tombstone,  a 
plain  slab,  is  engraved  the  legend:  'The  Pioneer  and  Friend  of  Oregon;  also 
The  Founder  of  tiiis  City. '  He  laid  his  case  before  congress  in  a  memorial, 
with  ull  the  evidence,  but  in  vain.  Lane,  who  was  then  in  that  body  m  a 
delepito  from  Oregon,  and  who  was  personally  interested  in  defeating  the 
n)cn>orial,  succeeded  in  doing  so  by  assertions  as  unfounded  as  tiiosu  of 
Tiuirston.  This  blunt  old  soldier,  the  pride  of  the  people,  the  brave  killer  of 
Indians,  turned  demngoguo  could  deceive  and  cheat  wHh  the  best  of  thuin. 
See  Voiuj.  Globe,  1853-4,  1080-82,  and  Letter  of  Dr  McLowjhUn,  in  Porthud 
OrcgoHuni,  July  22,  1854.  Toward  the  close  of  his  life  McLoughlin  yiehliil 
to  tlte  tortures  of  disease  and  ingratitude,  and  betrayed,  as  he  had  never  iloiiu 
before,  the  unhappuiess  his  enemies  had  brought  upon  him.  Shortly  before 
his  death  ho  said  to  Grover,  then  a  young  man :  'I  shall  live  but  a  little  witilu 
longu)';  and  this  is  the  reason  that  I  sent  for  you.  I  am  an  old  man  and  jii.st 
dyiug,  and  you  are  a  young  man  and  will  live  many  years  in  this  country. 
As  for  nuf,  I  might  better  have  been  shot' — and  ho  brought  it  out  harshly— 
'like  a  bull;  I  might  better  have  been  shot  forty  years  affol*  After  a  silence, 
for  I  did  not  say  anything,  he  concluded,  'than  to  have  lived  here,  and  tried 
to  build  un  a  family  and  an  estate  in  this  government.  I  became  a  citizen  of 
the  United  Stutea  in  good  faith.     I  planted  all  I  hod  here,  and  the  govern- 


DEATH  OF  McLOUGHLDf. 


m 


When  the  legislative  assembly  met  in  the  autumn 
of  1850  it  complied  with  the  suggestion  of  Thurston, 
so  far  as  to  confirm  the  lots  purchased  since  March 
1849  to  their  owners,  by  passing  an  act  for  that  pur- 
]i()se,  certain  members  of  the  council  protesting.^*  This 
act  was  of  some  slight  benefit  to  McLoughlin,  as  it 
stopped  the  demand  upon  him,  by  people  who  had 
jtuiehased  property,  to  have  their  money  returned.^' 
Further  tlian  this  they  refused  to  go,  not  having  a 
clear  idea  of  their  duty  in  the  matter.  They  neither 
accepted  the  gift  nor  returned  it  to  its  proper  owner, 
and  it  was  not  until  1852,  after  McLoughlin  had  com- 
pleted his  naturalization,  that  the  legislature  passed 
an  act  accepting  the  donation  of  his  property  for  the 
purposes  of  a  utiiversity."*  Before  it  was  given  back 
to  the  heirs  of  McLoughlin,  that  political  party  to 
which  Thurston  belonged,  and  which  felt  bound  to 
justify  his  acts,  had  gone  out  of  power  in  Oregon. 
Since  that  time  many  persons  have,  like  an  army  in 
;i  wilderness  building  a  monument  over  a  dead  com- 
rade by  casting  each  a  stone  upon  his  grave,  placed 
their  tribute  of  praise  in  my  hands  to  be  built  into 

mont  liaa  confiscated  my  property.  Now  what  I  want  to  ask  of  yon  is,  that 
yciii  will  give  your  influence,  after  I  am  dead,  to  have  this  property  go  to  my 
(.'liililren.  I  have  earned  it,  as  other  settlers  have  earned  theirs,  and  it  ought 
til  be  mine  and  my  heirs'.'  'I  told  him,'  said  Grover,  'I  would  favor  liia 
niiUL'st,  and  I  always  did  favor  it;  and  the  legislature  finally  surrendered  the 
pro|)Lity  to  his  heirs.'  Pub.  Life,  MS.,  88-90. 

^'  Wayiniro  and  Miller  protested,  saying  that  it  was  not  in  accordance 
with  the  object  of  tiie  donation,  and  was  robbing  the  university;  that  the 
assLinlily  were  only  agents  in  trust,  and  had  no  right  to  dispose  of  the  prop- 
erty without  a  consideration.  Or,  Spectator,  Feb.  13,  1851. 

*' '  My  father  paid  back  thousands  of  dollars,'  says  Mrs  Harvey.  Life  of 
MrLoiinhlin,  MS.,  38. 

■^  TJio  legislature  of  1852  accepted  the  donation.  In  1853-4  a  resolution 
was  ortered  by  Orlando  Huninson  thanking  McLoughlin  for  his  generous  con- 
duct toward  the  early  settlers;  but  as  it  was  not  in  very  good  taste  wrongfully 
to  lu'cj)  a  man's  property  while  thanking  him  for  previous  favors,  the  reso- 
liitiim  was  indefinitely  postponed.  In  185.5-6  a  meinorial  was  drawn  up  by 
tl)o  legislature  asking  that  certain  school  lands  in  Oregon  City  should  be 
ii'storod  to  John  McLoughlin,  and  two  townships  of  land  in  lien  thereof 
siimild  be  granted  to  the  university.  Salem,  Or.  Slatenman,  Jan  29th  and  Feb. 
ri,  I.S,")0.  Nothing  was  done,  however,  for  the  relief  of  McLoughlin  or  liLs 
iaiis  until  1862,  when  the  legislature  conveyed  to  the  latter  for  the  sum  of 
?1,000  the  Oregon  City  claim;  but  the  long  suspension  of  the  title  had  driven 
in^uey  seeking  investment  away  from  the  place  and  materially  lessened  it« 
vahio.  •       . 


188 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


t^ 


the  monument  of  history  testifying  one  after  another 
to  the  virtues,  magnanimity,  and  wrongs  of  John  Mc- 
Loughhn." 

]\Ieanwhile,  and  though  reproved  by  the  pubhc 
prints,  by  the  memorial  spoken  of,  and  by  the  act  of 
the  legislature  in  refusing  to  sanction  so  patent  an 
iniquity,"*^  the  Oregon  delegate  never  abated  his  in- 
dustry, but  toiled  on,  leaving  no  stone  unturned  to 
secure  his  reelection.  He  would  compel  the  appro- 
bation and  gratitude  of  his  constituency,  to  whom  he 
was  ever  pointing  out  his  achievements  in  their  be- 
half.®" The  appropriations  for  Oregon,  besides  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  Cavuse  war  ex- 
penses,  amounted  in  all  to  one  hundred  and  ninety 
thousand  dollars.** 


: 


'■'McKinlay,  his  friend  of  many  years,  comparing  him  with  Douglas, 
remarks  that  McLoughUn's  name  will  go  down  from  generation  to  generation 
wliijn  .Sir  James  Douglas'  will  be  forgotten,  as  the  maker  of  Oregon,  and  one 
of  the  best  of  men.  Compfoii's  Forts  and  Fort  Li/c,  MS.,  2.  Fiulayson  says 
idontically  the  same  in  Vaiic.  Id.  and  y.  W.  Cocutt,  MS. ,  28-30.  There  ai  e 
similar  observations  in  Minto's  Early  Days,  MS.,  and  in  Waldo's  Criliqm.t, 
AH.;  Brown's  WUIameltf.  Valkii,  MS.;  Parrish's  Or.  Ain-alotes,  MS.;  Joscpli 
Watt,  in  Palmer'*  Waijon  Trains,  MS.;  Uev.  Geo.  H.  Atkinson,  in  Orcjoa 
Colonist,  5;  M.  P.  Deady,  in  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc,  Trans.,  187"),  IS;  W.  H.  Keo., 
Id.,  1879,  .31;  Graver's  PuhUe  Life  in  Or.,  MS.,  8(}-92;  Ford's  Ifondmak^rs, 
MS.;  Crawford's  Mimonaries,  MS.;  Moss'  Pioneer  Times,  MS.;  Bnnieti's 
Bero'lections,  MS.,  i.  91-4,  273-4,  298,  .301-3;  Mrs  E.  M.  Wilson,  in  Ore.imi, 
Sketches,  MS.,  19-21;  Blanchet'sCath.  Ch.  in  Or.,  71;  Chndwick's  Pid).  Revonh, 
MS.,  4-5;  H.  H.  Spalding,  in  27th  Cong.,2dSess.,  830,  57;  Ehhert's  Trapj>fr^ 
Life,  MS.,  .36-7;  Petti/ij rove's  Oreijon,  MS.,  1-2,  5-6;  Lovrjoy's  Portlani,  MS., 
37;  Anderson's  Hist.  N.  W.  Coast.,  MS.,  15-16;  Appleijate's  Vicirs  of  //;>'., 
MS.,  12,  15-16;  Id.,  in  Saxon's  Or.  Ter.,  131-41;  C.  Lancaster,  in  Co«(/.  Olobi, 
1S63-4,  1080,  and  others  already  quoted. 

'■'^(Jr.  Spectator,  Dec.  19  and  26,  1850. 

''  \V.  W.  Buck,  who  was  a  member  of  the  council,  repudiated  the  idea 
that  Oregon  was  indebted  to  Thurston  for  the  donation  law,  which  Linn  ainl 
Benton  had  labored  for  long  before,  and  asserted  that  he  had  found  congiesa 
ready  and  willing  to  bestow  the  long  promised  bounty.  And  as  to  the  apiiin- 
priations  obtained,  they  were  no  more  than  other  territories  east  of  the  moun- 
tains had  received. 

s^The  several  amounts  were,  $20,000  for  public  buildings;  $20,000  for  a 
penitentiary;  $53,140  for  lighthouses  at  Cape  Disappointment,  Capo  Flattery, 
and  New  Dungeness,  and  for  buoys  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  Kivir; 
$25,000  for  the  purposes  of  the  Indian  bill;  $24,000  pay  for  legislatuii', 
clerks'  hire,  office  rents,  etc;  $15,000  additional  Indian  fund;  $10,000  lU- 
ficiency  fund  to  make  up  the  intended  appropriation  of  1848,  whicli  liml 
merely  paid  the  expenses  of  the  messengers,  Thornton  and  Meek;  $10,000  tnr 
the  pay  of  tlie  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  his  clerks,  ofhce  rent,  etc.; 
$10,500,  salaries  for  the  governor,  secretary,  and  judges;  $1,500  for  takiug 


PERSISTENT  EFFORT. 


133 


another 
ahn  Mc- 


lO  public 
10  act  of 
ateiit  an 
il  his  ill- 
umed to 
10  iippro- 
whoui  he 
their  be- 
sides one 
1  war  ex- 
nd  ninety 


with  "Douglas, 

I  to  generation 

rcgon,  ami  o;io 

Finlaysou  s;iys 

;0.     There  luc 

lilo's  Cridquis 

,  MS.;  .losi'i'li 

son,  in  Oir'ji'ii 

,W\  H.  Kt'>  . 

,IS.;   DiinifH'^ 

,sou,  in  (tir<i')a 

Pub.  i?cco(v/s 

'orilani,  M^  < 
'ieim  of  lli^'-< 
,n  Couy.  Glohv, 


Bated  the  itUii 
[hich  Linn  ini'l 
lound  cougicss 
to  the  ai>l>i'>- 
It  of  the  moil  11- 

$20,000  for  a 
:apo  Flattoi  y, 
llumhift  Kiv<n 
pr  Icgislaturi', 
[;  $10,000  .U- 
18,  which  had 
[;;  $10,000  tor 
lice  rent,  etc.; 
for  takiug 


!Mr  ^hurston  set  an  example,  which  his  immediate 
siiece'  >  were  compelled  to  imitate,  of  complete  con- 
foniiii^  to  the  demands  of  the  people.  He  aspired  to 
jilt  use  all  Oregon,  and  he  made  it  necessary  for  those 
who  came  after  him  to  labor  for  the  same  end.  It 
was  a  worthy  effort  when  not  carried  too  far;  but  no 
man  ever  yet  succeeded  for  any  length  of  time  in  act- 
ing upon  that  policy;  though  there  have  been  a  few 
wlio  have  pleased  all  by  a  wise  independence  of  all. 
In  his  ardor  and  inexperience  he  went  too  far.  He 
not  only  published  a  great  deal  of  matter  in  the  east 
to  draw  attention  to  Oregon,  much  of  which  was  cor- 
rect, and  some  of  which  was  false,  but  he  wrote 
litters  to  the  people  of  Oregon  through  the  SpecUi- 
toj-,'''^  showing  forth  his  services  from  month  to  month, 
and  giving  them  advice  which,  while  good  in  itself, 
was  akin  to  impudence  on  the  part  of  a  yonng  man 
wliose  acquaintance  with  the  country  was  of  recent 
date.  But  this  was  a  part  of  the  man's  temperament 
and  character. 

Co- nrress  passed  a  bounty  land  bill,  giving  one 
Imn  '  and  sixty  acres  to  any  officer  or  private  who 
had  od  one  year  in  any  Indian  war  since  17D0, 

or  lighty  acres  to  those  who  had  served  six  months. 
Tiiis  bill  might  be  made  to  apply  to  those  who  had 
served  in  the  Cayuse  war,  and  a  bill  to  that  effect 
was  introduced  by  Thurston's  successor;  but  Thurston 
had  already  thought  of  doing  something  for  the  old 
soldiers  of  1812  and  later,  many  of  whom  were  set- 
tles in  Oregon,  by  procuring  the  passage  of  a  bill 
establishing  a  pension  agency.^'* 

1  [c  kept  himself  informed  as  well  as  he  could  of 
i'Vt  rytliing  passing  in  Oregon,  and  expressed  his  ap- 
jiidval  whenever  he    could.     He  complimented  the 

till' icnsus;  $1,500  contingent  fund;  and  a  copy  of  tlie  exploring  expedition 
tnr  tlio  territorial  library.  31x1  Coitf/.,  Id  Scsn.,  U.  S.  Acts  cua/  J'c.-i.,  l.'t,  "_'7, 
-^,  ;il,  72,  111,  159-GO,  192,  108;  Or.  Spectator,  Aug.  8th  and  22d,  and  Oct. 

:!4,  is,-,o. 

«'  Or.  Sjvrlator,  from  Sept.  26th  to  Oct.  17,  18.-)0. 

^^  ( 'onij.  (Ilobv,  JS.'fU-oO,  504.  TheophiluB  Magrudcr  was  appointed  pension 
agent.  Or.  Sjmctutor,  July  25,  1850. 


m 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


'm 


school  superintendent,  MoBride,  en  the  sentiments 
uttered  in  his  report.  He  wrote  to  William  Meek  of 
Milwaukie  that  he  was  fighting  hard  to  save  his  land 
claim  from  being  reserved  for  an  ordnance  depot. 
He  procured,  unasked,  the  prolongation  of  the  legisla- 
tive session  of  1850  from  sixty  to  ninety  days,  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  the  assembly  time  to  perfect  a 
good  code,  and  also  secured  an  appropriation  sufficient 
to  meet  the  expense  of  the  long  session.^  He  secured, 
when  the  cheap  postage  bill  was  passed,  the  right  of 
the  Pacific  coast  to  a  rate  uniform  with  the  Atlantic 
states,  whereas  before  the  rate  had  been  four  times  as 
high;  and  introduced  a  bill  providing  a  revenue  cutter 
for  the  district  of  Oregon,  and  for  the  establishment  of 
a  marine  hospital  at  Astoria;  presented  a  memorial 
from  the  citizens  of  that  place  asking  for  an  appropria- 
tion of  ten  thousand  dollars  for  a  custom-house;  and 
a  bill  to  create  an  additional  district,  besides  applica- 
tion for  additional  ports*  of  entry  on  the  southern 
coast  of  Oregon. 

In  regard  to  the  appropriation  secured  of  $100,000 
for  the  Cayuse  war,  instead  of  $150,000  asked  for, 
Thurston  said  he  had  to  take  that  or  nothing.  No 
money  was  to  be  paid,  however,  until  the  evidence 
should  be  presontecl  to  the  secretary  of  the  treasury 
that  the  amount  claimed  had  been  expended."* 

This  practically  finished  Mr  Thurston's  work  for 
the  session,  and  he  so  wrote  to  his  constituents.  Tht^ 
last  of  the  great  measures  for  Oregon,  he  said,  had 
been  consummated;  but  they  had  cost  him  dearly,  as 
his  impaired  health  fearfully  admonished  him.  ]^ut 
he  declared  before  God  and  his  conscience  ho  had 
done  all  that  he  could  do  for  Oregon,  and  with  an  oyo 

Ho  rejoiced  in  his  success; 


snigle  to  her  interests 


iii 


*'Utt.,  Oct.  10,  18.'>0;  31st  Conij.,  UtSesK.,  U.  8.  ArU  anil  Res.,  .11. 

"*  A  iiicmorinl  wiis  it'ceivud  from  tho  Orej^on  legiHliituru  after  tlu)  pn«Bi>j.'o 
of  the  liill  (liiti'il  Deo.  ,'},  18.'>(),  giviiiu  tlio  icpoit  of  A.  K.  Wait,  coiinui-*- 
fiiiitifi',  Htating  that  liu  Imd  invoHUgatud  and  allowud  .'UO  elaiiim,  uiiiouDtiiig  in 
all  to  l|^tS7,'2i'i0.r).'l;  and  ^;iviiig  it  ua  his  opinion  tliat  tho  uitiro  indel)ti)dn('NH 
wuuld  (uuuunt  ko  ubuut  $loU,0()U.  did  Coiiy.,i.'i!  ttesn.,  Sea.  AIuc,  Doc,  J'J,  3-11. 


DECLINE  OF  INFLUENCE. 


135 


ami  though  slander  might  seek  to  destroy  him,  it 
could  not  touch  the  destiny  of  the  territory.*® 

Between  the  time  of  the  receipt  of  the  first  copy 
of  the  land  bill  and  the  writing  of  this  letter  partisan 
I'eoling  had  run  high  in  Oregon,  and  the  newspapers 
were  tilled  with  correspondence  on  the  subject.  Much 
of  this  newspaper  writing  would  have  wounded  the 
delegate  deeply,  but  he  was  spared  from  seeing  it  by 
the  irregularity  and  insufficiency  of  the  mail  trans- 
portation,^ which  brought  him  no  Oregon  papers  for 
several  months. 

It  soon  became  evident,  notwithstanding  the  first 
impulse  of  the  people  to  stand  by  their  delegate,  that 
a  reaction  was  taking  place,  and  the  more  generous- 
iiiiiided  were  ashamed  of  the  position  in  which  the 
eleventh  section  of  the  land  bill  placed  them  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world;  that  with  the  whole  vast  territory 
of  Oregon  wherein  to  pick  and  choose  they  iimst 
needs  force  an  old  man  of  venerable  character  from 
his  just  possessions  for  the  un-American  reason  that 
he  was  a  foreigner  born,  or  had  formerly  been  the 
honored  head  of  a  foreign  company.  It  was  well  un- 
derstood, too,  whence  came  the  directi<3n  of  this  vin- 
dictive action,  and  easily  seen  that  it  would  ojjorate 
against  the  real  welfare  of  the  territory. 

The  mor«^  time  the  people  had  in  which  to  think 
over  the  matter,  the  more  easily  were  they  ct)iivinced 
tiiat  there  were  others  who  could  fill  Thurston's  place 
without  detriment  to  the  public  interests.  An  in- 
formal canvass  then  began,  in  which  the  iianios"'  of 

'"Or.  Spertntor,  April  3,  1851,  The  appropriations  mado  at  the  hwoiuI 
Brssidii  (if  tliu  3lHt  (^oiigresB  for  Orcffou  wcro  for  tlio  expunseH  of  tUv.  torritory 
Jliii.CKH);  for  niniiing  J)Uso  ami  lucriaian  lines,  ;Ji),()00;  for  surveying  in  Ore- 
wiu,  5>.')|,H40;  fiir  a  custom-liouso,  ^10, (KX);  for  a  liglit-iiouse  antl  fog-8if,'nal  <it 
I  iii|>i|iiii  Itiver,  $ir>,0(X);  for  fog-signuls  at  tliu  liglit-liuusoa  to  \m  vruetud  at 
liiHupiiiiijitnieiit,  Flatttu-y,  and  New  Ihuigenuss,  ^'<,()00. 

•"Writing  Jan.  8tli,  iiusays;  'Scptcnihcr  is  tlio  latest  date  of  apiipir  i  'lavo 
Bern.  1  nni  uninfurnied  as  yet  what  the  canso  in,  only  from  whiit  i  «)  ]ie- 
riciiii'il  (inci!  liefore,  tliat  tiio  Btuoiner  left  Sun  Fraiieisco  before  thi!  arrival 
of,  iir  Mithout  taking  the  Oregon  mail."  Or.  Sjx-itator,  April  10,  Ih.'K). 

"  'Tiiere  arc  nniny  very  worthy  and  meritorious  citizens  who  inigruted  to 
this  tniMitry  at  aik  early  tiav  to  i;noo»e  from.  I  wouhl  mention  tlio  namea  of 
siiiMu  of  thu  number,  luaving  tlio  dm)r  open,  however,  to  suggestions  from 


136 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


■I 


I ' '. 


several  well  known  citizens  and  early  settlers  were 
mentioned;  but  public  sentiment  took  no  form  before 
March,  when  the  Star,  published  at  Milwankic,  pro- 
clainiod  as  its  candidate  Thurston's  opponent  in  the 
election  of  1849,  Columbia  Lancaster.  In  tlie  mean 
time  R.  R.  Thompson  had  been  correspondinpf  with 
Lane,  who  was  still  mining  in  southern  Oregon,  and 
had  obtained  his  consent  to  run  if  his  friends  wished 
it.****  The  Star  then  put  the  name  of  Lane  in  place  of 
that  of  Lancaster;  the  Spectator,  now  managed  by 
D.  J.  Schnebley,  and  a  new  democratic  paper,  the 
Oregon  Statesman,  withholding  their  announcements 
of  candidates  until  Thurston,  at  that  moment  on  his 
way  to  Oregon,  should  arrive  and  satisfy  his  friends 
of  his  eligibility. 

But  when  everything  was  preparing  to  realize  or  to 
give  tlie  lie  to  Thurston's  fondest  hopes  of  the  future, 
there  suddenly  interposed  that  kindest  of  our  enemies, 
death,  and  saved  him  from  humiliation.  He  expired 
on  board  the  steamer  California,  at  sea  off  Acapulco 
on  the  9th  of  April  1851,  at  the  age  of  thirty-live 
years.  His  health  had  long  been  delicate,  and  he  had 
not  spared  himself,  so  that  the  heat  and  discomfort 
of  tlie  voyage  through  the  tropics,  with  the  anxiety  of 
mind  attending  his  political  career,  sapped  the  low- 
buniiiig  lamp  of  life,  and  its  flickering  Hanie  was  cx- 
tinguisliwl.  Yet  ho  died  not  alone  or  unattended. 
He  had  in  his  charge  a  company  of  young  women, 
teachers  whonj  Governor  Slade  of  Vermont  was  send- 
ing to  Oregon,™  who  now  became  his  tender  nurses, 


others,  imincly,  Jcrsc  Applogate,  J.  W.  Ncsmith,  .Tool  Piilnior,  Tlnniol  WaMo, 
Hcv.  Will  lioliertH,  tlio  veiicralilu  llol'i-rt  Mooni,  .ramcs  M.  Moore,  (ii'ii. 
•loMcpli  l.aiu>  ami  (luii.  Lovi'juy,  and  many  otIiurH  wlio  liiivu  rucmtly  amveil 
in  tln'  coiiiitry.'  <'or.  of  the  Or.  S/»r/at<>r,  March  '27,  IH.'il, 

••■Oc.  .Si'iitntor,  March  (I,  IHT)!;  Laiit's  Antuhioijniphjf,  MS.,  rt". 

"•  l''iM'  young  wotiK'U  wc-ru  Hunt  out  l>y  tho  national  hoard  of  t'lhica- 
tlon,  at  tlic  ruiiucHt  of  Aht-riu-thy  ami  otiicrs,  tuuliir  oontraft  to  teach  two 
ycaitf,  or  refuml  tho  money  for  thtiir  inkHsiino.  They  wero  all  hooii  nnirried, 
as*  a  miitteruf  oourHu — Mjnh  WiIikIh  to  (tovornor  (jaineM;  Mins  Smith  to  Mr 
lleer«!  Miss  (iray  to  Mr  Melieaeh;  Miss  liineolii  to  Judge  SkiiUK'r;  and  Mi.-*!* 
Milhir  to.liidgo  WilHun.  Or.  .S7w<7if.i,  MS.,  15;  Wroirr'*  J'uh.  Life  in  Or., 
MS.,  UK);  Or.  .S^dutor,  March  i;»,  I80I. 


DEATH  OF  THURSTON. 


137 


and  when  they  had  closed  his  eyes  forever,  treasured 
uj)  every  word  that  could  be  of  interest  to  his  bereaved 
wile  and  friends.'"  Thus  while  preparing  boldly  to  vin- 
(lictitc  his  acts  and  do  battle  with  his  adv^ersaries,  he 
was  (breed  to  surrender  the  sword  which  was  too  sharp 
tor  its  scabbard,  and  not  even  his  mortal  remains  were 
porniitted  to  reach  Oregon  for  two  years."* 

The  reverence  we  entertain  for  one  on  whom  the 
gods  iiave  laid  their  hands,  caused  a  revulsion  of  feeling 
and  an  outburst  of  sympathy.  Had  he  lived  to  make 
war  in  his  own  defence,  perhaps  McLoughlin  would 
liavc  been  sooner  righted;  but  the  people,  who  as  a 
iiiajoiity  blamed  him  for  the  disgraceful  eleventh  sec- 
tion of  tlie  land  law,  could  not  touch  the  dead  lion 
with  disdainful  feet,  and  his  party  who  honored  his 
taKiits'-  and  felt  under  obligations  for  his  industry, 
protected  his  memory  from  even  the  implied  censure 

■".Mrs  K.  M.  Wilson,  daughter  of  Rev.  James  P.  Millar  of  Allmny,  Now 
Ynili,  who  soon  foUowt'il  ]ii)i  iljiugliter  to  Orcjon,  givi'ssoiiie  notes  of  Tlitir- 
HtoiiH  lant  tlays,  'Ho  was  positive  eiiouuh,' sho  says,  'to  make  a  vivid  iin- 
lii'i's^ioii  iiri  my  memory.  Strikingly  good-looking,  direct  in  his  spcecli,  with 
ji  sii|irt'iiu'  will,  used  to  overcoming  ohiitaclcs. .  ."Just  wait  'til  I  get  there," 
li.'  would  say,  "  I  will  sliow  those  fellows!'"  Or.  ShffhuH,  MS.,  l(t. 

■''i'lie  legislature  in  185.}  voted  to  remove  his  (hist  from  foreign  soil, 
ainl  it  was  (U'liosited  in  tiie  cemetery  at  Salem;  and  in  IH.Vl  a  moiiiiiiient 
was  irected  over  it  by  the  same  authority.  It  is  a  |)lain  shaft  of  Italian 
iiiarlili',  I'J  feet  iiigh.  On  its  eastern  face  h  in8eril)ed:  'Thurston:  erecti'd 
hy  the  Tcople  of  Oregon,'  and  a  fac-simile  of  tiie  seal  of  the  territory;  on  llio 
iKirtli  side,  name,  ago,  and  death;  on  the  south:  'Hero  restn  Oregon's  lirst 
iMi'u'ati':  a.  iiiau  of  genius  and  learning;  a  lawyer  and  .statesman,  liLsChiistiau 
viiliKs  iM|iialled  hy  IiIh  villi)  iihilanthropy,  lijf,  piililic  acts  are  his  best  eulo- 
^.'iaia,'  Sail  III  Or.  Slnli'.tiiuiii,  May '20,  18o(3j  Oddl'a  Uioi).  of  Thumtou,  MS,, 
;<7:  ,V.  /•'.  />.  .\ll(i,  April '-»5,  18.'>l. 

'-Tliuistnn  nuulo  his  first  high  mnrk  in  congress  by  his  sjiccch  r)n  tlio 
iiiliiiisMion  of  California.  Nee  ('(»/(;/.  Olub'',  JS4[)-oO,  u\^[).  'M't.  His  I'emurks 
1)11  till!  appropriations  for  Indian  all'airs  were  so  instructive  and  inter- 
cHtiiii;  that  his  amendments  were  unanimously  agreed  to.  A  great  many 
niinilit'iN  shook  him  iieartily  by  the  hand  after  ho  liad  closed;  and  he  was 
H.'isiirnI  tlial  if  ho  hail  asked  for  .?."iO,Ol)0  liter  suil.  ,v  .qiceeh  he  would  ha\o 
reiiived  it.  (h:  H/Miintor,  Aug.  '2'J,  18.'>0,  With  that  tendency  to  sei  some- 
tliiiiK  peculiar  in  ;i  man  who  has  idcntitied  hiniNclf  with  the  west,  the  A'.  V. 
Sim  •>{  Ma  iili  •-'((,  I  H.")0,  remarked:  '  Coming  from  the  extreme  west'-  lie  was 
lint  two  years  from  Maine  'wiii're,  it  is  taken  for  granted,  the  peoph;  are  iii 
a  iii'Mc  111  iiiiitive  condition  than  elsewhere  under  this  govcriinieiit,  and  look- 
iiii;.  a.-i  .Nil  'riiurston  does,  like  a  fair  specimen  of  the  frontier  man,  little  was 
I'Xpcitnl  of  him  in  an  oratorical  way.  But  lie  has  jiroveil  to  bo  one  of  tlio 
iiiovleircilive  speakers  in  the  hall,  which  has  createil  no  little  surprise.'  .V 
Miis-iarliiisctts  paper  also  commented  in  a  Bimiiur  strain;  '  Mr  Thui  <ton  is  u 
.Voiiiil;  man,  an  elmpient  i.nd  efVectivo  debater,  and  a  bold  aud  active  miui, 
«iuli  as  arc  found  only  ill  the  west,' 


138 


A  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS. 


li 


Itt 


of  undoing  his  work.    And  all  felt  that  not  he  alone, 
but  his  secret  advisers  were  likewise  responsible. 

In  view  of  all  the  circumstances  of  Thurston's 
career,  it  is  certainly  to  be  regretted,  first,  that  he  fell 
under  the  influence  of,  or  into  alliance  with,  the  mis- 
sionary party;  and  secondly,  that  he  had  adopted  as 
a  part  of  his  p  >litical  creed  the  maxim  that  the  end 
sanctifies  the  means,  by  which  he  missed  obtaining 
that  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  posterity  to  which 
lie  aspired,  and  to  which  he  could  easily  have  attained 
by  a  more  honest  use  of  his  abilities.  Associated  as 
he  is  with  the  donation  law,  which  gave  thousands  of 
persons  free  farms  a  mile  square  in  Oregon,  his  name 
IS  engraved  upon  the  foundation  stones  of  the  state 
beside  those  of  Floyd,  Linn,  and  Benton,  and  of  Gra- 
ham N.  Fitch,  the  actual  author  of  the  bill  before  con- 
gress in  1850."'  No  other  compensation  had  he;"  and 
of  that  even  the  severest  truth  cannot  deprive  him. 

Thurston  had  accomplished  nothing  toward  securing 
a  fortune  in  a  financial  sense,  and  he  left  his  widow 
with  scanty  means  of  support.  The  mileage  of  the 
Oregon  delegate  was  fixed  by  the  organic  act  at 
^2,500.  It  was  afterward  raised  to  about  double 
that  amount;  and  when  in  1856-7  on  this  ground  a 
bill  for  the  relief  of  his  heirs  was  brought  before  con 
gress,  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  was  authorized 
to  make  up  the  difference  in  the  mileage  for  that 
purpose. 

"  Cong.  Qloht,  1850-61,  app.  xxxviil. 

"Or.  Slatenman,  April  14,  1857;  Grover'a  Pub.  Life,  MS.,  101. 


CHAPTER  V. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 

1850-1852. 

An  Official  Vacancy— Gaines  Appointed  Govebnoe,— His  Reception  I!» 
OuK(JON — The  Legislative  Asskmbly  in  Session— Its  Personnel— 
TnK  Tkrritorial  Library — Location  of  the  Capital— Oreoon  City 
OR  Salem — Warm  and  Prolonged  Contest — Two  Leoislatures — 
AVar  between  the  Law-makers  and  the  Federal  Judges — Appeal 
TO  Congress  —  Salem  Declared  the  Capital — A  New  Session 
Called — Fecds  of  the  PrBLic  Press— Unpopularity  of  Gaines— 
Close  of  his  Term— Lane  Appointed  his  Successor. 


From  the  first  of  May  to  the  middle  of  August 
isr)0  tlicro  was  neither  governor  nor  district  judge 
ill  the  territory;  the  secretary  and  pT-osecuting  attor- 
ney, with  the  United  States  marshal,  administered 
tlio  government.  On  the  15th  of  August  the  United 
States  sloop  of  war  Falmouth  arrived  from  San  Fran- 
cisco, having  on  board  General  John  P.  Gaines,Miewly 
.■i|t|K)inted  governor  of  Oregon,  with  his  family,  and 
nthcr  federal  officers,  namely:  General  Edward  Ham- 
ilton of  Ohio,''  territorial  secretary,  and  Judge  Strong 
of  tiie  third  district,  as  before  mentioned,' 

'  Aoooi'tling  to  A,  liunh,  of  the  Ori'ijnn  Sfatextnati,  Marshall  of  Indiana  was 
till' lirst  cliiiic'f  of  President  Taylor;  but  according  to  (Jrover,  t'uh.  Life  in 
"i\,  MS.,  Ahrnham  Lincoln  was  firxt  apiMiintcd,  and  deelinud.  Wliieli  of 
tlK'.sc  iiiitlioritiuH  is  correct  is  iinni"tc.-ial;  it  shows,  huwuvur,  that  Oregon 
w.i.s  rimoidered  t(M)  far  off  to  be  desiralde. 

■  lliiiiiilton  was  born  in  CuliH3i)<n'  (\).,  Vn.  Ho  was  a  lawyer  hv  profession; 
iiiiinvid  to  Portmnoutii,  Ohio,  wliere  he  edited  tlie  Portsnioiilh  i'riliiiiif.  Ho 
wiiH  a  captain  in  the  Mexican  war,  his  title  of  general  being  obtained  in  tho 
niilitiii  Herviee.     His  wife  was  Miss  (Mherine  lioyer. 

''The  otlier  niein Iters  of  tiie  |)artv  Mere  Archiliald  Cinines,  A.  Kinney, 
hiiiiiN  K.  Strong,  MrsOnines,  tliree  dauuhters  and  two  hoiks,  Mrs  Ilandlton 
mil  I'liu^'liter,  and  Mrs  Strong  and  daughter.  Gaines  lost  two  daugiiterH,  17 
aiiil  I!)  years  of  age,  of  yellow  fever,  at  St  Catherine's,  en  route;  and  .lutlgo 
Ntroiig  a  son  of  live  years.     They  all  left  New  York  in  the  United  Stutea 


140 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


1' 


Cominpr  in  greater  state  than  his  predecessor,  the 
new  goveriK^r  was  more  royally  welcomed,*  by  the 
firing  of  cannon,  speeches,  and  a  public  dinner.  In 
return  for  these  courtesies  Gaines  presented  the  ter- 
ritory with  a  handsome  silk  flag,  a  gift  which  Thurs- 
ton, in  one  of  his  eloquent  encomiums  upon  the 
pioneers  of  Oregon  and  their  deeds,  reminded  con- 
gress had  never  yet  been  offered  by  the  government 
to  that  people.  But  Governor  Gaines  was  not  sin- 
cerely welcomed  by  the  democracy,  who  resented  tlie 
removal  of  Lane,  and  who  on  other  grounds  disliked 
the  appointment.  They  would  not  have  mourned  if 
when  he,  like  Lane,  vvas  compelled  to  make  procla- 
mation of  the  death  of  the  president  by  whom  he  was 
appointed,''  there  had  been  the  prospect  of  a  removal 
in  consequence.  The  grief  for  President  Taylor  was 
not  profound  with  the  Oregon  democracy.  He  was 
accused  of  treating  them  in  a  cold  indifferent  man- 
ner, and  of  lacking  the  cordial  interest  displayed  in 
their  affairs  by  previous  rulers.  Nor  was  the  differ- 
ence wholly  imaginary.  There  was  not  the  same 
incentive  to  interest  which  the  boundary  question, 
and  the  contest  over  free  or  slave  territory,  had 
inspired  before  the  establishment  of  the  territory. 
Oregon  was  now  on  a  plane  with  other  territories, 
which  could  not  have  the  national  legislature  at  their 
beck  and  call,  as  she  had  done  formerly,  and  the 
change  could  not  occur  without  an  affront  to  her  feel- 
ings or  her  pride.     Gaines    was    wholly    unlike   the 


energetic 


anil   debonair   Lane,  being 


phlegniai/ic 


m 


utorp-ship  Siijtphi,  in  Novoin))er  1840,  nrriving  at  Snn  Francisco  in.Tnly  IS.'iO, 
ulii'ic  tlu'v  wiTc  tiiiiisfi'iTetl  to  iUn  FiiliiioiUh.  Calilwhia  Coiiriir,  .July  "J I, 
inriO;  Or.  S/»rt(il,„\  Auk.  '22,  \HM\  SlmwfM  lli»t.  Or.,  MS.,  I.  '2,  VA. 

*'J'lio  Or.  SliiliMiiiini  of  March  i'8,  lH.">i,  runiurkH  that  (JiiincM  canui  urouml 
Cajie  Horn  in  u  yovcrnnu-nt  vc«wl,  witii  Iiih  family  and  fiirnituro,  iirrivin>.'  ,it 
Oregon  City  nine  ntontliH  after  liix  ii))|H>intnieut,  and  drawing  Halary  nil  the 
time,  whilo  Lane  being  removed,  drew  no  jmy,  but  iKirfornieil  tiie  htltorof  hi.M 
uliicu. 

'President  Taylor  died  July  0.  l.S."(0.  The  intelligeiu'e  wan  received  in 
Oregon  on  tlie  iHt  of  Scptendier.  Friday  the  2()tli  wiih  hcI  for  the  observaMct' 
of  leligiouH  funerul  ccreniunieit  by  prucluinutiuu  uf  Uuiueu,  (Jr.  Sptclulur, 
Kept.  5,  1850. 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


141 


temperament,  fastidious  as  to  his  personal  surround- 
ings, pretentious,  pompous,  and  jealous  of  his  dig- 
nity.'' The  spirit  in  which  the  democracy,  who  were 
more  than  satisfied  with  Lane  and  Thurston,  received 
the  whig  governor,  was  ominous  of  what  soon  fol- 
lowed, a  bitter  partisan  warfare. 

There  had  been  a  short  session  of  the  legislative 
apsoinbly  in  May,  under  its  privilege  granted  in  the 
territorial  act  to  sit  for  one  hundred  days,  twenty- 
seven  days  yet  remaining.  No  time  or  place  of  meet- 
ing of  the  next  legislature  had  been  fixed  upon,  nor 
without  this  provision  could  there  be  another  session 
without  a  special  act  of  congress,  which  omission  ren- 
dered necessary  the  May  term  in  order  that  this 
matter  might  be  attended  to.  The  first  Monday  in 
December  was  the  time  named  for  the  convening  of 
the  next  legislative  body,  and  Oregon  City  the  place. 
The  assembly  remained  in  session  about  two  weeks, 
calling  ft)r  a  special  session  of  the  district  court  at 
Oii'gon  City  for  the  trial  of  the  Cayuse  murderers, 
giving  the  governor  power  to  fill  vacancies  in  certain 
offices  i)y  appointment,  and  providing  for  the  printing 
ol'  the  laws,  with  a  few  other  enactments. 

The  subject  of  submitting  the  question  of  a  state 
constitution  to  the  people  at  the  election  in  June  was 
being  discussed.  The  measure  was  favored  by  many 
who  were  restive  under  presidential  appointments,  and 
who  thought  Oregon  could  more  safely  furnish  the 
material  for  executive  and  judicial  ofl[icers  than  de- 
lund  on  the  ability  of  such  as  might  be  sent  them. 
The  legislature,  however,  did  not  entertain  the  idea 
at  its  May  term,  on  the  ground  that  there  was  not 
time  to  put  the  question  fairly  before  the  people. 
Looking  at  the  c«)ndition  and  population  of  the  terri- 
tory at  this  time,  and  its  unfitness  to  assume  the 

"  Lano  himself  had  a  kind  of  contempt  for  Oaines,  on  account  of  hin  sur- 
rtiiili'i-  lit  Kncarnocion.  ' He  was  a  prisoner  during  the rcmaiiideruf  tlie  war,' 
itayH  Uuic;  wliich  waa  not  altogether  true.  AtUobiography,  MS.,  50-7. 


142 


ADMINISTRATION  OP  GAINES. 


1*  » 


expenses  and  responsibilities  of  a  state,  the  conclusion 
is  irresistible  that  jealousy  of  the  lead  taken  in  this 
matter  by  California,  and  the  aspirations  of  politi- 
cians, rather  than  the  good  of  the  people,  prompted 
a  suggestion  which  could  not  have  been  entertained 
by  the  tax-payers. 

On  the  2d  of  December  the  legislative  assembly 
chosen  in  June  met  at  Oregon  City.  It  consisted  of 
nine  members  in  the  council  and  eighteen  in  the 
lower  house.'  W.  W.  Buck  of  Clackamas  county  was 
chosen  president  of  the  council,  and  Ralph  Wilcox  of 
Washington  county  speaker  of  the  house.^     George 


i  V 


'R.  P.  Boise,  in  an  address  before  the  pioneer  association  in  1876,  snys 
that  there  were  25  members  in  the  house;  but  ho  pro))ably  confounds  tliia 
session  with  that  of  1851-2.  The  assembly  of  1850-1  b-ovided  for  tiie  increase 
of  representatives  to  twenty-two.  See  list  of  Acts  in  Or.  Stutesman,  Muich 
28,  1851:  Gen.  Laws  Or.,  1850-1,  225. 

•The  names  of  tiio  councilmen  and  representatives  are  given  in  the  first 
number  of  the  Oregon  SfatcKman.  W.  W.  Buck,  Samuel  T.  McKcan,  Saimul 
Parker,  and  W.  B.  Mealey  were  of  the  cliiss  which  held  over  from  1849.  I 
liavc  already  given  some  account  of  Buck  ami  McKean.  Parker  and  Mculcy 
were  Ijoth  of  the  immigration  of  1845.  Parker  was  a  Virginian,  a  farmer  and 
carpenter,  but  a  man  who  interested  himself  in  public  affairs.  He  ■wua  a 
good  man.     Mealey  was  a  Pennsylvanian ;  a  farmer  and  pliysician. 

Of  tile  newly  elected  councilmen,  James  McBride  has  been  mentioned  i\n 
one  of  the  immigrants  of  1847. 

Ricliard  Miller  of  Marion  county  was  Iwm  in  Queen  Anne's  county,  Mary- 
land, in  1800.     Ho  came  to  Oregon  in  1847,  and  was  a  farmer. 

A.  L.  Humphrey  of  Benton  county  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Connecticut, 
in  1790  and  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  1847.     Ho  was  a  farmer  and  merchant. 

Lawrence  Hall,  a  farmer  of  Washington  county,  was  born  in  Bourlx)u 
county,  Kentucky,  Marcii  10,  1800,  and  came  to  Oregon  in  1845. 

Frederick  Way  mire,  of  Polk  county,  a  millwright,  was  Iwrn  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  March  15,  1807.  Ho  married  Fanny  Cochagan,  of  Indiana,  liy 
whom  he  iiad  17  children.  He  came  to  Oregon  in  1845  and  soon  becawio 
known  as  an  energetic,  firm,  strong,  roucrji  man,  and  an  uncompromii-in^ 
partisan.  'The  oUl  apostle  of  democracy*^  and  'watclidog  of  the  treasuiv' 
wore  favorite  terms  used  by  his  friends  in  describing  Waymire.  Ho  Ijccaiiio 
prominent  in  the  politics  of  tiio  territory,  and  was  much  respected  for  his 
honesty  and  earnestness,  thougii  not  always  in  the  right.  His  homo  in  Polk 
county,  on  the  little  river  Luckiamute,  was  called  Hayden  Hall.  He  hiid 
been  brouglit  up  a  Metiimlist,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  rctunicd  to 
his  allegiance,  having  a  library  well  stocked  with  historical  and  religious 
works.  Ho  died  in  April  28,  187.'1,  honored  as  a  true  man  and  a  patriot  io 
citizen,  honing  with  faith  that  he  should  live  again  beyond  the  grave.  K.  1'. 
Boise,  in  Trans.  Or.  Pionrfr  Annm:,  1S7C,  27-8.  His  wife  survived  until 
Oct.  15,  1878,  vhen  she  died  in  her  00th  year.  Three  only  of  their  childim 
are  living.  All  the  members  of  the  council  were  married  men  with  families, 
except  Humphrey  who  was  a  widower. 

Iho  members  of  the  house  were  I^lph  Wilcox,  William  M.  King  of 
Washington  county,  William  Shaw,  Williiiin  Parker,  and  Benjamin  F.  Hard- 
ing of  Marion,  the  latter  eloctod  to  fill  a  vacancy  created  by  the  death  of  K. 


MEMBEES  OF  ASSEMBLY. 


143 


elusion 
in  this 
politi- 
ompted 
jrtaineJ 

ssembly 
listed  of 

in  the 
nty  was 
^ilcox  of 

Georj^e 


a  1876,  snys 
ifouncls  this 
the  incieasu 
\man,  March 

[\  in  the  first 
Lean,  SaiiuK  1 
rom  1840.  I 
•  an<l  MeaU  y 
a  farmer  ami 
Ho  was  a 
in. 
mentioned  as 

lunty,  Mary- 

IConnecticut, 

Id  merchant, 

in  Bourlwii 

iMontgomeiy 
Indiana,  hy 
jioon  becaiiio 
J)mpromii.iii,' 
(he  trcasiu  v' 
Ho  Iwcnii.*.' 
fccted  for  hi^ 
iomo  in  Polli 
lill.     He  ha.l 
returned  t<i 
Lul  religioiH 
li  a  patriot  i'' 
lave.     K.  »'. 
Wived  initil 
leir  ehildii  11 
Ith  fainilii's, 

M.  King  "f 
lin  F.  llar.l- 
Ideath  of  K. 


L.  Curry  was  elected  chief  clerk  of  the  council,  as- 
sisted by  James  D.  Turner.  Herman  Buck  was 
sergeant -at -arms.  Asahel  Bush  was  chosen  chief 
clerk  of  the  house,  assisted  by  B.  Genois.  William 
Holmes  was  sergeant-at-arms,  and  Septimus  Heulat 
doorkeeper. 

Tlio  assembly  being  organized,  the  governor  was 
invited  to  make  any  suggestions;  and  appearing  before 

H.  Bellinger,  who  died  after  election;  W.  T.  Matlock,  Benjamin  Simpson, 
Hector  Campbell,  of  Clackamas;  William  McAlphin,  E.  L.  Walters,  of  Liun; 
John  Thorp,  H.  N.  V.  Holmes,  of  Polk;  J.  C.  Avery,  W.  St  Clair,  of  Benton; 
Aaron  I'ayue,  S.  M.  Gilmore,  Matthew  P.  Deady,  of  Yamhill;  Truman  P. 
Powers,  of  Clatsop,  Lewis,  and  Clarke  counties. 

Of  ^Vilcox  I  have  spoken  in  another  place;  also  of  Shaw,  Walter,  Payne, 
and  McAlphin.  William  M.  King  was  oom  and  bred  in  Litchtield,  Conn., 
whence  he  moved  to  Onondaga  county,  New  York,  an<l  subsequently  to 
Pennsylvania  and  Missouri.  He  came  to  Oregon  in  184fS  and  engaged  in 
business  in  Portland,  soon  becoming  known  as  a  talented  and  unscrupulous 
politician,  as  well  as  a  cunning  debater  and  successful  tactician.  He  is  much 
censured  in  the  early  territorial  newspapers,  partly  for  real  faults,  and  partly, 
no  doubt,  from  partisan  feeling.  He  is  described  by  one  who  knew  him  as  a  firm 
friend  and  bitter  enemy.  Fie  died  at  Portland,  after  seeing  it  grow  to  be  a 
place  (if  wealth  and  importance,  November  8,  1869,  aged  69  years.  H.  N.  V. 
HoliiH's  was  born  in  Wythe  county,  Va.,  in  1812,  but  removed  in  childhood  to 
Pulaiski  county,  emigrating  to  Oregon  in  1848.  He  settled  in  a  picturesque 
district  of  Polk  county,  in  the  gap  between  the  Yamhill  and  La  Creole  val- 
leys. He  was  a  gentleman,  of  the  old  Kentucky  school,  was  several  times  a 
member  of  the  Oregon  legislature,  and  a  prosperous  farmer. 

]').  F.  Harding,  a  native  of  Wyoming  county,  Penn.,  was  bom  in  1822, 
and  came  to  Oregon  in  1849.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  settled  at 
Sail  111,  for  the  interesto  of  which  place  he  faithfully  labored,  and  for  Marion 
county,  which  rewarded  him  by  keeping  him  in  a  position  of  prominence  for 
inaiiy  years.  He  married  Eliza  Cox  of  Salem  in  1851.  He  lived  later  on 
a  tuie  farm  in  the  enjoyment  of  abundance  and  independence.  John  Thorp 
was  captain  of  a  company  in  the  immigration  of  1844.  He  was  from  Madison 
comity,  Ky,  and  settled  in  Polk  county,  Oregon,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing. Truman  P.  Powers  was  bom  in  1807,  and  brought  up  in  Chittenden 
county,  Vt,  coming  to  Oregon  in  1846,  He  settled  on  the  Colinnbia  near 
Astoria.  William  Parker  was  a  native  of  Derby  county,  England,  born  in 
ISIH,  but  removed  when  a  child  to  New  York.  He  was  a  farmer  and  sur- 
veyor. Benjamin  Simpson,  born  in  Warren  county,  Tenn,,  in  1810,  was 
raised  in  Howard  county.  Mo.,  and  came  to  Oregon  m  1840,  and  engagetl  in 
nu'riiiantlising.  Hector  Campbell  was  born  in  Hampden  county,  Mass.,  in 
ITO.'J,  removed  to  Oregon  in  1849,  and  settled  on  a  fami  in  Clackamas  county. 
Willi  im  T,  Matlock,  a  lawyer,  was  bora  in  Rhone  county,  Tennessee,  in 
ISO.;,  removed  when  a  child  to  Indiana,  and  to  Oregon  in  1847.  Samuel  M. 
(lilnidie,  Iwrn  in  Bedford  county,  Tenn,,  in  1814,  removed  first  to  Clay  and 
then  to  Huehanan  county,  Missouri,  whence  he  emigrated  in  184t1,  settling 
ill  ^  aiiiliill  county,    W,  St  Clair  was  an  immigrant  of  1S40, 

.1  CISC] ill  C.  Avery  was  bom  in  Luceme  county,  Penn.,  Juno  0, 1817,  and  was 
ciliicutcd  at  Wilkesbarre,  the  county  seat.  Ho  removed  to  III.  in  1809,  where 
he  iiiiiri'KMl  Martha  Marsh  in  1841,  Four  years  afterward  ho  came  to  Oregon, 
BiMiiiliiig  the  winter  of  1845  at  Oreson  City.  In  the  following  spring  ho  set- 
tiiMl  on  a  land  claim  at  the  mouth  o?  Mary  s  River,  where  in  1850  ho  laid  nut 
a  town,  calling  it  Marysvillo,  but  asking  the  legislature  afterword  to  change 
the  name  tu  Oorvallis,  which  was  done. 


tu 


ADMINISTRATION  OP  GAINES. 


the  joint  legislature  he  read  a  message  of  considerable 
length  and  no  great  interest,  except  as  to  some  items 

Matthew  Paul  Deady  was  born  in  Talbot  co.,  Md,  May  12,  1824,  of  Irisli 
and  English  ancestry.  Hia  father  was  a  native  of  Kanturk,  county  ( 'ork,  and 
Was  by  profession  a  teacher.  He  immigrated  while  yet  a  young  man,  with 
his  wife,  to  the  Uniteil  States,  residing  near  Baltimore  for  a  few  ytar^,  re- 
moving to  Wheeling,  Va,  and  again  in  1837  to  Bulmont  co.,  Oliio.  Hero  the 
son  worked  on  a  farm  until  1841.  For  four  years  afterward  ho  learned  Idack- 
smithing,  and  attended  school  at  the  Barnesvillc  acailemy.  From  1845  to 
1S48  lie  taught  school  and  read  law  with  J  udge  William  Kennon,  of  St  Clairs- 
villu,  where  lie  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  supremo  court  of  Ohio,  Oct.  26, 
1847.  In  1849  ho  came  to  Oregon,  settling  at  Lafayette,  in  Yandiill  co.,  and 
teaching  school  until  the  spring  of  1850,  when  ho  commenced  the  practice  of 
tlio  law,  and  in  June  of  the  same  year  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature, 
and  served  on  the  judiciary  committee.  In  1851  he  was  elected  to  the  council 
for  two  years,  serving  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee  and  president 
of  the  council.  In  1853  ho  was  appointed  jutlge  of  the  territorial  supremo 
court,  and  hold  the  position  until  ()regon  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  Feb- 
ruaiV  l"^!  1859,  and  in  tho  mean  time  performed  the  duties  of  district  judgo 
in  tho  southern  district.  He  was  a  member  of  tlio  constitutional  cnnvcutinik 
of  1857,  being  president  of  that  body.  Hia  influence  was  strongly  felt  in 
forming  the  constitution,  some  of  its  marked  features  being  chiefly  his  work; 
while  in  preventing  tlio  adoption  of  other  measures  he  was  equally  serviceable. 
On  tlic  admission  of  Oregon  to  statehood  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  tlie  supremo 
court  from  tho  southern  district  without  opposition,  and  also  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  U.  S.  district  judge.  Ho  accepted  the  latter  position  and  re- 
moved to  Portland,  wliero  lie  lias  resided  down  to  the  present  time,  enjoying 
tho  confidence  and  respect  paid  to  integrity  and  ability  iii  oiHce. 

During  tho  years  1802-4,  Judge  Deatly  prepared  the  codes  of  civil  and 
criminal  procedure  and  the  penal  code,  and  procured  their  passage  l^y  tlio 
legislature  as  they  camo  from  his  hand,  besides  much  other  legidation,  in- 
cluding the  general  incorporation  act  of  18(>2,  which  for  the  first  time  i:i  tho 
U.  S.  made  incorporation  free  to  any  three  or  more  persons  wishing  to  cagago 
in  any  lawful  enterprise  or  occupation.  In  1804  and  1874  he  made  and  pub- 
lishcil  a  general  compilation  of  the  laws  of  Oregon. 

Ho  waa  ono  of  the  organizers  of  the  University  of  Oregon,  and  for  over 
twelve  years  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  board  of  regents  and  presi- 
dent of  that  body.  For  twenty  years  he  has  been  president  of  tho  Library 
Association  of  Portland,  which  under  his  fostering  care  has  grown  to  be  one 
of  the  most  creditable  institutions  of  the  state. 

On  various  occasions  Judge  Deady  has  sat  in  the  U.  S.  circuit  court  in  San 
Francisco,  where  he  has  given  judgment  in  some  celebrated  cases;  among 
them  are  Mc(yall  v.  McDowell,  1  Deady,  233,  in  which  ho  held  that  tho  presi- 
dent could  not  suspend  the  habeas  cornus  act,  tho  power  to  do  so  being  vested 
in  congress;  Martinitti  v.  McGuire,  1  Deady,  210,  commonly  called  tlio  Black 
Crook  case,  in  which  ho  held  that  this  spectacular  exhibition  waa  not  n  dra- 
matic composition,  and  therefore  not  entitled  to  copyright;  WoodruflFr.  N.  L<. 
Oravcl  Co.,  9  Sawyer,  441,  commonly  called  tho  Debris  case,  in  wliicli  it  was 
held  that  tho  hydraulic  miners  had  no  right  to  deposit  the  waste  of  the  mines 
in  the  watercourses  of  the  stato  to  the  injury  of  the  riparian  owners;  and 
Sharon  v.  Hill,  1 1  Sawyer,  200,  in  which  it  was  determined  that  the  so-called 
marriage  contract  between  these  parties  was  a  forgery. 

On  tho  24tl)  of  June,  1852,  Jiidgo  Deady  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  A. 
Henderson,  a  daughter  of  llobort  and  Rlioda  Henderson,  of  Yamhill  co.,  wIid 
camo  to  Oregon  by  the  southern  route  in  1846.  Mr  Henderson  was  born  in 
Green  co.,  lenn.,  Feb.  14,  1809,  and  removed  to  Kentucky  in  18^1,  and  to 
Missouri  in  1834.  Mrs  Deady  is  possessed  of  many  charms  of  pur.son  and 
character,  and  is  disauguisheii  for  that  tact  wliich  renders  her  at  ease  in  nil 
stations  of  life.  Her  children  are  three  sons,  Edward  Nesmith,  Paul  Robert, 
and  Henderson  Brooke.  Tho  first  two  havo  been  admitted  to  tho  bar,  the 
third  is  a  physician. 


I-OCATm  OP  THE  CAPITAL. 

of  information  on  fho  ....  ^ 

««uri„g  its  eo„greslX'''''"*''«*«^"to.y  toward 
'.liousancl  dollars  ~"/!''PP'-"Priatio„s.     Ke  five 

"S  PuWic  buildings  was",,  !?,''*?''"'?«■=*'''''•  erect! 
"I..CI,  would  be  added  the  for  "^h*"*'  '>'^  "^H  to 
'r.,pnated  at  the  last  session    {   ??'*"'*  dollars  a^ 
that  some  action  be  taten^viih        '"% '"'''''"'"nendJi 
t«0-.,  no  prison  having  ell^  ,'''??''''  *"  "  P^'ten 
h";.''«.'>'t';«.iai)atolgo    cL     ^r^r  ''"'"^  the 
r,"  t''™toriaI  library    Jinf"  ^'■''  thousand 
hi}-,  liad  bt.e«  expended  a3'   I?    /"T'^'iieassera- 
i-oou.  furnished  foi  tlie  nurn        1  ^^^  P'^eed  in  a 
--,l''-od  in  their  hand's  i;'^^"'  ">«  ^'^"4  of  which 

appropnations  for  publ"  bunlr         ''-''P^"'"t'»-eof  the 
the  capital.    Although   he  f,^"='  '""'  «>«  location  of 

ascss,on  in  Ma^^ostStrfirunoT",'^ '""'  ''''"od 
a  time  forconveninff  it,  „L„    "  "P""  »  plaee  as  well  a, 
place,  and  the  preSnt  I    Tf"""' ''''''<' ""t  fiwd  the 
k  "'".mon  conSt  OrS'^'nT  '""J  «»■"«  to'etW 
'«'  l'>oper  at  this  sesln  ^  ".S"^-    Conceivin't  f.^ 
-.nnent,  accordfnrrthe  fi^''  f  "^  '''^  ««■"  "?  S'>1- 
garucact,  which  authorized  tt'!"'-r"''"  "^  the^or- 
session  or  as  , con  thereafter  as  TfT  "'  '''  "'•«* 
to  locate  and  establish  thn      '."'=''it  be  expedient 

«■-  Oregon  crS"s"a."'"^  "S^ ''^--  o^  "uc^cS 

,^f.n.>anr^;>jies(brin^l„~'^^ 

f .  were  for  keeping  the^a?/ °''"'*f<'"  ^ity  lobby! 

£'T  .I»theheato?tWrttr/r^«°''"™™^'"  "t  that 


146 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


he  (lid  not  deny  the  right  of  the  legislative  asscmhly  to 
locate  and  establish  the  seat  of  government,  he  felt  it 
his  duty  to  call  their  attention  to  the  wording  of  the 
act,  wliich  distinctly  said  that  the  money  there  ap- 
propriated should  be  applied  by  the  governor;  and 
also,  that  the  act  of  June  11,  1850,  making  a  fur- 
ther appropriation  of  tw«;nty  thousand  dollars  for  the 
erection  of  public  buildings  in  Oregon,  declared  that 
the  money  was  to  be  applied  by  the  governor  and 
the  legislative  assembly.  He  further  called  their  at- 
tention to  the  wording  of  the  sixth  section  of  the  act, 
which  declared  that  every  law  should  have  but  one 
object,  which  should  be  expressed  in  the  title,  vvhilo 
the  act  passed  by  the  legislative  assembly  embraced 
several  objects.  He  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the 
law  in  that  form  was  unconstitutional;  but  expressed 
a  hope  that  they  would  not  adjourn  without  taking 
effectual  steps  to  carry  out  the  recommendation  he 
had  made  in  his  message  at  the  beginning  of  the 
session,  that  they  would  cause  the  public  build' ngs  to 
be  erected. 

The  location  bill,  which  on  account  of  its  embracing 
several  objects  received  the  name  of  the  omnibus 
bil  V  passed  the  assembly  by  a  vote  of  six  to  three  iu 
the  council  and  ten  to  eight  in  the  house,  Salem  get- 
ting the  capital,  Portland  the  penitentiary,"  C  jrvallis 
the  university,  and  Oregon  City  nothing.     The  nuit- 


iii 


'"The  Gaines  clique  also  denominated  the  Iowa  code,  adopted  in  1840,  tiie 
8tcan)t>oiit  code,  anil  invalid  Injcause  it  contained  more  than  one  subject. 

"  It  named  tiiree  comniiasioners,  each  for  the  state-house  and  penitentiary, 
ttutiioiizing  them  to  Bclect  one  of  their  number  to  bo  acting  commissioner  and 

five  lioiids  in  the  sum  of  $20,000.  The  state-house  board  consisted  of  Ji(l,.i 
"orco,  H.  M.  Waller,  and  R.  C.  (teer;  the  penitentiary  Ixmrd,  1).  H.  Lowns- 
dale,  Hugh  D.  O'Bryant,  and  Lucius  B.  Hastings.  The  prison  M'as  to  lio 
of  sntTioii'ut  capacity  to  receive,  secure,  and  employ  100  convicts,  to  be  cmi- 
tined  in  separate  cells.  Or.  S/iertator,  March  27,  1851;  Or.  Slatiiti'M,  18.1:1  1, 
CtOQ.  That  Oregon  City  should  get  notiiing  under  the  embarnusment  of  tlio 
11th  section  of  the  donation  law  was  natural,  but  the  whigs  and  the  pr<i|i- 
erty-owners  there  may  have  hoped  to  change  the  action  of  congress  in  tlio 
event  of  securing  the  capital.  Salem,  lookmg  to  the  future,  waa  a  bottir 
location.  But  tlie  assembly  were  not,  I  judge,  looking  to  anything  so  mm  h 
as  having  their  own  way.  The  friends  of  Salem  were  accused  oi  bribuiy, 
and  tlK-re  were  the  usual  mutual  recriminntioua.  Or.  Sjpect€Uor,  Oct.  7  and 
JJov.  18,  18ul. 


POLITICAL  JOURNALS. 


HI 


tor  rapidly  took  shape  as  a  political  issue,  the  demo- 
crats g<>in.Lf  for  Salem  and  the  whif^rg  for  Oregon  City, 
tlie  question  being  still  considered  by  many  as  an 
open  one  on  account  of  the  alleged  unconstitutionality 
ot'the  act,"  At  the  same  time  two  newspapers  were 
started  to  take  sides  in  territorial  politics;  the  Ore- 
<j(»nan,  whig,  at  Portland  in  December  1850,  and 
till'  Oregon  Statesman,  democratic,  at  Oregon  City  in 
March  following."  A  third  paper,  called  the  Timea, 
was  published  at  Portland,  beginning  in  May  1851, 
wliich  changed  its  politics  according  to  patronage  and 
circumstances. 

'-/'/.,  July  29,  18.51;  Or.  Statenmart,  Aug.  5,  18.51;  ;L'd  Cong..  Ut  S^kx., 
11.  /;.'•.  ])oi-.  'JJf,  2-;{-J;  Id.,  06,  vol.  ix.  I-S;  /(/.,  10.},  vol.  xii.  1-24;  3Jd  Cony,, 
Jst  ,V'v^.,  //.  i»/ >     Dor.  9,  4-.'). 

'■>  Tlie  Orc'ioiiian  was  founded  by  T.  .1.  Dryer,  wlio  had  lieen  pre-vionsly  en- 
ga.L'fil  upcm  the  CoUfoniia  Courier  as  city  C(ii,.jr,  anil  was  a  weekly  journal. 
T)iyiT  limught  an  old  Rainage  press  from  San  Francisco,  with  some  sccond- 
liaiiil  material,  which  answered  his  purjOTse  for  a  few  months,  when  a  new 
Wii>iiiiigt()n  press  and  new  material  came  out  l>y  sea  from  New  York,  and 
tlii^  old  one  was  sent  to  Olympia  to  start  the  first  paper  published  on  Puget 
Sdiniil,  culled  the  Cotnmhhin.  In  time  the  Washington  press  was  displaced 
by  a  power  press,  ard  was  sold  in  1862  to  go  to  Walla  Walla,  anil  afterward 
to  Idaho.  Dryer  conducted  the  Oreijonmn  with  energy  for  ten  yoar.i,  when 
till' pipor  passed  into  the  hands  of  II.  L.  Pittock,  who  tirst  began  work  upon 
it  a  a  printer  in  ISoS  It  has  since  become  a  daily,  and  is  edited  and  partly 
owned  by  Harvey  Vv'.  Scott. 

The  NIalPM.an  wp  founded  by  A.  W.  Stockwell  and  Henry  Russcl  of 
M:is<;iclmsetts,  w.;::.  .Msahel  Bush  as  editor.  It  was  published  at  Oregon  City 
till  .liinc  IS.").^,  when  it  was  removed  to  Salem,  and  being  and  remaining  tho 
ollicial  paper  of  the  territory,  followed  the  legislature  to  Cor\-alli8  in  18.")5, 
wlicn  the  capitiil  was  removed  to  that  place  and  back  again  to  Salem,  when 
thr  scat  of  govcininent  was  relocated  there  a  few  niontlia  later.  As  a  party 
pii|ici-  it  was  conducted  with  greater  ability  than  any  journal  on  the  Pacific 
eoa.st  fur  a  period  of  about  a  doxen  years.  Bush  was  assisted  at  various  times 
by  men  of  Uilent.  On  retiring  from  political  life  in  180.3  he  engaged  in  bank- 
iii;,'  at  Salem.  Crandall  and  Wait  then  conducted  the  paper  for  a  short  time; 
hilt  it  was  linally  sold  in  November  1803  ti>  the  Oregon  Printing  and  Publish- 
ing Company.  In  1866  it  was  again  sold  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Unionist, 
and  ccancd  to  exist  as  tho  Oreijon  Sdtlesman.  During  tho  first  eight  years 
(if  its  existence  it  was  tho  ruling  power  in  Oregon,  wielding  an  intlucnce 
tiiat  niudo  and  unniiide  officials  at  pleasure.  'The  number  of  those  wiio 
were  connected  with  tho  paper  as  contributors  to  its  eolunms,  who  have 
ri:i(!ii  to  distinguished  positions,  is  reckoned  v  the  dozen. '  Salem  DireHon/, 
1871;  Or.  StaleMmnn,  March  28,  1851;  Id.,  July  25,  la'VI;  Brown's  Will. 
I'll/.,  MS.,  34;  Portlnnd  Orfijoniaii,  April  15,  1876.  Before  either  of  these 
impcTs  was  started  there  was  established  at  Milwaukie,  a  few  miles  below 
Ori  gdii  City,  tho  Milwaukie  Star,  tho  first  number  of  which  was  issued  on 
tin'  'Jlst  of  November  1850.  It  was  owned  principally  by  Lot  Whitcomb, 
the  ]ir(iprictor  of  the  town  of  Milwaukie.  The  prospectus  stated  that  Carter 
anil  Waterman  were  tho  printers,  and  Orvis  Waterman  editor.  Tho  paper 
ran  fur  three  mouths  under  its  first  management,  then  was  purchased  by  tho 


148 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


The  result  of  the  interferoiico  of  tlio  governor  with 
lej^i.slation  was  to  bring  down  upon  him  bitter  denun- 
ciations from  that  body,  and  to  make  the  feud  a  ])er- 
sonal  as  well  as  political  one.  When  the  assembly 
provided  for  the  printing  of  the  public  documents,  it 
voted  to  print  neither  the  governor's  annual  nor  his 
special  niessage,  as  an  exliibition  of  disa|»j)robation  at 
his  j)resumption  in  offering  the  latter,"  assuming  that 
he  was  not  called  upon  to  a<ldress  them  uidess  invited 
to  do  so,  they  being  invested  by  congress  with  power 
to  conduct  the  public  business  and  s|)end  the  jiublic 
money  without  coi,  suiting  him.  But  while  the  legis- 
lators quarrelled  with  the  executive  they  went  on 
with  the  business  of  the  commonwealth. 

The  hurried  sessions  of  the  territorial  legislature 
had  effected  little  improvement  in  the  statutes  which 
were  still  in  great  part  in  manuscrii)t,  consisting  in 
Uiany  instances  of  mere  reference  to  certain  Iowa 
laws  adopted  without  change.  An  act  was  passed  i'oy 
the  printing  of  the  laws  and  journals,  and  Asabcl 
Bush  elected  printer,  to  tlu;  (hsappointment  of  Dryer 
of  the  Omfonian,  who  had  built  hopes  on  his  poHtical 
views  which  wore  the  same  as  those  of  the  new  ap- 
pointees of  the  fe(kral  govcrmnont.  But  the  terri- 
torial secretary,  Hamilton,  literally  took  tiie  law  i?»lt> 
his  own  hands  and  sent  the  printing  to  a  New  York 
contractor.  Thus  the  war  went  on,  and  the  laws 
were  as  far  as  over  from  being  in  an  intelligible  state," ' 

printers,  nnd  in  May  1851  Waterman  purchased  the  entire  intcii'st,  wlun  li^' 
reniDVt'd  the  paper  to  I'ortUuul,  culling  it  the  TiinfK.  It  Hnrvivi-tl  wvciiil 
BulMeijUent  oliiin^eH  anil  ciintinued  to  Ik>  pnbliHlied  till  1804,  rccorilin^  in  th<' 
nienn  time  many  "f  the  early  inuidcnUi  in  the  history  of  the  country.  l'orll<ui<l 
VfiiHtniiiH,  April  1.'),  iSTtJ. 

'•The  SfH'i'tntor  of  Feh.  20,  1851,  robnkod  the  ossemhly  for  its  (Uhck  u 
teny,  saying  it  knew  of  no  other  instance  where  the  annual  nicHsajje  of  tli<' 
governor  had  l)een  treated  with  such  contemnt. 

'*Th('  S/H-rtnlor  of  August  8,  185(J,  remarked  that  there  exiHted  no  law  in 
the  territory  regulating  niurriuges.  If  that  were  true,  there  coulil  have  i  \ 
isted  none  since  1845,  when  tl.u  last  change  in  theprovisiimal  code  was  ninilr. 
I'here  isare|H)rt  of  a  del>ute  on  'a  hill  concerning  niarriiigcH,'  in  tlic  .S/nriii/nr 
of  .Inn.  '2,  1851,  hut  the  list  of  laws  itiuwed  at  tlic  session  of  IH,V)-  I  coiitaiiH 
I'.onu  uu  muniagu.     A  marriage  law  was  enacted  hy  the  legislature  of  1801  -'.'. 


OREGON  ARCHTVE3. 


149 


nltliougli  the  most  important  or  latest  acts  were  pub- 
lislii'd  in  the  newspapers,  and  a  volume  of  statutes 
w.is  jtrintod  and  bound  at  Oroj^on  City  in  1851.  It 
was  not  initil  January  1853  that  tho  assembly  pro- 
Aided  for  the  compilation  of  the  laws,  and  a|>pointed 
L.  F.  Orover  commissioner  to  prepare  for  [aiblication 
the  statutes  of  the  colonial  and  territorial  governments 
fV(»ni  1843  to  1849  inclusive  The  result  of  the  com- 
iiiissioiur's  labors  is  a  small  book  often  quoted  in  these 
jiii'4i>s  as  Or.  Laws,  1843-0,  of  nmch  value  to  the  his- 
torian, but  which,  neverthelc  -s,  needs  to  be  confirmed 
l.v  a  close  comparison  with  the  archives  compiled  and 
|iiii  ti'd  at  the  same  time,  and  with  corn  borativo 
ivc  its;  the  dates  appended  to  the  law?-  being  often 
scvcial  sessions  out  ot  time,  either  guessed  at  by  the 
(()m])i]er,  or  mistaken  by  the  printer  and  not  corrected. 
In  many  cases  the  laws  themselves  are  mere  abstracts 
nr  abbreviations  of  the  acts  published  in  the  Spa- 

\(>r  wore  tlu^  archives  ollected  any  more  complete, 
jts  lioxcs  of  loose  papers,  as  late  as  1878,  to  my  kn(»wl- 
nl'^c,  were  lying  unpritited  in  the  costly  state-house 
at  Salem.     JMany  of  them  have  been  copied  for  my 


Ammi:;  nion  iinliiKMl  fnun  the  rondition  of  Rooiofy  to  early  niniTiiii;rs,  ns  I 
liiivf  l.(  I'mv  iiu'iitiiiiiL'il,  tin-  wonliiig  of  tlic  <lnii!itit>ii  liiw  ctinnilati'"!  ilir  di-Niiu 
li'iii:ui'\  ill  oiilcc  to  lii'i'oiiii' loi'd  (if  a  iiiik'  Mjiutic  of  laiiil,  whili' it  iiilluiiii'cil 
viiimii  to  tlif  siiiiic  ituasurc,  as  it  wiis  only  awifo  ur  wulow  wlin  wiih  ciititicil 
ti  ll'Jl)  aiTcH.  Many  iiiiliii|>py  iiiiiuim  uoro  the  ('<iiis('i|iiciii>t<,  iiinl  iiuint'ioiiii 
(livHivis.    Jlniili/'^  IliJ.  Or.,  MS.,  ;<;(:    \'irt(,r's  Xfir  I'iikIh]!,,  lil  'JO. 

^''  I'lililir  /,'/■(  ('/(  OriijDH  is  niu'  iif  tlio  iiKixt  Mcliolaily  aiiil  aiwilytical  I'nntri- 
liii'.iuii.s  til  lii.-'liirv  wliirli  I  "vas  iililf  In  f^aflii'i'  ilmiin;  iny  many  intnvirws  of 
I""?**.  llr>iilr>  lifln;,'  in  a  incaKiMc  a  iioliliciil  lii.stoi'y  of  tlic  ccuintrv,  it  aliniiiicl.'* 
\vi;li  lifi'Iiki'  skcti'lii'Sdf  tile  iinlilii;  men  of  the  ilny,  L'ivrn  in  a  ilcai  ami  llm  lit 
.otvli'.aii'l  w  I  till  lilt  apiiarcnt  Iiuim.  L.  V.  i  iiiivcr,  tlic  aiitlinr,  uns  Imi  n  at  r>i't|ii  I, 
Miiiiii,  Nci\-.  '.".I,  lS'j;i.  lie  caiiit'  to  California  in  tin'  winter  if  IS..().  .uiil 
|.i  (iiij,'ii"  tally  in  |s,"il.  He  wan  almost  innni'iliatily  ai'imiiiiiil  rink  of 
tlir  liist  jiiilirial  iliitiii't  I'y  .In(l),'o  Ni'lsiin.  lie  soon  nfttTwanl  iiiciviil 
111  ;i|i|iiiiiitnn-,,t  'i  |iios('('Ufin;n  attornry  of  tlic  sri'onil  JMilirinl  ili.stiiit,  ami 
1"  1,1.  "■  il'  |iiity  I'nitcil  Staffs  ilistrict  attormy,  tln'oii^h  liis  lau  |iarliii'r.  II.  V. 
li  ii'iiM;.',  \\  hii  Im'IiI  that  ollici'.  'I'ln'iTiiftcr  for  a  loiiK  iicrioil  jir  Avan  in  |iiililio 
liii  in  till  ;;oii.  ( Jnivrr  was  a  jirotc;^!^  of  'riiiirston,  wlm  liml  kno\Mi  liiiii  in 
M  liiir.  iiiiil  ailvist'il  liim  wlim  ailinittcd  to  thr  liar  in  l'liilail<'l|>liia  to  ).'o  to 
<'iiLiiii,  wln'ii'  lie  woiilil  take  liim  into  liis  own  .itlicc  as  a  law  iiarliiri :  Imt 
'riuMsiiin  il\in)i,  (irovrr  was  Itfl  to  introiIiuT  liiniMi  If  to  tlu'  nrw  roniiiion- 
ttialtli,  wlii,  Il  111'  I'iil  mo.tt  siu'rciisfnlly.  (irmtr'ti  I'ltfi.  LiJ'i  in  Or.,  .Mf>',,  l(lt>  .'i; 
i'libi  Union,  Ainil  i,  1S70. 


f0i 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


,1 


h 


work,  and  constitute  the  manuscript  entitlerl  Oregon 
Archives,  from  which  I  have  quoted  more  widely  tliaii 
I  should  have  done  had  they  been  in  print,  thinkin;^ 
tlius  to  preserve  the  most  important  information  in 
tliem.  The  same  legislature  which  authorized  Grover's 
work,  passed  an  act  creating  a  board  of  commissioners 
to  prepare  a  code  of  laws  for  the  territory,^'  and  elected 
J.  K.  Kelly,  D.  R.  Bigelow,  and  R.  P.  Boise,  who 
were  to  meet  i,  t  Salem  in  February,  and  proceed  to  the 
discharge  of  their  duties,  for  which  they  were  to  re- 
ceive a  per  diem  of  six  dollars.'"  In  1862  a  new  code 
of  civil  procedure  was  prepared  l)y  Matt  hew  P.  Deady, 
then  United  States  district  judge,  A.  C.  Gibbs,  and 
J.  K.  Kelly,  and  passed  by  the  legislature.  The  work 
was  performed  by  Judge  Deady,  who  attended  tin; 
st.'ssit)!!  of  the  legislature  and  secured  its  passage.  TIu^ 
same  legislature  authorized  him  to  prepare  a  penal 
code  and  code  of  criminal  procedure,  wliich  he  did. 
This  was  enacted  by  the  legislature  of  18G4,  wliidi 
also  authorized  him  to  prepare  a  compilation  of  all  tli.' 
laws  of  Oregon  then  in  force,  including  the  codes,  in 
the  order  and  method  of  a  code,  which  he  did,  and  en- 
riched it  with  notes  containing  a  history  of  Oregon 
legislation.  This  compilation  he  repeated  in  1874,  by 
authority  of  the  legislature,  aided  by  Lafayette  ]/in(\ 
Meanwhile  the  work  of  organization  and  nati(»ii- 
n»aking  went  on,  all  being  conducted  by  these  eaily 
legislators  with  fully  as  nnuh  honesty  and  inti^Uigeneu 
as  have  been  generall^^  displayi'd  by  their  successors. 
Three  new  counties  were  established  aiul  organized 
at  the  session  of  1 850-1,  namely:  Pacific,  on  the  north 
bide  of  the  Cohniibia,  on  the  coast;  Lane,  ineludiu!^' 

"A.  C  (iiltliHiii  liis  iiciti'iii  on  Or.  //inf.,  ?..S.,  i;i,  Hays  Mint  he  iir^rd  tli" 
nieiixiirc  iiiul  mu'i'i'i'dnl  in  ;;ittiii','  it  tlirmiL;!)  tlii'  Ihhinc.  1;  xmih  ku|i|iii|'I<'i|  1  y 
])("i>ly,  then  |il'(>Hiil('iit  ul'  the  ((iiiiiril;  ami  tliux  tlic  iin\v  Hyt^ti'ih  wim  lii<)i:'.iii  i)i 
(Ji'f^'Dii  with  rct'oriiii'il  pi'tu'tio' mill  |it'iK'i'iMliii^ii,  At  tiic  hhiik!  time, 'I'Iiui> 
toll,  it  \»  Hiiiil,  wluMi  III  W'tiHliiii^'tiiii,  iiilviMci)  tlio  a|i|Miiiitiii>'iit  nf  <'iiiiiiiii'< 
Bjiiiii  I'H  fur  iliiti  |)iir]ii>Hi',  III' iliiit  tliiMisMciiiliiy  NJiiiiiliI  mii'iiii  in  rcNHinii  ii>ii.{ 
Mi<iii;;|i  to  (III  l\w  work,  Mild  [iiiiiiiiMtid  to  Hi'uuru  tVoia  ooii^ruaii  tliu  luuiit), 
94l,i;(H),  to  ]»iiv  tlitt  cimt. 

""Oc.  .Sttiiiitr^,  JS.:.J  .1,  ."7  8;  Or.  ShUVKman,  Feb.  5,  1W3. 

»"  Suo  Or.  UtH,  Luu'M,  tS4.i~7J, 


COUNTIES  ANl'  JUDICIAL  DISTRICTS. 


101 


all  that  portion  of  the  Willamette  Valley  south  of 
]Ji'nton  and  Linn;^'  and  Unipqua,  comprising  all  the 
coiiiitry  south  of  the  Calapooya  mountains  and  head- 
Wiitors  of  the  Willamette.  County  seats  were  located 
ill  Linn,  Polk,  and  Clatsop,  the  county  seats  of  Clac'  - 
iiiiiiis  and  Washington  having  been  established  at  ti._ 
jiitvious  sessions  of  the  hjgislature."^ 

The  act  passed  by  the  first  legislature  for  collecting 
till'  county  and  territorial  revenues  was  amended;  and 
ii  law  passed  legaliz'r/^  the  acts  of  the  sheriff*  of  Linn 
((iiinty,  and  the  pronate  court  of  Yamhill  county, 
ill  the  collection  of  taxes,  and  to  legalize  the  judicial 
piocecdings  of  Polk  county;  these  being  cases  where 
Ihf  laws  of  the  previous  sessions  were  found  to  be  in 
((Hiilict  with  the  organic  act.  Some  ditficulty  had 
hccii  encountered  in  collecting  taxes  on  land  to  which 
the  occupants  had  as  yet  no  tangible  title.  The  same 
i( fling  existed  after  the  passage  of  the  donation  law, 
though  some  legal  authorities  contended,  and  it  has 
siiiro  luM'u  held  that  the  donation  act  gave  tlu;  orcu- 
pnnt  his  land  in  fee  simple,  and  that  a  patent  was 
only  evidence  of  his  ownershij).*^  But  it  took  more 
lime  to  settle  these  (questions  of  law  than  the  [»eoplo 
or  the  h'gislature  bad  at  their  <!onnnand  in  IH.IO; 
lieiiee  conilicts  arose   which  neither  the  judicial   nor 

■"/■juinie  Vity  Ounrd,  July  8,  1870;  Emjeiie  CIti/  Slate  Joiiriittl,  July  8, 

IHTII. 

'  It  In  (lillii'ult  dcti'i'ininini;  tlio  va!in'  of  tlu-m-  fuiu'tim-iitH,  wlivii  for  scv- 
I'liil  si'ssidiis  iini'  nftiM'  tIu>  other  iict.s  with  (lit-  Miiinc  tith's  appou'  iiiHtaiuu 
till'  c'ii\iiity  >*i'at  ot'  I'olk  oouiitv,  wiiicli  whx  loi'atcii  in  iNt!)  luul  a;^'aiii  in  ISod. 
■'  liid.li/'x  Si-ni/)  idxik,  !'>.  Imh' Koiiic  yi'ai's  Mattiuw  !'.  hfaily  (■iii|i|iivi  il  IiIh 
li  i-iiiic  liiollirritM  as  a  coni'HpolKli'nt  of  tilc  Sun  /•VroovMo  /lul/iliu,  \\\n  Niilijccti 
olti'ii  liciiii;  historical  ami  liio;;ra|iliii'al  niutti'i',  in  wiiiih  he  Wiis.  Iimih  hid 
liiiliit  of  ('(iiii|ijii'injL!  t'viiU'iicc,  very  rorrrct,  ami  iiiwhicli  he  soni)'tiMi"s  rniiii- 
t'inli'il  a  h'pil  o|iii)ioii.  liiH  It'ttcrs,  I'olh'ctcii  in  thr  finin  of  a  scraii  hook, 
vi'ir  kiinliy  inaucil  to  UM'.  Fioni  thrsi-  .\<  rii/m  I  havi'  iliawii  lal^t^■ly:  ami 
utiii  iiiorc  lrci|m'iifly  from  hi«  llisliivji  nf  Ori'iimi,  a  thiik  maiiiis>'i  ipt  vohmiii 
uivi'ii  to  mi'  froni  his  own  li]m  in  tiic  I'oini  of  a  <lii't4ition  while  I  was  in  I'oit- 
I  .ml  in  I.S7H,  ami  taken  ilown  hy  my  stenoifiapher.  Never  in  the  eoiii'se  of 
lay  lite  have  I  eneounteri'il  iu  one  niimi  mo  vnHt,  well  ananueil,  ami  iveil 
(li;;esletl  a  store  of  faetM,  the  recital  of  which  to  nie  waw  a  uivcr  ii,,.in){ 
Koiirce  of  womler  and  ailiniratioii.  lliH  le^'al  decisions  and  |inl>lic  aiidrcHses 
liiivc  also  lieen  of  ^reat  aHHiHiance  to  me,  Uin^  free  from  the  injndiiial  liiax  of 
in.iiiN  authors,  and  heme  tmmt  Hulmtantial  leaterial  for  history  t.'  rest  upou, 
I'liitlicr  than  this,  .ludv<'  l>eady  is  a  graceful  wiiter,  and  ulwayt^  .nter<  Hting. 
Ah  a  man,  hu  \»  onu  Ui  wiioni  Oregon  omch  niiicii. 


I 


152 


ADMINISTRATIOX  OF  GAE^S. 


the  Icpfislativc  branches  of  the  government  could  at 
once  satisfactorily  terminate. 

Tlio  le<jiwljiture  amended  the  act  lavinj?  out  the 
judicial  districfs  by  attaching  the  county  of  Lane  to 
th(!  first  and  I^iupqua  to  the  second  districts.  Thi.s 
distribution  made  the  first  district  to  consist  of  Clack- 
aiuas,  Marion,  Linn,  and  Lane;  the  second  of  Wnsh- 
iiigton,  Yandiill,  Benton,  Polk,  andUmpqua;  and  the 
third  of  Clarke,  Lewis,  and  Clatsop.  Pacific  county 
was  not  provided  for  in  the  amendment.  The  jud!^^>s 
were  recjuired  to  hold  sessions  of  their  courts  twice 
annuallv  in  each  county  of  their  districts.  Put  lest 
in  the  future  it  might  happen  as  in  the  j)ast,  any  one 
of  tljc  judges  was  authorized  to  hold  special  terins  in 
any  of  the  districts;  other  laws  regulating  the  practice 
of  the  courts  were  passed,*^  and  also  laws  regulating 
the  general  elections,  and  ordering  the  erection  of 
rourt-houses  and  jails  in  each  county  of  the  tenitory. 

They  amended  the  conunon  school  law,  abolishing 
the  oflicc  of  superinteniUmt,  and  ordcre*!  the  electictii 
of  scliool  c!xamniers;  incorporated  the  Young  Jiadi»'s' 
Acadiiny  of  Oregon  City,  St  Pauls  Mission  Female 
St'iiiinary,  the  First  (Congregational  8(»ciety  of  Port- 
lan<l,  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Clatsop 
plnins;  incorporated  Oregon  (^itv  and  Portland;  lo- 
cated a  niindu'r  of  roa<ls,  notably  one  fr<»m  Astoria 
to  the  Wiihunette  A^dK-y,^*  and  a  plank-road  from 
Portland  to  Yandiill  county;  an<l  also  the  Vaniliill 
Pridge  Company,  which  budt  the  first  great  bridge 
in  file  country.  These,  with  many  other  less  inip<ir- 
tant  arts,  ixcupied  the  assembly  for  sixfv  <lavs. 
Thurstt)n'H  advice  concerning  mumoriaii/ing  congiess 


If 


»«Or.  Oni.  I.mi'»,  IS^O-t,  1.%S-1(I4. 

•"'I'liiN  UMH  M  Ni'lii'iiit*  of  'i'liiirNtou'N,  who,  on  the  '-iti/onH  of  AKtoriii  poti- 
tii)iiiti.u:  I'oiim'i'KM  til  <i|M  II  It  i'<Hi(!  til  till'  Williinii'ttc,  |iriiiHmcil  tn  lu'i'rptsio.t'oo 
to  liiiilil  till'  liriilK>'M.  |)roiiiiHiii){  tliiit  tlu'  |ii'ii|il(<  wiiiijil  Imilil  tlir  roiil.  lie 
thru  nth  i.ii'il  tlio  li').'iHliitiin>  to  ^'o  on  witli  tin-  loi'ittimi,  ii'itviii),'  it  to  liini  to 
liiiiiiii;;i'  till'  ii|i|ii'o|ii°iutioiiH.  I.<iii('  liiiiNlu"!  liiH  woi'k  ill  roii^i'i'N.'H,  ami  ti  ;rov- 
ri'iiiiii'iit  oll'i'cr  i'\|M'iii|«'il  till'  a|i|ii'ii|iriatioii  nitlimit  lirtii'litiii),'  the  ANtoviinii 
lii'yoinl  iliNliiii'Niii^  till'  iiioiicy  in  tlu'ir  niiilttt.  iSuu  JImI  Cut/;/.,  Jst, Sikh.,  II, 
Cum.  li'i/it.,  •14''' t  3. 


A  NEW  DELEGATE. 


153 


to  pay  tho  remaining  expenses  of  the  Cayuse  war  was 
;iitt(l  u[)on,  tho  committee  consisting  of  McBride, 
J'aikir,  and  Hall,  of  the  council,  and  Dcady,  Sinipson, 
and  Harding  of  the  house."  Notliing  further  of  im- 
jHirtaneo  was  done  at  this  session. 

Wlion  the  legislative  assembly  adjourned  in  Feb- 
ruai'v,  it  was  known  that  Thurston  was  returning  to 
Orrn'oii  as  a  candidate  for  reelection,  and  it  was  ox- 
jMctt'd  tiiat  there  would  be  a  heated  canvass,  but  that 
liis  ]>arty  would  probably  carry  him  through  in  spite 
III'  the  fcclinix  which  his  course  with  ro<;ard  to  tho 
Oivjfon  Citv  claim  had  created.  But  tho  unlooked 
inr  (Icafh  of  Thurston,  and  the  popularity  of  Jjano, 
wlm,  being  of  the  .same  political  sentiments,  and  gen- 
ernu>Iy  willing  to  condone  a  fault  in  a  rival  who  Iiad 
coiilirMU'd  to  him  as  the  purchaser  of  Abernethy  Isl- 
and a  pait  of  tho  contested  land  claim,  made  tho 
i'\-govenior  the  most  fitting  substitute  even  with 
TluDston's  personal  friend..,  for  tho  ])osition  of  (K'lo- 
^fat"  iVoni  ()regon.  Some  efforts  had  been  made  to 
iiiju'c  Lane  by  anonymous  letter-writers,  who  sent 
to  llie  Xi'ir  York  Trihinic  allegations  of  intemjioranco 
anl  itn]»roper  associations,'""  but  which  were  stunhiy 
t(  |u  ll((l  hy  his  democratic  fVi(Mi(ls  in  public  meetings, 
and  wliich  couM  not  have  allecte<l  his  ]>osition,  as 
(laines  was  app  )inted  in  tho  usual  round  of  olliee-giv- 
in^  at  the  begnining  of  a  n(!W  presi(l(>ntial  and  party 
adiiiiiiistration.  1'hat  these  att^acks  did  not  seriously 
iiij  lie  liiia  in  (Jr(>gon  wan  shown  by  tlie  enthusiasm 
\\i:Ii  which  his  nomination  was  accepted  by  the  ma- 
ji'iilv,  and  the  result  of  ii)e  election,  as  well  as  by  the 
t';h  t  (.la  county  having  been  named  al'tei"  liiin  between 
ills  iini(»\al  as  gov»  -nor  and  nomination  as  delegate. 

Tl iil\  obiection  to  Lane,  whi«  h  s*  eini'fl  to  carrv 

iuiy  weight,  was  tho  one  of  bemg  in  the  territory 

■■:..' I  (w,,).,  /W.SVvji,.  II.. four.,  Mm,  l-J-.M. 

■'I  111-  v.rurr  HijiUt'il  liiinm'lf  '  l.iiiiM<liili-,'  liiit  wiis  iimlmMy  J.  Qtiinii  Tlmrii- 
ti'ii  \  !  II  nihil  It.')  writ  hi;;  hiuh  li'ttnw  to  j^i^  l^iiii>  iciiimV'  iI.  ImiI  f{i\  I'n  a  lUiici':  "il 
i>"l'iii|Ut'i  US  1  Ituvo  uh'uuly  iiii-uiiuuuil  -tlmt  uf  '  Aclulk-ii  du  iluiluy.' 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


u 


i 


,    :' 


witliout  his  family,  which  gave  a  transient  air  to  his 
patriotism,  to  which  people  objected.  They  felt  that 
their  representative  should  be  one  of  themsolvcj.s  in 
fact  as  well  as  by  election,  and  this  Lane  declared  his 
intention  of  becoming,  and  did  in  fact  take  a  claijn  on 
the  Unipqua  River  to  show  his  willingness  to  become 
a  citizen  of  Oregon.  The  opposing  candidate  was  W. 
H.  Willson,  who  was  beaten  by  eighteen  hundred  or 
two  thousand  votes.  As  soon  as  the  election  was 
over.  Lane  returned  to  the  lately  discovered  mining 
districts  in  southern  Oregon,  taking  with  him  a  strong 
j)arty,  intending  to  chastise  the  Indians  of  that  sec- 
tion, who  were  becoming  more  and  more  aggressive 
OS  travel  in  that  direction  increased,  and  their  [)roHts 
from  robbery  and  murder  became  more  imj)ortant. 
That  he  should  take  it  upon  himself  to  do  this,  when 
tliere  was  a  regularly  appointed  superintentlent  of 
Lidiun  artairs — for  Thurston  had  persuaded  congress 
to  give  Oregon  a  general  superintendent  for  this  work 
alone— sur[>rised  no  v)ne,  but  on  tiie  contrary  a|>|»ear('d 
to  bo  what  was  expected  of  him  from  his  aptitudi;  in 
such  matters,  whicii  be(.*ame  before  he  reached  Rogue 
River  Valley  wholly  a  military  alfjur.  The  dthgate- 
elect  was  certainly  a  good  butcher  of  Indians,  who,  as 
we  have  seen,  cursed  them  as  a  mistake  or  danniable 
inlliction  of  the  Almighty.  And  at  this  noble  oceu- 
pation  I  shall  leave  him,  while  I  return  to  the  history 
of  the  e.Keeutive  and  judicial  branches  of  the  Oregon 
government. 

Obviously  the  tendency  of  office  by  appointment 
instead  of  by  popular  election  is  to  make  men  indillei 
ent  to  the  opinions  of  those  they  serve,  so  long  as  tliev 
ore  in  favt)r  with  or  can  excuse  their  acts  to  the  ap- 
pointing power.  The  distance  of  Oregon  froni  tlie 
Heat  <tf  g(!neral  government  and  the  lack  of  adecjuale 
mail  servict!  made  the  (iaines  faction  more  than  usu- 
ally independent  of  c(Misui'e,  as  it  also  ri'n«U'red  iu 
critics  more  impatient  of  what  they  looked  upon  as  an 


CENSURE  OF  JUDGES. 


155 


oxliibition  of  petty  tyranny  on  tlie  part  of  those  who 
were  present,  and  of  culpable  ne<(lect  on  the  part  of 
tliose  who  reinainecl  absent.  From  the  date  of  Judj^e 
Hi yuiit'.s  arrival  in  the  territory  in  April  1840,  to  the 
!st  of  January  1851,  when  he  resij^ned,  he  had  spent 
hut  five  months  in  his  district.  From  l)ecend)er  1848 
to  August  1850  Pratt  liad  been  the  only  judge  in 
Ori'gon — cxcejjting  lirvant's  brief  sojourn.  Then  he 
went  east  for  his  family,  and  Strong  was  the  only 
judge  for  the  eight  months  following,  and  till  the 
iiturn  about  the  last  of  April  1851  of  Pratt,  accom- 
panied by  Chief  Justice  Thomas  Nelson,  appointed  in 
the  place  of  Br^'ant,^'  and  J.  K.  Preston,  surveyor- 
gi'iieral  of  Oregon. 

The  judges  found  tlii'ir  several  dockets  in  a  condi- 
tion hardly  to  justify  Thurston's  encomiums  in  con- 
gr(!s.s  U|)on  their  excellenct'  of  character.  The  freedom 
ciijoyi'd  under  the  [)rovi.sional  gov(,'rmnent,due  in  part 
to  tile  absence  of  temptation,  when  all  men  were 
laborers,  and  when  the  ne'cessity  for  mutual  help  and 
jirotiM'tion  deprived  them  of  a  motive  for  violence,  had 
•  •cased  to  be  the  boast  and  the  security  of  the  coun- 
try. The  presence  of  lawless  adventurers,  the  abun- 
dance of  money,  and  the  absence  of  courts,  had  tended 
to  develop  the  criminal  elenuMit,  till  in  1851  it  became 
notorious  that  the  causes  on  trial  were  ofteuer  of  u. 
eriminal  than  a  civil  nature.'*'* 

"  .VemorinI  nf  the  Lfifuththv  AKtwrnhhi  of  IS.'I-H,  in  SSd  Cong.,  14  Sr^n., 
II.  Mixr.  Ihv'.,  IX.  '2-X  TlioniiiM  Nelson  wax  Imh-ii  at  I't^ukskill,  N'lw  York, 
.l.iiiuaiy  '2'A,  IHI!>.  lie  m'iis  tliu  tliinl  hdii  of  William  Xflsoii,  ii  ri'iifi'son- 
tativi!  in  ('(>ii){i'('MN,  a  lii\\V('i'l>V  i)i'iiffMHiiiii,  ami  ii  iiiiiii  of  wortli  aiiil  pulilio 
Hpirit.  'I'liumas  ).>vniliiiiti-il  at  \VilliamM  collt'^i^  nt  tin:  aijc  of  17.  Ili'lii^' Ntill 
vriy  yiimiK  I"'  wi"«  pliiocil  iimliT  a  juivafo  tutor  nf  aliility  in  N'i'W  Voik  lily, 
that  he  mii^lit  Htmly  litfiutnro  ami  the  Kn^mh  laiii;iiaj;i'.  ![<•  also  attcnhil 
niolii'al  Ici'tniH-H,  ai-i|iiirin^  in  various  ways  thori)ii;.;h  I'nltureanil  seliolarsliip, 
iittir  which  In^  achlcil  Kuropean  travel  to  his  oIIht  hoiuccs  of  knoulcil;fi', 
liii. illy  adopting  law  as  a  prolVsition.  Ailvamin;,' in  the  piintiin  of  Ihc- law, 
In  licianic  an  attorney  an<l  eoni'scUor  of  the  miprcnif  «onrt  of  the  Tnitfil 
SlatiH,  anil  'vas  priiclisiii)^  with  his  father  in  \Vi  stilu'Ut  r  county,  New  ^■o^U, 
when  he  was  appointeil  chief  justice  of  Ore^'on.  .FiiilL'e  Nelson's  private 
.liiiracter  was  faultless,  liis  mantu'i-s  courteous,  ami  his  lieurin^  niodeit  anil 
ri  .mill,  Liriii'jHton'n  JJion.  HketcheH,  0'J-7i!j  S.  li.  Thurntoii,  in  Or.  Si>e -tutor, 
April   10,  I.S.-.I. 

"Sirn„;i'i  lllxl.  Or.,  M.S.,  M.  On  the  Ttliof  .Famuiry  I.S.-(1  William  Ham- 
iltun  wait  shut  uml  killeil  aeur  SiiKin  by  William  KemiuU  on  wlu>Me  Uunl  vLiim 


166 


ADJkimiSTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


.1'  ■■ 


i 


•i 


I  i 


III' 


This  condition  of  soeioty  encouraged  the  expression 
of  pul)lie  indignation  pleasing  to  party  prejudices  and 
to  tlie  political  aspirations  of  party  leaders.  At  a 
meeting  held  in  Portland  April  1st,  it  was  resolved 
that  the  president  of  the  United  States  should  ho 
informed  of  the  neglect  of  the  judges  of  the  first  and 
second  districts,  no  court  havinj'  been  held  in  Wash- 
ington  county  since  the  previous  spring;  nor  had 
any  judge  resided  in  the  district  to  whom  application 

he  was  living.  A  special  term  of  court  was  held  on  the  28th  of  Marcli  to  try 
Keiiilull,  who  WU8  ili'fcmlcd  by  W.  (}.  T'Vuult  and  B.  F.  Harding,  convictL'(f, 
Bcntenoi'd  liy  Judge  Strong,  and  executed  on  the  IStii  of  April,  there  being 
at  the  time  no  jail  in  which  to  conlinc  criminals  in  Marion  county.  AI)out 
tlie  same  time  a  sitilor  naiuod  Cook  was  shot  by  William  Kccue,  a  ga»d>li.'r, 
in  a  dispute  itlMiut  a  game  of  ten-pins.  Kccne  was  also  tried  before  Juilge 
Strong,  convicted  of  nianxlaughtcr,  and  sentenced  to  six  years  in  the  peniten- 
tiary. As  the  jury  had  decided  that  he  ouglit  not  to  hang,  and  he  could  not 
be  confined  in  an  imaginary  penitentiary,  he  was  pardoned  by  the  governor. 
Or.  Stuk'siiiuii,  May  10,  1831.  Creed  Turner  a  few  month.s  after  stabbed  and 
killed  Kdward  A.  Ihadbnry  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  out  of  jealousy,  botli 
tieing  in  love  with  a  Miss  lionser  of  Sauvii  Island.  Deady  defended  him 
lieforo  Judge  I'ratt,  but  he  was  convicted  and  hanjcd  ill  tlie  autuiun.  /'/., 
Oct.  "JS,  18.(1;  /)'«(/(/■«  ffh/.  Or.,  MS.,  .m  In  Feb.  I8.V2  William  Kvcrman, 
a  desperate  character,  shot  antl  killed  Sereniw  C.  H<K)ker,  a  worthy  farmer  of 
I'olk  county,  for  accusing  him  of  taking  a  watch.  He  ;.1io  was  cunvieted  and 
hanged,  lie  had  three  associates  in  crime,  Hiram  Kveiiiian,  his  brother,  wiio 
plead  guilty  and  w-as  sentenced  to  three  years  in  the  penitentiary;  Kn<K'h  Smith, 
who  escaped  by  the  difMigri'diient  of  the  jury,  was  rearrested,  tried  again, 
sentenced  to  death,  ami  finally  pardoned;  and  David  J.  Cne,  who  by  obtaining 
a  change  of  venue  was  nc(|uitted.  As  tiiere  was  no  prison  wliere  Hiram 
Everman  coiild  serve,  he  was  publicly  sohl  by  the  sheritF  on  the  day  of  his 
brother's  execution,  t<(  Theodore  IVatlier,  the  highest  bidder,  and  was  set  at 
liberty  by  the  petition  of  his  master  just  before  tlie  expiration  of  the  'hree 
years.  Smith  took  a  land-claim  in  Lane  county,  and  married.  After  .several 
years  his  wife  left  him  f(U-  some  cause  unknoM'n.  He  shot  himself  in  Aprd 
JS77,  intentionally,  as  it  was  believed.  Sulcin  Miri'iiry,  April  18,  IS77.  About 
the  time  of  th<'  fornur  murder,  Nimrod  O'Kelly,  in  Benton  c(miity,  killed  .Jeie- 
niiah  Mahoney,  in  a  <|imrrel  about  a  land-claim.  He  was  sentenced  to  the  peni- 
tentiary and  |)anloned.  In  August,  in  I'olk  county,  Adam  K.  Wimple,  ;{,"» 
years  of  age.  murdered  his  wife,  a  girl  of  fourteen,  setting  lire  to  t\w  hmiHt' 
to  conceal  his  crime.  He  had  married  this  chihl,  whoso  name  was  Mary 
Allen,  about  one  year  before.  Wimple  was  a  native  of  New  York.  S.  /•'. 
Altn,  Sept.  '28.  18.V.».  He  was  hanged  at  Dallas  Octobers.  I8.V2.  «)r.  Slnf's- 
viuii,  Oct.  '2',\,  18,")U.  Holiert  Maynard  killed  J.  C.  I'latt  on  Koj^ne  Hiver  for 
ri<lieiiliiig  him.  He  was  executed  by  vigilants.  Before  the  election  of  olllcers 
for  .Taekson  eo\inty,  one  Brown  shot  another  man,  was  arrested,  tried  before 
W.  W.  Fowler,  temi)orarily  elected  judge,  and  hanged,  /'rliii'ii  .fiidir.  Ajliiirs 
in  Soiit/ii  rti  Or.,  MS.,  10.  In  .luly  ISoH,  Joseph  Nott  was  tried  for  the  mur- 
der of  Hyland  D.  Hill  whom  he  shot  in  an  atlVay  in  Uni|)i|ua  county.  He 
was  ac(|Uitted.  Many  lesser  crimes  appear  to  have  l)ccn  committed,  such  as 
burglary  and  larceny:  and  frotiuent  jail  deliveries  were  ed'ected,  these  struc- 
tures being  Imilt  of  logs  and  not  guarded.  In  two  years  after  the  diseoveiy 
of  gold  in  California,  (h'egon  liad  a  criniiiuil  ual«)uU«rM  large  in  proportion  to 
the  population  oa  the  older  iitatcB. 


EXPULSION  OF  NEGROES. 


157 


could  be  made  for  the  administration  of  the  laws. 
The  president  should  be  plainly  told  that  there  were 
"many  respectable  individuals  in  Orej^on  capable  of 
discharging  the  duties  of  judges,  or  tilling  any  offices 
under  the  territorial  government,  who  would  either 
discharge  their  duties  or  resign  their  offices."*'  The 
arrival  of  the  new  chief  justice,  and  Pratt,  brought  a 
tenii)orary  quiet.  Strong  went  to  reside  at  Cathlamet, 
in  his  own  district,  and  the  other  judges  in  theirs. 

At  the  first  term  of  court  held  in  Clackamas  county 
by  CI  lief  Justice  Nelson,  he  was  called  upon  to  decide 
upon  the  constitutionality  of  the  law  excluding  negroes 
from  Oregon.  This  law,  first  enacted  by  the  provis- 
ional legislature  in  1844,  had  been  amended,  reenacted, 
and  clung  to  by  the  law-makers  of  Oregon  with  sin- 
gular pertinacity,  the  first  territorial  legislature  reviv- 
ing it  among  their  earliest  enactments.  Thurston, 
wlun  questioned  in  congress  concerning  the  matter, 
dot'ended  the  law  against  free  blacks  upon  the  ground 
that  the  people  dreaded  their  influence  among  the 
Indians,  whom  they  incited  to  hostilities.*'  Such  a 
nason  had  indeed  been  given  in  1844,  when  two  dis- 
orderly negroes  had  caused  a  collision  between  white 
nun  and  Indians,  but  it  could  not  be  advanced  as  a 
sntHcient  explanation  of  the  settled  determination  of 
tliu  founders  of  Oregon  to  keep  negroes  out  of  the 
territory,  because  all  the  southern  and  western  fron- 
tier states  had  p«)ssesHed  a  large  population  of  blacks, 
both  slave  and  free,  at  the  time  they  had  fought  the 
savages,  without  finding  the  negroes  a  dangerous  cle- 
ment of  their  population.  It  was  to  quite  another 
eause  that  the  hatred  of  the  African  was  to  be  ascribed; 
namely,  scorn  for  an  enslaved  race,  which  refused 
pulitieal  equality  to  nien  of  \  black  skin,  and  which 
niight  raise  the  question  ot  slavery  to  disturb  the 
peiue  of  society.     It  was  not  enough  that  Oregon 

'*Or.  Sintrrnian,  April  11,  1851.  Among  those  taking  part  in  this  meet- 
ill);  writ-  W.  W.  (Jlinpmaii,  D.  H.  Lounsdale,  11.  D.  O'Bryuut,  J.  S.  Smitli, 
Z.  C.  Norton.  S.  Coffin,  VV.  R.  Otway,  and  N.  Nortlirop. 


158 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


should  be  a  free  territory  which  could  not  iiialve  a 
bondsman  of  a  black  man,  but  it  must  exclude  the 
remainder  of  the  conflict  then  ragingr  on  his  behalf  in 
certain  quarters.  Judge  Nelson  upheld  the  constitu- 
tionahty  of  the  law  against  free  blacks,  and  two  of- 
fenders were  given  thirty  days  in  which  to  leave  tlie 
territory."' 

The  judges  found  a  large  number  of  indictments  in 
the  first  and  second  districts.^^  The  most  important 
case  in  Yamhill  county  was  one  to  test  the  legality 
of  taxing  land,  or  selling  property  to  collect  taxes, 
and  was  brought  by  C.  M.  Walker  against  the  sheriff, 
Andrew  Shuck,  Pratt  deciding  that  there  had  been 
no  trespass.  In  the  cases  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States,  Deady  was  appointed  commissioner  in  chan- 
cery, and  David  Logan"^  to  take  aflSdavits  and 
acknowledgments  of  bail  under  the  laws  of  congress. 
The  law  practitioners  of  1850-1-2  in  Oregon  had  th«' 
opportunity,  and  in  many  instances  the  talent,  to 
stamp  themselves  upon  the  history  of  the  common- 
wealth, supplanting  in  a  great  degree  the  men  who 
were  its  founders,"'*  while  endeavoring  to  rid  the  teni- 

"  By  a  curious  coincidence  one  of  the  Imnished  negroes  was  Winslow,  tlx; 
culprit  ill  the  Oregon  City  Indian  affair  of  1844,  who  had  lived  since  then  ut 
the  mouth  of  the  Coluuibia.  Vander|HK)l  was  the  other  exiic.  S.  F.  Alt't, 
Sept.  l(i,  18."»l;  Or.  Sliitrxnuin,  Sept.  '2,  18.M. 

'^TluTo  were  IM)  indictments  in  Yamhill  county  alone,  a  large  proportimi 
being  for  breach  of  verbal  contract.  Six  were  for  selling  li([Uor  to  Indians, 
being  federal  cases. 

"  Logan  was  bom  in  Springfield,  111,,  in  1824.  His  father  was  an  eminent 
lawyer,  and  at  one  time  a  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois.  David  iiii 
migrated  to  Oregon  in  bSt'iO  and  settled  nt  Lafayette.  He  ran  against  Deaily 
for  the  IcgiHlature  in  1851  and  was  lieatcn.  Soon  after  he  removed  to  INirt- 
land,  where  ho  became  distinguished  for  his  shrewdness  and  powers  of  oratory, 
being  a  great  jury  lawyer,  lie  married  in  I8<>2  Mary  P.  Waldo,  daughter  <  i 
Daniel  Wahlo.  His  highly  excitable  ttimnerament  led  him  into  cxcessrs 
vhich  injured  his  otherwise  eminent  staniting,  and  cut  short  his  brilliiint 
career  in  1874.  ShUih  Meri'ury,  April  .'<,  1874. 

"  The  pnictising  attorneys  at  this  time  were  A.  L.  Ijovejoy,  W.  O.  T'VniiU, 
•T.  Quinnlhonitim,  K.  Hamilton,  A.  Hollirook,  Mattiicw  P.  Ucady,  11.  K.  Iiiir>l 
ing,  U.  P.  ll<»ise,  Diivid  Logan,  V,  M.  Itanium,  J.  W.  Nesmith,  A.  D.  M. 
HurriNcm,  .James  McCabe,  A.  C  <tiblm,  S.  F.  Clmdwlck,  A.  H.  P.  Wood,  T. 
Ml  K.  Patton,  V.  Tilfonl,  A.  CamnlMll,  D.  IJ.  Uieiiaii,  W.  W.  Chapman,  A. 
K.  Wait,  S.  ]).  Mayit!,  .lolin  A.  Anderson,  and  C.  I.aiicastcr.  There  \m k- 
others  who  luul  l)eeii  bred  to  a  legal  profession,  who  wei-e  at  w-oik  in  tin: 
mines  or  living  on  land  cluiins,  some  of  wlioni  ivsunied  pructicu  ov  society 
became  more  organised. 


hi 


POLITICS  AXD  SOCIETY. 


159 


tory  of  men  whom  they  regarded  as  transient,  whose 
]iluc'efl  they  coveted. 

There  is  always  presumably  a  coloring  of  truth  to 
elm  ges  brought  against  public  officers,  even  when 
us(  1  for  party  purposes  as  they  were  in  Oregon.  The 
(ktijocracy  were  united  in  their  dtterniination  to  see 
m (thing  good  in  the  federal  appointees,  with  the  ex- 
<('[)ti<)n  of  Pratt,  who  besides  being  a  den)ocrat  Iwul 
been  sent  to  them  by  President  Polk.  On  the  other 
liaiid  tliere  were  those  who  censured  Pratt*^  for  being 
what  he  was  in  the  eyes  of  the  democracy.  The 
governor  was  held**  equally  objectionable  with  the 
judges,  first  on  account  of  the  position  he  had  taken 
<»ii  tlie  capital  location  question,  and  again  for  main- 
taining Kentucky  hospitality,  and  spending  the  money 
of  the  government  freely  without  consulting  any  one, 
and  as  his  enemies  chose  to  believe  without  any  care 
i'or  the  public  interests.  A  sort  of  gay  and  fashion- 
alilo  air  was  imparted  to  society  in  Oregon  City  by 
lilt'  families  of  the  territorial  officere  and  the  hos|>ita- 
hlc  ])r  McLoughlin,'^  which  was  a  new  thing  in  the 
Willamette  Valley,  and  provoked  not  a  little  jealousy 
among  the  more  sedate  and  surly.*'* 

'  \y.  W.  Chapman  for  contempt  of  court  was  sentenced  by  Pratt  to  twenty 
ilnyn'  iinpriaonmcnt  and  to  have  his  name  stricken  from  the  roll  of  attonu-ys. 
It  was  a  politioal  iiuue.  Chapman  was  assisted  by  his  Portland  friendt)  to 
oriipt'.  was  rearrested,  and  on  application  to  Judj^e  Nelson  discharged  on  a 
writ  of  frror.  .9-'/^  <'oinj.,  Ixt  Scm.,  Mine.  Hoc.  'J,  .1.  See  also  case  of  Arthur 
Favliii'  sentenced  by  Pratt  for  cunteiupt,  in  which  Nelson  listened  to  a  charj^'o 
l>v  I'Mvliie  of  misconduct  in  otiice  on  the  part  of  Pratt,  and  discharged  the 
I'lisciiur  by  the  advice  of  Strong. 

^"An  example  of  the  discourtesy  nsed  toward  the  federal  oflicera  w.is 
^'i\ cii  wlicn  the  governor  was  Ijcrcaved  of  his  wife  by  an  accident.  Mrs  ( Jaines 
Was  rilling  on  the  Clatsop  plains,  whither  she  had  gone  on  an  excursion,  when 
iiM-  Imisc  becoming  frightened  at  a  wagon  she  was  thrown  under  tlic  wlicds, 
ii'iriviiig  injuries  from  which  she  died.  The  same  mpt-r  which  announced  her 
dcaiii  iittiickcd  the  governor  with  unstinted  abuse.  Mrs  (iaines  was  a 
(laii.'litcr  of  Nicholas  Kincaid  of  Versailles,  Ky.  Her  mother  was  I*ri.scilla 
Mi'lliiili'.  She  was  l)oni  March  13,  1800,  and  married  to  (iaines  June  -2, 
t^lli.  i>r.  S/H'ctnlur,  Aug.  11),  I8,'»l.  Altout  fifteen  months  after  his  wife's 
diatli,  (liiines  married  Margaret  B.  Wands,  one  of  the  five  latly  teachers  sent 
til  On  I,'..!!  by  (Jov.  SIimIo.  Or.  Slatesmnii,  Nov.  27,  1851. 

'".)/r^  At.  E.  Wilxon  in  Or.  SkeUhex,  MS.,  19. 

'"  ll(T''  is  what  one  says  of  Oregon  City  society  at  the  time:  All  was 
odlity.  'Clergymen  8(»  eccentric  as  to  hove  l)een  thrown  over  by  the  boanl 
on  aiiiiiuit  of  their  quecniess,  had  found  their  way  hither,  and  fought  their 
wtiy  among  peculiar  people,  into  positions  of  some  kind.     People  Were  odd 


li 


I  1 


h 


IGO 


ADMINISTRATION  OF    iAINES. 


t 


In  order  to  sustain  his  position  with  regard  to  the 
location  act,  Gaines  appealed  for  an  opinion  to  tl;e 
attorney -general  of  the  United  States,  who  returned 
for  an  answer  that  the  legislature  had  a  right  to  locate 
the  seat  of  government  without  the  consent  of  the 
governor,  but  that  the  governor's  concurrence  was 
necessary  to  make  legal  the  expenditure  of  the  appro- 
priations,^" which  reply  left  untouched  the  point  raised 
l)y  Gaines,  that  the  act  was  invalid  because  it  em- 
braced more  than  one  object.  With  regard  to  tiiis 
matter  the  attorney-general  was  silent,  and  the 
quarrel  stood  as  at  the  beginning,  the  governor  re- 
fusing to  recognize  the  law  of  the  legislature  as  binding 
on  him.  His  enemies  ceased  to  deny  the  unconstitu- 
tionality of  the  law,  admitting  that  it  might  prove 
void  by  reason  of  non-conformity  to  the  organic  act, 
but  they  contended  that  until  this  was  shown  to  bo 
true  in  a  competent  court,  it  was  the  law  of  the  land; 
and  to  treat  it  as  a  nullity  before  it  had  been  disu})- 
proved  by  congress,  to  which  all  the  acts  of  the  legis- 
lature must  be  submitted,  was  to  establish  a  dangerous 
precedent,  a  principle  striking  at  the  foundation  of  all 
law  and  the  public  security. 

Into  this  controversy  the  United  States  judges 
were  necessarily  drawn,  the  organic  act  requiring 
them  to  hold  a  term  of  court,  annually,  at  the  seat  of 
government;   any  two  of  the   three   constituting  a 

in  dress  as  well.  Whenever  one  wished  to  appear  well  before  his  or  lier 
friends,  they  resurrectecl  from  old  chests  and  trunks  clothes  made  ycar«  aj^'o. 
Now,  OS  one  costumer  in  one  part  of  the  world  at  one  time,  had  made  one 
dress,  and  another  had  made  at  another  time  another  dress,  an  aRsemltly  in 
Oregon  at  this  time  presented  to  a  new-comer,  accustomed  to  only  one  fashion 
at  once,  a  peculiar  sight.  Mrs  Walker,  wife  of  a  missionary  at  Chiinikanc, 
near  Fort  Colville,  having  been  1 1  years  from  her  clothed  sistei-s,  on  c^oniiii',' 
to  Oregon  City  was  surprised  to  fintl  her  dresses  as  nmch  in  the  '.isliion  a.s 
any  of  the  rest  of  them.'  JUrx  Wilnoii,  Or.  Sketchex,  MS.,  10,  17.  AnothLT 
says  of  the  missionary  and  pioneer  families:  'One  lady  who  had  I)ti<cn  livin<.;  nt 
Clatsop  since  1846  had  a  parasol  well  preserved,  at  least  .30  years  old,  with  a 
folding  handle  and  an  ivory  ring  to  slip  over  the  folds  when  closed.  AixitiuT 
ludy  had  a  bonnet  and  shawl  of  nearly  the  same  age  which  she  wore  tochtiiH  li. 
All  these  articles  were  of  good  quality,  and  on  evidence  of  past  faMJiioii 
and  respectability.'  Manners  as  well  as  clothes  go  out  of  mode,  and  miicli  nf 
the  o('.'iity  Mrs  Wilson  discovered  in  an  Oregon  assembly  in  <j!ov.  GuiucH' 
time  was  only  manners  out  of  fashion. 

**0r.  Spectator,  July  29,  1851;  Or.  Stateaman,  Aug.  6,  1851. 


OPPOSITION  GOVERN^^IENTS. 


ipro- 
aised 
,  om- 
>  this 
tho 


quorum.*'  On  the  first  of  December,  the  Ic^jslature- 
eliK't*'  convened  at  Salem,  as  the  capital  of  Oregon, 
except  one  councilman,  Columbia  Lancaster,  and  four 
representatives,  A.  E.  Wait,  W.  F.  Matlock,  and 
1).  F.  Brownfield.  Therefore  this  small  minority 
organized  as  the  legislative  assembly  of  Oregon,  at 
t\\v  territorial  library  room  in  Oregon  City,  was  quali- 
fied by  Judge  Strong,  and  continued  to  meet  and 
adjourn  for  two  weeks.  Lancaster,  the  single  coun- 
(jhnan,  spent  this  fortnight  in  making  motions  and 
seconding  them  himself,  and  preparing  a  memorial  to 
conitrress  in  which  he  asked  for  an  increase  in  tho 
nuniljer  of  eouncilmen  \,o  fifteen;  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  Columbia  River;  for  a  bounty  of  one 
iiiindred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  to  the  volunteers  in 
theCayuse  war;  a  pension  to  tiio  widows  and  orphans 
of  the  men  killed  in  the  war;  troops  to  be  stationed 
at  the  several  posts  in  the  territory;  protection  to 
the  immigration;  ten  thousand  dollars  to  purchase 
a  library  for  the  university,  and  a  military  road  to 
Puget  Sound.*^ 

Al)out  this  time  the  supreme  court  met  at  Oregon 
City,  Judges  Nelson  and  Strong  deciding  to  adopt 


Ling 


a 


|8  or  her 

hart*  iiuo. 
luuU'  one 
I'liildy  ii» 
|>  fnBhion 
linil'iiiu', 

Hliioii  a» 
iiiotlar 
|ivin'<  nt 
I,  with  a 
V.'.'"tliir 

1  fashion 
liUR'h  i'( 
iGuiutV 


*'>0r.  Oen.  Lawn,  1845-18G4,  71. 

♦'  The  council  wuH  composed  of  Matthew  P.  Dcady,  of  Yamhill;  J.  M.  Car- 
risen,  of  Marion;  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  of  Clackamas;  B'red.  Waymire.  of  Polk;  W.  B. 
ML-iilcy.  of  Linn;  Samuel  Parker,  of  Clackamna  and  Marion ;  A.  L.  liumnhruy, 
iif  iWiiton;  I^wrt'iiee  Hall,  of  Washington;  Columbia  I^ncastcr,  of  Ijowis, 
Clark,  and  Vancouver  counties.  The  lunise  consisted  of  Geo.  L.  Curry,  A.  K. 
Wait,  iinil  W.  T.  Matlock,  of  Clackamas;  lienj.  Simpson,  Wilio  Chapman,  and 
.I.iiiifs  l>nvidson,  of  Marion;  J.  C.  Avery  and  (leo.  K.  Cole,  of  licnton;  Lutiicr 
\\\\\U'  iinil  William  Allphin,  of  Linn;  Italph  Wilcox,  W.  M.  Kin^,  and  .J. 
(.'.  Itisliop,  of  Washington;  A.  J.  Hembree,  Samuel  McSwccn,  and  H.  C'. 
Kiiiiny,  of  Yandiill;  Nat  Ford  and  J.  S.  Hohnan  of  Polk;  Uavi  1  M.  llisdon, 
of  hiiii •:  .J.  W.  Drew,  of  Ump(]ua;  John  A.  Anderson  and  D.  F.  IJrownlielil 
of  Clatsop  and  Pacific.  Or.  Statinnntn,  July  4,  ISTd. 

*-'  In  style  l..jinca8ter  was  something  of  a  Munchausen.  'It  it  true,'  he  says 
in  Ills  memorial,  which  must  indeed  have  astonished  congress,  '  that  tho 
Coluiiiliia  Hiver,  like  the  principles  of  civil  and  religious  e(|uality,  with  wild 
ami  iiiu'onipicrable  fury  has  burst  asunder  the  Cascade  an<l  Coast  ranges  of 
nKiiintains,  aad  shattered  into  fragments  the  tiasaltic  fonnatiuns,' etc.  ,L'il 
Coinj.,  l^f  .SVx/t.,  J/.  MiM.  Doc.  14,  1-".;  Or.  Stntnnan,  Jan.  13,  1852.  '  Ha- 
Miltii'  formation'  tlien  became  a  sobriquet  for  the  whig  councilman  among  the 
Sail  III  division  of  tho  legislature.  The  memorial  was  signed  '  Columbia  Imii- 
eusti  r,  late  president  pro  tern,  of  the  council,  oud  W,  T.  Matlock,  late  speaker 
pro  tein.  of  the  house  of  representatives,' 

Hirr.  0«.,  Vol.  U.    U  • 


162 


ADMINISTRATION  OP  GAINES. 


tlio  govcrnor'H  view  of  the  scat-of-governmont  ouos- 
tioii,  while  Pratt,  siihiig  with  the  main  body  of  t!io 
legi.sla+urc,  repaired  to  Salem  as  the  proper  j)lace  to 
hold  the  annual  session  of  the  United  States  court. 
Thus  a  majority  of  the  legislature  convened  at  SaKiiu 
as  the  seat  of  government,  and  a  majority  of  the  su- 
preme court  at  Oregon  City  as  the  proper  caj)ital; 
and  the  division  was  likely  to  prove  a  serious  har  to 
th«;  legality  of  the  i)roeeedings  of  one  or  the  otluT.^' 
The  majority  of  the  people  were  on  the  side  of  the 
leg'slature,  and  ready  to  denounce  the  imported  judges 
wli  )  had  set  themselves  up  in  o[)position  to  their 
r('|  resontatives.  Before  the  meeting  of  the  legisla- 
tive body  the  people  on  the  north  sitle  of  the  C.'ohnn- 
l»ia  ha<l  expressed  their  dissatisfaction  with  Strong 
for  refusing  to  hold  court  at  tlie  place  scl»  rte<l  by  tlie 
county  commissioners,  according  to  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature recpiiring  them  to  fix  the  place  of  holding  c(»iirt 
until  the  county  seat  should  be  established  Tlio 
place  si'lecteil  was  at  the  claim  of  Sidney  Ford,  on  the 
rii'halis  Kiver,  whereas  the  judge  went  to  the  house 
of  .lohn  K.  Jackson,  twenty  miles  distant,  and  si-tit  a 
peremptory  order  to  the  jurors  to  repair  to  the  saiiie 
jilace,  which  they  refused  to  d(>,  on  the  gro»ind  that 
tlicy  had  been  irderetl  in  the  manner  of  slave-diiviiin, 
to  which  they  objected  as  unbecoming  a  judge  and 
insulting  to  themselves.  A  public  meeting  was  hclil, 
at  which  it  was  decided  that  the  c«>n<luct  of  fui  judge 
merited  the  inve.stigation  of  the  imjxuiching  p<»wcr.'* 
'i  he  prrtceedings  of  the  meeting  wtire  publishitl 
about  the  time  of  tin;  convening  of  the  assembly,  timl 
a  corresjjondence  followed,  in  whi<'h  .1.  11  (yhapiiiiii 

''  FninriH  KriDutip^jor  huing  cltoil  to  ai)pcar  in  a  i^aae  Irrmght  agninat  \\\r.\ 
at  Ori'^iiii  (  ly,  iilijuotoil  to  (lie  liituring  ot  tliu  caiiMU  upon  ti«t  j^roiiiul  tliiit  tlio 
liiw  ri'iiuin-d  II  iiiaioi'ity  <.f  tlui  jinlgcH  of  tlu<  court  to  Ui  proit-iit  at  the  miii  uf 
govcrnnK'ut,  wliiuli  wiih  iit  S»li<ni.  TIik  cliiuf  iiiHticn  Huiil  in  nul)MUinoi>:  'ily 
till'  uct  of  coniiti^  liiiro  w«  li.iivu  virtually  iluciiluil  tliia  <iuuiition. '  Or.  Sfmin- 
lur,  l>«i.  '2.  lH.'il. 

'*Tli<'  iiriiuipal  ]H<i-iMin*  in  tlxi  tranaocttona  cf  th«  indiunatiun  nii«'tiii;; 
were  .1.  H.  ('iiuiiniun,  M.  P.  SimnioiiN,  I>.  K.  lirowntivlil,  \VT  l*.  l>ou>;lirii.v, 
K.  Sylvi'MtiJi,  luu*.  W.  UluHgow,  uittl  JuiuM  McAlltitvr.  Or.  Staiuman,  Due. 
2,  1^1. 


I 


IN  SESSION  AT  SALEM. 


16b 


rxon'jratcd  Judge  Strong,  doclaring  that  the  senti- 
iiMiit  <>f  the  iinx'ting  had  been  maliciously  misrepre- 
s'littnl;  Sti'ontr  replying  that  the  explanation  was 
siilisl'aciory  to  him.  liut  the  Statesman,  ever  on  the 
alert  to  pry  into  actions  and  motives,  soon  made  it 
ji|>|>ear  that  the  reconciliation  had  not  been  between 
tilt'  ptsople  and  Strong,  but  tluit  W,  W  Chapman, 
who  had  been  dismissed  from  the  r(>ll  )f  Jittornevs  in 
the  second  district,  had  himself  written  the  letter  and 
used  means  to  procure  his  brother's  signature  with  tho 
olijict  of  being  adnuttetl  to  practice  in  the  first  dis- 
trict; the  threefoM  purpose  being  gained  of  exculpa- 
ting Strong,  undoing  the  acts  of  Pratt,  and  replacing 
Cliapman  on  the  roll  of  attt)rneys.** 

A  majority  of  the  legislative  assembly  having  con- 
Atiicd  at  Salem,  that  body  organized  by  olocting 
SaiiiMil  Parker  |)residerit  of  the  couni'il,  and  Kichard 
J.  White,  chidf  clerk,  assisted  by  Chester  N.  Terry  and 
Thoii.as  }i.  Micou.  In  the  house  of  representativis 
Williaii!  M,  King  was  elected  speaker,  and  Benjamin 
l'\  Harding  chief  clerk.  Having  spent  several  <lay.s 
ill  making  and  adopting  rules  of  procedure,  on  the  fjth 
(il  December  the  represcntativi-s  inibrmed  the  council 
^>\'  their  appointment  of  a  committee,  consisting  of 
C-tle,  Anderson,  Drew,  White,  and  Chapman,  to  act 
ill  « I >n junction  with  a  connnittee  from  the  council,  to 
(hi'll  resolutions  concerning  the  coui\>  pursutnl  by 
the  fetleral  ofKcers.*"  The  message  of  thi  representa- 
tives was  laitl  on  the  table  until  the  8th.  In  the 
mean  time  IJ  uidy  offered  a  res<niition  in  the  coinuil 
that,  in  view  )f  the  acti«)n  of  Nelson  an<l  Strong, 
a  memorial  bo  .vont  to  congress  on  the  subject.  Hall 
I'niluwed  this  rendntion  with  anotlier,  that  Hamil- 
tnn,  seer  itary  of  ti»e  territory,  should  bo  infornu'd 
that  the  legislativ  assembly  was  orgaruzed  at  Salem, 
iuhI  tliat  his  servi  ;es  jis  sccrotary  were  required  at  tho 

"Or.  CouncH,  Jour.  .i5l-'i,  la 


164 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


till 


place  iiaujc'd,  wliicli  was  laid  on  the  table.  Flrially, 
on  the  Utii,  a  committee  from  both  houses  to  (Iralt 
a  memorial  to  conjj^ress  vas  ai)pointe(l,  consisting"  ttf 
Curry,  Anderson,  and  Avery,  on  the  part  of  tlie 
r('|>resentatives,  and  (iarrlson,  Waymire,  and  Humph- 
rey, on  the  part  of  the  council.*^ 

Pratt's  opinion  in  the  matter  was  then  asked,  which 
sus^^ained  the  legislature  as  against  tiio  jmlges.  ] ice- 
tor  was  then  ordered  t»)  bring  the  territorial  library 
from  Oregon  City  to  Salem  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  January  1852,  which  was  not  permitted  by 
the  federal  oflit;ers.*'' 

The  legislators  then  passed  an  act  re-arranging  tlie 
judicial  districts,  and  taking  the  counties  of  Ijinii, 
Mariitu,  and  Lane  from  the  first  and  attaching  tlirm 
to  the  8eeon<l  (listrict.*"  This  action  was  iustilicd  bv 
the  StatrsiiKtn,  on  the  ground  that  Judge  Nt'Ison  liinl 
]>roclaimed  that  he  should  decree  all  the  legislation 
of  the  session  held  at  Salem  null.  On  thi'  othei"  Ii.-iihI 
the  people  of  the  three  ('ounties  mentioned,  except  in .,' 
a  small  minority,  held  them  to  be  valid;  and  it  w;is 
better  that  l*ratt  should  administer  the  laws  peace- 
fully than  that  Xclscm  shoul<l,  by  declaring  tlicin 
void,  create  disorder,  and  cause  dissatisfaction.  The 
latter  was,  therefore,  left  but  one  ct»unty,  Clackam;is, 
in  which  to  administer  justice,  l^ut  the  nullilier^. 
us  the  whig  oflicials  came  now  to  be  called,  were  net 

*'  Or.  Connril,  Jour.  1S,'>t-2,  12-1.1.  Tliin  coiimiittpf"  n|>|M'nr«  to  Imvi"  Imi  ii 
iiitciiilcti  to  (li'iift  II.  in<>iii:>riiil  (III  ^oiiural  HiilijrctH,  iim  the  iiK'iiKiriiil  cuiici'i  iim^ 
till  intci'fi't'i'iicr  iif  tlic  ^'ovi'i'iioraiiil  tlm  conilitionof  tlic  jtiiliciaiy  wiih  diauii 
liy  (I  ilill'iM'ciit  I'liniiiiittci'. 

""I'lic  Sliiiiiiiitiii  <if  .Inly  'M  r<'tnnrk«<il:  'Tim  ti'rritoriul  lihnirv,  tin-  ^'ifl  't 
I'liii^rt'MM  to  Ort'gon,  lii'caiiio  tlic  ])i'o|H<i'ty,  to  all  iiitciitN  ami  ihii'Imihi'h,  of  tli" 
fi'ilcral  '  lii|U(i.  who  rt'liiM'il  ti>  allow  the  ImkiUm  to  Iki  rcniovt'il  to  Siilcni,  an  I 
oi'ciiiiit'il  till'  lilii'iiiy  I'lMiin  daily  with  a  liltrariaii  of  the  ({iivi'iiior'M  a|i|iiiiiitiii){.' 
A  full  uci'iiuiit  of  tlio  iilhiir  wan  |inhliHh('il  in  a  little  HJicrt  ralh'il  I  m-  I'o/n'  i, 
|iriiitt'il  at  Salciii,  and  dcvntrd  to  li'^iHlativt'  |iro<-<it>iliii^N  and  tlic  luculi'ii 
<|iirHtion.  The  lii'Ht  iniiiilirr  waH  iMHiicd  on  thr  IfHtli  of  ItcccnilM'r  iNol.  'rii<* 
■4luiidin|i{  advi'i'tiHcnu'iit  at  the  lu-ad  uf  the  local  column  waH  aH  folloWN:  '  'I'lui 
rii.i'  I'oinili  will  Ihi  |iul<liMlu'il  and  edited  at  Salem,  O.  '!'.,  during  the  Hemti'Hi 
(if  the  le^iHlativi>  ai(M(iml>ly  l>y  an  imNociation  of  gentlemen,'  TIiIk  little  ihi|"  r 
I'oiitained  a  great  deal  that  wiih  iieiNonally  dlHagreealile  to  tlu!  federal  nlhccis. 

•»  Ihmln'x  IliHt.  Or,  MS.,  •.'7-«;  .\lroii,/n  //»W.  Oi.,  MS.,  (W  'A;  arutn'i 
J'uh.  L{/'<  in  Or.,  MS.,  03. 


LAWS  EXACTED. 


105 


inally, 
I  tlralt 
in!:;"  »'t' 
A'  the 
uin\tli- 

,  wliii'h 
Uvv- 
library 
lio  lirst 
;tcd  l>y 

rinpr  tho 
•t'  l/»ini, 

j(jr  tllt'lU 

iticil  i'.v 
Ison  liail 

i;islillit»ll 

lUT  liiind 
\('i'|>tiii'j; 
(I  it  \vi»s 

U   tlu-m 

I'kiuuas, 
uIIiI'k'Vs, 

|i)  Imvf  )>'■'  II 

I'lllH'i'llllIU 
WIIH  lIlilNMl 

I,  tlu'  (lift  "f 

llHI'H,   lit'    til'" 
ISillflll,  nil  1^ 

lii)|ioiiitiii!; 
r,,,'  !•«,■'■  '. 

[|||-    lix'iiti'll 

llHrii.    11"' 

IoWm;    ''111'" 
(lit lit'  \'"|"'' 

Vlll  nllin  I"; 


uitliout  their  friends.      Tlio   Ortfjoni(ni,  wliich  was 
the  acereditotl  organ  of  the  federal  clifiue,  was  loud 


III  ct 


mdeinnation  of  the  course 


►ursuec 

tesse 


I  1)V  the  IcLrisla- 
d  to  l)o  an  iii- 


ti>rs,  wiiile  the  SiK'ctator,  which  pr 
(Itjuiiduiit  j)aj)«!r,  weakly  su}ti)orte<I  (jrovernor  (iaiues 
iiiid  Chief  .lustieo  Nelson.  Even  in  the  Icjjfislative 
liody  itself  there  was  a  certain  minority  who  protested 
jiiJiiiist  the  acts  of  the  majority,  not  on  the  suhjcct 
(if  the  location  act  alone,  or  the  chan<;e  in  the  judicial 
distiicts,  leaving  the  chief  justice  one  county  only  for 
his  district,  hut  also  on  account  of  the  memorial  to 
cengress,  prepared  hy  the  joint  conunittee  from  hoth 
hniises,  setting  forth  the  condition  of  all'airs  in  the 
tcnilory,  and  asking  that  the  people  of  Oregon  migh^ 
he  i»ennitted  to  elect  their  governor,  secretary,  and 
judges. 

The  memorial  i)assed  the  assend)lv  almost  hvaccla- 

Tii.ition,  thret!  niem1»ers  oidy  voting  against  it,  (»ne  of 

them   protestln'r  formally  that  it  was  a  calumnious 

(lucuiuent.     Ml'    i^cople  then  took  up  the  mattrr,  puh- 

lir  meetings  being  held  in  the  different  counties  to 

ii|ijiio\('  oi"  condemn  the  course  of  the  legislature,  a 

liii'^e  majority  expressing  approhatlon  (tf  the  assemhly 

iiiitl  eciisming  the  wliig  judges.     A  hill   was  fmally 

|iiis>ed  calling  for  a  constitutional  convention   in  the 

event  of  congress  ri'fusiiig  to  entejtain  tlu-ir  jtetition 

tit  pt'i'mit  Oregon  to  elect  her  govei'iior  and  judges. 

This  iiMjiortant  husiness  having  heen  disposed  (»f,  the 

liyisjators    addressi'd    themselves    to    other   matters. 

Lane  was  instructed  tt)  ask  for  an  amendment  to  tlie 

l.iiiil  law;  I'oran  iiu'i'i'ase  in  the  numher  of  «-ouneilmen 

in  |tiopnrlion  to  the  increase  of  representatives;  to 

pi'KUie  tli(>   immediate  survey  of  Ya<|uiiijv   I  Jay   and 

I  iii|n|ua  liiver;  to  jn'ocurt!  the  auditing  and  payment 

"t   I  lie  ('iiyuse  war  aecouids;   to  have  the  organic  act 

;iiuriHied  so  as  to  allow  the  county  ct»mmissiMneis  to 

lii'iitethe  schotil  lands  in  h'^al  sul»di\  isions  or  in  frac- 

ti"ii->  l\iim   hetween   claims,  without    reference  to  si/i) 

"I"  >h;ipe,  where  the  sixteenth  and  thirty-sixth   sec- 


166 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GAINES. 


tions  were  already  settled  upon;  to  have  the  postal 
ajifi'iit  ill  Ort'^fon'"*  instructed  to  locate  post-otiices  and 
establish  mail  routes,  so  as  to  facilitate  corres[)ontlciict' 
with  difFerent  portions  of  the  territory,  instead  <»!' 
ainiin^jf  to  increase  the  revenue  of  the  jjfeneral  «^ovcrii- 
nicnt;  to  endeavor  to  have  the  mail  steamshi[)  con- 
tract complied  with  in  tlie  matter  of  leaving  a  mail  at 
the  mouth  of  the  I'mixiua  liivor,  and  to  procure  tiie 


i|i([ua 


change  of  the  pt)rt  of  entr\'  on  that  river  from  Strotts- 
hurg  to  Ump(jua  City.  Last  of  all,  the  delegate  was 
rc(juested  to  advise  congress  of  the  fact  that  the  ter- 
ritorial secretary,  Hamilton,  refused  to  pay  the  legis- 
lators their  dues;  and  that  it  was  fearetl  the  money 


had  I 


(led 


th 


>een  expendetl  m  some  other  maimer. 
Several  new  counties  were  created  at  this  sessi»»ii, 
raising  the  whole  numher  to  sixteen.  An  act  to  creatt; 
and  organizt!  Simmons  out  of  apart  of  Lewis  count\ 
was  ameiidi'd  to  makt;  it  Timist«>n  <M)untv,  and  tln' 
eastern  limits  «)f  Lewis  were  alti-red  and  di'fined/' 
Douglas  was  organized  out  of  Ump(|ua  county,  leav 
iiig  tile  latter  on  the  coast,  while  tlie  l'mp(|ua  Vrdlcv 
enlist ituted  J)ou<das.  'I'he  <MUiitv  of  tiackson  was 
also  created  out  <)f  tin;  southern  portion  of  the  foniit  r 
riiipi|ua  county,  com|»rising  the  valley  of  the  Kogin' 
Iviver,"-'  ami  it  was  thouirht  the  Shasta  Vallev.    These 


1- 


two  new  countries  were  attached  to  l^mp»|ua  for  j  lit  I  i 
cial  puiposi's,  l»y  which  arrangement  tin;  Set'oiid  .Iml 
rial  district  was  made  to  extend  from  the  Columltia 
Kiver  to  the  California  boundary.''' 

**"  Thf  ]Mmtiil  ii(.M>iit  WU8  Xittliiinit'l  <  'lit',  who  wan  miuU'  tlie  milijo't  »f  iiivi.I- 
imiH  ri'iiiark,  Ix'iii^  n  |ir)>Niilt'iilial  tl|l|Hlilltl't^ 

'''  'I'llC    IlilllllllMricH  IIKI  not  ^'ivcll  III   tilt'    l'C|lli|-tH.        Tiu'V   Wt'tC    NUllHI'l|Ul'M(ly 

rlialiunl  mIu'Ii  Waxliiii  ,'tii|i  was  Hct  nil'.  Sfr  "i  .  /.uml  l.nirH,  IS.'il  ,',  Hi  l."i, 
.'Ml;    S'rir  Tninmii  Xiiiih  .""■ilir  < '„iist,  pec.   |,"»,   |h71». 

*' ,\  ri'miliiliiiii  waH  |>iiHm'i|  liy  tin*  uuMfinlily  that  tlii'  Hiirvoyor-nt'lUTnl  Im 
i'<'i|uiri'il  to  takf  iiit'a.MiitrM  to  aNccrtaiii  M  lii'llii  r  tiii!  toMii  kiio\«  ii  aH  sIimaIi 
Until'  t 'ity  ||  \  I'l'ka)  \m\h  in  Oregon  or  not,  ami  to  |iiil>liMli  tin'  icHiilt  ot  lim 
oltNi'l'vatioiiH  in  tlic 'SVii/f  »iiiti/(,    llr.  < 'iniiiril,  Jmir.  /.S'.j/    .',  .'•.'1. 

'''Till'  liint  ttrni  of  tlif  I'liiliil  Stali'H  iliHtiiil  coiirf  In  li|  at  tlu'  m  «• 
I'oiii't  lioiiMi!  in  I'Mitlirann  \^ni*  in  Octolicr  iN.'il.  At  tliiM  ti'iin  •laincM  M> - 
(  aU',  II.  V  MafiinK,  A.  II.  I'.  Woo.l,  .1.  W.  Ni'Hinitli,  ami  W.  <I.  TAauit 
wi'i:'  ailinittol  to  iiractu'c  in  tlic  Sicoml  .Imliijal  iIinIiIoI.  Mi'<'alN<  w.n 
ii|)|Htiiit(Ml    inHHU't'iiting  attonicy,   liollii'ook    liaving   gom<  on  a  viHit  to  tlio 


LAWS  AND  MEMORIALS. 


167 


The  loj^inlature  provided  for  taking  the  census  in 
onKr  to  apportion  representatives,  and  authorized  the 
(oiiiity  commissioners  to  locate  the  election  districts; 
anil  to  act  as  school  commissioners  to  establish  com- 
iiiDii  sch(a)ls.  A  board  of  three  commissioners,  llar- 
ii>oii  Linnville,  Sidney  Ford,  and  Jesse  Applej^ate, 
was  aj»|><)inted  to  select  and  locate  two  townships  of 
land  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  a  university,  ae- 
cnidinj^  to  the  [)rovisions  of  the  act  of  congress  of  Sep- 
tiiiibir  27,  1850. 

An  act  was  passed,  of  which  Waymiro  was  the 
nuth<»r,  accepting  the  Oregon  City  claim  acc()r<liiig  to 
the  art  of  donation,  and  also  iTcating  the  olliei!  of 
coiiiiiiissioner  to  control  and  sell  the  lands  donated  by 
cniigress  for  the  endowment  of  a  university;  but  it 
brcaiiie  of  no  effect  throu<rh  the  failure  of  the  assein- 
bly  to  appoint  such  an  olHcer,'^  Deady  was  llui 
author  of  an  act  exempting  the  wife's  half  of  a  donation 
claim  froui  liability  for  the  <lebts  of  tile  husband, 
whicii  was  passed,  an«i  which  has  saved  the  homesteads 
of  many  I'amilies  frotn  sheriff's  saK;. 

Among  tl»e  liK-al  laws  wen-  two  incorporating  the 
Oregon  acadi-my  at  Jiafayette,  and  tlie  lirst  Metliodist 
church  at   Salem.''     1\\  order   to  defeat  the  federal 


St  itri.  ,1.  W.  Ncsiiiitli  w.'H  iipiMijiitt'cl  iiiimtiT  iiml  ciiininissidUiT  in  ('liaiircry, 
ami  <l.  M.  Li'WiM  ciiiiiiiiiHNiiiiii'r  to  tukr  luiil.  IawIs,  t'iiiniliaiiy  kimwii  nn 
'  rinli'.ljick.'  I'liinr  tn  ( >i'i!^i>ii  in  |S47  aii<l  mi  1 1  li'<l  <>ri  Li  (  icnic,  on  ii  titi  in,  later 
tli>  |>i'o|ii'i'ty  III'  ,l.i|in  M,  Ni'iitt,  iin  wliirli  u  iioitiiin  nf  tlio  town  of  ilallaM  is 
li'.it.il.  I'liiin  till'  n'MJ^Miatiiin  <if  II.  M.  NViIUt,  ciiunty  cU'ik,  in  .\ii><(i«t 
l^.il,  l.rwJM  wan  a|i|iiiiiili'i|  in  liis  |ilai.'r,  anil  Hiilmi'iiucntly  cliL'tt'il  t'>  tlio 
Hill' I'll',  till' |>i'ii|ili'.  Ili^  nainr  i-*  il'i.s>'ly  I'lmnciti'il  witli  tlui  liiNtury  nf  tliii 
ii'iiiity  anil  i>t'  Oallax,  Tin-  liiHt  ti'ini  i>l'  tln'  'iHtni't  I'lniit  lit'lil  <ii  any  jiart 
ip|  Miiitlii'in  l>ir>,'iin  xvaM  at  \iini;,lla,  in  tlir  aiitiiinn  nf  I^.VJ.  iiihli.t'  XuIi'h, 
M^  ,  In.  'I'lii'  lirst  riiurtH  in  .larkxun  rminty  .iliuut  IH.'il  •.*  wiTr  liilil  liy 
JHtiiTM  iif  tln>  pcari'  rallnl  alruliliM,  iih  in  I 'alilnrnia.  iJn^iciti  w  aM  llir  lirnl, 
.\l>>Hii|  tjic  Hi'i'iiiiil.  It  sviis  nut  knnun  at  IIiIh  tinii'  Mlirtliir  itni^ur  II. ur 
N.iilrv  It'll  \\iiliin  Ihi'  liniit!<  of  California  or  Oregon,  anil  tin-  jmiHiliiliiiii 
\»\[\j  iliuiliiliil  till'  niincrs  iniprox  ii«i'i|  a  ^'oxii'iitncnt.  ><■«'  I'l'iniinr  TiiUinidl/i, 
\"l  i,  tliiM  Ni'rii'N;  /'liiii'i  ./inlirinl  Ajhiiri,  MS.,  7  IH;  Jnii.^inirilli-  lion. 
T^mi.i,  April  M,  IM7I;  ///VAd/vZ/Kiii'i  MiixiiMiii/ii,  41(7;  ' >v<  rfaii'l  Mnnf/ili/,  \ii. 
'J'.'i  .'III.  I'ralt  li'ft  Orcgdii  in  IH.'MI  to  rvMulo  in  <  °al.  Hi'  tiail  ilnnc  Nulixtaiitial 
piiiiii  IT  Mork  on  till'  lii'iirli,  uii'l  iiU'itiK  to  )t\n  couitpiL'UuUit  cttrut'i'  liu  innl  lici'ii 
rriiiri-ii'il  iliinlitli'-iM  tliKin^li  pitrtiwin  fi-iliti);. 
'' l''"l' art  xl'V  Or.  Shili  ^iililii,  l''»li.  ;i.  IvVJ. 
I  lUNtiriiif  Ori'Hiiii  inailcniy;  AliioS.  Watt,  11.  I',  lloim',  .Tiunrn  Mi  IliMt', 
A.  I.  Iliinljiui',   Kilwuitl  (kiiiy,  .lannx  W.  Noeinilli,  .Miitlliuu  V,  IVailj,  H, 


168 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  HAINES. 


offifors  ill  ihv'ir  effort  to  deprive  the  lejifi.slators  of  tlio 
use  of  tl'.'  territ(jrial  lil)raiy,  an  act  was  passed  le- 
(|uiriM«^  a  live  tliousarul  dollar  bond  to  l)e  <riveii  by 
the  librarian,  who  was  rloetotl  by  the  assembly/'" 

lii'sides  tlie  memorial  eonceriiiii<(  the  {ift)veriior  and 
judf^^s,  another  petition  adtlresstxl  to  eoiiiLfress  aski-d 
r't»i  better  mail  t'aeilities  with  a  post  olHee  at  each 
<  tMirt-linnse  in  the  stiveral  eounties,  and  a  mail  '.'oute 
diitnt  tVoM'i  San  Franeiseo  to  Pu^et  Sound,  showing 
the  inenasin^  settlement  of  that  rej^^ion.  It  was 
askiMl  that  troops  be  stationed  in  the  Ko<^iU!  Hivtr 
A'ailey,  aii<l  at  points  l)etwt!en  Fort  Hall  and  'i'he 
Dalles  lor  the  proteetion  of  the  immigration,  which 
tills  year  suffered  sevejal  atroeitie.s  at  the  hainls  o|' 
the  Indians  on  this  poition  of  the  route;  that  thi'  pay 
of  the  nsvemie  oiii<H!rs  be  increased;''  an<l  that  an  ap- 


propiialion  \h\  matle  to  eontmue  the  geological  survey 
ofOrcL^on  ah'eaily  begun. 

Having  clccti'd  \i.  I*.  Boiso  tlistrict-attornev  ft»r 
the  lifst  and  second  judicial  districts,  and  1.  N.  I'lbcy 
to  the  same  olhce  for  the  thinl  district;  reelected 
Hush  tenitorial  printer,  ami  J.  I).  IJoon  tenitoii.d 
ssend>ly  adjourned  on   the  'J  1st    of 


trcMsuri'i' 


tl 


K!   a 


January,  to  carry  on  the  war  aguluat  the  federal  otli- 
cers  in  a  dilferent  lieltl."" 

!  .    Kiimty,  uml  .fncl   I'almcr.     Or.   f.o'-al  Lnwn,   IS.'I  ;?.  (!•.'  U.     Tli.'  M.lli. 
(iilint  1  Iniii'li  in  Oit^jiiii  City  wns  iiioiiriwiraloil  in  Miiy  IS.'Hl 

'"'  l.iniwt'U  Id'ctnr  w  itN  ilcctcil.  'I  \w  tornicr  lilirtirian  wuh  ii  yoiin^  iiiuii 
U'lii)  caaif  out  witli  <  iiiiiiiH,  ainl  placnl  in  thai  pi'-«itii>ii  li,\  Mm  vUiili'  In-  lirM 
tlu'  ('lt'rkHlii|i  <if  iliii  Niii'\ryiii -^cnuiarH  olliui!,  anil  uIm.  of  tin'  >u|iit>iii<'  cmtit. 

O/'.  si.it,  ^iiKiii,  I'Vii.  :i.  1.S.VJ. 

'"  Set'  nil  nioiiul  111'  .1.  A.  Anilormin  ofCltttHup  t'uunl\  in  '»/•.  Stis'funtnH, 
.Inn.  •-'(•,  IM.-.J. 

'^.\.  i>.  IliHin  wan  a  WcHl'.'yan  Mi'tlnxliMt  pifailiii ,  a  plain,  nnl<'urni><>  niitii, 
hnni'nt  ami  fiixrnt,  an  iinnii^'iant  nl  IM.'i.  lie  was  fur  many  yi-.WK  u  rcniili'iit 
of  Sali'ni,  iin<l  lii'lil  tlu'  (illii'i!  of  trfaxiii'di'  for  mcmtuI  ttirnm.  Jh'uily'f  Swo)' 
lioiik.  s;. 

''•'riidi'  wiTi'  in  thin  l<>i_'iMlat>ir<'  a  frw  not  JH'rctofori'  »)M'riiilly  tiimti'int'il. 
^.  M.  llaiiixon,  ohi  >>f  tin'  nun  o|  Isl.'l,  In  fort'  HjHikrn  ot,  wn-*  Imhii  hi  Imli.iiia 
in  Isl.'l,  anil  \NUM  a  latimi'  in  Mai  mn  <  ninily.  \\  ilic  ( 'lia|iiii;)n,  hI-mi  ■'!  Maiinn, 
\\i\«  limn  in  SimiiIi  (arolina  in  Isl7  I'ciiiril  in  Tiiin.,  iiini  iiiini'  tn  Orruon  in 
IS47.  Ill'  ki'|it  Ik  Inili'l  III  Sali'iii.  Lntlirr  Wliitr,  ol  l.inli,  |iii'a('lifi'  itii'l 
laniiii,  v\.iH  liiirn  in  1707  in  Ky,  ainI  iinnii^rriiU'il  In  Ort'^-'i'ii  in  I'«'I7  A  •' 
Hriiilit'i'.  i<r  till  iinnii^rali"ii  of  IM.'I.  ukh  l>i>in  in  'rrnn  ii'  Isl.'l;  \mim  ;i 
iiK'tV'Imul  luul  tuMULT  ill  Vuiuhill.     Juiiii'H  S).  iiuliiuui,  uii  iiiiniigiuut  of  IMT, 


NEWSlVVrKR  WAR. 


100 


III  Inili.iiiit 


From  iho  n(lj«)uruin<;nt  of  tin;  Ict^iHlativo  nssniiMy 
niial  imxittv  was  Irit  as  to  tlir  action  of  ('onuirss  i 


II 


the  luatUr  of  the  nit'iuorial.     Moauwhih'  the  ik'Ws- 
|i,i|ur  war  was  wa^^od  with  hittorucss  aii<l  no  Lfjcat 


inclltlnli 


to  (I 


fconcv. 


S.'ld 


oni  was  )oiii'iialisiii   more 


ii>iii|ilt'tt'ly  |>rostitutt»(l  to  partv  an<l  [H-rsdiial  issiu-s 
Hi.iii  ill  ()rf<n)ii  at  this  tinio  an<I  tor  several  \«'ars 
thiiv.irtcr.  l^rivatti  rliaractt^r  and  )M'rs(inal  idiosyn- 
nasics  wrro  Huhjrctod  to  tlic  most  scathiiijLT  ri»h(  iilc 
With  i-i'uard  to  tht;  truth  of  tlic  alK'inatioiis  hrouijht 
ii'^aiiist  thr  uii|>o|)Mlar  ollicials,  from  the  evi(h>n<-c  Ir;- 
loif  III*',  tiler*'  is  no  douht  that  the  n'overnor  was  vain 
iiid  iiaimw -minth'd;  thoui^h  of  course  his  enemies  ex- 


w 


hi) 


e  coverini,'  Ins  cre< 


nt- 


;iM._.,. lilted   his  Wi'ak  Jtoint^ 

aiile  <»nes,""  and  that  to  a  dei^re*-   his   (»lliciai   eirurs 


CM 


iiid  not  jiistity,  lieaiiiii'ur  rithitde  upon  his  past  mih- 
f,ir\  raieer,  as  Well  as  hianie  upon  his  present  yul.eina- 
toii.d  acts,'"  and  accusing;  him  ol'  evei-ythinn'  dishonest, 

\\;>~  I  III  II  ill  'ri'iiii  ill  Isl.'l;  a  faniiir  in  I'olk.  niixiil  S.  Ki-iijun  uii'4  Imrii  in 
\i  III  l^'.M.  ijiiii'' l">  Oii-ijiiii  ill  Is.'iO;  luuMi-  liv  in'iifi'Mtiiiii.  .Inlm  A.  Aii.lrr- 
Mill  \»ii>  liiini  ill  K  V  ill  ISJI,  loiKil  ill  iiiirlii  Mhh.,  ami  (•.•iiiif  tn  Oii'nii  m 
l^.'HI;    la«\\i'l' lllnl   clerk    ill    tlii'    riiNtiUll-Jl'ilirir  at    .VKlnlia.      .laliH'H    I  l.i\  s<l<<iili, 

li'Mii  ill  Ky  ill  ITtl.';  t'iiii;;i'ati'il  tiiciKc  in  Ivtii  liiii> '  juiiivr  liy  ininiiatiiiii, 
111.  i„'i  K.  Cull-,  |Hilitiriaii.  JMiiii  in  Nrw  ^'^'lk  in  Is'-'tt;  imi^'iat'il  iliiinc  in 
Is.iOliy  llitt  way  of  ( 'alitoi'iiiu.  Ilr  ii'iiium'iI  to  WaKliiii^tun  in  Is.iH,  ;iii'l  mum 
M  111  I1-.  a  ill  li';.'iili'  I'l  ciin^irt"*";  lait  afliiwuiil  ridiriiiij  to  Onuon,  ami  Ih-IiI 
till' nllii'i- lit  |iii>tiiiaNti'i' at  I'oitlanil  liom  |.s7,'l  to  jNNl. 

'"•  I /'/"'■.''"'' '^  i  >' ii'i  <>/  Hinl.,  Ms.,  4H.  (iainiH  aHNaiilti'il  IIiikIi  in  tlio 
Kti'i'i't  on  two  oi'i'iiNiniiH;  iiiit'i'  fill'  ii<-i'iil«-iitjilly  jimtliiii,'  lull'.  xikI  auain  t'nr 
niimtliiliu  Mtiil  in  tln'  Sliilf^iiinu.  S»'c  ismi'N  of  .Ian  "JTtli  ainl  .Iniu'  '.'!>.  |h.V2. 
A  W  I  ili'i'  ralllliu  IliniNi'll  '  .\  Ki'titiii'kilin  '  liail  attacki'il  tllr  ^.iiiVri  imrK  i'MTi'Imo 

111  III!  piiiijiiniii^.'  |Mi\\i'r  ill  tl'f  iiiJM'  111  I'Inoi  li  .Smitli    iriiiiinlinu  I'i"'  ''Xi  •  llmi'y 

'        '     '  ■       "   tli« 

III 


I f  I •••'« ,' 

tlii.l   Kiiiiinky,  wliirli  |ii'oi|ii<'i'i|  tlii'  (.'omtikh  .  iiiihIiii'iiI  iiImi  n  :ii!\  .ill  tliu 

iiiiH'ili't'cin  ill  Orriron,  iiiiini'ly.  Keen.  Ki'inlall,  'I'miirr,  tlir  Imo  IIm  i  iiiaiiN,  ainl 

Sill  i  III        '( 'iiliiliioii  Mi'llM',  Hit.'  nail  I  tlii"  ><MMx|H  mill 'lit,  '  olmiilil  li'inli  \iiii  tltnt 

till'  |ii>^ii;.'i'  of  Ki'iitiit'ky  oi'iv'in  will  not  «<i!>l:iin  y  mi  in  Noiir  im  ntul  im^Hi  iliiy  { 
iiimI  tliat  Ki'iilin  ky  MiHtiNiaiy  ,  i|r\  onl  o|  m'Iim'  ami  vii  tin  .  »  ill  not  |iaH><  iiif. 
roil  III  tlii-i  inti  lli|.'i'iii  niaiki't.'  «»,    S>fihMi,i,i,i   .him    I  i    IVi'J. 

"Molii'  I'  tl.iliii'N  wa.^  Ihiiii  111  .Xii^iiNtii,  \  II.  in  Si  |-i<  iiiIm  i  I7'l>^,  rcinovilig 
til  lliiiiii-'  iniiii' \ ,  Kv.  ininrly  ymitli  lie  Miliinti'i  i.  .1  m  ih.  wj  i<;  111'.*, 
Iniiiu'  ni  till'  liiittlc  ot  til''  'I'lianii  H  aiiil  Mr\'<'i'iil  otlii  r  i  iii.'ai,'i'iii>  nt«.  Mi'  ii'ii- 
■ — ••ntul    ItiHiiii'  loiiiity  I'or  HfMial  yiiii-"  in  tin    li'L'i«laliiii'  o|    K\.  ainl  wii» 


Hll!i<i'.|i|i  iill^    tciil    to  riili^'ll'HN    Ironi    IHIT    to    l^tlt.        Mi    W.in  >  lo  ti 'i    llialni  i> 

'       ■'     *'  ....  I^J 


- <  liM  ti  'i  nia|iii  i>( 

H<<  \\\  I'axiili'N.  ami  Ki'i'M'il  ill  tin'  Mi'Mrun  war  until  lakrii  pri  nnir 
I'iK'iiiiiiiriiiii.  .\tt«'i'  Notni'  iiioiitliN  o*  rii|itivity  In-  i'ni'.iiii'iI  anil  iiiiniit  tlm 
ai'lii\  K('i'M-i|  to  tli(>  I'lnl  of  till'  war  On  liii  r>tiirii  fioin  Mivnn.  I  a\  lor 
ii|>l"iiiiii'.l  liiiii  L'tivminr  III  Ori'^iiii.  Wlicn  liiit  ttim  i'X|iiii'il  In  n  tirixl  ii|h>u 
II  liniii  III  .Mai mil  .'uiiiily,  wlivMxi  liu  ivniiltul  till  Inn  >U<itili  in  iK-c* inlxr  Itit'iT. 


a.  t\  AllH,  .1.111.  4,  \HM. 


! 


B!i    ! 


191^ 


ADMINISTRATION  OP  GAINES. 


from  (Irawinj^  his  family  stores  from  the  quartcr-mas- 
tei's  (l(')»jirtm('nt  at  Vancouver,  to  re-aiulitinjif  and 
( liaii<jfini;  the  values  of  the  certificates  of  the  comnns- 
sioiurs  jii>|K»inte(]  to  audit  the  Cayusc  war  claims,  and 
n'taiiiinLT  tlic  same  to  use  f(tr  ])olitical  purposes ;'^'^  the 
truth  luinj^  that  these  claims  were  used  by  hoth  par- 
tics.  ll<»ll»rooh,  the  Unitt'd  States  attoriu^y,  \v;is 
ihari^cd  with  dishonesty  and  with  influencinjjf  Ixtth 
the  iTovrrnor  and  judj^es,  ami  dcniounced  as  hein*^ 
responsihlc  tor  many  of  their  acts;*"  a  judj^ment  to 
which  subsequent  events  seemed  to  give  color. 


At  the  reyfular  term,  court  wa.s  held   in   ISfari 


on 


county.  Nelson  repaiied  to  Salem,  an»l  was  met  hy 
a  <'omniittee  with  oflensive  resolutions  j>assed  at  a 
puidic  nMetini^,  and  with  (»ther  tokens  of  the  spirit  in 
whieh  an  attenq)t  to  defy  the  law  of  the  territory,  as 
])a.ssedat  the  last  session,  would  he  received."*  Mean- 
time ihe  opposiiijir  parti«'s  had  ea<'h  had  a  iHiuini;  at 

'■■o,-,  Si„i.s„,<iii,  Niiv.  (■,  I.S.V.';  /./..  K.I..  •.'((,  1S.'.;{.  Whctlicr  nr  not  tins 
Wa.M  true,  l.iin<'  iiiiHiiit'il  an  anu  inhmiit  t<>  the  tDrnici'  nctH  of  i  on^'irss  in  mili  r 
to  niaki' u|i  lilt' <li'lii'ii'ni'y  Miiil  to  liavf  lit'cn  oiraHioncil  liy  tlii' aitt  latioii  of 
tlif  111  tiliiati's.  ('mill.  (J  lull' ,  JS.'i .'  ./,  apii.  1141;  ,l.!<l  ('uinj.,  lntS;<s.,  II.  (iini. 
liil'l-  /.'-'.  4  .'i. 


.1/. 


iiiiil,  ill  .L'd  Coiiif  ,    hi  Sis.-,.,   II.  Mim:  Doc.  !),  '2;  Or.  Sttilr.sn 


May  IH.  IS.V.'. 

"Till' liilic  nil'.  Iiowi'Vor,  waH  not  nil  on  oiio  Hide.  Tlirro  n|i|>i>iiri'i|  in  iIk 
(h'liiiiiiiiiii,  ami  ufttiwai'il  in  jMinijililit  t'onn,  with  n  ilrilication  to  tlir  nlitm 
(if  I  O.I'  I'li/iiili,  a  hatni'  wiittrn  in  ilranialic  m  im',  aiicl  Mtylcil  it  .Mi  ioiliaiii.i 
illuMtiati'il   willi  iikIi'  w I'cntM.  ami  Hliowin^  conKiilt'iaMc  aliility  liolli  to 


coinpoKition  ami 


liiirU 


ii|i 


'J'liiM 


H  |iiilili('ation. 


Im.iI 


I  on  aoi'ount  ol  it.'*  |ioliti< 


clli'i'l  aiiil   lircanMi' it  waN  tlii'  liiHt  Imok  written  ami  |iiililislii'i|  in  ( In  ;:on  nl 


an  oii^'inal   nature,  ileiservcH  to  lie  renieni 


iliereil.       It 


tailieil   ;i'J  ilolilili  t'ol 


nineil    liases,    iliviiieil    into    live    acH.      'I'lie    JierHotiH    Hatlli/eil     were     I'latt, 


ileinh 


ivijo\,  Kiiij;.  Ainlernon,  Avery,  Wayniire,  I'arker,  'i'liorntoii,  Will 


Hon,  HiimIi,  i'>Jll■ken^lo«.  ami  Watenuan  of  tlie  I'lirtiami  T'iiihh.  'I'Iic  aiitli 
wan  William  1..  .\claniN,  an  imini^'rant  ol  l.s4S,  a  native  of  I'aineMville,  Ohio, 
w  lierc  lie  \\a»  iioin  i''eli  IH'JI.  MiH  [larentM  renimeij  to  Miclii.'.in  in  js.'it. 
]n   IS.'k'i  AilaniH  eiiteieil  i'ollej(e  at  ( 'aliton.  III.;  ^oili^' ufteruanl  to  I  ialeslmi ;:, 


i|i|>oi'tin^'  liiniHi  ll  liy  teaeliiti^'  in  the  vma 


itionx,       lie   liniHheil    his   stiiiileM  at 


Ketluinv    ('olIi'L'e,    \'i 


.1    I 


MM'uine   a   eoiivelt   to   the    rem 


.1    Al 


lie 


( 'ani|ili< 


In  |H4.')  he  nianieil  Olivialiooilell,  a  native  of  Maine,  anil  niIiI 


in  lleiiilerHon  I'onnty,  III.,  from  wliieh  Htutu  Ixi  cuiiiu  to  Ore^'on.  He  tan^^M 
Mi'hool  Ml  N  atnliill  eonnty,  ami  wai  i  lei'teil  |irol)ati.i  juil>(e.  lie  w.i.i  oi- 
(end  a  i»res-i  al  Orejfon  City  il  he  woiihl  CMt.ihlish  a  wliijj  iiew:.i|iaper  at  that 


lace,  \Niiiih  he  ihelilieil;  (ait  111  iK.'iM  lie  piirehaMeil  the  iS'/x  ■7((^l(•  jiiiv-s  nn  I 
III  Ijieil  niati  rially  to  toiinil  the  jiieHeiit  ie|iii)ilieaii  iMirty  ot  (h't'^in.  lie  m.ih 
rewanleil  with  tliti  collc.!t(«rMlii|i  at  Antoriu  uiitlui'  LiuuuUi.  I'ortluml  \\i-^t 
Nhiiir,  May,  |H7(k 


POLITICAL  ISSLT:S. 


171 


S/iihsmiiii, 


WashinGfton.  The  lejrislativo  memorial  and  conmiu- 
iiicatioiis  from  the  governor  and  secretary  wen;  spread 
Itcfure  l)oth  houses  of  conirress.®^  The  same  mail 
which  conveyed  the  memorial  conveyed  a  copy  of  the 
jdcation  act,  the  governor's  message  on  tlie  sul)ject, 
the  (►|)inion  of  Attornoy-Oeneral  Crittenden,  and  the 
opinions  of  the  district  judges  of  (h'egon.  Tlie  presi- 
dent in  order  to  put  an  end  to  the  quarrel  recom- 
mended congress  to  fix  tlie  seat  of  government  of 
Oii'gon  either  temporarily  or  permanently,  and  to 
ajtpiove  or  disapprove  the  laws  passed  at  Salem,  in 
c(tiit'(»rinity  to  their  decision**  in  favor  of  or  against 
that  pla<-e  for  the  seat  of  government.  To  disapprove 
th  •  .ution  of  the  assend)Iy  would  he  to  cause  the 
liulhfii  ation  of  many  useful  laws,  and  to  create  pro- 
tiitcted  confusion  without  ending  the  j)olitical  f(!ud. 
A«<oi'dingly  congress  confirmed  the  location  ami  other 
laws  passed  at  Saleni,  hy  a  joint  resolution,  and  the 
president  signed  it  on  the  4th  of  May.®' 

Thus  far  the  legislative  party  was  triumphant. 
Tilt  imported  officials  had  heen  rel)uke<l;  the  <'ourso 
of  ( iovernor  (iaines  had  hecfi  commented  on  by  many 
of  the  eastern  papers  in  no  flattering  terms;  and  let- 
tcis  from  their  <lelegate  letl  them  to  hi'lieve  that 
congress  might  grant  the  amendments  asked  to  tlui 
organic  act,  permitting  them  to  elect  their  governor 
aiid  judges.  The  housi^  did  indeed  on  the  22d  of 
. I  line  pass  a  hill  to  anieiul,"'  hut  no  action  was  taki-n 
u|i(iii  it  ill  the  s«'nate.  though  a  motion  was  made  to 
ret  lull  it,  with  other  untinished  husiness,  at  the  close 
of  the  session,  to  the  Ijles  of  tlu'  senate. 

The  difference  hetween  the  first  Oreuon  deleijfate 
and  the  second  was  very  apparent  in  tin;  nianagenunt 

•^'.f,'</f '..»(/.,  Ul  ScM.,  S.  Jiivr.,  .S31»!  Cnmi.  C'lnhr.  JS.;i.?,  4.")l.  771;  ."?•.'-/ 
Cii'J.,    ht   Si'hh.,  It.  Minr.  J)„r.   ID;  J.'ilCwil.,   /•./ ,S'.  .ti..   //.  Kr.  J)nc.  Hi,  '.'it. 

"".;.'./  ('oiifj.,  iMf  SiKM.,  II.  L'r.  Dm'.  ;*.;,  I-'J;  and  /</.,  .%',  I  S;  l.„aUii,n 
/.'!"',    I   :tl).      riic   l.iirfifioii  J.iiir  in  u  imniphliit   jiultliouliou  ooutuiiiiii^  tliu 

llinlllllt  IiIh  oil  tIliN  Hlllljret. 

'■■r„„,i.  iilnl,,.  l.^r.l  J,  iniit.  VM)',  .Ul  Cov;!.,  1"'  ^Vs^.,  ,S.  Jour.,  304; 
(»/■    .^V</^J()/|((,(,  .Iiiiic 'J'.l,   |.S.V_*;   li,-.  dm.   f.inr^,   /.V./.i-O',^,  71. 


172 


APMIXISTRATION  OF  OAIXES. 


<\' 


.li 
i: 


! 


of*  this  l»usiiM>sM.  Ifjul  Thurston  liocn  <'l);u;jf«<I  by  his 
party  tc»  jnociiru  tlie  jmssnujfc  of  this  amtiuhiKiit,  tin; 
juuriiiils  of  the  house  would  have  shown  soni»'  hold 
and  fi»iy  assaults  upon  t'stahlishcd  rules,  and  proofs 
jiositivi!  that  the  iiuiovation  was  nocessary  to  the 
)>i'aco  and  prospciity  of  the  territory.  <  )n  the  <on- 
trary,  Lane  was  betrayed  hy  his  loyjdty  to  his  per- 
s«;nal  friends  into  seeiniiii,'  tt»  diMiy  the  alleu^ations  of 
his  eonstituents  against  the  judiciary. 

The  location  (|uostion  led  to  the  rcj:jular  organiza- 
tion of  a  deinoeratie  party  in  Oregon  in  the  spfingof 
1H;V2,  forcing  the  whigs  to  nominate  a  ticket.  'I'he 
democrats  cariied  the  elect i(»n;  an<l  soon  after  this 
triumph  came  the  otHcial  information  of  th(>  actioM  of 
congress  on  the  location  law,  when  (iaines,  with  that 
want  of  ta«'t  which  rendered  abortive  his  administra- 
tion, was  no  sooner  ojHciidly  informed  of  the  conliiiiia- 
tion  of  tlu'  laws  of  th«'  legislative  assemhly  and  the 
settlement  <»f  the  seat-of-government  (piest ion  than  he 
issued  a  pro<-lamation  calling  for  a  s|)ecial  session  ot' 
tlu?  ligislaturo  to  commence  on  the  '2(>th  <»f  .July.  In 
hedienee  t(»  the  call,  the  newly  elected  niendieis,  many 
f  w  hom  Wel'e  of  the  late  leuislativi'  l)odv,  assemhled 


o 


o 


at  Salem,  and  organized  hy  cK'cting  Deady  jnusitli  nt 
of  the  coumil,  an<l  Harding  speaker  of  tin*  house. 
With  tlu>  same  absence  of  discretit)n  the  governor  in 
his  message,  aftei'  congratulating  thitm  on  the  settle- 
ment of  a  vexed  »pi(>slion,  informed  the  legislaturt; 
that  it  was  still  a  matter  of  grave  d<tubt  tt»  what  ex- 
tent the  htcation  aet  had  been  confirmed;  and  that 
even  had  it  been  wholly  and  permam-ntly  cNtablished, 
it  was  still  so  (h'fective  as  t(»  r«'(|uire  fu.iili<r  legiNJa- 
tioii,  for  whi(  h  piu'pose  he  had  calh-d  them  tog»lh<  f, 
thou<»h  i'onscious  it  was  at  a  season  of  the  vear  w  la  ii 
to  atteial  to  this  imp<»rtant  <luty  would  seriously  in- 
tcrfi're  with  their  ordinary  avocations;  yet  he  hoped 
tlu'V  would  be  willin*''  to  make  any  reasonable  saeri- 
lice  for  the  general  good.    The  defects  ill  the  location 


OFFICIAL  WARFARE. 


173 


act  wore  poiiitocl  out,  ami  tlu-y  wwc  roniindcd  that 
no  sites  I'ortlu'  |»ul)lic  huild'mjLTs  Iiad  vit  Ikhii  stk-ctc*!, 
:iti<l  until  that  was  done  no  <ontia«'ts  could  Itc  let  for 
l»t  ;,nniiinj;  tin;  work;  nor  rould  any  money  l»e  drawn 
from  tlic  sums  a|)j>roj>riated  until  the  commissioners 
were  aulliorizcd  \>y  law  to  call  tor  it.  lie  also  calleil 
theii'  attention  to  the  necessity  of  re-arrane^inLf  the 
jutliiiid  <listricts,  and  reminded  them  of  tlu-  ineon- 
:,Miiiiiis  ('oi»dition  of  the  laws,  rocoimn«'ndin<^  the  ap- 
|Hiintnient  of  a  boanl  for  their  revision,  witii  other 
sUL^uestions,  jjfood  enough  in  themselves,  but  distaste- 
ful as  eominir  from  him  under  the  circumstances,  and 


at  an  umisua 


I  and 


mconvenit'nt  time. 


asstiu 


My  adj 


In  this  mood  the 

ourned  slur  ilif  on  the  third  dav,  with- 

in.siicted  anv  leLnsiativ*-  husmess.  and  iiie 


out  having  tran.siicted  any  legislativ*-  business,  and  tl 
seat-of-go\ernment  feu<l  lu'eanu'  <|nieted  for  a  time. 

This  di«l  not,  however,  end  tlu'  battle.     The  chief 
justic(^  refused  to  recognize  the  )»ro.se<'Uting  attorney 


•fed  l»v   the  letfislativ 


e    assi'Ul 


bh 


in 


th 


u;  absence 


of  .Vmory  llalbrook,  and  appointed  S.  ]i.  ^Tayre, 
who  actetl  in  this  capacity  at  the  spring  term  of  court 
ill  (  laekamas  countv.  The  law  of  the  territory  re- 
'|uiiing  mdictments  to  be  signed  by  this  officer,  it  was 
iip|irehended  that  on  account  of  the  irregular  proceed- 
ings of  the  chief  justice  many  indi<*tments  woukl  be 
<|Uashed.  In  this  condition  of  affairs  the  <lemocrati(! 
•ri'ss  was  ardently  advocating  the  election  of  Frank- 
in  i*ierce,  tin.'  party  candidate  for  the  piesidency  of 
the  I'nited  States,  as  if  the  welfare  of  \\\v  territory 
liepi  nded  upon  tlu'  executive  Ix'ing  a  democrat.  Al- 
though the  remainder  of  daines'  administration  was 
more  peaci'ful,  he  never  became  a  favorite  of  either 
taction,  and  gri'at  was  tin-  rejoicing  when  at  the  close 
"I  his  delegateship  Lane  was  r»'turne«l  to  ( )i'egon  as 
governor,  to  resign  and  run  again  for  <lelegate,  leav- 
ing his  He<'retary,  (Tcorge  L.  Curry,  one  of  the  Salem 
'iiijue,  as  the  party  ieadeis  canu'  to  be  denominated, 
til  rule  according  to  their  prou4>ting8. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


;siM  Ilia 

•■'  IM    |||||Z2 


1^ 


2.0 


U    IIIIII.6 


V] 


-3 


vQ 


/ 


y 


/A 


PhotDgraphic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WKT  MAIN  STRUT 

wiasriR  N.Y.  )45ao 

(716)  Vn-AVX 


■o-  .*,  '^U 


>» 


^ 


'%'• 


CHAPTER  VI. 


DISCOVERY  OP  GOLD  IN  OREGON". 
1850-1852. 

Politics  and  Prospecting— Immigration — An  Era  of  Discovery— Ex- 
plorations ON  THE  Southern  Oregon  Seaboard — The  California 
Company — The  Schooner  'Samuel  Roberts'  at  the  Mouths  of 
Rogue  River  and  the  Umpqua— Meeting  with  the  Oregon  Party — 
Laying-out  of  Lands  and  Town  Sites — Failure  of  the  Umpqua 
Company — The  Finding  of  Gold  in  Various  Localities— The  Mail 
Service — Efforts  of  Thurston  in  Congress — Settlement  of  Pout 
Orfoud  and  Discovery  of  Coos  Bay — The  Colony  at  Port  Ohfoiiu — 
Indian  Attack— The  TVault  Expedition — Massacre— Government 
Assistance. 

While  politics  occupied  ao  much  attention,  the 
country  was  making  long  strides  in  material  progress. 
The  inmiigration  of  1850  to  the  Pacific  coaHt,  l)y  tho 
overland  route  alone,  amounted  to  between  thirty  and 
forty  thousand  persons,  chiefly  mer  I'hrough  the 
exertions  of  the  Oregon  delegate,  i  id  out  of  con- 
gress, about  eight  thousand  were  persuaded  to  settle 
in  Oregon,  where  they  arrived  after  undergoing  more 
than  the  usual  misfortunes.  Amonj^  other  things  was 
cholera,  from  which  several  hundred  died  between  tlu* 
Missouri  River  and  Fort  Laiauiie.^  The  crowded 
condition  of  the  road,  which  was  one  cause  of  the 

f)e8tilence,  occasioned  delays  with  the  consequent  ex- 
laustion  of  supplies. **     The  fan?ine  becoming  knowti 
in  Portland,  assistance  was  forwarded  to  The  Dalles 

>  White,  in  Camp  Ftrr  Omtiom,  MS.,  9-10 j  Dowfll's  Journal,  MS.,  0; 
Johnmn'H  Cnl.  ami  Or.,  250i  Or.  SiiPitntor,  Sept.  26,  1850. 

'Siiynuno  of  tlio  Bufferera:  'Isiiwinon  who  liatl  been  strong  Htout  nivn 
walking  alonu  tlirough  the  hot  doHort  Bunilg,  oryinu  like  children  with  fatigue, 
hunger,  uud  uospolr.'  CardwtU't  Emtg.  Comp'y,  MS.,  1. 

( 17«  » 


IMMIGRATION  OF  1850. 


175 


RY— Ex- 

[.IFOHNIA 

u'l'iia   Of 

rAKTY— 

Umpqoa 

UK  Mail 

()V  Tout 

JitFonu— 

^EKNMENT 


>n, 


the 


■oi^ress. 
by  tlui 
'ty  and 
trh  tbo 
of  con- 
scttle 
hr  inot'o 
\\^n  was 
>on  tlu' 
rovvdcd 
of  the 
icTit  ex- 
Ik  now  n 
Dalles 

If,  MS.,!"); 

Ltout  men 
th  fatigue, 


military  post,  and  thence  carried  forward  and  distrib- 
uted by  army  officers  and  soldiers.  Among  the  arrivals 
were  many  children,  made  orphans  en  route,  and  it 
was  in  the  interest  of  these  and  like  helpless  ones 
that  Frederick  Waymire  petitioned  congress  to  amend 
the  land  law,  as  mentioned  in  the  previous  chapter. 
Those  who  came  this  year  were  bent  on  speculation 
more  than  any  who  had  come  before  them;  the  gold 
fever  had  unsettled  ideas  of  plodding  industry  and 
slow  accumulation.  Some  came  for  pleasure  and  ob- 
servation." 

Under  the  excitement  of  gold-seeking  and  the 
spirit  of  adventure  awakened  by  it,  all  the  great 
north-western  seaboard  was  opened  to  settlement  with 
marvellous  rapidity.  A  rage  for  discovery  and  pros- 
pecting possessed  the  people,  and  produced  in  a  short 
time  marked  results.  From  the  Klamath  River  to 
Puget  Sound,  and  from  the  upper  Columbia  to  the 
sea,  men  were  spying  out  mineral  wealth  or  laying 
])lans  to  profit  by  the  operations  of  those  who  pre- 
ferred the  risks  of  the  gold-fields  to  other  and  more 
settled  pursuits.  In  the  spring  of  1850  an  association 
of  seventy  persons  was  formed  in  San  Francisco  to 
discover  the  mouth  of  Klamath  River,  believed  at  the 

•  Among  those  who  took  the  route  to  the  Columbia  River  was  Henry  J. 
Coiio,  III)  I'^nglisii  gentleman  travelling  for  pluasure.  lie  arrived  at  Vancouver 
Oct.  1".*,  isr>0,  and  after  a  brief  look  at  Oregon  City  sailed  in  tlie  Marij  Dare 
for  the  Inlands,  visiting  San  Francisco  in  Feb.  1851,  thence  proceetling  to 
Mjxico  and  Vera  Cruz,  and  by  the  way  of  St  Thomas  Itaok  to  Knghmd,  all 
witlidttt  appearing  to  see  much,  though  he  wrote  a  IxMjk  called  <'i)h'n  llUle, 
Two  [""renchmen,  Julius  Brenchly  and  Jules  Reniy,  were  nuich  interested  in 
tlic  Mormons,  and  wrote  a  book  of  not  much  value,  liiinii  and  Unnclily,  ii, 
507-8. 

1'.  (t.  Heam  started  from  Kentucky  intending  to  settle  in  Oregon,  but 
Bt'i/cil  by  cholera  was  kept  at  Fort  Larande  till  tlie  follow  ini;  year,  when  with 
ft  party  of  six  he  came  on  to  the  Willamette  Valley,  and  tinally  took  up  Ids  ro.si- 
(leiicc  at  Vroka,  California.  J/i'ani'n  Cal(t\>ruia  Ski-tchm,  MiS.,  is  a  collection 
of  oli.servations  on  the  border  country  lietween  California  and  Ori'gon. 

Two  Irishmen,  Kelly  and  Conway,  crossed  the  continent  this  year  with  no 
other  supplies  than  they  carried  in  tlieir  iiaversacks,  de|)ending  on  their  ritles 
for  food.  They  were  only  throe  mimtlis  in  travelling  fron»  Kansas  to  tlie  Sac- 
ramentt)  Valley,  which  they  entered  before  going  to  Oregon.  Qiiiijli'y'ii  IriMh 
liiiir,  'Jl(l-I7.  During  Aug.  and  Sept.  of  this  year  Oregon  was  visited  by  the 
Kreiu'ii  traveller  Saint  Amant,  who  made  some  unimportant  notes  for  the 
Frciu  h  government.  Certain  of  his  observations  were  anucryphal.  See  Haint 
Aimutl,  130-301. 


176 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


time,  owing  to  an  error  of  Fremont's,  to  be  in  Oregon. 
The  object  was  wholly  speculative,  and  included  be- 
sides hunting  for  gold  the  opening  of  a  road  to  the 
mines  of  northern  California,  the  founding  of  towns 
at  the  most  favorable  points  on  the  route,  with  other 
enterprises.  In  May  thirty-five  of  the  shareholders, 
and  some  others,  set  out  in  the  schooner  Scnrucl  Roh- 
erts  to  explore  the  coast  near  the  Oregon  boundary. 
None  of  them  were  accustomed  to  hardships,  and  not 
more  than  three  knew  anything  about  sailing  a  ship. 
Lyman,  the  captain  and  owner,  was  not  a  sailor,  but 
left  the  management  of  the  vessel  to  Peter  Mackie,  a 
young  Canadian  who  understood  his  business,  and  who 
subsequently  for  many  years  sailed  a  steamship  be- 
tween San  Francisco  and  Portland.  Lyman's  second 
mate  was  an  Englishman  named  Sanmel  E.  Smith, 
also  a  fair  seaman;  while  the  rest  of  the  crew  were 
volunteers  from  among  the  schooner's  company. 

The  expedition  was  furnished  with  a  four-pound 
carronade  and  small  arms.  For  shot  they  brought 
half  a  ton  of  nails,  screws,  hinges,  and  other  bits  of 
iron  gathered  from  the  ashes  of  a  burned  hardware 
store.  Provisions  were  abundant,  and  two  survej'ors, 
with  their  instruments,  were  among  the  company,* 
which  boasted  several  college  graduates  and  men  of 
parts." 

By  good  fortune,  rather  than  by  any  knowledge  or 
superior  management,  the  schooner  passed  safely  up 
the  coast  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Rogue  River,  but 
without  having  seen  the  entrance  to  the  Klamath, 
which  they  looked  for  north  of  its  right  latitude.    A 

*  Those  were  Nathan  Schoflohl,  A.  M. ,  author  of  a  work  on  surveylncf,  and 
SocratcB  Hchollchl  hia  son,  both  from  near  Norwich,  Connuuticut.  Soholiohl 
Crui'k  in  Douuliis  county  is  numod  after  tlic  htttor. 

'  UcHidcH  tlic  Scholk'Uls  there  wore  in  the  exploring  coiniwiny  Ileinan  Win- 
clioster,  mid  l)n)tiier,  editor  of  tlie  Parijie  Xam  of  San  Francisco;  Dr  llt'nry 
Payne,  of  New  York;  I)r  E.  R.  Finke,  of  iMaBsaciinBetts;  S.  S,  Mann,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Harvai'd  University;  I)r.J.  W.  Drew,  of  New  Hampshire;  IJurncy,  nf 
New  York ;  Wooilbury ,  of  ( 'oinieutiout;  0.  T.  Hopkins,  of  Han  Francisco;  Henry 
n.  Woodward,  Patrick  Flanagan,  Antliony  Ten  Eyuk,  A.  U.  Able,  .James  K. 
Kelly,  afterwanl  a  leading  man  in  Orogon  politic!;  Doan,  Tiermun,  Evans, 
and  Knigiit,  whoso  names  liavo  boon  preserved. 


ROGUE  RIVER  EXPLORATIONS. 


177 


egon. 
d  be- 

0  the 
towns 
other 
(Iders, 

1  Roh- 
idary. 
id  not 
I  ship. 
)r,  but 
diie,  a 
id  wlio 
lip  bc- 
sccond 
Smith, 
iv  were 

•-pound 

)rought 

bits  of 

rdwaro 

veyors, 

ipany,* 

men  of 

dgo  or 
rely  up 
^r,  but 
iiuath, 
lo.    A 


iriim,  ami 
ISoholieUl 

Imii  Win- 
\  lli'uvy 
la  gnulu- 
liinuy,  "f 
b;  llDiiry 
|iuueB  K. 


boat  with  six  men  sent  to  examine  the  entrance  was 
overturned  in  the  river  and  two  were  drowned,  the 
others  being  rescued  by  Indians  who  pulled  tlieni 
ashore  to  strip  them  of  their  clothing.  The  schooner 
meantinie  was  following  in,  and  by  the  aid  of  glasses 
it  was  discovered  that  the  shore  was  populous  with 
excited  savages  running  hither  and  thither  with  such 
display  of  ferocity  as  would  have  deterred  the  vessel 
from  entering  had  not  those  on  board  determined  to 
rescue  their  comrades  at  any  hazard,  It  was  high 
tide,  and  by  much  manoeuvring  the  schooner  was 
run  over  the  bar  in  a  fathom  and  a  half  of  water. 
The  shout  of  relief  as  they  entered  the  river  was 
answered  by  yells  from  the  shore,  where  could  be 
seen  the  survivors  of  tlie  boat's  crew,  naked  and  half 
dead  with  cold  and  exhaustion,  being  freely  handled 
by  their  captors.  As  soon  as  the  vessel  was  well 
inside,  two  hundred  natives  appeared  and  crowded  on 
board,  tiie  explorers  being  unable  to  prevent  them. 
The  best  they  could  do  was  to  feign  indifference  and 
trade  the  old  iron  for  peltries.  When  the  natives  had 
nothing  left  to  exchange  for  coveted  articles,  they  ex- 
liihitrd  an  ingenuity  as  thieves  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  a  London  pickpocket.  Says  one  of  the  con.  • 
I)any:  "Some  grabbed  the  cook's  towels,  one  bit  a 
hole  in  the  shirt  of  one  of  our  men  to  get  at  somo 
lu'ads  he  had  deposited  tliere,  and  so  slyly,  too,  that 
the  latter  did  not  perceive  his  loss  at  the  time.  One 
fi'llow  stole  the  eye-glass  of  the  shij)'s  (juadrant,  and 
another  made  way  with  the  surveyor's  note-book. 
Some  started  the  schooner's  copper  with  their  teeth; 
and  had  actually  made  some  progress  in  stripping  her 
as  she  lay  high  and  dry  at  low  water,  before  they 
Were  found  out.  One  enterprising  genius  undertook 
to  get  possession  of  the  chain  and  anchor  by  sawing 
otl'  the  former  under  water  with  his  iron  knife  1  Con- 
seioUH  of  guilt,  and  fearing  lest  we  might  discover  the 
inisehief  he  intended  us,  he  would  now  and  then  throw 
u  furtive  glance  toward  the  bow  of  the  vessel,  to  the 

Uht.  Ob.,  Vol.  II.    12 


178 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


!    ! 


great  amusement  of  those  who  were  watching  him 
through  the  hawse  pipes." 

An  examination  more  laborious  than  profitable  was 
made  of  the  country  thereabout,  which  seemed  to 
offer  no  inducements  to  enterprise  sufficient  to  war- 
rant the  founding  of  a  settlement  for  any  purpose. 
Upon  consultation  it  was  decided  to  continue  the 
voyage  as  far  north  as  the  Umpqua  River,  and  hav- 
ing dispersed  the  tenacious  thieves  of  Rogue  River  by 
firing  among  them  a  quantity  of  their  miscellaneous 
ammunition,  the  schooner  succeeded  in  getting  to  sea 
again  without  accident. 

Proceeding  up  the  coast,  the  entrance  to  Coos  Bay 
was  sighted,  but  the  vessel  being  becalmed  could  not 
enter.  While  awaiting  wind,  a  canoe  approached 
from  the  north,  containing  Umpquas,  who  offered  to 
show  the  entrance  to  their  river,  which  was  made  the 
5th  of  August.  Two  of  the  party  went  ashore  in  the 
canoe,  returning  at  nightfall  with  reports  that  caused 
the  carronade  to  belch  forth  a  salute  to  the  rocks  and 
woods,  heightened  by  the  roar  of  a  simultaneous  dis- 
charge of  small  arms.  A  flag  made  on  the  voyage 
was  run  up  the  mast,  and  all  was  hilarity  on  board 
the  Samuel  Roberts.  On  the  6th,  the  schooner  crossed 
the  bar,  being  the  first  vessel  known  to  have  entered 
the  river  in  safety.  On  rounding  into  the  cove  called 
Winchester  Bay,  after  one  of  the  explorers,  they  camo 
upon  a  party  of  Oregonians;  Jesse  Applegate,  Levi 
Scott,  and  Joseph  Sloan,  who  were  themselves  ex- 
ploring the  valley  of  the  Umpqua  with  a  purpose 
similar  to  their  own.®  A  boat  was  sent  ashore  and  a 
joyful  meeting  took  place  in  which  mutual  encournufc- 
mont  and  assistance  were  promised.  It  was  found  tliat 
Scott  had  already  taken  a  claim  about  twenty-six 
miles  up  the  river  at  the  place  which  now  bears  tlio 
name  of  Scottsburg,  and  that  the  party  had  conio 
down  to  the  mouth  in  the  expectation  of  meeting 

'^Or.  Spectator,  Moroh  7  and  Sept,  12,  1850.    See  also  Pionur  Mag.,  u 
282,  300. 


THE  UMPQUA  COMPANY. 


179 


there  the  United  States  surveying  schooner  Eiving, 
in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  good  report  of  the  harbor. 
But  on  learning  the  designs  of  the  California  com- 
])any,  a  hearty  cooperation  was  offered  on  one  part, 
and  willingly  accepted  on  the  other.  Another  cir- 
cumstance in  favor  of  the  Umpqua  for  settlement 
was  the  peaceable  disposition  of  the  natives,  who 
since  the  days  when  they  murdered  Jedediah  Smith's 
])arty  had  been  brought  under  the  pacifying  influ- 
ences of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  sustained 
a  good  reputation  as  compared  with  the  other  coast 
tribes. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  the  schooner  proceeded 
up  the  river,  keeping  the  channel  by  sounding  from  a 
small  boat  in  advance,  and  finding  it  one  of  the  love- 
liest of  streams-/  at  least,  so  thought  the  explorers, 
one  of  whom  afterward  became  its  historian.*^  Findinj; 
a  good  depth  of  water,  with  the  tide,  for  a  distance 
of  eighteen  miles,  the  boat's  crew  became  negligent, 
and  failing  to  note  a  gravelly  bar  at  the  foot  of  a  bluff 
a  tliousand  feet  in  height  the  schooner  grounded  in 
eight  feet  of  water,  and  when  the  tide  ebbed  was  left 
stranded.* 

However,  the  small  boat  proceeded  to  the  foot  of  the 
rapids,  where  Scott  was  located,  this  being  the  head 
of  tide- water,  and  the  vessel  was  afterward  brought 
safely  hither.     In  consideration  of  their  services  in 


'  It  is  the  largest  river  between  the  Sacramento  and  the  Cohnnbia.  'Ves- 
sels (if  8()0  tons  can  enter.'  Mri  Victor,  i\\  I'ar.  L'tirat  J'rcsH,  Nov,  8,  1870. 
'Tin'  I'nipqiui  is  sometimes  suppost'd  to  b;;  ::he  river  discovered  by  Flores  in 
ICiO.'l,  and  afterwards  referred  to  as  the  "River  of  tlio  West."'  Dai'iUi'Oii'n 
Count  I'M,  1'20. 

•■'riiis  was  Charles  T.  Hopkins,  who  wrote  an  account  of  the  Umpqua  ad- 
V(>iituni  for  the  »S.  /'  Pioneer,  vol.  i.  ii.,  a  periodical  published  in  the  early 
iliiN  s  of  California  nuiga/.ine  literature.  I  have  drawn  my  accou)it  partly  from 
tliin  Ho\irce,  as  well  as  from  Gibh^'  Notes  on  Or.  Hist.,  MS.,  'i-.'l,  an(l  from 
lliiiDiicalCorrexpoHifence,  MS.,  by  S.  S.  Mann,  S.  F.  Chadwick,  H.  H.  Wood- 
Villi!,  niend)cra  of  the  Umpqua  company,  and  also  from  other  sources,  among 
Willi  li  are  Wittiamn'  S.  iV.  Oreijon,  MS.,  2-3.;  letters  of  D.  J.  Lyons,  and  the 
0/f ;/()»  SperUitor,  Sept.  5,  1850;  Dtady^a  Scrap-Book,  83;  S.  F.  Evening  Pica- 
yi(ii,\  Sept.  0,  \sm. 

•(iibbs  says:  'The  passengers  endeavored  to  lighten  th»»  cargo  by  pouring 
till'  vcsHi'l's  store  of  liiptors  down  their  throats,  from  wliioh  hllariout  proceed* 
iiig  the  slioul  took  the  name  of  Braudy  Bar.'  Notes,  MS.,  4. 


180 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


^fi 


i:|i 


V 


I'll 


opening  the  river  to  navigation  and  commerce,  Scott 
presented  the  company  with  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  his  land-claim,  or  that  portion  lying  below 
the  rapids,  for  a  town  site.  Affairs  having  progressed 
so  well  the  members  of  the  expedition  now  organized 
regularly  into  a  joint  stock  association  called  the 
"IJmpqua  Town-site  and  Colonization  Land  Coni- 
pany,"  the  property  to  be  divided  into  shares  and 
drawn  by  lot  among  the  original  members.  They 
divided  their  forces,  and  aided  by  Applegate  and 
Scott  proceeded  to  survey  and  explore  to  and  through 
the  Umpqua  Valley.  One  party  set  out  for  the  ferry 
on  the  north  branch  of  the  Umpqua,  and  another  for 
the  main  valley,^"  coming  out  at  Applegate's  settlement 
of  Yoncalla,  while  a  third  remained  with  the  sclK^oner. 
Three  weeks  of  industrious  search  enabled  them  to 
select  four  sites  for  future  settlements.  One  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  was  named  Umpqua  City,  and 
contained  twelve  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  being 
situated  on  both  sides  of  the  entrance.  The  second 
location  was  Scottsburg.  The  third,  called  Elkton, 
was  situated  on  Elk  liiver  at  its  junction  with  the 
Umpqua.  The  fourth,  at  the  ferry  above  mentioned, 
was  named  Winchester,  and  was  purchased  by  the 
company  from  the  original  claimant,  John  Aiken, 
who  had  a  valuable  property  at  that  place,  the  natural 
centre  of  the  valley. 

Having  made  these  selections  according  to  the  best 
judgment  of  the  surveyors,  some  of  the  company 
remained,  while  the  rest  reembarked  and  returned  to 
San  Francisco.  In  October  the  company  having  sold 
quite  a  number  of  lots  were  able  to  begin  operations 
in  Oregon.  They  despatched  the  brig  Kate  Heath, 
Captain  Thomas  Wood,  with  milling  machinery,  mer- 
chandise, and  seventy-five  emigrants.  On  this  vessel 
were  also  a  number  of  zinc  houses  made  in  Boston, 

"Oakland,  a  few  milei  south  of  Yoncalla,  was  laid  out  in  1849  by  Chcstrr 
Lyman,  since  a  professor  at  Yale  College.  This  is  the  oldest  surveyed  to«  ii 
in  the  Umpqua  Valley.  Or,  Skelchen,  MH.,  3. 


GIBBS  AXD  CHADmcK 

«H*s,  afterward  Xrnor  tfT"'  ''''  ^''''«»»  C 
«ay  to  the  torritory  when  h^cn  ?"'"!•  *•>«  "'asonhis 
"f  t;.o  scheme,  an/;:  eTt^^^^"  ■»-'«>  the projeetoi 

Thus  far  all  went  well      RK^r'^r"'' ''''»•««■" 
I'any  were  destined  to  bear  som„    fZ  Umpqua  Com- 
« Inch  usually  attend  litf   T    "•'^  *''°'«'  >"isfortunes 

Wow,  framed  as  it  was  tn  n.    ^  J"'*''  *««  the  firet 
1-o.s.dents  from  holdiriaXfoi^'s    '°',"''?"'"^  "'•  """- 
'"  «.nsequenee  of  svbichl^ZT"^f;X'  P"'l>°''^^' 
'•'""I'any,  and  it  couid  cive  ^,„ffi  "l"'''  "*'*"<'  t"  the 
was  offering  for  sale.     TlZZl"  *°  f'"  '«'"'»  it 
'■■^"•'^■'l  on  a  trade  be<.un  in      '^    '  ""''''buked,  have 
"'"^  vessel  loaded  ^vith  piles  ant'h''  ■''"'  *"  '""^^  "f 
;>(  a=.'other,  together  ^vi  h  i  ?,,l    ^'^i"""^ '^'^tention 
t lie  pnce  of  tlSir  cargoes  soon     ft  *,*"•''  P*^"-  ««"t  m 
jl'-'l't,  and  an  assignment  w,^  f  *"'"  ^ntraetors  i„ 
'■"food  by  the  fallu  e  of  the  fi^^"  'T^*'  »"  «^'-'"t 
«,!"'  winch   the  eouipanv  h'l         '"•??  Franeisco 

J'vo,„onthsaftertheSrnofth'''v""''','''''  ''"'"'»• 
f^ari  Franeiseo,  not  one  of  H.o,*""""'^ ''''''*<-'■'•*•  to 

.Her  in  her  was  in   "uv  Li,?    *  '"'^  ''"'"  *''« 

^'•"P-lua  seheine  Tl?,,^  "'""■  ™»"oeted  with  the 
-<-''  to  furn Lh  ,ne™^t^"■^";.^'''»"'•'>''' '"  v  " 
•■';"1>^>M  to  .liree  tS  eZ'ts  f  '"  9''^'"'  ^'^-'^ 
I'lol'len.  of  i,ow  to  live."'  '°"'"'''  ""'""Jf  the 

"  I>'t'w  leu.aine,)  af  TT  *""'  P'^''*'<^ttl  C'- 


( 


182 


DISCOVERY  or  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


If'  II 'if 


I 


!■!' 


i:^i! 


{I 


;  1 


ii! 


But  although  the  Umpqua  Company  failed  to  carry- 
out  its  designs,  it  had  greatly  benefited  southern 
Oregon  by  surveying  and  mapping  Umpqua  harbor, 
the  notes  of  the  survey  being  published,  with  a  report 
of  their  explorations  and  discoveries  of  rich  agricul- 
tural lands,  abundant  and  excellent  timber,  valuable 
water-power,  coal  and  gold  mines,  fisheries  and  stone- 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May  1849  at  AUmny.  He  is  descended  from  a 
long  line  of  lawyers  in  England ;  his  great  grandfather  was  a  commissioned 
otHcer  in  the  revolntionary  war.  In  Oregon  he  acted  well  his  part  of  pioneer, 
carrying  the  mail  in  person,  or  by  deputy,  from  Yoncalla  to  Soottsburg  for  a 
l)eriod  of  four  years  through  the  noods  and  storms  of  the  wild  coast  mount- 
ains, never  missing  a  trip.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of  18ul-2. 
When  (iardiner  was  made  a  port  of  entry,  (jibl)s  became  collector  of  customs 
for  the  southern  district  of  Oregon.  He  afterward  removed  to  the  Umpqua 
Valley,  and  in  18o8  to  i'ortland,  where  he  continued  the  practice  of  law.  Ho 
was  ever  a  true  friend  of  Oregon,  taking  a  great  i)ersonal  interest  in  her  de- 
velopment and  an  intelligent  pride  in  her  history.  He  has  spared  no  paius 
in  giving  me  information,  which  is  embodied  in  a  manuscript  entitled.  Notei 
oil  the  JJistor//  ofOrajon. 

Stephen  Fowler  Chadwick,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  studied  law  in  New 
York,  where  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1850,  immediately  after  which  lie 
set  out  for  the  Pacific  coast,  joining  the  Umpqua  Company  and  arriving  in 
Oregon  just  in  time  to  be  left  a  stranded  speculator  on  the  beautiful  but 
lonely  bank  of  that  picturesque  river.  When  the  settlement  of  the  valley 
increased  he  practised  his  profession  with  honor  and  profit,  being  elected 
county  and  probate  ju<lge,  and  also  to  represent  Douglas  county  in  the  con- 
vention which  framed  the  state  constitution.  He  «as  presidential  elector  in 
1804  and  1868,  being  the  messenger  to  carry  the  vote  to  Washington  in  the 
latter  year.  He  was  elected  secretary  of  state  in  1870,  which  office  he  held 
for  eight  years,  becoming  governor  for  the  last  two  years  by  the  resignation 
of  Grover,  who  was  elected  to  the  U.  8.  senate.  Governor  Chadwick  was  also 
a  distingiiished  member  of  the  order  of  freemasons,  having  been  grand  master 
in  the  lodge  of  Perfection,  and  having  received  the  33d  degree  in  the  .Scotch 
rite,  as  well  as  having  been  for  17  years  chairn)an  of  the  committee  on  foreign 
correspondence  for  the  grand  lodge  of  Oregon,  and  a  favorite  orator  of  the 
oi'der.  He  married  in  18r)0  Jane  A.  Smith  of  Douglas  county,  a  native  of 
''irginia,  by  whom  he  has  two  daughters  and  two  sons.  Of  a  lively  and  ami- 
rI)1c  temper  and  courteous  manner,  he  has  always  enjoyed  a  popularity  iudu- 
pendent  of  official  eminence.  His  contributions  to  this  history  consist  of 
tetters  and  a  brief  statement  of  the  Public  JlcconLi  of  the  C'ajntol  in  manuscript. 
I  shall  never  forget  his  kindness  to  me  during  my  visit  to  Oregon  in  \lu^- 
James  K.  Kelly  was  born  in  Center  county,  I'enn.,  in  1811),  educated  at  Priiui'- 
tou  college,  N.  J.,  and  studied  law  at  Carlisle  lawschool,  grailuating  in  lr'4'_', 
and  practising  in  Lewiston,  Pcnii.,  until  1841),  when  he  started  for  California 
by  way  of  Mexico.  Not  finding  mining  to  his  taste,  he  embarked  his  fortunis 
in  the  Umpqua  Company.  He  went  to  Oregon  City  and  soon  came  into  noliio. 
He  was  a2ipointed  code  commissioner  iji  18o3,  as  I  have  elsewhere  mentioned, 
and  was  in  the  same  year  elected  to  the  council,  of  which  he  was  a  mendjer  for 
four  years  and  president  for  two  sessions.  As  a  military  man  he  figured  con- 
spicuously in  the  Indian  wars.  Ho  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention in  18j7,  and  of  the  state  senate  in  1800.  In  1870  he  was  sent  to  tlio 
U.  S.  senate,  and  in  1878  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  coiiit. 
His  political  career  will  be  more  particularly  noticed  in  the  progress  of  this 
history. 


BIRTH  OF  TOWNS. 


183 


13 


quarries.  These  accounts  brought  population  to  that 
part  of  the  coast,  and  soon  vessels  began  to  ply  be- 
tween San  Francisco  and  Scottsburg.  Gardiner, 
named  after  the  captain  of  the  Bostonian,  which  was 
wrecked  in  trying  to  enter  the  river  in  1850,  sprang 
up  in  1851.  In  that  year  also  a  trail  was  constructed 
for  pack-animals  across  the  mountains  to  Winchester, 
which  became  the  county  seat  of  Douglas  county, 
with  a  United  States  land  office.  From  Winchester 
the  route  was  extended  to  the  mines  in  the  Umpqua 
and  Rogue  River  valleys.  Long  trains  of  mules 
laden  with  goods  for  the  mining  region  filed  daily 
along  the  precipitous  path  which  was  dignified  with 
the  name  of  road,  their  tinkling  bells  striking  cheerily 
the  ear  of  the  lonely  traveller  plodding  his  weary  way 
to  the  gold-fields.  Scottsburg,  which  was  the  point 
of  dopartm^e  for  the  pack-trains,  became  a  commercial 
entrepot  of  importance."  The  influence  of  the  Ump- 
qua interest  was  sufficient  to  obtain  from  congress  at 
the  session  of  1850-51  appropriations  for  mail  ser- 
vice by  sea  and  land,  a  light-house  at  the  mouth  ot 
the  river,  and  a  separate  collection  district.^^ 

As  the  mines  were  opened  permanent  settlements 
were  made  upon  the  farming  lands  of  southern  Oregon, 
and  various  small  towns  were  started  from   1851  to 

"  Winchester  waa  laid  out  by  Addison  C.  Flint,  who  was  in  Chile  in  184", 
til  j'.s.sist  in  the  prelixniuary  survey  of  the  railroad  snbseiiuently  built  by  tlio 
iiLuinous  Harry  Meigs.  In  1S49  Flint  came  to  California,  and  the  followin;.; 
y  iir  to  Oregon  to  make  surveys  for  the  Uinpciua  Company.  He  also  laid  out 
tln'  town  of  Roseburg  in  18J4  for  Aaron  Rose,  where  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  IS,")7.   Of.  .skrtclii'K,  MS.,  2-4. 

"Allan,  McKinlay,  and  ^IcTavish  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  opened 
n  tracliii;,'-house  at  Scottsburg;  and  Jesse  Api)legate  also  turned  nierohant. 
AppU'Ljatu's  manner  of  doing  business  is  described  by  himself  in  JJurnett's 
]!<r(,ll('r/!oii.-<  (if  a  Pioneer:  '1  sold  goods  on  credit  to  those  who  needed  them 
must,  not  to  those  who  were  able  to  pay,  lost  $;tO,()00,  and  quit  the  business.' 

'■'The  steamers  carrying  the  mails  from  I'anamii  to  the  Columl)ia  Kiver 
v,vvv  iiMiler  contract  to  stop  at  the  Unipqua,  and  one  entry  was  made,  but 
tlu'  wteamer  was  so  nearly  wrecked  that  no  further  attempt  followed.  The 
iiii'icliants  and  others  at  Scottsburg  and  the  lower  towns,  as  well  as  at 
A\  iiioliester,  had  to  wait  for  their  letters  and  papers  to  go  to  Portland  and  be 
siiit  up  the  valley  by  the  bi-monthly  mail  to  Yoncalla,  a  delay  which  was 
St  vilely  felt  and  impatiently  resented.  The  legislature  did  not  fail  to  repre- 
K;'iit  the  nuitter  to  congress,  aiul  Thurston  did  all  ho  could  to  satisfy  his  cou- 
KtitiKiits,  though  ho  couM  not  compel  the  steamship  comimiiy  to  keep  its 
contract  or  congress  to  annul  it. 


"' 


i|i 


fi  i: 


ui 


,:l!l 


184 


DISCOVERY  OP  GOLD  IX  OREGON. 


1853  in  the  region  south  of  Winchester,'"  notably  the 
town  of  Roseburg,  founded  by  Aaron  Rose,"  who 
purcliased  the  claim  from  its  locators  for  a  horse, 
and  a  poor  one  at  that.  A  flouring  mill  was  put  in 
oi)eration  in  the  northern  part  of  IJ  mpqua  Valley,  and 
another  erected  during  the  summer  of  1851  at  Win- 
chester.'^ A  saw-mill  soon  followed  in  the  Rogue 
River  Valley,'^  many  of  which  improvements  were 
traceable,  more  or  less  directly,  to  the  impetus  given 
to  settlement  by  the  Umpqua  Company. 

In  passing  back  tand  forth  to  California,  the  Oregon 
miners  had  not  failed  to  observe  that  the  same  soil  and 
geological  structure  characterized  the  valleys  north 
of  the  supposed^''  northern  boundary  of  California  that 

"  The  first  house  in  Rogue  River  Valley  wm  built  at  the  ferry  on  Rogue 
Rivcv  established  V)y  Joel  Perkins.  The  place  was  first  known  as  Perkin.s' 
Ferry,  then  Long's  Ferry,  and  lastly  as  Vannoy's.  The  next  settlement  was 
at  tlie  mouth  of  Evans  creek,  a  tributary  of  Rogue  River,  so  called  from  a 
trader  named  Davis  Evans,  a  somewhat  bad  character,  who  located  there. 
The  third  was  the  claim  of  one  Bills,  also  of  doubtful  repute.  Then  came  the 
farm  of  N.  C.  Dean  at  Willow  Springs,  five  miles  north  of  Jacksonville,  and 
near  it  the  claim  of  A.  A.  Skinner,  who  built  a  house  in  the  autumn  of 
1851.  South  of  Skinner's,  on  the  road  to  Yreka,  was  the  place  of  Stone 
nufl  Points  on  Wagner  creek,  and  i)eyond,  toward  the  head  of  the  valley, 
those  of  Dunn,  Smith,  Russell,  Barron,  and  a  few  others.  Duiicni^fi  Sctth- 
minit,  MS.,  O-G.  The  author  of  this  work,  L.  J.  C.  Duncan,  was  born  in 
Tennessee  in  1818.  He  came  to  California  in  1849,  and  worked  in  the  Mari- 
posa mines  until  the  autumn  of  1850,  when,  becoming  ill,  he  came  to  Oregon 
for  a  change  of  climate  and  more  settled  society.  In  the  autumn  of  18ol  lie 
determined  to  try  mining  in  the  Siiasta  Valley,  and  ah  to  secure  a  land  claim 
ill  the  Rogue  River  Valley.  This  he  did,  locating  or  Jear  or  Stuart  crock, 
\'2  miles  south-east  of  Jacksonville,  where  he  resided  from  1851  to  1858,  dining 
which  time  he  mined  on  Jackson's  creek.  Heshared  in  the  Indian  wars  v\  hich 
troubled  the  settlements  for  a  number  of  years,  finally  establishing  himself  in 
Jacksonville  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  being  elected  to  the  otiice  of 
judge. 

»'  Demhi'ii  Ilht.  Or. ,  MS. ,  72-3. 

'"Or.  Sfx'ctator,  Feb.  10,  18.32. 

'"J.  A.  Card  well  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1827,  emigrated  from  Iowa  to 
Oregon  in  1850,  spent  the  first  winter  in  the  service  of  Quartermaster  IiiLralls 
at  Fort  Vancouver,  and  started  in  the  spring  for  California  with  20  otlicMX  to 
engage  in  mining.  After  a  skirmisii  with  the  Rogue  River  Indians  .and  vini- 
ous  other  adventures  they  reached  the  mines  at  Yreka,  v  licre  they  workoil 
until  the  dry  season  forced  a  susjiension  of  operations,  Mhen  Cardwell,  w  itii 
E.  Emery,  J.  Emery,  and  David  Hurley,  went  to  the  present  site  of  Asliliuul 
in  the  Rogue  River  Valley,  and  taking  up  a  claim  erected  the  first  saw-mill 
in  that  region  early  in  1852.  I  have  derived  much  valuable  information  frinii 
Mr  Cardwell  concerning  southern  Oregon  history,  which  is  contained  in  a 
manuscript  entitled  i!,'w(V/rfi//<  <'oiii]taiij/,  in  Mr  Cardwell's  own  hand,  of  the 
incidents  of  the  immigration  of  I8,")0,  the  settlement  of  the  Rogue  River  Viil- 
ley,  and  the  Indian  wars  which  followed, 

'"  As  lato  as  1854  the  boundary  was  still  in  doubt.     '  Intelligence  has  just 


MOVEMENT  OF  MINERS. 


18ft 


r  the 
who 
orse, 
ut  in 
',  and 
Win- 

were 
given 


recjon 
•il  and 
north 
a  that 

in  Rogue 
Perkins' 
nuiit  waa 
(1  from  a 
ed  there, 
came  the 
ville,  ami 
utuiini  of 
of  Stone 
le  vaUey, 
»'«  Svith- 
born  in 
,ho  Mari- 
i()  Oregon 
f  1851  he 
\\\\A  claim 
rt  creek, 
^8,  duriuj; 
rs  \\  hiih 
|iiniseU'  in 
office  of 


Iowa  to 

W  Iniialls 
[others  to 
land  vaii- 
worked 
I'cU,  witli 
Ashland 
1  saw-mid 
tion  friini 
Incd  in  a 
Id.  of  the 
liver  Val- 

has  just 


were  found  in  the  known  mining  rejifions,  and  prospect- 
ino-  was  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent  early  in 
1850.  In  June  two  hundred  miners  were  at  work  in 
tlie  Unipqua  Valley."^  But  little  gold  was  found  at 
this  time,  and  the  movement  was  southward,  to  Rogue 
River  and  Klamath.  According  to  the  best  authori- 
ties the  first  discovery  on  any  of  the  tributaries  of  the 
Klamath  was  in  the  spring  of  1850  at  Salmon  Creek. 
In  July  discoveries  were  made  on  the  main  Klamath, 
ten  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Trinity  River,  and  in 
Septeniber  on  Scott  River.  In  the  spring  of  1851 
gold  was  found  in  the  Shasta  Valley,'^  at  various  place^v, 

been  received  from  the  surveying  party  under  T.  P.  Robinson,  county  sur- 
veyor, who  Wiis  commissioned  by  the  governor  to  survey  tlie  boundary  I'no 
between  California  and  Oregon.  The  party  were  met  on  the  mountai'  <  oy 
several  gentlemen  of  this  city,  wliose  statement  can  be  relied  on,  when  tiicy 
weie  informed  by  .some  of  the  gentlemen  attached  to  the  expedition,  tliat  the 
disjtiited  territdiy  belonged  to  Oregon,  and  not  California,  as  was  generally 
supiiosed.  This  territ  .  .'  eludes  two  of  the  finest  disliicts  in  the  ciuntr}  , 
Sailiir'a  Oiggin^s  and  Althouse  Creek,  besides  some  other  minor  places  noL  of 
nuuli  impiirta  •  toeither.  The  announcement  has  caused  son. e  excitement  in 
that  neij;ld)orli./;id,  as  the  miners  do  not  like  to  be  so  suddenly  transported 
from  California  to  Oregon.  They  have  heretofore  voted  both  in  (.'aliforniaand 
Oregon,  although  in  the  former  state  it  has  caused  several  contested  election 
eases,  anil  refiused  to  pay  taxes  to  cither.  It  is  also  rumored  around  the  city, 
for  wliieh  we  w  ill  not  vouch,  that  Yreka  is  in  Oregon.  But  we  Iiardly  think 
it  possible,  from  the  observations  heretofore  taken  by  scientilic  men,  which 
1)rin;4s  Yreka  1.")  miles  within  the  line.'  (Jnsent  City  Herald,  in  JJ.  Alia 
C«/a..  .Tune  "JS,  18,")4, 

2'.s'.  F.Coiirhr,  July  10,  1850. 

'■'■In  the  early  .umnner  of  1350  Gen.  Lane,  with  a  small  party  of  Orcgo- 
niiins,  viz.  Jo!in  Kelly,  Thomas  Brown,  Martin  Angell,  Samuel  and  John 
Siinondson,  and  Lane's  Indian  servant,  made  a  discovery  on  the  Shasta  river 
near  where  the  town  of  Yreka  was  afterward  built.  The  Indians  proving 
truublejomc  the  party  removed  to  the  diggings  on  the  upper  Sacramento,  but 
not  limling  gold  as  plentiful  as  expected  set  out  to  prospect  on  Pit  River,  front 
wliith  idaeethcy  were  driven  by  the  Indians  back  to  the  Sacramento  where 
they  wintered,  going  in  February  1851  to  Scott  River,  from  which  locality 
Line  was  recalled  to  the  Willamette  Valley,  to  run  for  the  otliee  of  delegate 
to  congress.  Speaking  of  the  Pit  river  tribe,  Lane  says:  'The  Pit  River 
Imlians  wei-e  great  thieves  and  nnirderers.  They  actually  stole  the  bhiid^ets 
ol!'  the  men  in  our  camp,  though  I  kept  one  man  on  guard  all  the  time.  They 
stole  Dill-  best  horse,  tied  at  the  head  of  my  bed,  which  consisted  of  a  blanket 
spread  on  the  ground,  with  my  saihlle  for  a  pillow.  Thev sent  p."_  -.v.  low  into 
a  iiiiMcr  because  he  liappened  to  be  rolled  in  his  blanket  so  that  they  could 
not  pull  it  from  him.  They  caught  DriseoU  when  out  prospecting,  and  were 
hi.n  ying  him  oil' into  the  mountains  when  !ny  Indian  boy  gave  the  alarm  ami 
1  \Miit  to  ids  rescue.  Ho  was  so  frightened  he  could  neither  move  nor  speak, 
wliiih  condition  of  their  captive  impeded  their  progress.  Whe-i  I  appeared 
he  tell  down  in  a  swoon.  I  pointed  my  gun,  which  rested  on  m^  u\-shooter, 
ami  ordered  the  Indians  to  leave.  While  they  hesitated  and  were  trying  to 
llaak  luc  my  Indian  boy  brought  the  canoo  alougsido  the  shore,  on  seeing 


186 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


i!l;   I 


notably  on  Greenhorn  Creek,  Yreka,  and  Humbug 
Crock. 

The  Oregon  minoi's  were  by  this  time  satisfied  that 
gold  existed  north  of  the  Siskiyou  range.  Their  ex- 
plorations resulted  in  finding  the  metal  on  Big  Bar  of 
Boguo  Biver,  and  in  the  canon  of  Josephine  Creek. 
Meanwhile  the  beautiful  and  richly  grassed  valley  of 
R(»gue  lliver  became  the  paradise  of  packers,  who 
grazed  their  mules  there,  returning  to  Scottsburg  or 
the  Willamette  for  a  fresh  cargo.  In  February  1852 
one  Sykes  who  worked  on  the  place  of  A.  A.  Skinner 
found  gold  on  Jacksoji  Creek,  about  on  the  west  line 
of  the  present  town  of  Jacksonville,  and  soon  after 
tv/o  packers,  Cluggage  and  Pool,  occupying  themselves 
with  prospecting  while  their  animals  were  feeding, 
discovered  Rich  Gulch,  half  a  mile  north  of  Sykes' 
discovery.  The  wealth  of  these  niines"^^  led  to  an 
irruption  from  the  California  side  of  the  Siskiyou,  and 
WilK)w  Sjnings  five  miles  north  of  Jacksonville, 
Pleasant  Creek,  Applegate  Creek,  and  many  other 
localities  became  deservedly  famous,  yielding  well  for 
a  number  of  years. 

Every  miner,  settler,  and  trader  in  this  remote  in- 
terior region  was  anxious  to  hear  from  friends,  hoinc, 
and  of  the  great  connnercial  world  without.  As  I 
have  before  said  Thurston  labored  earnestly  to  sliow 
congress  the  necessity  of  better  mail  flicilities  foi-  Ore- 
gon,'-'* the  benefit  intended   to  have  been  conferred 

vhicli  they  '•t'lt  "■  liiisty  retreat  thinking  I  was  about  to  bo  rei-nforcod.  l)i  is- 
coll  woiilil  never  eross  to  the  east  bide  of  the  river  after  Ilia  adventure, '  JAtiif's 
Aiilnliiiiiirii/i/i!/,  MS.,  104-5. 

'^^Ei'irhj  Ajyuh-'t,  MS.,  Xd;  Duncan' k  Southern  Or.,  MS.,  r>-(i;  IhvirllU 
Sii'iip-lnndyM;  \'ift()r's  Or.,  ',VM.  A  nuj^'get  was  found  in  the  llogue  liiver 
diggiii;,'.^  weigliinj;  .*iiSO((  and  another  $l,'{UO.  Seo  aouountH  in  S.  F.  Aid, 
St'lit.  14,  1«JL';  a.  F.  I'ac.  ^'ews,  March  14,  1831}  and  S.  I<\  lltraUt,  Sept. 
2H,  IS.-.1. 

'^'  In  Oetoher  1S45  the  poBtinaster-general  advertised  for  propoBals  torniiy 
the  I'nited  States  mail  from  New  York  l>y  llaliana  to  tiie  L'hagre  l{lvir  iiiid 
back;  with  joint  or  seiiarate  otl'erH  to  extend  the  transportation  to  I'liniiinii 
and  up  the  I'acilic  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  andtheneotu  tlu^  llawiiiiini 
iHliimlH,  the  senate  reeonnuending  a  mail  route  to  Oregon.  Jlutween  IMii 
and  ltJ48  the  govurinueut  thought  of  the  ^iluu  uf  tiiicuuragiug  by  uubitidiett  lliu 


MAIL  SERVICE. 


187 


having  been  diverted  almost  entirely  to  California  by 
th(3  exigencies  of  the  larger  population  and  business 
of  that  state  with  its  phenomenal  growth. 

The  postal  agent  appointed  at  San  Francisco  for 
the  Pacific  coast  discharged  his  duty  by  appi)iiiting 
jjostmasters,*^  but  further  than  sending  the  mails  to 
Oregon  on  sailing  vessels  occasionally  he  did  nothing 
for  tlie  relief  of  the  territory.'**'  Not  a  mail  steamer 
ai)peared  on  the  Columbia  in  1849.  Thurston  wrote 
lionie  in  December  that  he  had  been  hunting  up  the 
documents  relating  to  the  Pacific  mail  service,  and  the 
reason  whv  the  steamers  did  not  come  to  Astoria. 
The  result  of  his  search  was  the  discovery  that  the 
then  late  secretary  of  the  navy  had  agreed  with 
As[)inwall  that  if  he  should  send  the  Oregon  mail 
aii([  take  the  same,  once  a  month,  by  sailing  vessel, 
"at  or  near  the  mouth  of  the  Klamath  liiver,"  and 
would  touch  at  San  Francisco,  Monterey,  and  San 
])iego  free  of  cost  to  the  government,  he  should  not 
be  required  to  run  steamers  to  Oregon  till  after  re- 
ceiving six  months'  notice." 

Here  were  good  faith  and  intelligence  indeed  1  The 

cst!il)lisliincnt  of  a  line  of  steamers  between  PanamA  and  Oregon,  hy  wny  of 
Koiiu'  iiort  ill  Ciiiilornia.  At  length  llowland  ami  Aspinwall  agreed  to  carry 
till'  iiinil.s  once  a  inontli,  anil  to  put  on  a  line  of  tlii'uc  uteanii'is  of  from  1,000 
tn  1,'JiiO  tons,  giving  cabin  aceonnnodatiou*  for  about  '2,'t  passcngcrH,  as  many 
it  was  tliouglit  as  would  jirobably  go  at  one  time,  tlie  remainder  of  the  vchmcI 
Imjiil;  devoted  to  freigiit.  ('roKl)!/\i  •Sldlcmni/,  MS.,  ;t.  'J'lireo  steamers  were 
ciiiistnicti'd  under  a  contract  with  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  vi/. :  the  I'a/i- 
/nri)iii,  I,(;R)  tons,  with  a  single  engine  of 'JoO  If'^se-powcr,  handsomely  lin- 
i.<ht  il  iiud  'iirryiug  40  cabin  and  a  hundred  steerage  i):issengei's;  the  i'aiidmii 
ol  1,100  tons,  and  tliu  Onijini  of  1,'JOO  tuns,  similarly  built  and  fuiiiislied. 
::.'il  ('iiiiij.,  I.^l  iSc.tn.,  S.  Doc,  SO;  lion.  I'oli/ix'siaii,  Ajiril  7,  IS4!);  Otis'  /'nnumd 
A',  /'.  The  California  left  iwrt  in  the  autumn  of  iSlS,  arriving  at  \'al- 
j':ir:iisi)  on  tiie  'JOth  of  December,  seventy-four  diiys  from  New  VoiU.  iiroi^eed- 
iiii,'  tln'ucc  to  Callao  and  I'anamii,  where  iiasseugers  from  New  \'ork  to 
lliiliiina  iind  Chagre  were  awaiting  her,  and  reaching  San  Krancisco  on 
the  'Jstli  of  l''ebruary  1M41),  where  she  was  received  witli  great  entliusiasm. 
She  liroiight  lUi  this  iirst  trip  over  rj,(MK)  letters.  8.  F.  Al/ii  ('<tlj»niia  in 
J'nliiiiisi,iii,  April  14,  1841).  See, also  JltHt.  Cal.  and  Cut.  Inter  J'ovida,  thia 
series. 

-'.lolm  Aflair  at  Astoria,  F.  Smith  at  Portland,  (leorge  L,  Tiirry  at  Oregon 
City,  aud  .1.  \\.  Me(,^lane,  at  Salem.  J.  C  Avery  was  postmaster  at  (Jorvallis, 
.li'N>e  A|)plegate  at  Vonealla,  S.  [■'.  Chadwick  at  Scottshnrg. 

■'■(h:  Sj„rl(ttor,  Nov.  '21»,  IH'^U;  Jicpt.  q/"  (Jen.  isiiiith,  iu.  Slat  Coin/,,  ■'«' 
.SVnv,,  .S.  Dor.  47,  107. 

^'Ur.  tiitcclutoi;  April  18,  1850. 


188 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IX  OREGON. 


1. ! 


i 


f  i  I 


then  nndiscovcrefl  moutli  of  the  Klamath  River  for 
a  distributing  point  for  the  Orcj^on  mail!  Thurston 
\vitli  characteristic  energy  soon  procured  the  promise 
of  tlie  secretary  that  the  notice  shoukl  be  immediately 
given,  and  that  after  June  1850  mail  steamers  should 
go  "not  only  to  Nisqually,  but  to  Astoria."^^  The 
postmaster-gene "al  also  recommended  the  reduction 
of  tile  postage  to  California  and  Oregon  to  take  effect 
bv  the  end  of  June  1851.'^* 

At  length  in  June  1850  the  steamship  Carolina, 
Captain  II.  L.  Whiting,  made  her  first  trip  to  Port- 
land with  mails  and  passengers.^"  She  was  withdrawn 
in  August  and  placed  on  the  Panamtl  route  in  order 
to  complete  the  semi-monthly  communication  called 
for  between  that  port  and  San  Francisco.  On  the  1st 
of  September  the  Caltjui'iita  arrived  at  Astoria  and 
departed  the  same  day,  having  lf)st  three  days  in  a 
heavy  fog  olf  the  bar.  On  the  27th  the  Paitaiiat  ar- 
rived at  Astoria,  and  two  days'  later  the  S<'a</a//;^^  a 
steam  })roj>eller.  On  the  24th  of  October  the  Onyon 
brought  up  the  mail  for  the  first  time,  and  was  an 
object  of  much  interest  on  account  of  her  name."'"' 
There  was  no  regularity  in  arrivals  or  dei)artures 
until  the  coming  from  New  York  of  the  Coluinhla, 

'■""This  quotation  refers  to  nn  effort  on  the  part  of  certain  persons  to  make 
Kis(iiiiilly  the  jioint  of  distribution  of  the  niiiils.  The  |»ro])i)»iti(in  wiis  siis- 
taine<l  hy  Wilkes  anil  Sir  (ieorj^e  Simpson.  'If  they  get  iiiieail  of  me,'  siiid 
Thurston  in  liis  h'tter,  'tliey  will  rise  early  ami  work  late.' 

'•'»,)7.v/  ''()/(,'/.,  .,'<l  Sfxn.,  H.  Kj:  Dot:  I,  408,  410.  This  favor  also  was 
chiefly  the  result  of  the  represc^ntations  of  the  Oregon  delegate.  .\  sini'le 
letter  from  Oregon  to  the  States  eost  40  eents;  from  (yalit'ornia  I'J.J  cents, 
before  the  ii'ihietion  which  maile  the  jiosbigt!  uniform  for  the  I'aeilie  eunst 
nnd  fixed  it  at  six  cents  a  Hinglu  sheet,  or  double  tho  rate  in  the  Atlantic  states. 
Or.  S/nlrs„inii.  May  l».  hS.'tl. 

""  J/c' '/■(«■/■,  »'.s  A'fO'///  ShrnnhixiUnri,  Mf>.,  7i  Sahtn  jyiirrliyri/,  1S7U  'Xt; 
Ptn-tldinl  OrnitDilan,  ■Ian.  i.'h  1S7'2.  There  was  an  ineongr\iity  in  the  law 
establishing  the  mail  service,  which  provided  foi'  a  semi-monthly  mini  to  the 
river  Cliagrc,  hut  only  a  monthly  mail  from  I'anamil  up  the  coast.  Itijil.  ';/' 
/'.  M.  (I'c//.,  in  iJlitt  Coiifj.,  Ud  Sexn.,  IJ.  Kx.  Doc.  1,  410;  Or.  Hiwclutor.  Anir. 
8,  lS.-)0. 

"'  'l"he  Sinijiill  was  wrecked  on  tho  Hundioldt  bar  on  her  passage  to  Ore- 
gon, Feb.  •_'(!.' 1H,V.'.   Or.  SfalimiKui,  March'-',  IHo'i. 

"'^  Or.  Sjifilutor,  Oct.  Ill,  IM.V).  The  Ori't/oii  was  tninsfornu'd  into  a  sail- 
ing vessel  after  man''  years  of  service,  and  was  finally  sunk  in  the  strait  cf 
.Inan  de  l''iica  by  collision  with  the  bai'k  (h'niiniiiit  in  IHHO.  llcr  coinmiiiidcr 
wh5u  hIio  lirst  cumo  to  Oregon  waw  Lieut.  Charles  1'.  I'utterson  of  tliu  navy. 


COAST  SURVEY. 


180 


brought  out  by  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Tottcn  of  the 
navy,  in  March  1851,  and  afterward  commanded  by 
William  Dall.«3 

The  Columbia  supplied  a  great  deficiency  in  com- 
munication with  California  and  the  east,  though 
Oregon  was  still  forced  to  be  content  with  a  monthly 
mail,  while  California  had  one  twice  a  month.  The 
postmaster-general's  direction  that  Astoria  should  be 
made  a  distributing  office  was  a  blunder  that  the 
delegate  failed  to  rectify.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  navi- 
gation by  steamers  on  the  rivers,  Astoria  was  but  a 
remove  nearer  than  San  Francisco,  and  while  not 
(juite  so  inaccessible  as  the  mouth  of  the  Klamath, 
was  nearly  so.  When  the  post-routes  w' ere  advertised, 
no  bids  were  offered  for  the  Astoria  route,  and  when 
the  mail  for  the  interior  was  left  at  that  place  a 
special  effort  nmst  be  made  to  bring  it  to  Portland.''* 

Troubled  by  reason  of  this  isolation,  the  people  of 
Oregon  had  asked  over  and  over  for  increased  mail 
I'iuilities,  and  as  one  of  the  ways  of  obtaining  them, 
{tiid  also  of  increasing  their  connnercial  opportunities, 
hud  prayed  congress  to  order  a  survey  of  the  coast, 
its  bays   and  river  entrances.     Almost  innnediately 

'■'  'Tlic  Columhia  was  commenced  in  New  York  by  a  mnn  named  Hunt, 
who  lived  in  Astoria,  nnd(M-  an  agreement  with  Coilln,  Lownsdale,  and  Cliap- 
1111111,  tlie  jiniprietors,  of  I'ortlund,  to  fiiiiiisli  a  certain  amount  of  money  to 
liiiilil  a  vessel  to  run  bctwe»'n  San  Franeisco  and  Astoria.  Hunt  went  east, 
mid  the  keel  of  the  vcHsel  Wins  laid  in  I.S4(),  and  he  got  her  on  the  ways  and 
iviidy  to  luuuch  when  hia  money  gave  out,  niid  tht;  town  iironrietoiH  of  I'ort- 
lund did  not  send  any  more.  So  she  was  sold,  and  Howliind  and  Aspiiiwall 
hoiinlit  her  for  this  trade  themselves.  .  .She  ran  regularly  once  a  month  from 
Sim  j'riiiiiiseo  to  I'orthind,  cari'yiii;.;  the  mails  and  jiasseiigers.'  SJu'  was  very 
stiiiulily  Imilt,  of  7<10  tons  register,  would  carry  oO  or  (SO  cabin  passengerH, 
witli  iiliout  as  many  in  the  steerage,  and  cost  81  ">0,(H,)0.  jV.  }'.  Tribitin-,  in  Or. 
Si„-i,ifo,\  Dec.  I'J,  1H.">0;  J)<ii<ly's  llht.  <h'.,  MS.,  10   II. 

''■  The  postal  agent  appointert  in  !H,">1  was  Nathaniel  Coe,  a  man  of  high 
cliaiiiiter  and  scholarly  attainments,  as  well  as  religious  habits,  lit' was  a 
native  of  Morristown,  Now  .Jersey,  born  September  II,  I7SH,  a  whig,  and  a 
imiiilur  (if  the  llaptist  church.  In  his  earlier  years  lu^  represented  Alleghany 
riinnty,  N'ew  "S'ork,  in  the  state  legishitnre.  \\  hen  his  term  of  iillii'c  in  Oregon 
I'xpiiiil  he  remained  in  the  country,  si'ttling  on  the  Columbia  Hiver  near  the 
iiiiiUtli  of  Hood  lljver,  (m  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Cascade  Mountains.  'Ilia 
iiit'iital  I'liei'gy  was  such,  that  lunther  the  rapid  progress  of  the  si'ieiu'cs  of  our 
tiiiir,  nor  his  own  great  age  of  eighty,  could  check  his  habits  of  stiuly.  'I'lio 
lipciiid  fruits  of  Hcholnrsliip  that  resulted  ajipeared  as  bright  as  ever  even 
in  till'  last  weeks  of  hin  life.  He  died  at  Hood  Uiver,  iiis  residence,  October 
1",  lt>l)8,'  Vancouver  Jtejiskr,  Nov.  7,  1808;  Diilkn  Mountaimir,  Oct.  '-'3,  1008. 


190 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


,  r 


upon  the  organization  of  the  territory,  Professor  A. 
D.  Bache,  superintendent  of  the  United  States  coast 
survey,  was  notified  that  he  would  be  expected  to 
commence  the  survey  of  the  coast  of  the  United 
States  on  the  Pacific.  A  corps  of  officers  was  se- 
lected and  divided  into  two  branches,  one  party  to 
conduct  the  duties  of  the  service  on  shore,  and  the 
other  to  make  a  hydrographical  survey. 

The  former  duty  devolved  upon  assistant-superin- 
tendent, James  S.  Willianjs,  Brevet-Captain  13.  P. 
Hammond,  and  Joseph  S.  Ruth,  sub-assistant.  Tlie 
naval  survey  was  conducted  by  Lieutenant  W.  P. 
McArthur,  in  the  schooner  Ewing,  which  was  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Washington  Bartlett  of  the 
United  States  navy.  The  time  of  their  advent  on 
the  coast  was  an  unfortunate  one,  the  spring  of  1841), 
when  the  gold  excitement  was  at  its  height,  piiccs 
of  labor  and  living  extortionate,  and  the  difficulty  of 
restraining  men  on  boiard  ship,  or  in  any  service, 
excessive,  the  officers  having  to  stand  guard  over  the 
men,**  or  to  put  to  sea  to  prevent  desertions. 

So  many  delays  were  experienced  from  these  nnd 
other  causes  that  nothing  was  accomplished  in  1  H4!>, 
and  the  Eau,i<j  wintered  at  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 
returning  to  San  Francisco  for  her  stores  in  tlu! 
spring,  and  again  losing  some  of  her  men.  '  On  tlie 
3d  of  April,  Bartlett  succetided  in  getting  to  sea  u  i(h 
men  enough  to  work  the  vessel,  though  some  of  tluse 
were  placed  in  irons  on  reaching  the  Columbia  Ilivcr. 
Tiio  first  Oregon  newspa})cr  which  fell  untler  Bart- 
lett's  eye  contained  a  letter  of  Thurst(m's,  in  which  lie 
refiected  severely  on  the  surveying  expedition  Inr 
negl(;et  to  proceed  with  their  duties,  which  was  su|»- 
plemented  oy  censorious  remarks  by  the  editor.     'W) 


"*A  mutiny  occnrred  in  which  Passed  Midshipman  Gibson  was  ncnrly 
drowned  in  Snn  Francisco  Bay  \i\  five  of  tlie  seamen.  They  escaped,  wt'io 
pursued,  cupturod,  and  sentencotf  to  death  by  a  general  court- murtiul.  'J'"ii 
were  hanged  on  board  tlio  Ewhii)  and  tiio  others  on  the  St  Mary^g,  a  Hhi])  nf 
tiie  U.  S.  sijuudron.  Lflter  qf  Lkiit.  linrtlttt,  in  Or.  Spectator,  June  '27,  \>)M; 
Lawson'a  Autobioy,,  MS.,  2;  JJavidnou'it  Jiioyraphy, 


WORK  ACCOMPLISHED. 


191 


these  attacks  Bartlett  replied  through  the  same 
medium,  and  took  occasion  to  reprove  the  Oregonians 
for  their  lack  of  enterprise  in  failing  to  sustain  a  pilot 
service  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  which  service, 
since  the  passage  of  the  pilotage  act,  had  received 
little  encouragement  or  support,^  and  also  for  givinj/ 
countenance  to  the  desertion  of  his  men. 

The  work  accomplished  by  the  Eiving  during  the 
summer  was  the  survey  of  the  entrance  to  the  Colum- 
bia, the  designation  of  places  for  buoys  to  mark  the 
cluinnel,  of  a  sice  for  a  light-house  on  Cape  Disap- 
pointment, and  the  examination  of  the  coast  south  of 
the  Columbia.  The  survey  showed  that  the  "  rock- 
ribbed  and  iron-bound"  shore  of  Oregon  really  was 
a  l)each  of  sand  from  Point  Adams  to  Cape  Arago,  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles,  only 
tliirty-three  miles  of  that  distance  being  cliffs  of  rock 
where  the  ocean  touched  the  shore.  From  Cape 
Arago  to  the  forty-second  parallel,  a  distance  of 
eighty-five    miles,  rock   was  found   to   predominate, 

'Tapt  White,  a  New  York  pilot,  conceived  the  idea  of  establishing 
hiniKt'lt'  and  a  corps  of  competent  assistants  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
thi'i'c'l)y  conferring  a  great  benefit  on  Oregon  commerce,  and  presumably  a 
rciisoimblo  amount  of  reward  upon  himself.  But  his  venture,  like  a  great  many 
otiii  is  pn  jected  from  the  other  side  of  the  continent,  wiia  a  failure.  On  bring- 
ing,' \\\^  lino  pilot-boat,  the  WmQ.  J/ai/Ktaff,  up  the  coast,  in  September  1841), 
ho  iitti'inpted  to  enter  Rogue  River,  but  got  aground  on  tlie  bar,  was  attacked 
by  tlic  Inilians,  and  himself  and  associates,  with  their  men,  driven  into  the 
nioiuitaiiis,  where  they  wandered  for  eighteen  days  in  terrible  destitution 
bctnie  reaching  Fort  Umpqua,  at  which  post  they  received  succor.  The 
llwi^t-if  was  robbed  and  burned,  her  place  being  supplied  by  another  boat 
calk'd  the  M(try  Taylor.  The  Pioveo;  i.  3.j1;  Daruhoii'a  Coad  I'ilut,  112- 
llt;  W'iUiniii.s'  S,  \V.  Or.,  M8.  2.  It  was  the  neglect  of  the  Oregonians  to 
niaivi'  j,'()od  the  loss  of  Captain  White,  or  a  portion  of  it,  to  wiiicn  IJartlctt 
ri'ft'ncd.  For  the  year  during  which  White  luul  charge  of  the  bar  pilot- 
aj^c  (1!(  vessels  of  froru  00  to  G,")0  tons  crossed  in  all  128  times.  The  only  loss 
(if  II  \ oMsil  in  that  time  was  that  of  the  Jnnrpliiiie,  loaded  with  lumber  of  the 
Oiii^ou  Milling  Conipany,  She  was  l)ecalnic.k  on  the  bar,  and  a  gale  coming 
up  in  the  nigiit  b1  '  •"ij;ged  her  anchor  and  was  carried  on  the  sands,  where 
shi'  \v;>s  (lismasteu  lu...  abandoned.  She  afterward  floated  out  to  sea,  being 
a  tdtiil  loss,  (leorge  (iibbs,  in  Or.  Sprctator,  May  2,  ISoO.  The  pilot  coimnia- 
sioiK IS,  consisting  at  this  tin>o  of  (iov.  Lane  and  captains  Conch  and  Crosby, 
nimlo  a  strong  appeal  in  behalf  of  White,  but  ho  was  left  to  bear  his  losses 
ami  ),'(>  whither  he  pleased.  JohiiHoii'H  Cat.  and  Or.,  '2Ct-l-'>;  ('nrrol'n  Star  <'/ 
til'  West,  21)0-5;  Stewno,  in  Par.  II.  11.  ncnt.,  i.  lOR,  21H  2,  Oir.-lO;  Poh/- 
itifiiiii,  .hdy  20,  18,')0.  The  merchants  llually  advanced  the  pay  of  pilots  so 
ns  til  lie  remunerative,  after  which  time  little  was  lieurd  about  the  torrorn  of 
the  Columbia  bar. 


192 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


there  beinj?  only  fifteen  miles  of  sand  on  this  part  of 
the  coast. ^^  Little  attention  was  given  to  any  bay  or 
stream  north  of  the  Unipqua,  McArthur  offering  it 
as  his  opinion  that  they  were  accessible  by  small  boats 
alone,  except  Yaquina,  which  might,  he  conjectured, 
be  entered  by  vessels  of  a  larger  class. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Samuel  Roberts 
entered  the  Umpqua  August  6,  1850,  and  surveyed 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  the  river  itself  to  Scotts- 
burg.  As  the  Ewing  did  not  leave  the  Columbia 
until  the  7th,  McArthur's  survey  was  subsequent 
to  this  one.  He  crossed  the  bar  in  the  second  cutter 
and  not  in  the  schooner;  and  pronounced  the  channel 
practicable  for  steamers,  but  dangerous  for  sailing 
vessels,  unless  under  favorable  circumstances.  Sli'jflit 
examination  was  made  of  Coos  Bay,  an  opinion  being 
formed  from  simply  looking  at  the  mouth  that  it  would 
be  found  available  for  steamers.  The  Coquille  River 
was  said  to  be  only  large  enough  for  canoes;  and 
Rogue  River  also  unfit  for  sailing  vessels,  being  so 
narrow  as  to  scarcely  afford  room  to  turn  iil.  So 
much  for  the  Oregon  coast.  As  to  the  Klamath, 
while  it  had  more  water  on  the  bar  than  any  river 
south  of  the  Columbia,  it  was  so  narrow  and  so  rapid 
as  to  be  unsafe  for  sailing  vessels.'^ 

This  was  a  very  unsatisfactory  report  for  the  pro- 
jectors of  seaport  towns  in  southern  Oregon.  It  was 
almost  equally  disappointing  to  the  naval  and  j)o.st- 
office  departments  of  the  general  government,  and  to 
the  mail  contractors,  who  were  then  still  anxious  to 
avoid  running  their  steamers  to  the  Columbia,  and 
determined  if  possible  to  find  a  different  mail  route. 
The  recommendation  of  the  postmaster-general  at  the 
instance  of  the  Oregon  delegate,  that  they  should  be 
required  to  leave  the  mail  at  Scottsburg,  as  I  ha\  o 
mentioned,  induced  them  to  make  a  special  eft'ort  to 

"CofM«  Survey,  1850,  70;  S.  F.  Par.  News,  Jan.  18,  1851. 
'"Mu Arthur  died  in  18ol  wliilu  ou  his  way  to  Panamii  and  tho  eaat.  Law- 
son's  Atitobioy,,  M8.,  '2U. 


i  r 


PORT  ORFORD  ESTABLISHED. 


103 


found  a  settlement  on  the  southern  coast  wliich  would 
enable  them  to  avoid  the  bar  of  the  Umpqua. 

The  place  selected  was  on  a  small  bay  about  eight 
miles  south  of  Cape  Blanco,  and  a  little  south  of  Point 
C)rf()rd.  Orders  were  issued  to  Captain  Tichenor''^  of 
the  tScaf/iiU,  which  was  running  to  Portland,  to  put  in 
at  this  place,  previously  visited  by  him,^'*  and  there 
leave  a  small  colony  of  settlers,  who  were  to  examine 
the  country  for  a  road  into  the  interior.  Accord- 
ingly in  June  1851  the  Seagull  stopped  at  Port  Or- 
ford,  as  it  was  named,  and  left  there  nine  men,  com- 
niaiHled  by  J.  M.  Kirkpatrick,  with  the  necessary  stores 
and  arms.  A  four-pounder  was  placed  in  position  on 
the  toj)  of  a  high  rock  with  one  side  sloping  to  the  sea, 
and  wliich  at  higli  tide  l),ecamcan  island  by  the  united 
waters  of  the  ocean  and  a  small  creek  which  llowed 
hy  its  l)ase. 

While  the  steamer  remained  in  port,  the  Indians, 
(»f  whom  there  were  many  in  the  neighborhcjod,  ap- 
peared friendly.  But  on  the  second  day  after  her 
departure,  about  forty  of  them  held  a  war-dance,  dur- 
iii'j'  which  their  numbers  were  constantlv  aULiniented 
l)y  arrivals  from  the  heavily  wooded  and  hilly  country 
hack  Irom  the  shore.  Wlien  a  considerable  force  was 
i,fathered  the  chief  ordered  an  advance  on  the  fortified 

'"William  Tichenor  was  born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  .Tunc  1.3,  1S1:{.  liis  ances- 
tor I'iniiil  Ticlienor  l)ciiig  onu  of  tlio  original  proprietors  of  that  tmMi.  lie 
full. jv, I'd  the  sea,  nuiking  his  lirst  voyago  in  IS'2.").  In  1S.').'{  lie  niarriod  and 
went  to  Indiana,  l)ut  couhl  not  icniain  in  the  interior.  After  a  -ain  making 
iisci  >iiyM;,'o  ho  tried  living  in  Edgar  countj',  Illinois,  when!  he  represeiitctt 
the  niiitli  senatorial  ditttrict.  In  IS-J^  ho  recrnitod  two  ei)ni])unii'  i  l.)r  the 
ni^iiiKut  eoninianded  Ity  Col.  E.  D.  IJakcr,  whom  he  afterward  helped  to 
iK'it  to  the  U.  S.  senato  from  Oregon.  Tiehunor  came  to  the  i'a.iiie  eoii.st  in 
1S4',I,  and  having  mined  for  a  short  timo  on  the  Anieriean  Kiver,  piuilia.se' I 
tlie  Kiliooner  J.  Jf.  J{i/ir.ion,  and  sailed  for  tbo  gidf  of  C'aliforni.i,  e:.iilorintf 
the  const  to  San  Francisco  and  nortliward,  discovering  the  iiay  sp(]ke;i  of 
ii!i(i\r.  Hi'  linally  settled  at  I'ort  Orford,  and  was  three  time.s  elected  to  the 
I'wci'  house  of  the  Oregon  legislature,  and  once  to  the  senate,     lie  took  op 

the  study  (if  law  and  practised  for    Ki  y(,'ars,  and  was  at  oiu)  time unty 

iutljjc  of  (!urry  eonnty.     Vet  during  all  this  time  he  never  ijuite  g.'ive  uj)  sea- 
tiirin,'.   Ijillir  af  Ticliciwr,  in  IllKlorlral  Corri'spoiitli  iif<\  .M.S. 

*"  I'ort  Orford  was  established  and  owned   by  Capt.  Tiehenor.  T.  Uutler 
Kill,:.  CMllcetor  of  tlio  port  of  San  Eraneisco,  .lames  (iamble.  I're  1  M.  Smith, 
M.  lluoluvd,  and  W.  (}.  T'V.vult.   Ur.  Ulatcumaii,  Aug.  li),  Itijl. 
UI8T.  OB.,  Vol.  U.    lU 


194 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


rock  of  the  settlers,  who  motioned  them  to  keep  back 
or  receive  their  fire.  But  the  savajj^es,  ij^noraiit  per- 
haps of  the  use  of  cannon,  continued  to  come  nearer 
until  it  became  evident  that  a  hand-to-hand  conflict 
would  soon  ensue.  When  one  of  them  had  seized  a 
musket  in  the  hands  of  a  settler,  Kirkpatrick  touched 
a  fire-brand  to  the  cannon,  and  discharged  it  in  the 
midst  of  the  advancing  multitude,  bringing  several  to 
the  ground.  The  men  then  took  aim  and  shot  six  at 
the  first  fire.  Turning  on  those  nearest  with  their 
guns  clul)bed,  they  were  able  to  knock  down  several, 
and  the  battle  was  won.  In  fifteen  minutes  tlic 
Indians  had  twenty  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  Of 
the  white  men  four  were  wounded  by  the  arrows  of 
the  savages  which  fell  in  a  shower  upon  tiiem.  Tlio 
Indians  were  permitted  to  carry  off  their  dead,  and  a 
lull  followed. 

But  the  condition  of  the  settlers  was  harassing. 
They  feared  to  leave  their  fortified  camp  to  oxjdoio 
for  a  road  to  the  interior,  and  determined  to  await 
the  return  of  the  Sempdl,  which  was  to  bring  an- 
other company  from  San  Francisco.  At  the  end  of 
five  days  the  Indians  reappeared  in  greater  force, 
and  seeing  the  white  men  still  in  possession  of  tlieir 
stronghold  and  presenting  a  determined  front,  retired 
a  short  distance  down  the  coast  to  hold  a  wardanco 
and  work  up  courage.  The  settlers,  poorly  su])[)lie(l 
with  ammunition,  wished  to  avoid  another  conflict  iti 
which  they  might  be  defeated,  and  taking  advantage 
of  the  temporary  absence  of  the  foe  essayed  to  en- 
cape  to  the  woods,  carrying  nothing  but  their  arms. 

It  was  a  bold  and  desperate  movement  but  it  proved 
successful.  Travelling  as  rapidly  as  possible  in  the 
almost  tropical  jungle  of  the  Coast  Range,  and  keep- 
ing in  the  forest  for  the  first  five  or  six  miles,  they 
emerged  at  night  on  the  beach,  and  by  using  great 
caution  eluded  their  pursuers.  On  coming  to  Co(juillo 
River,  a  village  of  about  two  hundred  Indians  was 
discovered  on  the  bardi  opposite,  which  they  avoided 


THE  ABANDONED  SETTLEMENT. 


205 


l)y  ,l?f>ing  up  the  stream  for  several  miles  and  crossing 
it  on  a  raft.  To  be  secure  against  a  similar  en- 
counter, they  now  kept  to  the  woods  for  two  days, 
tliough  by  doing  so  they  deprived  themselves  of  the 
only  food,  except  salmon  berries,  which  they  had  been 
able  to  find.  At  one  [)lace  they  fell  in  with  a  small 
band  of  savages  whom  they  frightened  away  by  charg- 
iiio-  toward  them.  Aujain  emerijin<»:  on  the  beach 
they  lived  on  nmssels  for  four  days.  The  only  as- 
sistance received  was  from  the  natives  on  Cowan 
] liver  which  empties  into  Coos  Bay.  These  people 
wore  friendly,  and  fed  and  helped  them  on  their  way. 
On  the  eighth  day  the  party  reached  the  mouth  of 
the  Umpqua,  where  they  were  kindly  cared  for  by 
the  settlers  at  that  place."*' 

When  Tichenor  arrived  at  San  Francisco,  he  pro- 
ecetled  to  raise  a  party  of  forty  men  to  reenforce  Ids 
settlement  at  Port  Orford,  to  which  he  had  promised 
to  return  by  the  23d  of  the  month.  The  Serundl 
being  detained,  he  took  passage  on  the  Coliotibia, 
Captain  Le  Roy,  and  arrived  at  Port  Orford  as 
agreed,  on  the  23d,  being  surprised  at  not  seeing  any 
ot"  his  men  on  shore.  He  innnediately  landed,  how- 
ever, with  Le  Roy  and  eight  others,  and  saw  provis- 
ions and  tools  scattered  over  the  ground,  and  on  every 
siile  the  signs  of  a  hard  struggle.  On  the  ground  was 
a  diary  kept  by  one  of  the  party,  in  which  the  begin- 
ning of  tlie  first  day's  battle  was  described,  leaving 
otr  abruptly  where  the  first  Indian  seized  a  comrade's 
H'un.  Hence  it  was  thought  that  all  had  been  killed, 
and  the  account  first  published  of  the  affair  set  it 
down  as  a  massacre;  a  report  which  about  one  week 
lattr  was  corrected  by  a  letter  from  Kirkpatrick,  who, 
utter  giving  a  history  of  his  adventures,  concluded 

"}\'illiams'  S.  W.  Oregon,  MS.,  1-C;  Altn  California,  June  30th  niul 
July  •_>.■),  KSol;  Wilh''  Wild  Life,  in  Van  Tromp's  AilventureSs  149-50;  A)-vi- 
s'r:„ni\i  Or.,  tiO-4;  Cram's  Top.  Mem.,  37-40;  Overland  Monthly,  xiv.  17'J-82; 
IWi'ttiid  liulletln,  Feb.  25,  1873;  Or.  Spectalor,  July  3,  1851;  Or.  S/a(e.man, 
.Inly  I  til  mill  15,  1851;  Parri»Vs  Or.  Anecdote.^,  MS.,  41-5;  IIarper\i  May., 
xiii.  :.!I0-1;  S.  F.  Herald,  Juno  30,  1851;  Id.,  July  15,  1851;  Lauaon'a 
Anlohioy.,  MS.,  32-3;  S.  F.  Alia,  June  30,  1851;  Taylor's  S»k.  Preax,  10. 


196 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


I    t  :i' 


with  a  favorablo  description  of  the  country  and  the 
announcement  that  he  had  discovered  a  fine  bay  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cowan  River.*-  Tliis  important 
discovery  was  httle  heeded  by  the  founders  of  Poit 
Orford,  who  were  bent  upon  estabhshing  their  settle- 
ment on  a  more  southern  point  of  the  coast. 

Tichenor  left  his  California  party  at  Port  Orfoid 
well  armed  and  fortified  and  proceeded  to  Portland, 
where  he  advertised  to  land  passengers  within  thirty- 
five  miles  of  the  Rogue  River  mines,  having  brought 
up  about  two  dozen  miners  from  San  Francisco  and 
landed  them  at  Port  Orford  to  make  their  way  frnni 
thence  to  the  interior,  at  their  own  hazard.  On  rc- 
turninij  down  the  coast  the  Columhia  ajjjain  touched 
at  Port  Orford  and  left  a  party  of  Oregon  men,  so 
that  by  August  there  were  about  seventy  persons  at 
the  new  settlement.  Thev  were  all  well  armed  and 
kept  guard  with  military  regularity.  To  some  was 
assigned  the  duty  of  hunting,  elk,  deer,  and  otliei- 
game  being  plentiful  on  the  coast  niountains,  and 
birds  of  numerous  kinds  inhabiting  the  woods  and 
seashore.  A  Whitehall  boat  was  lelt  for  fishing  and 
shooting  purposes.  These  hunting  tours  were  also 
exjiloring  expeditions,  resulting  in  a  thorough  exami- 
nation of  the  coast  from  the  Coquille  River  (jn  (he 
north  to  a  little  below  the  California  line  on  the  south, 
in  which  distance  no  better  port  was  discovered.*^ 


i  >' 


The  24th  of  August  a  party  of  twenty -three**  under 
T'A'ault  set  out  to  explore  the  interior.  T' Vault's 
experience  as  a  pioneer  was  suppt)sed  to  fit  him  i'nr 
the  position  of  guide  and  Indian-fighter,  a  most  re- 
sponsible  oflSce   in    that   region   of  hostile    savages, 

*■  Xow  eallcil  Cooa,  an  Indian  name. 

"Says  Williams  in  iiis  S.  W.  (hnjon,  MS.,  0;  'It  «a.s  npon  one  of  tlaso 
ex|K'(litions,  returning  from  a  point  where  CieseentCity  now  stands,  tliat  w  iili 
a  fair  wind,  myself  at  the  helm,  we  sailed  into  the  lieaiitifnl  Clietooe  Kivii- 
whieh  we  ever  pronouneed  the  loveliest  little  spot  npon  that  line  of  eoast.' 

*'I  j^dve  hero  the  number  as  yiven  by  Williams,  one  of  the  eompiuiy, 
though  it  is  stated  to  bo  only  IS  by  T'VauIt,  the  louder,  iu  AlUi  VaUj'ui-iiM, 
Oct.  14,  lijol. 


T'VAULTS  EXPLORATION". 


197 


rl  the 
ay  at 

)rtaut 

Port 

^ettle- 

Drford 
rtlaiid, 
thirty- 
roui2,'lit 
CO  and 
y  from 
()n  ri- 
ouclu'd 
lion,  so 
sons  at 
icd  and 
;uc  was 
A   otlu-r 
ns,   and 
)ds  and 

ilV^  Uil'l 

n-c  also 

oxami- 

ou  the 

south, 

'^  under 

IVaiilt'H 

lihu  I'll' 


Lvag'(-'s, 


of  tlKSO 
I  thivt  v.iili 
Ilooc  layi'i' 

coant. 
Icoiui'aiiy, 

\'alij'oi''""> 


pnrtieiilarly  as  the  expedition  was  made  up  of  im- 
migrants of  the  previous  year,  with  little  or  no 
knowledge  of  the  country,  or  of  mountain  life.  Only 
two  of  them,  Williams  and  Lount,  both  young  men 
from  ^Michigan,  were  good  hunters;  and  on  them 
would  depend  the  food  supply  after  the  ten  days'  ra- 
tions with  which  each  man  was  furnished  should  he 
exhausted. 

Xothing  daunted,  however,  they  set  out  on  horses, 
and  proceeded  southward  along  the  coast  as  far  as  the 
mouth  of  Rofjue  River.  The  natives  along"  the  route 
wore  numerous,  but  shy,  and  on  being  approached  fled 
into  the  woods.  At  Rogue  River,  however,  they 
assumed  a  different  air,  and  raised  their  bows  thrcat- 
cnini,dy,  but  on  seeing  gwns  levelled  at  them  desisted. 
During  the  march  they  hovered  about  the  rear  of 
the  party,  who  on  camping  at  night  selected  an  open 
jtlace,  and  after  feeding  their  horses  burned  the  grass 
tor  t\v(^  hundred  vards  around  that  the  savages  mitiht 
nut  have  it  to  hide  in,  keeping  at  the  same  time 
0  double  guard.  Proceeding  thus  cautiously  they 
avoided  collision  with  these  savages. 

Wlien  they  had  reached  a  point  about  fifty  miles 
from  the  ocean,  on  the  north  bank  of  Rogue  River, 
having  lost  their  way  and  provisions  becoming  low, 
some  determined  to  turn  back,  T'Vault,  unwilling 
to  abandon  the  adventure,  offered  increased  pay 
to  such  as  would  continue  it.  Accordingly  nine 
went  on  witli  him  toward  the  valley,  though  but  one 
of  them  could  be  depended  upon  to  bring  in  game.^^ 
The  separation  took  place  on  the  1st  of  September, 
the  advancing  party  proceeding  up  Rogue  River,  by 
which  course  they  were  assured  they  could  not  fail 
soon  to  reach  the  travelled  road. 
On  the  evening  of  the  Dtli  they  came  upon  the 


'■'Tliis  wns  Willinnis.     The  others  were:  Patrick  Murphy,  of  New  York; 
\.  S.  hiilicity  niul  (Jilbert  Brush,  of  Texas;   Cynia  HeiUlen,  of  Newark,  X. 
Ill  1'.  noihuid,  of  New  Hainiishire;  T.  J.  Davenport,  of  Maasaehitsetts; 


.1.;  .lulu 


-,    . ,  ,. enpori, , 

■tiitiiniih  l{yan,  of  Maryland;  J.  P.  Pepper,  of  New  York.  Alia  t'ulilhrnia, 
Uet  14,  ISol. 


rir 


It  ; 


1« 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


■f 


lieacl-waters  of  a  stream  flowing,  it  was  believed,  into 
tlio  ocean  near  Cape  Blanco.  They  were  therefore, 
though  designing  to  go  south-eastwardly,  actually 
some  distance  north  as  well  as  east  from  Port  Orford, 
the  nature  of  the  country  and  the  direction  of  tliu 
ridges  forcing  them  out  of  their  intended  course. 
Finding  an  open  country  on  this  stream,  they  followed 
it  down  some  distance,  and  chancing  to  meet  an  Indian 
boy  engaged  him  as  a  guide,  who  brought  them  to  the 
southern  branch  of  a  river,  down  which  they  travelled, 
finding  the  bottoms  covered  with  a  tliick  growth  of 
trees  peculiar  to  low,  moist  lands.  It  was  now  deter- 
mined to  abandon  their  horses,  as  they  could  advance 
with  difficulty,  and  had  no  longer  anything  to  carry 
which  could  not  be  dispensed  with.  They  therefore 
procured  the  services  of  some  Indians  with  canoes 
to  take  them  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  which  they 
fnind  to  have  a  beautiful  valley  of  rich  land,  and  to 
be,  after  passing  the  junction  of  the  two  forks,  about 
eighty  yards  wide,  with  the  tide  ebbing  and  flowing 
from  two  to  three  feet.*"  On  the  14th,  about  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  having  descended  to  within  a 
few  miles  of  the  ocean,  a  member  of  the  party,  ]\Ir 
Hedden,  one  of  those  driven  out  of  Port  Orford  in 
June,  and  who  escaj)ed  up  the  coast,  recognized  the 
stream  as  the  Coquille  River,  which  the  previous  party 
had  crossed  on  a  raft.  Too  exhausted  to  naviijate  a 
boat  for  themselves,  and  overcome  by  hunger,  they 
engaged  some  natives"  to  take  them  down  the  river, 
instead  of  which  they  were  carried  to  a  large  rancheria 
situated  about  two  miles  from  the  ocean. 

Savages  thronged  Mie  shore  armed  with  bows  and 
arrows,  long  knives,*  and  war-clubs,  and  were  upini 
them   the   moment    '   ey   stepped    ashore.      T'Vault 


^*  On  Coquille  River,  12  mi 
name  '  Dcunis  White,  1834, '  to  wi 
ArmMroiu/s  Or.,  G5. 

*'  One  of  the  Indians  who  pa( 
cat  gun  that  James  II.  Eagan  ha' 


below  the  north  fork,  is  a  tree  with  the 
h  some  persons  have  attached  iniportaiicu. 


led  their  canoes  had  with  him  '  the  i(]onti- 
broken  over  an  Indian's  head  at  i'oit  Or- 
ford in  Juno  last.'    WiUkims'  S.    (.  .  Oi:,  MS.,  28. 

"These  knives,  two  and  two  and  a  half  feet  long,  were  manufactured  by 


THRILLING  INCIDENTS. 


IW 


aftcnvard  declared  that  tlie  first  thing  he  was  con- 
.scious  of  was  being  in  the  river,  fifteen  yards  from 
sliorc  and  swimming.  He  glanced  toward  the  village, 
and  saw  only  a  horrible  confusion,  and  heard  the  yells 
of  savage  triumph  mingled  with  the  sound  of  blows 
and  the  shrieks  of  his  unfortunate  comrades.  At  the 
sixnie  instant  he  saw  Brush  in  the  water  not  far  from 
him  and  an  Indian  standing  in  a  canoe  striking  him 
on  tlie  head  with  a  paddle,  while  the  water  around 
was  stained  with  blood. 

At  this  juncture  occurred  an  incident  such  as  is 
used  to  embellish  romances,  when  a  woman  or  a  child 
in  the  midst  of  savagery  displays  those  feelings  of 
humanity  common  to  all  men.  While  the  two  white 
men  were  struggling  for  their  lives  in  the  stream  a 
canoe  shot  from  the  opposite  bank.  In  it  standing 
erect  was  an  Indian  lad,  who  on  reaching  the  spot 
assisted  them  into  the  canoe,  handed  them  the  [)addle, 
tlien  springing  into  the  water  swam  back  to  the  shore. 
They  succeeded  in  getting  to  land,  and  strii)ping 
tiK  insclves,  crawled  up  the  bank  and  into  the  thicket 
without  once  standing  upright.  Striking  soutliward 
through  the  rough  and  briery  undergrowth  they  hur- 
ried on  as  long  as  daylight  lasted,  and  at  night  emerged 
upon  the  beach,  reaching  Cape  Blanco  the  following 
nioniin<jf,  where  the  Indians  received  them  kindlv,  and 
alter  taking  care  of  them  for  a  day  conveyed  them  to 
Port  Orford.  T'Vault  was  not  severely  wounded,  but 
Brush  had  part  of  his  scalp  taken  oft'  by  one  of  the 
long  knives.  Both  were  suftering  from  famine  and 
bruises,  and  believed  themselves  the  only  survivors.'^'' 
lUit  in  about  two  weeks  it  was  ascertained  that 
others  of  the  party  were  living,  namely:  Williams,"'* 

the  Indians  out  of  some  Imnd  iron  t»kcn  from  the  wreck  of  the  Tfofisfaff. 
They  wtri"  funiishiMl  with  whalebone  handles.  ParriKh'n  Or.  Avralokn,  M  S. ,  (iO. 

■'■>  Jjd'-'^oii'x  Aiitohio'j.,  MS.,  45-0;  I'ort/aml  lJi(lleti>i,Uavc\i  'A,  187.T;  .S'.  F. 
Ihml.l,  0.;t.  14,  isr)l;  AMand  Tidiii'ja,  July  I'Jth  and  19,  1S78;  Portlaiul 
Wis!  Shore,  May  1878. 

'"'i'lio  narrative  of  Williams  is  one  of  the  most  thrilling  in  the  literature 
of  iiWi  ;sii  warfare.  Wlien  the  attack  was  made  he  had  just  stepiied  ashore 
fruia  the  canoe.     Uis  first  sti'ugglc  was  with  two  powerful  savages  for  the 


200 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


?:i 


Davenport,  and  Hodden,  the  other  five  having  been 
murdered,  their  companies  hardly  knew  how. 

With  this  signal  disaster  terminated  the  first  at- 
tempt to  reach  the  llogue  River  Valley  from  Port 
Orford;  and  thus  fiercely  did  the  red  inhabitants  of 
this  region  welcome  their  white  brethren.  The  diffi- 
culties with  the  various  tribes  which  grew  out  of  this 
and  similar  encounters  I  shall  describe  in  the  history 
of  the  wars  of  1851-3. 

Soon  after  the  failure  of  the  T'Vault  expedition 
another  com[>any  was  fitted  out  to  explore  in  a  difi'er- 

possossioii  of  his  rifle,  which  being  discharged  in  the  contest,  for  a  moment 
gave  him  ivliof  by  frightening  his  assailants.  Amidst  the  yells  of  IndianM  and 
the  ciiiH  and  groans  of  comrades  ho  forced  his  way  through  the  infiniMtud 
crowd  witii  thu  stocl;  of  liia  gun,  being  completely  surrounded,  lighting  in  a 
circle,  and  striking  in  all  directions.  Soon  only  the  barrel  of  his  gun  rcniainiMl 
in  his  haiid.s,  wiiii  which  ho  continued  to  deal  heavy  l>low3  as  lie  advanced 
along  a  jiiicc  of  opi  ground  toward  the  forest,  receiving  blows  as  well,  one 
of  which  felled  hini  to  the  ground.  Quickly  recovering  himself,  with  mic 
dcsper.ite  plunge  the  living  wall  was  broken,  and  he  darted  fm*  the  \v<iod.M, 
As  he  ran  an  arrow  liit  him  l)etween  the  left  hip  and  lower  riijs,  peneti'utiiiu; 
the  alvlomi'ii,  and  bringing  him  to  a  sudden  stop.  Finding  it  inipo.s.-iilile  to 
move,  Ik.'  drew  out  the  shaft  which  broke  off,  leaving  one  joint  of  its  length, 
with  the  barb,  in  his  l)ody.  So  great  was  his  excitement  that  after  the  iirst 
sensation  no  pain  was  felt.  The  main  party  of  Indians  being  occupied  with 
rilling  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  a  race  for  life  now  set  in  with  about  a  dozen  of 
the  most  persi.stent  of  his  enemies.  Though  several  times  struck  with  arrows 
he  ran  <lown  all  but  two  who  placed  themselves  on  each  side  alK)ut  ten  foct 
away  shooting  every  instant.  Despairing  of  escape  Williams  turned  on  tlieiii, 
but  v.liilo  he  chased  one  the  other  shot  at  him  from  behin<l.  As  if  to  hiv:i\ 
him  no  (.lianoe  for  life  the  suspeiulers  of  his  pantaloons  gave  way,  and  liciiig 
impeded  by  their  falling  down  ho  was  forced  to  stop  and  kick  th(>m  oil'.  With 
his  eyes  and  month  lillc(l  with  blood  from  a  wound  on  the  head,  blinded  iind 
despaiiiiig  he  yet  turned  to  enter  tho  forest  when  he  fell  headlong.  At  tlii.s 
the  Indians  I'ushed  upon  him  sure  of  their  prey;  one  of  them  who  carried  a 
ca[)tur(d  gun  attemjjted  to  fire,  biit  it  failoa.  Says  the  narrator:  'The  si.!j- 
cning  .sciisation.s  of  the  last  half  hour  wore  at  once  dispelled  when  I  reali/i  I 
that  the  gmi  had  refused  to  lire.  I  was  on  my  feet  in  a  momei'.t.  rille  b.irnl 
in  hand.  Instead  of  running  I  stood  firm,  and  the  Indian  with  the  lillc  also 
met  nie  with  it  drawn  ">y  the  breech.  Tho  critical  moment  of  tlu  whole 
allair  had  arrived,  and  I  knew  it  nnist  bo  tho  final  struggle.  Tin;  lii'st  two  or 
three  Mows  I  failed  utterly,  and  received  some  severe  bruises,  but  foitinie 
was  on  my  side,  and  a  Kicky  blow  given  with  miusual  force  fell  nnon  my  an- 
tagonist killing  him  almost  instantfy,  I  seized  the  gun,  a  shari)  report  I'ul- 
lowed,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  my  rennuning  pursuer  stagger  niid 
fall  dead.'    Kxpeeting  to  die  of  his  wouiuls  Williams  entered  the  shadow  nt 

the  u 1-1  toseek  a  place  where  he  might  lie  down  in  peace.     Soon  afterw^n  I 

he  fell  ill  with  Hodden,  who  had  escaped  nninjureil,  ami  who  with  soiac! 
friendly  Indians  assisted  him  to  reach  the  IJmpiU'.a.  where  thi'y  ariiveil  afti  r 
six  ilay  A  of  inteiiso  sidl'ei'ing  from  injuries,  famiiu.',  and  cold,  and  where  tin  v 
found  the  brig  Almirn,  Cupt,  Uihbs,  lying,  which  took  thorn  to  Gardiner.    All 


coos  BAY  AND  PORT  ORFORD. 


201 


cut  direction  for  a  road  to  the  interior,''^  wliicli  was 
couipi Hod  to  return  without  cftbcting  its  object.  Port 
Orl'ord,  liowover,  received  the  encouragement  and  as- 
sistance of  government  officials,  including  the  coast 
survey  officers  and  military  men,®-  and  throve  in  con- 
siMjueiice.  Troops  were  stationed  there,''^  and  before 
the  close  of  the  year  the  work  of  surveying  a  mihtary 
road  was  begun  by  Lieutenant  Willianjson,  of  the 
topograjjhical  engineers,  with  an  escort  of  dragoons 
from  Casey's  command  at  Port  Orford.  Several  f.imi- 
lios  Imd  also  joined  the  settlement,  about  half  a  dozen 
d\V(  lliiig  houses  having  been  erected  for  their  accom- 
niodntion.'"*  The  troops  were  quartered  in  nine  log 
]>uil(!iiigs  half  a  mile  irom  the  town.°°  A  permanent 
route  to  the  mines  was  not  adopted,  however,  until 
late  tlie  following  year. 

Casov's  command  having  rotui'ned  to  Penicia  about 
the  1  st  of  December,  in  January  following  the  schooner 
Oijitdiit  Linco/n,  Naghel  master,  was  despatched  to 
]^||•t    Orford   from    San   Francisco   with   troops  and 


WilliaiTiw'  wounds  except  that  in  the  abdomen  licalod  romlily.  That  dis- 
cliiii-Lricl  for  a  yi'ar.  la  t'oui'  yi'ai>  tho  nrrow-liead  had  worked  itsflt  out,  Imt 
not  until  the  si'voiitli  year  did  the  lirokcu  sluift  foUow  it.  I)a\rn]ioit,  liko 
Ih'ddfu,  was  iiidiuit,  hut  wamh'i'cd  Htarving  in  tlic  iiiountains  many  ihiy.s 
hi'foi't'  iculiinj,'  a  sctth'uicnt.  WilliaiuM  was  liorn  in  W'lnioiit,  and  i^aiiio 
to  Ihr  I'arilio  coast  in  1S>")0.  Ho  inado  his  iioiae  at  AHhhnid,  cnjoyiiiL;  tho 
(•L's]u'(t  of  his  ft'llow-nion,  conihinin^'  iii  hi«  manner  thu  iicLudiaiiiiiM  of  tho 
hordii'  witli  those  of  a  tlioi'ou'^h  uuil  competent  businesa  man.  I'mildml  Wcit 
ISIion,  .liiiR  IS,  ISTS. 

■'I  U,'.  Sf,i/rsm<(ll,  Xov.  4,  1S,")1. 

''- I'rohahly  !-.l,ori('H  like  the  follnwinj;  had  their  cfToet:  Tort  ()i'ford  has 
recently  been  aseei'taine(l  to  he  one  of  the  very  best  harbors  on  the  I'aeilio 
eoii!<t,  aeees.^silile  to  the  largest  elaa;i  of  vessels,  and  Nitiniteil  at  a  eon\  eiiient 
intermediate  point  between  the  i.'mii()na  and  Hoj^'iie  Kivers.'  /'i /il.  ni' den. 
l/;irli,;„i:  in  .;..'(/  ('oii<i.,  Ixt  Siss.,  II.  Kx,  Jhc  J,  bH»;  S".  F.  A/l>t,  .hiiy  Kttli 
and  Se|it.  14,  ISo'i. 

'■'  bienlenant  Kant/,  of  the  rifles,  with  'JO  men  Ktationed  at  Astoria,  was 
order,  d  to  Port  Orford  in  A\i),Mist,  at  the  instanee  of  'I'ieheiair,  where  a  jiost 
Was  to  lie  estalilisiied  for  tile  la'oteetion  of  the  miners  in  ItoKiie  Uiver  X'alley, 
wliieii  was  rein'esented  to  lie  liiit  .'i.'t  miles  distant  from  this  |ilaee.  After  the 
innssjn're  on  the  ('iM|nille,  ( 'ol.  Casey,  of  the  '2i\  nifanfry,  was  despalelied  from 
SiiM  I'liineiseo  witii  |iortionM  of  three  draj,'oon  eomfianies,  arrivmj,'  at  I'ort 
Orford  on  the  I'vld  of  Oetober. 

■".",//  Ainiiiif,  41   -J.  144;  Or.  iStntegiiliiii,  Dec.  1(1,  IS.'tl. 

.'/  Coiiij.,  Jd  Si-in.,  II.  Ex.  Doc,  1,  pt,  ii.  I0o-(i;  S.  F.  Iliraltl,  Nov. 
8.  Is.iJ. 


iiHl 


'I  ! 


|1 


i:     I 


202 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  OREGON. 


stores  under  Lieutenant  Stanton.  The  weather  belncf 
foul  she  missed  the  harbor  and  went  ashore  on  a 
sand  spit  two  miles  north  of  the  entrance  to  Coos 
Bay.  The  passengers  and  cargo  were  safely  landed 
on  the  beach,  where  shelter  was  obtained  under  sails 
stretched  on  booms  and  spars.  Thus  exposed,  annoyed 
by  high  winds  and  drifting  sands,  and  by  the  thiev- 
ing propensities  of  the  natives,  Stanton  was  forced  to 
remain  four  months.  An  effort  was  made  to  cx[)l.jre 
a  trail  to  Port  Orford  by  means  of  which  pack-trains 
could  be  sent  to  their  relief.  Twelve  dragoons  were 
assigned  to  this  service,  with  orders  to  wait  at  Port 
Orford  for  despatches  from  San  Francisco  in  answer 
to  his  own,  which,  as  the  mail  steamers  avoided  that 
jJace  after  hearing  of  the  wreck  of  the  schooner,  did 
not  arrive  until  settled  weather  in  March.  Quarter- 
master Miller  rejilied  to  Stanton  by  taking  ])assnge 
for  Port  Orford  on  the  Columbia  under  a  special  ar- 
rangement to  stop  at  that  port.  But  the  steamer's 
ca})tain  being  unacquainted  with  the  coast,  and  hav- 
ing nearly  made  the  mistake  of  attempting  to  enter 
Rogue  River,  proceeded  to  the  Columbia,  and  it  was 
not  until  the  I'ith  of  April  that  Miller  reached  his 
destination.  He  brought  a  train  of  twenty  mules 
from  Port  Orford,  the  route  proving  a  most  harab.^;- 
ing  one,  over  slippery  mountain  spurs,  through  dense 
forests  obstructed  with  fallen  timber,  across  seveial 
rivers,  besides  sand  dunes  and  marshes,  four  days 
being  consumed  in  marching  fifty  miles. 

On  reaching  Camp  Castaway,  IVIiller  ]iroceedc'd  to 
the  Um{)(]ua,  where  he  found  and  chartered  tlu; 
schooner  i\<i.<ts<in,  which  was  brought  around  into 
Coos  Jiay,  being  the  first  vessel  to  eiiter  that  iini'linr. 
Wagons  had  been  shipped  by  the  (luartermastc  r  ti> 
the  llmpqua  by  the  brig  Fawn.  The  Uiules  were 
sent  to  haul  them  down  the  beach  by  what  proved  to 
be  a  good  road,  and  the  stores  being  loadc^d  mto  lliem 
were  transported  across  two  miles  of  sand  to  the  west 
shore  of  the  bay  and  placed  on  board  the  Nasmu,  iji 


YAQUINA  BAY. 


203 


which  they  were  taken  to  Port  Orford,^  arriving  the 
20th  of  May. 

The  knowledge  of  the  country  obtained  in  these 
forced  expeditions,  added  to  the  cx[)loration  of  the 
Coquille  Valley  by  road-hunters  in  the  previous 
autumn,  and  by  the  military  ex^>cdition  of  Casey  to 
})Uiiish  the  Coquilles,  of  which  I  shall  speak  in  an- 
other place,  was  the  means  of  attracting  attention  to 
the  advantages  of  this  portion  of  Oregon  for  settle- 
ment. A  chart  of  Coos  Bay  entrance  was  made  by 
Xagliel,  which  was  sufficiently  correct  for  sailing  pur- 
])()ses,  and  the  harbor  was  favorably  reported  upon  by 
Miller." 


it  was 

led  his 

mules 

laruus- 

dcnso 

sevcnu 

days 


lid  to 

I  th.' 
1  intn 
larlor. 
iter  fc" 
i  wcri' 
wA  tit 
)  Ihi'Hi 
I'  Wi'st 


On  the  28th  of  January  the  schooner  Juliet,  Cap- 
tain Collins,  was  driven  ashore  near  Yaquina  Bay, 
the  crew  and  passengers  being  compelled  to  remain 
u])()n  the  stormy  coast  until  by  aid  of  an  Indian  mes- 
senger horses  could  be  brought  from  the  Willamette 
t(»  transport  them  to  that  more  hospitable  region.'"^ 
WhileCollins  was  detained,  which  was  until  the  latter 
part  of  March,  he  occujiied  a  portion  of  his  time  in 
('\[)loring  Yaquina  Bay,  finding  it  navigable  for  ves- 
sels drawing  from  six  to  eight  feet  of  water;  but  the 
entrance  was  a  bad  one.  In  the  bay  were  found  oysters 
and  clams,  while  the  adjacent  land  was  deemed  exci'l- 
Knt.  Thus  by  acciiient""  as  well  as  effort  the  secrets 
of   the  coast   country    were   brought   to  light,   and 

'"'"Tlic!  Xris.inii  was  wrcokcd  at  the  oiitrancc  to  the  T^miwiua  a  fow  months 
later.  Or.  S/(iti:iin<iii,  St'|it.  IS,  IH.'i^.  From  lS,"iO  to  IS.'rJ  live  vosscLs  weit) 
hxst  at  tliis  place,  the  lio.itoiiiiiii,  Xasmn,  Almim,  Orr/ii/la, aud  Caleb  t'urlcA. 

■''.IM  Cdiiij.,  :.'il  Sr.t.t.,  II.  S.  Kx.  Dor.  1,  \,t.  ii.  KKl-O. 

''*'I)r  Mel.onglilin,  IFiigh  limns,  W.  C.  (JriswoliI,  and  W.  I[.  IJitrnhart 
responded  to  the  appeal  of  the  Mhipwreeked,  and  furnished  tlie  mi'iin.s  of  their 
riMiiie  from  Hull'erin),'.   Or.  iSliiliswnn,  Mareh  'Jd  and  April  (I,  1S,")'J. 

''"'of  marine  dimister*  there  Neom  to  ha\-e  heen  a  gicat  nnndxtr  in  lSr»|-'2, 
The  nio.st  a]ii)allinj{  was  of  the  uteam  |iropellei-  (Imrriil  Wiirrm,  Captain 
Cliinles  'i'honipson,  whieh  Htramled  on  ('latsoj)  spit,  after  passinj,'  out  of  ihe 
(■'  hnnliia,  .Ian.  ~S,  18.V2.  The  oteamer  was  fonnd  to  lie  leaking  luidly,  and 
lii'ini,'  pat  ahout  conld  not  make  the  river  again.  She  broke  up  almost  imme- 
dia'.ely  after  .striking  the  8andH,  and  liy  dayliglit  next  muniing  tlu  re  wan  only 
<  iMHigli  left  of  the  wreek  to  atl'ord  ntanding  room  for  her  pasm'nger.s  and  crew. 
A  hoat,  the  only  unu  ivniuining,  Mas  despatched  in  uhurgu  uf  thu  bar  pilot  tu 


'1 


90i 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IX  OREGON". 


althousTh  tlic  immigration  of  1851  was  not  more  than 
u  third  as  much  as  that  of  the  previous  year,  there 
were  people  enougli  running  to  and  fro,  looking  for 
new  enterprises,  to  impart  an  interest  to  eacli  fresh 
revelation  of  the  resources  of  the  territory. 

Astoria  for  assistance.  On  its  rctiini  nothing  could  he  found  hut  sonic  float- 
iii','  fr;i;L,'ini'nts  of  tliu  vessel.  X(jt  ii  life  was  saved  of  tiie  ."I'i  persons  on  lioiird. 
ok  S/i(/<.vnini,  Feh.  10th  and  '24,  \Ho'2;  /<!.,  March  0,  18.")-2;  Siciirs  j\,  W. 
Coast,  259;  Portland  Oreijoiiian,  Feb.  7,  ISo'J;  S.  F,  Alto,  B'eb.  IG,  1852. 


I. 


m 


!     I 


M 


3sh 


CHAPTER  VII. 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 
1851. 

Politics— Election  of  a  Delegate— Extinguisiimext  of  IxniAN  Titles — 
Inihan'  Sri'KUixTF.MiENTs  AN'u  Agents  Appoixtei)— Kinkness  of  the 
(Jiu-.AT  Father  at  Wahiiinoton — Avpropkiations  of  Com.'ukss  — 
Frauds  Arising  from  the  Svstkm — Easy  Expenditore  of  Oovers- 
MEsr  Money— U.vpoprLARiTY  of  Human  Sympathy — Efficiency  op 
Sipekintenuent  Dart— Thirteen  Tueaties  Effected— Lane  among 
Tin;  RiiGiE  Iliver  Indians  and  in  the  Mines— Divers  OuTRAtiES 

AND    Rk.TALIATIONS  —  MILITARY    AFFAIRS  —  RoGUE    RiVER  WaR  —  TlIE 

Stuonghold — Battle  of  Taule  Rock — Deatu  of  Sxu-u<t— I'learney'ij 
Prisoners. 

Lane  was  not  a  skilful  politician  and  finished  orator 
like  Thurston,  though  he  had  much  natural  uliilitv/ 
iiiul  had  the  latter  been  alive,  notwithstanding  his 
iiiun}'  misdeeds,  Lane  could  not  so  easily  have  seeured 
the  election  as  delegate  to  congress.  It  was  a  ])er- 
soiiid  rather  than  a  i)art}'  matter,''' though  a  party  spirit 
developed  rapidly  after  Lane's  nomination,  chiefly  be- 
cause a  majority  of  the  people  were  democrats,^  and 

'  Mien.  Lniii'  is  a  man  of  a  lii^li  order  of  original  >,'cniuH.  He  is  notKclf- 
iii.iik',  imt  (idil-niadc.  IFu  was  I'cliicated  nowin'ie.  Xoixidy  Imt  a  iniin  of 
sii|ii'iioi'  natiiial  capacity,  witliont  cducatiun,  could  liavc  niiiintiiincd  iiinisclf 
iiiiinii,'  men  fi'oni  I'aily  youtii  as  lio  did.'  (.'nn'cr's  /'iili.  l.[h ,  MS,.  SI.  Wo 
iii:iy  iurclty  iniVr  tlic  idea  intended  to  bo  convoyeil,  however  ill-litting  lliu 

MnlcLs. 

'Siiy.s  W,  W.  Hack;  'Before  ISOl  tluTO  were  no  nominations  made.  In 
l\"il  tliry  organized  into  political  parties  as  wliigs  nnd  denioeiiil.s.  lieforo 
that  men  of  ]iromincnce  woidd  think  of  Home  one,  ami  go  to  idiii  iM;d  (ind  out 
ii  lie  Would  .serve.  'I"he  knowledge  of  the  movement  would  spivud,  and  the 
tucijiost  candiilato  get  elected,  while  others  ran  scattering."  Kiikr/irixi.s, 
MS.,  i:!., 

'".li's.Mc  Ap]>legate,  who  Imd  i)een  nioiitionc<1  as  suitable  for  the  jilace, 
wiiite  to  the  .S^/i('(7(tA)r  Mni'ch  14th:  'The  people  of  the  southern  frontier,  of 
wliich  I  am  one,  owe  to(iov.  Lane  a  debt  of  gratitude  too  nlrong  for  party 
I'lvjudicus  to  uuuuel,  uud  too  great  fur  tiutu  to  orouo. .  .Rille  in  hand  ho  gal- 


n 


:    I 
i 


if 


206 


INDIAX  AFFAIRS. 


their  favorites,  Thurston  and  Lane,  were  democrats, 
while  the  administration  was  whig  and  not  in  svm- 
pathy  with  them. 

The  movement  for  Lane  began  in  February,  the 
earliest  intimation  of  it  appearing  in  the  Spectator  of 
March  Gth,  after  which  he  was  nominated  in  a  public 
meeting  at  Lafayette.  Lane  himself  did  not  appear 
on  the  ground  until  the  last  of  April,  and  the  news 
of  Thurston's  death  arriving  within  a  few  days,  Lane's 
name  was  innnediately  put  forward  by  every  journal 
in  the  territorv.  But  he  was  not,  for  all  that,  with- 
out  an  opponent.  The  mission  party  nominated  Vv'. 
H.  Willson,  who  from  a  whaling-ship  cooper  and  lay 
Methodist  had  come  to  be  called  doctor  and  been 
given  places  of  trust.  His  supporters  were  the  de- 
fenders of  that  part  of  Thurston's  policy  which  was 
generally  condenmed.  There  was  nothing  of  conse- 
quence at  issue  however,  and  as  Lane  was  facile  of 
tongue*  and  clap-trap,  he  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  1,832  with  2/J17  votes  cast.*  As  soon  as  the  returns 
were  all  in.  Lane  set  out  again  for  the  mines,  whore  he 
was  just  in  time  to  be  of  service  to  the  settlers  of 
Rogue  River  Valley. 

Immediately  upon  the  passage  of  an  act  by  congress, 
extinijuishing  Indian  titles  west  of  the  Cascade  Moun- 
tains  in  1850,  the  president  appointed  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs,  Anson  Dart  of  Wisconsin,  who  ar- 
rived early  in  October,  accompanied  by  P.  C.  Da  it, 
his  secretary.     Three  Indian  agents  were  appointed 

Inntly  l>rnvi'(l  the  floods  and  storms  of  winter  to  save  otir  property,  wives,  nnd 
dniijjtliti'iH  from  tlie  rapine  of  tv  lawless  soldiery,'  which  statement,  howsoevti' 
it  pietnrcH  puiilic  sentiment,  smacks  somewhat  of  the  usual  electioneering 
exaggeration, 

*  '  Ho  had  a  particidarly  happy  faculty  for  what  wo  would  call  domcstio 
electioneering.  He  diil  not  make  speeches,  but  would  go  nround  and  talk  witli 
families,  Tliey  used  to  tell  this  story  nl)0ut  him,  and  I  think  it  is  true,  tluit 
wlidt  he  got  at  one  place,  in  the  waj'  of  seeds  or  clioico  articles,  he  di.strilmteil 
at  the  next  place.  H<>  Ijrought  these,  with  candies,  and  always  kissed  llio 
children.'  Shoi.nK  llixt.  On,  MS,,  41. 

''  Lixui'x  Aiitohioijrnphy,  MS.,  O'i;  <>r.  S/wctntor,  J\\\y  4,  1851;  yUinr.  At- 
PHumc,  itS'J-.',  223;  Tribune  Almannr,  IHorJ,  51;  iJvedand  Monthli),  i.  37. 


mk^ 


SUPERINTENDENT  AND  AGENTS. 


207 


at  tlio  same  time,  namely  •  A.  G.  Henry  of  Illinois,* 
H.  H.  Spalding,  and  Elias  Wampole.  Dart's  instruc- 
tions from  the  commissioner,  under  date  of  July  20, 
1850,  were  in  general,  to  govern  himself  by  the  in- 
structions furnished  to  Lane  as  cx-officio  superintend- 
ent,' to  be  modified  according  to  circumstances.  The 
number  of  agents  and  subagents  appointed  had  been 
in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  Lane,  and 
to  the  information  contained  in  Lane's  report  he  was 
requested  to  give  particular  attention,  as  well  as  to 
the  suppression  of  the  liquor  traffic,  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  penalties  provided  in  the  intercourse  act 
of  1834,  and  also  as  amended  in  1847,  making  one  or 
two  years'  imprisonment  a  punishment  for  furnishing 
Lulians  with  intoxicating  drink.^  A  feature  of  tiie 
insti'uctions,  showing  Thurston's  hand  in  this  matter, 
was  tlie  order  not  to  purchase  goods  from  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  for  distribution  among  the  Indians, 
but  that  they  be  purchased  of  American  merchants, 
and  the  Indians  taught  that  it  was  from  the  American 
government  they  received  such  benefits.  It  was  also 
forbidden  in  the  instructions  that  the  company  should 
have  trading  posts  within  the  limits  of  United  States 
territory ,"  the  superintendent  being  required  to  pro- 
ceed with  thorn  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the 
act  reiTulating  intercourse  with  the  Indians. 

"Thnrston,  who  was  much  opposeil  to  appointing  men  from  the  cast,  ^v^ote 
to  Ori'iion:  '  l)r  Henry  of  Illinois  M'as  appointeil  Indiiui  agunt,  iield  on  to  it 
a  whili;,  (hew  §730  under  the  pretence  of  going  to  Oregon,  and  tiion  resigned, 
Ii'iiviiit,'  the  govcnmieiit  nanus  that  sum.  Upon  his  rc>iij,'ning  Mr  Simeon 
Fnnuis  was  nominated,  first  giving  assurance  that  he  would  leave  for  Oregon, 
i)ut  iiistiuulof  doing  BO  he  is  at  home  in  Illinois.'  Or.  Spectator,  April  10,  1851. 

'■Uxl  ('on;i.,  IM  Sens.,  S.  Dor.  52,  1-7,  154-SO. 

•*  It  should  1)0  here  mentioned,  in  justice  to  Thurston,  that  when  the  Indian 
hill  w  ;is  under  consideration  by  the  congressional  committees,  it  w  as  hrougiit  to 
hisiKitiueby  the  commissioner,  that  while  Lane  ha<l  given  much  information  on 
till'  niiMihor  and  condition  of  the  Indians,  the  number  of  agents  necessary,  tiio 
aiii'  milt  of  nu)ncy  necessary  for  agency  buildings,  agents,  expenses,  and  presents 
to  the  Indians,  ho  had  neglected  to  sUitt;  what  tribes  should  be  bougiit  out, 
tlic  extent  of  their  territory,  what  would  1)0  a  fair  price  for  tlie  lands,  to 
wli.it  jilace  they  should  bo  removed,  and  whether  such  lamls  were  vacant. 
'riunstiin  furnished  this  information  according  to  his  conception  of  right,  anil 
luiil  tlic  liill  framed  for  the  extinguishment  of  titles  in  that  part  of  Ore^jon, 
\vhicli  was  rapidly  filling  up  with  white  settlers.  See  Letter  (\J  Orlando  Urown, 
Vomnii.iKidiii'i-,  in  Or,  Si'ectdtor,  Oct.  HI,  18.")0. 

^JldCoHif.,  -'dSexs.,  II.  Ex.  Doc.  1,  140. 


203 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


As  to  the  attitude  of  government  toward  the 
Indians  there  was  the  usual  pohtieal  twaddle.  An 
important  object  to  be  aimed  at,  the  commissioner 
said,  was  the  reconcihng  of  differences  between  tribes. 
Civihzed  people  may  tight,  but  not  savages.  The 
Indians  should  be  urged  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  to  raise  grain,  vegetables,  and  stock  of  all 
kinds;  and  to  encourage  them,  small  premiums  might 
be  oifered  for  the  greatest  quantity  of  produce,  or 
number  of  cattle  and  other  farm  animals.  With 
regard  to  missionaries  among  the  Indians,  they  were 
to  be  encouraged  without  reference  to  denomination, 
and  left  free  to  use  the  best  means  of  christianizinuf. 
The  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  was  advanced  to 
the  sujierintendent,  of  which  five  thousand  was  to  be 
applied  to  the  erection  of  houses  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  himself  and  agents,  four  thousand  for  his  own 
residence,  and  the  remainder  for  temporary  buildings 
to  be  used  by  the  agents  before  becoming  permanently 
established.  The  remainder  was  for  presents  and 
provisions. 

There  were  further  appointed  for  Oregon  tlu\^e 
connnissioners  to  make  treaties  with  the  Indians, 
John  P.  Gaines,  governor,  Alonzo  A.  Skinner,  and 
Beverly  S.  Allen;  the  lost  received  his  connnisj^ion 
the  12th  of  August  and  arrived  in  Oregon  in  the  early 
part  of  February  1851.  The  instructions  were  gen- 
eral, the  de{)artnient  being  ignorant  of  the  territory, 
excei)t  that  it  extended  from  the  42d  to  the  4yth 
paralliil,  and  was  included  between  the  Cascade 
jNIountains  and  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  object  of  the 
government  it  was  said  was  to  extinguish  the  Indian 
titles,  an'l  remove  the  complaint  of  the  settlers  that 
they  could  acquire  no  [)crfect  titles  to  their  claims 
before  the  Indians  had  been  quieted.  They  were  ad- 
vised therel'ore  to  treat  first  with  the  Indians  in  the 
Willamette  Valley,  and  with  each  tribe  separately.'" 

'"  ''riieinjiximum  jiricc  given  for  Indian  lands  has  been  ten  eents  |H'i'  .'U'rc, 
but  this  huM  hcuu  fur  umuU  i^uuiititiuy  uf  great  value  tVuui  their  cuuti^'uily  to 


Hi: 


I-^ND  TITLES. 

They  were  to  fix  upon  --   ,.         *     ,  ** 

l>aKl,  and  agree  upon  1".;;"^^  ?^.'"°"^y  *<>  be 
per  cent  of  the  whole  amo,  „t  %?"  *"  f'""^'^  A™ 
ti»t  money  be  not  employe  I  Lf  1  T  ^-T  '"'"''*«d 
sliould  be  substituted-  and  ;h„  *?*  "'■'"''«'«  "f  use 
accept  such  things  as  ,™u"  atlt'tb™'  •'■^'"■«"'  *» 
fernors  and  mechanics,  and  to  "  '"  becoming 

and  educat  on.     Tf  .nv  L  ^''"""■e   medical  aid 

vWins  it  might  beexpLTdT  '""T^'l  ^ft^^  -  pro 

thousand  dollare  was  tr,u^' ,-  .''°  «"m  »f  tn-entv 
fi'toen  thousand  t^e  ^^J^H'^'l'  *?.  "'ese  oly:*^ 
ornor  Games,  at  the  sub-trealrv  S,  f  "^'  "''  «'>^- 
to  be  accounted  for  by  vo^hZ.^^  ,\''""''""''  ""d 
t"  l«  mvested  in  goods  and  tnf'  ?!?  thou.sand 

for  distribution  anion  J  the  T„  r  ™"''lCape  Horn 
s.oMors  were  allowed^ m,Wr%K  '^''"  '"""'"«- 
scerotary  at  the  rate  orteTcents  '''■''.r^'™''  and 
vith  .salaries  of  eight  dollars  ,1'.  ,  "'''''  '"Sother 
cadi  of  the  commissioners  and  fi  "Tff  "<'"''=«  *•'"• 
secretary.  They  were  also  t'o^  "  ''""'"^  (">■  the 
ors  and  assistants  as  they  mi^h[7'  """-^ '"'^Tret- 
;p-  -Pensatio,  a^^  tTelCSs^s' 

InS'ag::oy  lu'stS-'oWro""''^'  '^'"•^''  «- 
ff'veinment  must  have  fS      '  "1  ^'^'^S""-     Truly,  „ 

»"cl.  temptations  in  theirtav      1^'  'T"-"*'  *"  I'l^-e 

""■c  tlie  result;  froni  five  h"„,/?"'''  innumerable 
''"""'■»  «'ould  be  paid  to  the  nfr*!^-*"  '^™  t''""><and 

If  "cv,   the    returns    froiw"c   '•'""'  }°  ^«'^"^'-'  «» 
I"»"  leds  per  cent  profit  nus7  ";™stment,  with 

i;c-"]ations  and  pilfcrin^'s    o lb t '""^  "^.y  «3'*'tei„atic 

'-;  nioneys  appropriated'  TClT  ^^T?  "' 


I 


i 

ill 

III 

210 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


would  be  expended  for  their  benefit.  Perhaps  the 
public  conscience  was  soothed  by  this  show  of  justice, 
as  pretentious  as  it  was  hollow,  and  the  emptiness  of 
which  was  patent  to  every  one;  but  it  would  have 
been  in  as  good  taste,  and  far  more  manly  and  honest, 
to  have  shot  down  the  aboriginals  and  seized  their 
lands  without  these  hypocrisies  and  stealings,  as  was 
frequently  done. 

Often  the  people  were  worse  than  the  government 
or  its  agents,  so  that  there  was  little  inducement  for 
the  latter  to  be  honest.  In  the  present  instance  the 
commissioners  were  far  more  just  and  humane  than 
the  settlers  themselves.  It  is  true  they  entered  upon 
their  duties  in  April  1851  with  a  pomp  and  circum- 
stance in  no  wise  in  keeping  with  the  simple  habits 
of  the  Oregon  settlers;  with  interpreters,  clerks,  com- 
missaries, and  a  retinue  of  servants  thev  established 
themselves  atChampoeg,  to  which  place  agents  brought 
the  so-called  chiefs  of  the  wretched  tribes  of  the  Wil- 
lamette; but  they  displayed  a  heart  and  a  humanity 
in  their  efforts  which  did  them  honor.  Of  the  Sau- 
tiam  band  of  the  Calapooyas  they  purchased  a  portion 
of  the  valley  eighty  miles  in  length  by  twenty  in 
breadth;  of  the  Tualatin  branch  of  the  same  nation 
a  tract  of  country  fifty  miles  by  thirty  in  extent, 
these  lands  being  among  the  best  in  the  valley,  and 
already  settled  upon  by  white  men.  The  number  of 
Indians  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  making  a  claim  to 
this  extent  of  territory  was  in  the  former  instance 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five  and  in  the  latter  sixty- 
five. 

The  commissioners  were  unable  to  induce  the  Cala- 
pooyas to  remove  east  of  the  Cascade  mountains,  as 
had  been  the  intention  of  the  government,  their  refusal 
resting  upon  reluctance  to  leave  the  graves  of  their 
ancestors,  and  ignorance  of  the  means  of  procuring  a 
livelihood  in  any  country  but  their  own.  To  theso 
representations  Gaines  and  his  associates  lent  a  sym- 
pathizing ear,  and  allowed  the  Indians  to  select  rcser- 


TREATIES. 


211 


vatlons  within  the  valley  of  tracts  of  land  of  a  few 
miles  in  extent  situated  upon  the  lower  slopes  of  the 
Cascade  and  Coast  ranges,  where  game,  roots,  and 
berries  could  be  procured  with  ease.^^ 

As  to  the  instructions  of  the  commissioner  at  Wash- 
ington, it  was  not  possible  to  carry  them  out.  Schools 
the  Indians  refused  to  have;  and  from  their  experi- 
ence of  them  and  their  effects  on  the  young  I  am 
(juite  sure  the  savages  were  right.  Only  a  few  of 
the  Tualatin  band  would  consent  to  receive  farming 
utensils,  not  wishing  to  have  habits  of  labor  forced 
upon  them  with  their  annuities.  They  were  anxious 
also  to  be  paid  in  cash,  consenting  reluctantly  to  ac- 
cept a  portion  of  their  annuities  in  clothing  and  pro- 
vi!?ions. 

In  May  four  other  treaties  were  concluded  with  the 
Luckianiute,  Calapooyas,  and  Molallas,  the  territory 
thus  secured  to  civilization  comprising  about  half  the 
Willamette  Valley.^*  The  upper  and  lower  Molallas 
rLCcived  forty-two  thousand  dollars,  payable  in  twenty 
annual  instalments,  about  one  third  to  be  in  cash  and 
the  remainder  in  goods,  with  a  present  on  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaties  of  a  few  riiies  and  horses  for  the 
head  men.  Like  the  Calapooyas  they  steadily  refused 
to  devote  any  portion  of  their  annuities  to  educational 
puri)oses,  the  general  sentiment  of  these  western  Ind- 
ians being  that  they  had  but  a  little  time  to  live,  and 
it  was  useless  to  trouble  themselves  about  education, 
a  sentiment  not  wholly  Indian,  since  it  kept  Europe 
in  darkness  for  a  thousand  years." 


''Xo  mention  is  made  of  the  price  paid  for  these  lands,  nor  have  I  seen 
tlicsp  treaties  in  print. 

''Tills  is  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  though  tiie  description  of  the 
lands  purchased  is  <lifferent  in  the  S/ierfator  of  May  15,  ISftl,  wluro  it  is  said 
tliiit  tlu!  purchase  included  all  the  east  side  of  the  valley  to  the  head-wateis 
of  the  Willamette. 

"The  native  eloquence,  touched  and  made  pathetic  hy  the  desjmndency  of 
tlio  natives,  lieing  quoted  in  public  hy  the  commissioners,  subjected  them  to 
the  ridicule  of  the  anti-administration  jo-.rnal,  as  for  inHtfiiice:  '  In  this  city 
Jiiil<,'e  Skinner  spent  days,  and  for  aught  wo  know,  weeks,  in  interpreting 
MiKi'.in's  jargon  speeches,  while  Gaines,  swelling  with  consequence,  pronounced 
them  more  eloquent  than  the  orations  of  Demosthenes  or  Cicero,  and  peddled 


in  j'< 


liii 


^[■ii 


1  !■ 


I.  ■ 


II 


;ii: 


212 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


In  order  to  give  the  Indians  the  reservations  they 
desired  it  was  necessary  to  include  some  tracts  claimed 
by  settlers,  which  would  either  have  to  be  vacated, 
the  government  paying  for  their  improvements,  or  the 
settlers  compelled  to  live  among  the  Indians,  an  alter- 
native not  likely  to  commend  itself  to  either  the  set- 
tlers or  the  government. 

A  careful  summing-up  of  the  report  of  the  commis- 
sioners showed  that  they  had  simply  agreed  to  {)av 
annuities  to  the  Indians  for  twenty  years,  to  make 
them  presents,  and  to  build  them  houses,  while  the 
Indians  still  occupied  lands  of  *,heir  own  choosing  in 
portions  of  the  valley  already  being  settled  by  white 
people,  and  that  they  refused  to  accept  teachers,  either 
religious  or  secular,  or  to  cultivate  the  ground.  By 
these  terms  all  the  hopeful  themes  of  the  commissioner 
at  Washington  fell  to  the  ground.  And  yet  the  gov- 
ernment was  begged  to  ratify  the  treaties,  because 
failure  to  do  so  would  add  to  the  distrust  already  felt 
by  the  Indians  from  their  frequent  disappointments, 
and  make  any  further  negotiations  difficult.^^ 

About  the  time  the  last  of  the  six  treaties  was 
concluded  information  was  received  that  congress,  l)y 
act  of  the  27th  of  February,  had  abolished  all  special 
Indian  commissions,  and  transferred  to  the  superin- 
tendent the  power  to  make  treaties.  All  but  three 
hundred  dollars  of  the  twenty  thousand  appropriated 
under  the  advice  of  Thurston  for  this  branch  of  the 
service  had  been  expended  by  Gaines  in  five  weeks  of 
absurd  magnificence  at  Champoeg,  the  paltry  remain- 
der being  handed  over  to  Superintendent  Dart,  wIk) 
received  no  pay  for  the  extra  sf  rvi  e  with  which  tn 
defray  the  expense  of  making  turthor  treaties.  Thus 
ended  the  first  essay  of  congress  tc  settle  the  question 
of  title  to  Indian  lands. 


them  about  the  town. .  .This  ridiculous  farce  made  the  actors  the  laughing- 
Btock  of  the  boys,  and  even  of  the  Indians.'  Or.  UtaUtsman,  Nov.  6,  1S.">-. 

'■'  Report  qf  Commumioiiers,  in  3JU  Cong,,  let  Sesa.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  ~,  pt. 
iii.  471. 


ANSON  DART. 


213 


Dart  did  not  find  his  office  a  sinecure.  The  area  of 
the  country  over  which  his  superintendency  extended 
was  so  great  that,  even  with  the  aid  of  more  agents, 
little  could  be  accomplished  in  a  season,  six  months  of 
the  year  only  admitting  of  travel  in  the  unsettled  por- 
tions of  the  territory.  To  add  to  his  embarrassment, 
the  three  agents  appointed  had  left  him  almost  alone 
to  |)erform  the  duty  which  should  have  been  divided 
among  several  assistants,'®  the  pay  offered  to  agents 
l)oiiig  so  small  as  to  be  despised  by  men  of  character 
and  ability  who  had  their  living  to  earn. 

About  the  1st  of  June  1851  Dart  set  out  to  visit 
tlie  Indians  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  who  since 
the  close  of  the  Cayuse  war  had  maintained  a  friendly 
attitude,  but  who  hearing  that  it  was  the  design  to 
send  the  western  Indians  among  them  were  becoming 
uneasy.  Their  opposition  to  having  the  si  'kly  and 
degraded  Willamette  natives  in  their  midst  was  ecjual 
to  that  of  the  white  people.  Neither  were  they  will- 
ing to  come  to  any  arrangement  by  which  tliey  would 
he  compelled  to  quit  the  country  which  each  tribe  for 
itself  called  its  own.  Dart  promised  them  just  treat- 
ment, and  that  they  should  receive  pay  for  tlieir  lands. 
Having  selected  a  site  for  an  agency  building  on  the 
Umatilla  he  proceeded  to  Waiilatpu  and  Lapwai,  as 
instructed,  to  determine  the  losses  sustained  by  the 
Presbyterians,  according  to  the  instructions  of  gov- 
ernment.^^ 

'■'Dart  complained  in  his  report  that  Spalding,  who  had  been  assigned  to 
the  U'lipiiua  country,  had  visited  it  but  twice  during  the  year,  and  asiicil  his 
rt'iimval  and  the  sui)stitution  of  E.  A.  Stiirling.  Tlie  latter  wuh  lirst  stationed 
at  tlie  mouth  of  tlie  Columbia,  and  soon  after  sent  to  Puget  Sound.  Wam- 
Imlf  arrived  in  Oregon  in  July  IS.jl,  was  sent  to  Umatilla,  and  removed  in  less 
tliau  three  months  for  violating  orders  and  trading  with  the  Indians.  Allen, 
aiipi)iiite<l  after  Henry  and  Francis,  also  finally  (leelined,  when  Skiinier  ac- 
oeptcd  the  place  too  late  in  the  year  to  acconiplish  anything.  A,  \'an  Du'^en. 
of  Astoria,  had  been  appointeil  subagent,  ])ut  declined;  then  Shortess  liad 
accepted  the  position.  Walker  had  been  appointc;d  to  go  among  tiie  Spokaues, 
Imt  it  was  doubtful  if  .$750  a  year  would  be  accepted.  Fiimlly  .J  L.  I'-iriish, 
abo  a  subagent,  was  the  only  man  who  had  proven  efficient  and  ready  to 
perform  the  services  r<i(iuii'eil  of  him.  32d  Con;/.,  lit  iS'tv.t.,  //.  Ex.  hoc. 
..'.  pt.  iii.  473;  U.  S.  Kv.  U.  Ji.  Co.  Clnim'<,  27;  Avur.  Aimaiuu;  18ol,  113; 
/(/.,  IS.")'2,  IIG;  Dunniway's  C'rt/^^  Oniii\t  Company,  IG'2. 

'"  'i"he  claims  against  the  government  for  tiie  destruction  of  the  missiona 
was  large  iu  the  estiinatioa  of  Doit,  who  does  uot  state  the  amount. 


If" 

«■  '•  I 

214 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


1i     n 


The  Cayuses  expressed  satisfaction  that  the  Unitorl 
States  cherished  no  hatred  toward  them  for  their  past 
misdeeds,  and  received  assurances  of  fair  treatment 
in  the  future,  sealed  with  a  feast  upon  a  fat  ox.  At 
Lapwai  the  same  promises  were  given  and  ceremonies 
observed.  The  only  thing  worthy  of  remark  that  I 
find  in  the  report  of  Dart's  visit  to  eastern  Oregon 
is  the  fact  mentioned  that  the  Cayuses  had  dwindled 
from  their  former  greatness  to  be  the  most  insignifi- 
cant tribe  in  the  upper  country,  there  being  left  but 
one  hundred  and  twenty-six,  of  whom  thirty-eiglit 
only  were  men;  and  the  great  expense  attending  his 
visit,^^  the  results  of  which  were  not  what  the  govern- 
ment expected,  if  indeed  any  body  knew  what  was 
expected.  The  government  was  hardly  prepared  to 
]iurchase  the  whole  Oregon  territory,  even  at  the 
minimum  price  of  three  cents  an  acre,  and  it  was 
dangerous  ])olicy  holding  out  the  promise  of  some- 
thing not  likely  to  be  performed. 

As  to  the  Presbyterian  mission  claims,  if  the  board 
had  been  paid  what  it  cost  to  have  its  property'  n])- 
l)raised,  it  would  have  been  all  it  was  entitled  to,  and 
]iai  ticularly  since  each  station  could  hold  a  section  of 
land  under  the  organic  act.  And  as  to  the  claims  of  pri- 
vate individuals  for  property  destroyed  by  the  Cayuses, 
these  Indians  not  being  in  receipt  of  annuities  out  of 
which  the  claims  could  be  taken,  there  was  no  wav  in 
which  they  could  be  collected.  Neither  was  the 
agency  erected  of  any  benefit  to  the  Indians,  because 
tlie  agent,  Wampole,  soon  violated  the  law,  was  re- 
moved, and  the  agency  closed. 


'•There  wore  11  jicrsona  in  Dnrt's  party — himself  and  Bccrctnry,  2  iii'a 
pretcrs,  dniwiiig  to;.'('ther  811  n  ilay;  2  eiirpoiitors,  .*1'2;  .1  jjiickcrs,  i?!"!: 
cciokK,  8(».  Thi^  Nei'i'etary  received  !#">  ii  day,  making  the  wa^'es  of  the  ]i;ii' 
$!.")()  daily  at  the  start,  in  addition  to  the  Hn|)eriiitendeiirH  salary.  IViinsin 
tjition  to  The  Dalles  eost  !?4(H).  At  'I'he  DalleH  another  man  with  'JOhin- 
was  hin-d  at  81")  a  day,  and  '1  wagonw  with  oxen  at  i?l'2;  the  passajii'  li'n 
Portland  to  I'iniitillii  costing  . '?!,.')()()  Itesides  HMl)sistenoe.  And  this  was  mi 
the  liejiiniiing  of  i'X])enHes.  'I'lie  Iniuhei'  for  tile  ivgeiiey  l)eildin>'  at  I'ni.'iti 
had  to  he  larrieil  t'oi'ty  miles  at  an  enor'Moiis  eost;  the  heef  whieji  feasted  t 
Cayuses  cost  iifbO,  and  otlier  things  in  proportion.  SM  Coii[).,  Ut  Stsit.,  It.  / 
JJoc.  J,  pt.  iii. 


A  RIGHTEOUS  JUDGE. 


215 


the  Unitcfl 
T  their  past 
treatment 
at  ox.  At 
ceremonies 
ark  that  I 
3rn  Oregon 
,d  dwindled 
st  insignifi- 
n<j  left  but 
:hirty-eight 
.tending  his 
the  govern - 
^  what  was 
prepared  to 
ven  at  the 
and  it  was 
se  of  some- 

if  the  board 

(roperty  ap- 

tled  to,  and 

a  section  of 

aims  of  \m- 

10  Cayuses, 

ities  out  of 

no  wav  in 

r   was   tlif 

ns,  because 

i,w,  was  re- 


Concerning  that  part  of  his  instructions  to  encour- 
age missionaries  as  teachers  among  the  Indians,  Dart 
liad  httle  to  say;  for  which  reason,  or  in  revenge  for 
his  dismissal,  Spalding  represented  that  no  American 
teachers,  but  only  Catholics  and  foreigners  were  given 
permission  to  enter  the  Indian  country.^*  But  as  his 
name  was  appended  to  all  the  treaties  made  while  he 
was  agent,  with  one  exception,  he  must  have  been  as 
guilty  as  any  of  excluding  American  teachers.  The 
truth  was  that  Dart  promised  the  Indians  of  eastern 
Oregon  that  they  should  not  be  disturbed  in  their 
religious  practices,  but  have  such  teachers  as  they  pre- 
'fened.^°  This  to  the  sectarian  Protestant  mind  was 
simply  atrocious,  though  it  seemed  only  politic  and 
jn.st  to  the  unbiassed  understanding  of  the  superin- 
tendent. 

With  regard  to  that  part  of  his  instructions  relating 
to  suppressing  the  establishments  of  the  Hudson's 
l^ay  Company  in  Oregon,  he  informed  the  commis- 
sioner that  he  for.nd  the  company  to  have  rights  which 
prompted  him  to  call  the  attention  of  the  government 
to  the  subject  before  he  attempted  to  interfere  with 
tliem,  and  suggested  the  propriety  of  purchasing  those 
rig] its  instead  of  proceeding  against  British  traders 
as  criminals,  the  only  accusation  that  could  be  brought 
ngiilnst  them  being  that  they  sold  better  goods  to  the 
Indians  for  less  money  than  American  traders. 

And  concerning  the  intercourse  act  prohibiting  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  to  the  natives,  Dart  re- 
nuuked  that  although  a  good  jloal  of  liquor  was  con- 


Irctnry,  2  intrr. 
Viiekfrs,  !?l"i:  - 
|cH  of  the  imrty 
|ii'y.  1V,iii:-|"ir- 
jwitli  'JOliiirsos 
Iw  [innsng"'  li'om 
1(1  tlii«  wan  Hilly 
ling  lit  I'liKitillii 

ht  Sesii.,  II.  l-x. 


"This  clinrgo  being  dcemod  inimical  to  clic  ailmiiiintrntion,  tln^  Prcaiilont 
(li'uii  il  it  in  a  lottcr  to  tlio  J'hilmleljiinu  Oo^'ij  Sun,  A|iril  \HW1.  'i\w  matter 
is  irfiircd  to  in  tlio  i.>r.  St<itisman,  5\x\w  lotli  ami  July  U,  IH.'ri.  Set!  also 
lliittir  Min-^iiuiiir;/,  vol.  Ixxxiv,  'J7(i. 

•"In  IS.VJ  a  (Vtholio  driest,  K.  C.  Chirnusc,  scttli'd  on  a  ^'wcc  of  land  nt 
^\■Mllll  Wnlla,  making  a  claini  imdiT  the  net  of  con^'rcsw  cHtahliHliinLt  the  ti'iri- 
tiiri;ii  government  of  Wnsliington.  llo  fiiiied  to  make  his  tinal  jndof  aeeoi^lin^ 
til  Inv,  and  tin  notilioation  of  Ilia  intentions  wan  not  lileil  till  ISilO,  wlieii 
AitIiIiIhIio])  lUftiieiiet  mado  a  notiliaition;  Init  it  a|i|ieared  that  w  iiatevei'  title 
theie  was,  was  in  ChirouHu.  ]!o  rt'lii'ciuishcd  it  to  tiie  V.  S.  in  tSdJ.  Imt  it  \v;m 
then  too  late  f<''  Ciitliolio  ehnreli  to  net  up  a  elaim,  and  tlie  archhiuUo^i')) 

iiiitilicutioii  v/a,i  >..(/ allowed.  Portlimd  Oreijoiiiaii,  March  10,  1872. 


216 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


sumed  in  Oregon,  in  some  localities  the  Indians  used 
less  in  proportion  than  any  others  in  the  United 
States,  and  referred  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining 
evidence  against  liquor  sellers  on  account  of  the  law 
of  Oregon  excluding  colored  witnesses.  He  also  gave 
it  as  his  opinion  that  except  the  Shoshones  and  Rogue 
River  Indians  the  aborigines  of  Oregon  were  more 
peaceable  than  any  of  the  uncivilized  tribes,  but  that 
to  keep  in  check  these  savages  troops  were  indispen- 
sable, recommending  that  a  company  be  stationed  in 
the  Shoshone  country  to  protect  the  next  year's  im- 
migration.''^ Altogether  I)art  seems  to  have  been  a 
fair  and  reasonable  man,  who  discharged  his  duty  under 
unfavorable  circumstances  with  promptness  and  good 
sense. 

'^'  Kiglitoen  thousand  dollars  worth  of  property  was  stolen  by  the  Shoslionoa 
in  18.")1 ;  many  white  men  were  killed,  and  more  woanded.  Hutchison  Clark, 
of  Illinois,  was  driving,  in  advance  of  his  company,  with  his  mothe»",  si.stiT, 
and  a  young  lirotlier  m  the  family  carriage  near  Raft  River  40  miles  west  i>( 
Fort  Ilidl,  when  the  party  was  attacked,  his  mother  and  brother  killed,  and 
Miss  (.J  race  Clark,  after  being  outraged  and  shiit  through  the  body  and  wrist, 
was  thrown  over  a  precipice  to  die.  She  alighted  on  a  bank  of  sand  which 
broke  the  force  of  the  fall.  The  savages  then  rolled  stones  over  after  lior, 
some  of  which  struck  and  wounded  her,  notwithstanding  all  of  which  niio 
survived  and  reached  Oregon  alive.  She  was  married  afterward  to  a  Mr 
Vandervert,  and  settled  on  the  coast  branch  of  tiio  Willamette.  She  dii'd 
Feb.  '20,  187">.  When  the  train  came  uj)  and  discovered  the  bloody  deed  and 
that  the  Indians  had  driven  off  over  twenty  valuable  horses,  a  company  was 
formed,  led  by  CharlesClark,  to  follow  and  chastisu  them.  Those  were  drivcu 
back,  however,  with  a  loss  of  ono  killed  and  ono  wounded.  A  brother  of  tliis 
Clark  family  named  Thomas  had  emigrated  in  1848,  ami  was  awaiting  llio 
arrival  of  his  friends  when  the  outrages  occurred.  Or.  Sfofcxman,  Sept.  'J;i, 
1851 .  The  same  band  killed  Mr  Miller,  from  Virginia,  and  seriously  wouinhd 
his  daughter.  They  killed  Jackson,  r  brotlier-indaw  of  Miller,  at  the  kiuih) 
time,  and  attacked  a  train  of  twenty  wagons,  led  by  Ilarpool,  being  repulsed 
with  some  loss.  Other  parties  wore  attjicke<l  at  dill'erent  points,  anil  niaiiy 
persons  wounded.  Or.  o/«r^i/or,  Sept. '2  1851;  finrncfi'  Or.  and  Cnl.,  MS,, 
'20.  Raymond,  superintendent  at  Fort  Hall,  saiil  that  'M  emigrants  had  been 
shot  by  the  Shoshones  and  their  allies  the  Hannacks.  (>  \  Stdfiumftn,  Dec.  !t, 
1851;  .S'.  /',  Alltt,  Sept.  28,  18.')1.  The  residents  of  the  country  were  at  a  luss 
to  account  for  these  outrages,  so  bold  on  the  ])art  of  the  savages,  and  mi 
injurious  to  the  white  people.  It  was  said  that  the  ilecline  of  the  furtiiulo 
compelhMl  the  Indians  Ut  robbery,  and  that  thej'  wilUngly  availed  themschca 
of  an  op))ortunity  not  only  to  make  good  tiicir  losses,  but  to  lie  avenged  for 
any  wrongs,  real  or  imaginary,  which  they  iiad  ever  sutlureil  at  the  hands  nf 
white  men.  A  more  obvious  reason  might  bo  found  in  the  wilhilrawal  of  tlie 
iniluenee  wielded  over  them  by  the  Hudson's  llay  (Jomiiauy,  who  being  now 
under  United  States  an<l  Oregon  law  was  forbidden  to  furnish  annnunilioii, 
and  was  no  longer  esteemed  among  the  Indians  who  liad  mithiiig  to  gain  liy 
obedienet,  Some  of  the  emigrants  jn'ofessed  to  believe  the  Indian  hostiii- 
ties  directly  duo  to  Monnou  iulluuuco,    David  Nuwaouiu  of  the  inwui^rutiou 


II  ff 


MORE  PROMISES. 


217 


On  returning  from  eastern  Oregon,  Dart  visited 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  in  company  with  two  of 
his  agents,  and  made  treaties  with  the  Indians  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  the  tract  purchased  extending 
from  the  Chehahs  River  on  the  north  to  the  Yaqui- 
iia  Bay  on  the  south;  and  from  the  ocean  on  the 
west,  to  above  the  mouth  of  the  Cowhtz  River.  For 
tliis  territory  the  sum  of  ninety-one  thousand  three 
huiKhed  dollars  was  promised,  to  bo  paid  in  ten  yearly 
instalments,  in  clothing,  provisions,  and  other  neces- 
s;iry  articles.  Reservations  were  made  on  Clatsop 
Point,  and  Woody  and  Cathlamet  islands;  and  ono 
was  made  at  Shoalwater  Bay,  conditioned  upon  tlie 
majority  of  the  Indians  removing  to  that  place  within 
01  u;  year,  in  which  case  they  would  be  provided  with 
n  ,  )ai.ual  labor  school,  a  lumber  and  flouring  mill,  and 
jier  and  blacksmith  to  instruct  them  in  asjjricul- 
t'W '  and  the  smith's  art. 

Other  treaties  were  made  during  the  summer  and 
autumn.  TheClackamas  tribe,  numbering  eighty-eight 
})( fsons,  nineteen  of  whom  were  men,  was  promised 
an  annuity  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for 
a  period  often  years,  five  hundred  in  money,  and  tho 
rtMuainder  in  food  and  clothing."  The  natives  of  tho 
south-western  coast  also  agreed  to  cede  a  territory 
extending  from  the  Coquillo  River  to  the  southern 
boundar}-  of  Oregon,  and    from    the   Pacitic   Ocean 


. 


ti. 


of  is.'il  Hiiys!  'i  vcMv  n  unler,  theft,  and  rniil  upon  U8  from  Fort  Laramio  to 
liiMiiili' liunil'  s.o  O'i.'lil  t"nco  to  Mormon  influences  anil  plana.  1  reuonloJ 
Very  riiiiiy  iu'-',;wiO'"i .  f  thefts,  robberies,  nnd  nuinlora  on  tho  journey  in  my 
jiiiiiMiil,'  /  rhi  k' iV  xl  Shore,  Vch.  lrt"(J.  I  lind  no  ground  wimtever  for  tills 
iiss' rtidu.  'Mt  •..  ink  vcr  t'.su  cause,  tiiey  were  an  aljirining  feature  of  the  time, 
mill  i'mHc!  r 'V  gov  "tlmull^  interfe!  lice.  Ilenco  a  petition  to  cougrt-Ha  in  tlio 
iiu'iiiiiiiid  ot  tiK  I'  'a'"  I'o  for  troopd  to  he  statioiuid  at  tho  several  posts 
Bile,  till  in  ISJO  or  lit  oiiuT  points  upon  tlio  ro:id;  and  o  ,i  deniiind  of  Lane's, 
tliiit  the  riile  regiment  hiiould  bo  returned  to  Oregnii  to  keep  llio  Indiana  iu 
linik,  .:..'<l  Citii'j.,  l.if  .SV.S-.V.,  Co;/;/,  Oliihe,  lH.">l-'_',  i.  MJ.  When  Superintend- 
I'tit  I'iu-t  was  in  tlie  Nez  I'eret^  country  tluit  tribe  eomplaiiu'd  of  tiio  depreda- 
ti'Mn  ot  the  Shoaliouea,  and  wiahctl  to  po  to  war.  Dart,  liowever,  (ixacted  a 
pi  hiiImi'  Id  wiiit  a  year,  ami  if  tlien  the  United  States  had  not  redressed  their 
viiiii.;-!,  they  alioiild  lie  left  at  liberty  to  go  against  tluMreiiemiisH.  If  the  N'ca 
I'l  ii  I  ■(  hiid  been  alloweil  to  (umish  tho  Shoshoncs  it  would  have  saved  tho 
\Wv  I  lit  iiiativ  innneent  persons  and  a  largo  amount  of  government  money. 
"Ui;  ,V    '-.unian,  Aug.  lU,  1801  j  Or.  HjiecUUor,  Doc.  '2,  l6ol. 


218 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


to  a  line  drawn  fifty  miles  east,  eighty  miles  in 
length,  covering  an  area  of  two  and  a  h.*  If  million 
tides,  most  of  which  was  mountainous  and  heavily 
timbered,  with  a  few  small  valleys  on  the  coast  and 
in  the  interior,^'  for  the  sum  of  twenty-eight  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  payable  in  ten  annual  in- 
stalments, no  part  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  money. 
Thirteen  treaties  in  all  were  concluded  with  different 
tribes,  by  the  superintendent,  for  a  quantity  of  land 
amounting  to  six  million  acres,  at  an  average  cost  of 
not  over  three  cents  an  acre.^* 

In  November  Dart  left  Oregon  for  Washington, 
taking  with  him  the  several  treaties  for  ratification, 
and  to  provide  fi     carrying  them  out. 

The  demand  for  .,  office  of  an  Indian  agent  in 
western  Oregon  began  in  1849,  or  as  soon  as  the  Ind- 
ians learned  that  white  men  might  be  expected  to 
travel  through  their  country  with  horses,  provisions, 
and  property  of  various  kinds,  which  they  might  be  de- 
sirous to  have.  The  trade  in  horses  was  good  in  the 
mines  of  California,  and  Cayuse  stock  was  purchased 
and  driven  there  by  Oregon  traders,  who  made  a  largo 
profit.'^^  Many  miners  also  returned  from  California 
overland,  and  in  doing  so  had  frequent  encounters  with 
Indians,  generally  at  the  crossing  of  Rogue  River. ^'' 
The  ferrying  at  this  place  was  performed  in  canoes, 
made  for  the  occasion,  and  which,  when  used  and  left, 
were  stolen  by  the  Indians  to  compel  the  next  party 
to  make  another,  the  delay  affording  opportunity'  Cor 

^32il  Conrj.,  lit  Ses',.,  IT.  Ex.  Doc.  2,  pt.  iii.  483. 

'"After  liis  return  from  his  expedition  coet  of  the  Caacado  Eangc,  Dart 
Bcomcil  to  have  pt'iictisecl  an  economy  whioii  was  probably  greatly  siiggostnl 
by  the  strioturcs  of  the  ilomocriitio  prcsa  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  prcviona 
comniixsion.  'All  the  expense,' ho  says,  referring  to  tiio  (Joquille  coinitry, 
•of  making  these  treaties,  adiling  the  salaries  of  the  oihcers  of  goveniimiit, 
Mhile  thus  engaged,  would  make  the  cost  of  the  land  less  than  one  cent  iiiul 
a  half  per  aero.  o~'(/  Con<j.,  Ixt  Stsit.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  i.\  pt.  iii.  And  iu  tlio 
CaiybriUa  Courkr  he  says  the  total  cost  of  n«!gotiating  the  whole  tiiiitucii 
treaties  was,  including  travelling  expenses,  about  ^,U00.  Or,  Statfuiuan, 
Jicjiort,  Doc.  0,  1801. 

'^J/oHolulii  Frieinl,  Aug.  24,  18r)0. 

^Uancock'a  Thirteen  Years,  MS.;  Johtuon'a  Col.  and  Or.,  121-2,  133. 


LANE  AT  ROGU^  RIVER. 


210 


lies  in 
nillion 
leavily 
bst  and 
,  tliou- 
ual  in- 
tnoncy, 
ifFerent 
of  land 
cost  of 

lington, 
fication, 


ijTcnt  in 
the  Ind- 
icted to 
ovisions, 
lit  be  de- 
d  in  the 
ircliased 
a lar^c 
aliforuia 
ers  with 
Kiver;^" 
canoes, 
and  lol't, 
it  party 
inity  for 


k2,  133. 


falling  on  them  should  they  prove  unwary.  After 
several  companies  had  been  attacked  the  miners  turned 
npon  the  Indians  and  became  the  assailants.  And  to 
stop  the  stealing  of  canoes,  left  for  the  convenience  of 
those  in  the  rear,  some  miners  concealed  themselves 
and  lay  in  wait  for  the  thieves,  who  when  they  en- 
tered the  canoe  were  shot.  However  beneficial  this 
may  have  been  for  the  protection  of  the  ferry  it  did 
not  mend  matters  in  a  general  way.  If  the  Indians 
had  at  first  been  instigated  simply  by  a  desire  for 
jtlunder,^^  they  had  now  gained  from  the  retaliation 
of  the  Americans  another  motive — revenge. 

In  the  spring  of  1850  a  party  of  miners,  who  had 
collected  a  considerable  ^um  in  gold-dust  in  the  placers 
of  California  and  were  »t!'irning  home,  reached  the 
Ilogue  River,  crossing  one  day,  toward  sunset,  and 
cueamped  about  Rock  Point.  They  did  not  keep  a 
very  careful  watch,  and  a  sudden  attack  caused  them 
to  run  to  cover,  while  the  Indians  plundered  the  camp 
of  everything  of  value,  including  the  bags  of  gold- 
dust.  But  one  man,  who  had  his  treasure  on  his  per- 
son, escaped  being  robbed. 

It  was  to  settle  with  these  rogues  for  this  and  like 
transactions  that  Lane  set  out  in  May  or  June  1850 
to  visit  southern  Orepfon,  as  before  mentioned.  The 
party  consisted  of  fifteen  white  men,  and  the  same 
miinber  of  Klickitats,  under  their  chief  Quatley,  the 
determined  enemy  of  the  Rogue  River  people.  Quat- 
ley was  told  what  was  expected  of  him,  which  was 
not  to  fight  unless  it  become  ncccsary,  but  to  assist 
ill  making  a  treaty.  They  overtook  on  the  way  some 
Ciittle-drivers  going  to  California,  \vho  travelled  with 

^^  JSiirnpn'  Or.  and  Cat.,  MS.,  13.  Says  Lano,  spcnking  of  the  chief  at 
Rogue  Kivor,  over  wlumi  ho  obtained  a  n'roiig  iiilhiciK'ii:  '.loo  toUl  inu  that 
tlic  lirst  time  lie  shod  white  hlood,  lie,  with  another  Iniliaii,  iliacovered  lato 
in  the  afternoon  twt)  whites  on  horRel)ack  pas  iinj{  throUKh  their  eonntry.  At 
lii'Mt  tliey  tliouj^ht  these  might  l)e  men  intending  some  mischief  to  their  jieojile, 
hut  having  Matched  them  totlieir  eamj)  and  ween  them  huild  their  lire  for  tho 
iiinlit,  tiiey  conceived  the  idea  of  nuirdei'ing  them  for  the  sake  of  tho  horwea 
iukI  luggage.  TUn  they  did,  taking  their  scalps.  After  that  they  always 
killed  any  wliitos  thoy  could  for  tlio  wiko  of  plunder.'  Autobioiiraiihu,  MS., 
14S. 


hi 


1 


r\ 


220 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


them,  glad  of  an  escort.  All  were  well  mounted,  with 
plenty  of  provisions  on  pack-horses,  and  well  armed. 
They  proceeded  leisurely,  and  stopped  to  hunt  and 
dry  venison  in  the  valley  of  Grave  Creek.  About 
the  middle  of  June  they  arrived  at  Rogue  River,  and 
encamped  near  the  Indian  villages.  Lane  sending 
word  to  the  principal  chief  that  he  had  come  to  talk 
with  him  and  his  people,  and  to  make  a  treaty  of 
peace  and  friendship.  To  this  message  the  chief  re- 
turned answer  that  he  would  come  in  two  days  with 
all  his  people,  unarmed,  as  Lane  stipulated. 

Accordingly,  the  two  principal  chiefs  and  about 
seventy-five  warriors  came  and  crossed  to  the  south 
side,  where  Lane's  company  were  encamped.  A 
circle  was  formed,  Lane  and  the  chiefs  standing  inside 
the  rincj.  But  before  the  conference  be^an  a  second 
band,  as  large  as  the  first,  and  fully  armed  with  bows 
and  arrows,  began  descending  a  neighboring  hill  U[)()n 
the  camp.  Lane  told  Quatley  to  come  inside  the 
ring,  and  stand,  with  two  or  three  of  his  Indians, 
beside  the  head  Rogue  River  chief  The  new-conuTs 
were  ordered  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  be  seated, 
and  the  business  of  the  council  proceeded,  Lane  koc[)- 
ing  a  sharp  lookout,  and  exchanging  significant  glances 
with  Quatley  and  his  party.  The  occasion  of  the 
visit  was  then  fully  explained  to  the  people  of  Rogue 
River;  they  were  remimled  of  their  uniform  conduct 
toward  white  men,  of  their  nmrders  and  robberies, 
and  were  told  that  hereafter  white  people  nmst  travel 
through  their  country  in  safety;  that  their  laws  had 
been  extended  over  all  that  region,  and  if  obeyed 
every  one  could  live  in  peace;  and  that  if  the  Indians 
behaved  well  compensation  would  be  made  them  lor 
their  lands  that  might  bo  settled  upon,  and  an  agent 
sent  to  see  that  they  had  justice. 

Following  Lane's  speech,  the  Rogue  River  chief 
addressed,  in  loud,  deliberate  tones,  his  people,  when 
presently  they  all  rose  and  raiseil  the  war-cry,  and 
those  who  had  arms  displayed  them.    Lane  told  Quat- 


A  HOSTILE  CONFERENCE. 


221 


ley  to  hold  fast  the  head  chief,  whom  he  had  already 
seized,  and  ordering  his  men  not  to  fire,  he  sprang 
with  revolver  in  hand  into  the  line  of  the  traitors  and 
knocketl  up  their  guns,  commanding  them  to  be 
seated  and  lay  down  their  arms.  As  the  chief  was  a 
jnisoncr,  and  Quatley  held  a  knife  at  his  throat,  they 
were  constrained  to  obey.  The  captive  chief,  who 
had  not  counted  upon  this  prompt  action,  and  whose 
brothers  had  previously  disposed  themselves  among 
their  people  to  be  ready  for  action,  finding  his  situa- 
tion critical,  told  them  to  do  as  the  white  chief  had 
said.  After  a  brief  consultation  they  rose  again, 
being  ordered  by  the  chief  to  retire  and  not  to  return 
for  two  days,  when  they  should  come  in  a  friendly 
manner  to  another  council.  The  Indians  then  took 
tht-'ir  departure,  sullen  and  humiliated,  leaving  their 
chief  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  white  men,  by 
whom  he  was  secured  in  such  a  manner  that  he  could 
not  escape. 

Lane  used  the  two  days  to  impress  upon  the  mind 
of  the  savage  that  he  had  better  accept  the  offered 
friendship,  and  again  gave  him  the  promise  of  govern- 
ment aid  if  he  should  make  and  observe  a  treaty 
ahowing  white  men  to  pass  safely  through  the  coun- 
try, to  mine  in  the  vicinity,  and  to  settle  in  the  Rogue 
]{iver  Valley.'**  By  the  time  his  people  returned,  he 
liad  become  convinced  that  this  was  his  best  course, 
and  advised  them  to  accept  the  terms  offered,  and  live 
in  peace,  which  was  finally  agreed  to.  But  the  gold- 
dust  of  the  Oregon  party  they  had  robbed  in  the  spring 
was  gone  past  all  reclaim,  as  they  had,  without  know- 
iuL;  its  value,  poured  it  all  into  the  river,  at  a  })()int 
where  it  was  impossible  to  recover  it.  Some  property 
of  no  value  was  given  up;  and  thus  was  made  the  first 


Quat- 


'" '  Tlio  morning  after  tlio  chief  hod  boon  made  a  prisoner  liis  old  wife  (i»o 
li.id  several  others,  but  said  ho  only  loved  his  first  wife)  camo  very  ciuitiuusly 
ti)  tlie  liiiuk  of  the  river  opposite,  and  asked  to  come  over  and  stiiy  witli 
lur  eliicf;  that  eho  did  not  wish  tu  be  free  while  ho  was  a  prisoner.  Slio 
WHS  told  to  come  and  stay,  and  was  kindly  treated.'  Latie't  Autohioyraphy, 
Ms.,  U4-5. 


222 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


r  ■'■'■  '■■: 


treaty  with  this  tribe,  a  treaty  which  was  observed 
with  passable  fidelity  for  about  a  year.^* 

The  treaty  concluded,  Lane  gave  the  Indians  slips 
of  paper  stating  the  fact,  and  warning  white  men  to 
do  them  no  injury.  These  papers,  bearing  his  signa- 
ture, became  a  talisman  among  these  Indians,  who  on 
approaching  a  white  man  would  hold  one  of  them  out 
exclaiming,  "  Jo  Lane,  Jo  Lane,"  the  only  English 
words  they  knew.  On  taking  leave  the  chief,  whose 
name  hereafter  by  consent  of  Lane  was  to  be  Jo,  pre- 
sented his  friend  with  a  boy  slave  from  the  Modoc 
tribe,  who  accompanied  him  to  the  Shasta  mines  to 
which  he  now  proceeded,  the  time  when  his  resig- 
nation was  to  take  effect  having  passed.  Here  he 
dug  gold,  and  dodged  Indian  arrows  like  any  common 
miner  until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  was  recalled 
to  Oregon.^" 

The  gold  discoveries  of  1850  in  the  Klamath  Val- 
ley caused  an  exodus  of  Oregonians  thither  early  in 
the  following  year;  and  notwithstanding  Lane's  treaty 
with  Chief  Jo,  great  vigilance  was  required  to  pro- 
vent  hostile  encounters  with  his  tribe  as  well  as  with 
that  of  the  Umpqua  Valley  south  of  the  canon."^    It 

**Like  many  another  old  soldier  Lone  loved  to  boast  of  his  exploits.  'Ho 
asked  the  interpreter  the  name  of  the  white  chief,'  says  the  general,  'and  ro- 
queateil  mo  to  como  to  him  as  he  wanted  to  talk.  As  I  walked  up  to  hiin  ho 
said,  "  Mika  name  Jo  Lane?"  I  said,  "  Nawitka,"  which  is  "  Yes."  He  said, 
"  I  want  you  to  give  me  your  name,  for,"  said  he,  "I  have  seen  no  man  liku 
you."  I  told  the  interpreter  to  say  to  him  that  I  would  give  him  half  my 
name,  but  not  all;  that  lie  should  be  called  Jo.  He  was  niucli  pleased,  anil  to 
the  day  of  his  death  ho  was  known  as  Jo,  At  his  request  I  named  his  wit'i', 
calling  licr  Sally.  They  had  a  son  and  a  daughter,  a  lad  of  fotirteen,  the  girl 
being  about  sixteen.  Sho  was  q(ute  a  young  queen  in  her  manner  and  ln'iir- 
ing,  and  for  an  Indian  quite  pretty.  I  named  tlie  boy  Ben,  and  the  giil 
Mary.'  Lane's  Autobior/raphy,  MS.,  96-8. 

^" Socramento  Tninncrlpt,  Jan.  14,  1851.  Lane  hml  his  adventures  in  tlio 
mines,  some  of  which  are  well  told  in  his  Autobiography,  Wliilo  on  Pit 
River,  his  Modoc  boy,  whom  he  named  John,  and  who  from  being  kindly 
treated  became  a  devoted  servant,  was  the  means  of  saving  his  life  and  tli;it 
of  an  Oregonian  named  Driscoll.  pp.  88-108. 

"Cardwell,  in  his  Emigrant  Company,  MS.,  2-11,  gives  a  history  of  liis 
personal  experience  in  travelling  through  and  residing  in  Soutliern  Oregon  in 
ISol  witi»  27  others.  The  Cow-crock  Indians  followed  and  annoyed  tlieiii  f(ir 
some  distance,  when  finally  one  of  tliem  was  shot  and  wounded  in  tlie  act  of 
taking  a  horse  from  omnp.     At  Grave  creek,  iu  Rogue  River  Valley,  three 


ii 


:t    ■■ 


UPRISING  OP  THE  MINERS. 


223 


prc- 

with 

»^    It 

its.  'Ho 
'  and  ru- 

;o  him  ho 
He  saiil, 
man  liko 
half  my 
d,  and  to 
his  vit'i', 
tho  girl 
tnd  hi'iir- 
thc  girl 

es  in  tlio 
on  Pit 
^  kindly 
and  th;it 

l-y  of  ilia 
rcgon  in 
tliLin  for 
lio  act  of 
ly,  thrua 


soon  became  evident  that  Jo,  even  if  he  were  honestly 
intentioned,  could  not  keep  the  peace,  the  annoying 
and  often  threatening  demonstrations  of  his  people 
leading  to  occasional  overt  acts  on  the  part  of  the 
miners,  a  circumstance  likely  to  be  construed  by  the 
Indians  as  sufficient  provocation  to  further  and  more 
pronounced  hostility. 

Some  time  in  May  a  young  man  named  Dilley  was 
treacherously  murdered  by  two  Rogue  River  Indians, 
who,  professing  to  be  friendly,  were  travelling  and 
camping  with  three  white  men.  They  rose  in  the 
night,  took  Dilley's  gun,  the  only  one  in  the  party, 
shot  him  while  sleeping,  and  made  off  with  the  horses 
and  property,  the  other  two  men  fleeing  back  to  a 
company  in  the  rear.  On  hearing  of  it  thirty  men 
of  Shasta  formed  a  company,  headed  by  one  Long, 
marched  over  the  Siskiyou,  and  coming  upon  a  band 
at  the  crossing  of  Rogue  River,  killed  a  sub-chief  and 
one  other  Indian,  took  two  warriors  and  two  daughters 
of  another  chief  prisoners,  and  held  them  as  hostages 
for  the  delivery  of  the  murderers  of  Dilley.  The  chief 
refused  to  give  up  the  guilty  Indians,  but  threatened 
instead  to  send  a  strong  party  to  destroy  Long's  coni- 

Indians  pretending  to  be  friendly  oflFered  to  show  his  party  where  gold  could 
bo  found  on  tlie  surface  of  the  ground,  telling  their  story  so  artfully  that 
cr(issi|uestioning  of  the  three  separately  did  not  show  any  contradiction  in 
tlicii-  statements,  and  the  party  consented  to  follow  these  guides.  On  a  plain, 
Biilisociuontly  known  as  Harris  flat,  the  wagons  stopped  and  11  men  were  left 
to  f,'iiiiid  them,  while  the  rest  of  the  company  kept  on  with  the  Indians.  They 
\\\'\v  UmI  some  distance  up  Applegate  creek,  where  on  examining  the  bars  line 
giiM  was  found,  but  none  of  the  promised  nuggets.  When  the  men  began 
imispccting  the  stream  the  Indians  collected  on  the  sides  of  tiic  hills  abovo 
tlR'in,  yelling  and  rolling  stones  down  the  descent.  The  miners,  however, 
ciintimicd  to  examine  the  bars  up  the  stream,  a  part  of  them  standing  guard 
rillc  in  band;  working  in  this  manner  two  days  and  encamping  in  open  ground 
at  ni^'ht.  On  the  evening  of  the  second  day  their  tormentors  withdrew  in 
that  mysterious  manner  wTiich  precedes  an  attack,  and  Cardwoll's  party  fled 
in  i\astc  through  the  favoring  darkness  relieved  by  a  late  moon,  across  the 
ridut'  to  Rogue  River.  At  Perkins'  ferry,  just  established,  they  found  Chief 
Jo,  who  was  rather  ostentatiously  protecting  this  lirst  white  settlement. 
While  breakfasting  a  pursuing  party  of  Indians  rode  up  within  a  short  dio- 
taiice  of  camp  where  they  wore  stopped  by  the  presented  rifles  of  the  white 
nu'u.  .Jo  culled  this  a  hunting  party  and  assureil  the  miners  they  ^liould  not 
1)1'  iiiolostod  in  passing  through  the  country;  on  which  explu  atioii  and 
liroiiiiso  word  was  sent  totlio  wagoji  train,  and  the  company  proceeded  across 
thi>  Siskiyou  Mountains  to  Sbosto  flat,  where  they  discovered  good  mines  oa 
tl»u  1-Jth  of  March. 


I 


224 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


h 


pany,  which  remained  at  the  crossing  awaiting  events.^ 
It  does  not  appear  that  Long's  party  was  attacked, 
but  several  unsuspecting  companies  suffered  in  their 
stead.  These  attacks  were  made  chiefly  at  one  place 
some  distance  south  of  the  ferry  where  Long  and  his 
men  encamped.^'  The  alarm  spread  throughout  the 
southern  valleys,  and  a  petition  was  forwarded  to 
Governor  Gaines  from  the  settlers  in  the  Umpqua 
for  permission  to  raise  a  company  of  volunteers  to 
fight  the  Indians.  The  governor  decided  to  look  over 
the  field  before  granting  leave  to  the  citizens  to  fight, 
and  repaired  in  person  to  the  scene  of  the  reported 
hostilities. 

The  Speclator,  which  was  understood  to  lean  toward 
Gaines  and  the  administration,  as  opposed  to  the 
Statesman  and  democracy,  referring  to  the  petition 
remarked  that  leave  had  been  asked  to  march  into 
the  Indian  country  and  slay  the  savages  wherever 
found;  that  the  prejudice  against  Indians  was  very 
strong  in  the  mines  and  daily  increasing;  and  that  no 
doubt  this  petition  had  been  sent  to  the  governor  to 
secure  his  sanction  to  bringing  a  claim  against  the 
government  for  the  expenses  of  another  Indian  war. 


One  of  Thurston's  measures  had  been  the  removal 

*^0r.  Stcitpfman,  June  20,  1851;  Or.  Spectator,  June  19,  1851. 

'' Ou  the  1st  of  June  26  men  were  attacked  at  the  same  place,  and  an 
Indian  was  killed  in  the  skirmish.  On  the  2d  four  men  were  set  upon  in  this 
camp  and  robbed  of  their  liorses  and  property,  but  escaped  alive  to  Peikins' 
ferry;  and  on  the  same  day  a  pack-train  belonging  to  one  Nichols  was  robbed 
of  a  number  of  animals  with  their  packs,  one  ot  the  men  being  wounded  in  the 
heel  by  a  ball.  Two  other  parties  were  attacked  on  the  same  day,  one  of 
which  lost  four  men.  On  the  3d  of  June  WcBriile  and  31  others  were  attacked 
in  camp  south  of  Rogue  River.  A.  Richardson,  of  Son  Jos(5,  California,  James 
Barlow,  Captain  Turpin,  Jesse  Dodson  and  son,  Aaron  Payne,  Dillurd  Hol- 
man,  Jesse  Runnels,  Presley  Lovelady,  and  Richard  Sparks  of  Oregon  wore 
in  the  companj'  and  were  commended  for  bravery.  Or.  Statesman,  June  'JO, 
1851 .  There  were  but  17  guns  in  the  party,  while  the  Indians  numbered  over 
200,  liaving  about  the  same  number  of  guns  besides  their  bows  and  arrows, 
and  were  led  by  a  chief  known  as  Chueklehead.  The  attack  was  made  nt 
daybreak,  and  the  battle  lasted  four  hours  and  a  half,  when  Chueklehead  being 
killed  the  Indians  witlulrew.  It  was  believed  that  the  Rogue  River  people  lost 
several  killed  and  wounded.  None  of  the  white  men  were  seriously  hurt,  owing 
to  the  bad  firing  of  the  Indians,  not  yet  used  to  guns,  not  to  mention  their 
station  on  the  top  of  a  hill.  Three  horses,  a  mule,  and  $1,500  worth  of  other 
property  and  gold-dust  were  tbkcu  by  the  Indiana. 


REMOVAL  OF  SOLDIERS. 


225 


ents.*" 
acked, 
I  their 
3  place 
Lncl  his 
lut  the 
ied  to 
mpqua 
aers  to 
3k  over 
0  fight, 
sported 

toward 
to  the 
petition 
■eh  into 
hercvor 
^as  very 
that  no 
rnor  to 
nst  the 
au  war. 


val 


remo 


Ice,  and  an 
Ipon  in  this 
Perkins' 
iva8rol)l»oil 
[iiledintlio 
[lay,  one  of 
c  attacked 
nia,  James 
Hard  Hol- 
rcgon  wero 
1,  June  '20, 
Ibered  over 
d  arrows, 
i8  made  at 
lead  being 
jeoplc  lost 
irt,  owing 
tion  tlieir 
o£  other 


from  the  territory  of  the  United  States  troops,  which 
after  years  of  private  and  legislative  appeal  were  at 
an  enormous  expense  finally  stationed  at  the  different 
posts  according  to  the  desire  of  the  people.  He  rep- 
resented to  congress  that  so  far  from  being  a  blessing 
tlu'V  were  really  a  curse  to  the  countr}^  which  would 
olndly  be  rid  of  them.  To  his  constituents  he  said 
that  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  rifle  regiment  was 
four  hundred  thousand  dollars  a  year.  He  proposed 
as  a  substitute  to  persuade  congress  to  furnish  a  good 
siipjtly  of  arms,  ammunition,  and  military  stores  to 
Oregon,  and  authorize  the  governor  to  call  out  volun- 
teers when  needed,  both  as  a  saving  to  the  govern- 
ment and  a  means  of  profit  to  the  territory,  a  })art  of 
the  plan  being  to  expend  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
savecl  in  goods  for  the  Indians,  which  should  be  pur- 
chased only  of  Amefican  merchants  in  Oregon. 

Thurston's  plan  had  been  carried  out  so  far  as  re- 
moving the  rifle  regiment  was  concerned,  which  in 
the  month  of  April  began  to  depart  in  divisions  for 
California,  and  thence  to  Jefferson  Barracks;^*  leav- 
ing on  the  1st  of  June,  when  Major  Kearney  began 
his  march  southward  with  the  last  division,  only 
two  skeleton  companies  of  artillerymen  to  take  charge 
of  the  government  property  at  Steilacoom,  Astoria, 
Vancouver,  and  The  Dalles.  He  moved  slowly,  ex- 
amining the  country  for  military  stations,  and  the 
hcst  route  for  a  military  road  which  should  avoid  the 
U mpqua  canon.     On  arriving  at  Yoncalla,^'  Kearney 

>*nmrh'(f'K  U.  S.  Cavalry,  129;  Or.  Spertafor,  ATpril  10,  1851;  Or.  Slates- 
vm)i,  M;iy  30,  ISol;  3Jd  Cong.,  1st  Srss.,  JI.  Ex.  Doc.  2,  pt.  i.  144-53. 

^'  VoneaUa  is  a  compound  of  yonc,  eagle,  and  calla  or  calla-mlfa,  bird  or 
fiiwl.  in  the  Indian  dialect.  It  was  applied  as  a  name  to  a  conspicuous  butte 
in  till'  l'iiip(ina  Valley,  a";  the  foot  of  which  Jesse  Applegate  made  his  home, 
n  liui.'i'  and  hospitable  mansion,  now  going  to  ruin.  Apph^gato  agreed  to 
assist  Kearney  only  in  case  of  a  better  route  than  the  cailim  road  being  dis- 
eovereii.  his  men  should  put  it  in  condition  to  be  travelled  by  the  iinmigra- 
tiim  th:it  year,  to  which  Ke.arncy  consented,  and  a  detachment  of  2S  men, 
muler  Lieutenant  Williamson,  accompanied  by  Levi  Scott  as  well  as  Apple- 
(rate,  began  the  rcconnoissance  about  the  10th  of  June,  the  main  body  of 
Kcanuy's  command  travelling  the  old  road.  It  was  almost  with  satisfaction 
tliat  Applegate  and  Scott  found  that  no  better  route  than  the  one  they 
opened  in  1840  could  be  discovered,  since  it  rtnioved  the  reproach  of  their 
HtBi.  Or.,  Vol.  II.    IS 


i^ 


228 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


consulted  with  Jesse  Applegate,  whom  he  prevailed 
upon  to  assist  in  the  exploration  of  the  country  east 
of  the  caiion,  in  which  they  were  engaged  when  the 
Indian  war  began  in  Rogue  River  Valley. 

The  exploring  party  had  proceeded  as  far  as  this 
pass  when  they  learned  from  a  settler  at  the  nortii 
end  of  the  canon,  one  Knott,  of  the  hostilities,  and 
that  the  Indians  were  gathered  at  Table  Rock,  an 
almost  impregnable  position  about  twenty  miles  cast 
of  the  ferry  on  Rogue  River. ^^  On  this  information 
Kearney,  with  a  detachment  of  twenty-eight  men, 
took  up  the  march  for  the  Indian  stronghold  with  the 
design  of  dislodging  them.  A  heavy  rain  had  swollen 
the  streams  and  impeded  his  progress,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  June  that  he  reached 
Rogue  River  at  a  point  five  miles  distant  from  Tabic 
Rock.  While  looking  for  a  ford  indications  of  Ind- 
ians in  the  vicinity  were  discovered,  and  Kearney 
hoped  to  be  able  to  surprise  them.  He  ordered  the 
command  to  fasten  their  sabres  to  their  saddles  to 
prevent  noise,  and  divided  his  force,  a  part  under 
Captain  Walker  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the 
river  to  intercept  any  fugitives,  while  the  remainder 
under  Captain  James  Stuart  kept  upon  the  nortli  side. 

Stuart  soon  came  upon  the  Indians  who  were  pre- 
pared for  battle.  Dismounting  his  men,  who  in  their 
haste  left  their  sabres  tied  to  their  saddles,  Stuart 
made  a  dash  upon  the  enemy.  They  met  him  with 
equal  courage.  A  brief  struggle  took  place  in  wliich 
eleven  Indians  were  killed  and  several  wounikd. 
Stuart  himself  was  matched  against  a  powerful  war- 
rior, who  had  been  struck  more  than  once  without 


enemies  that  they  were  to  blame  for  not  finding  a  better  one  at  that  time. 
None  other  has  ever  been  found,  though  Ajiplogato  himself  expected  wlun 
with  Kearney  to  be  able  to  get  a  road  saving  40  miles  of  travel.  Emod,  in 
Or.  Slat'sman,  July  2'2,  1851. 

'"  Table  Ilock  is  a  flat-topped  mountain  overhanging  Rogue  River.  Using 
the  rock  as  a  watch-tower,  the  Indians  in  perfect  security  had  a  large  extent 
of  country  and  a  long  line  of  road  under  their  observation,  and  could  dctir- 
mine  the  strength  of  any  passing  company  of  travellers  and  their  piacc  of 
encampment,  before  sallying  forth  to  the  attack.  Or.  Statesman,  July  22,  ISJl. 


BATTLE  OF  ROGUE  RIVER. 


SS7 


Tueetinf;  his  death. 


As  the  captain  approached,  the 
Siiviige,  though  prostrate,  let  flv  an  arrow  which 
pierced  him  through,  lodging  in  the  kidneys,  of  which 
v.ouud  he  died  the  day  after  the  battle.'^  Captain 
Peck  was  also  wounded  severely,  and  one  of  the 
troops  slightly. 

The  Indians,  who  were  found  to  be  in  largo  num- 
bers, retreated  upon  their  stronghold,  and  Kearney 
ulso  fell  back  to  wait  for  the  coming-up  of  lieuten- 
ants Williamson  and  Irvine  with  a  detachment,  and 
the  volunteer  companies  hastily  gathered  among  the 
miners.^  Camji  was  made  at  the  mouth  of  a  tribu- 
tary of  Rogue  River,  entering  a  few  miles  b«;^l()W  Table 
Rock,  which  was  named  Stuart  creek  after  the  dying 
captain.  It  was  not  till  the  23d  that  the  Indians 
were  again  engaged.  A  skirmish  occurred  in  the 
morning,  and  a  four  hours'  battle  in  the  afternoon  of 
that  day.  The  Indians  were  stationed  in  a  densely 
wooded  hummock,  which  gave  them  the  advantage  in 
point  of  position,  while  in  the  matter  of  arms  the 

^'  Ri-ackett,  in  his  U.  S.  Cornlry,  calls  this  officer  '  the  excellent  and  he- 
luvcil  Ciptain  James  Stuart.'  The  nature  of  the  wound  caused  exoruciatin.; 
piiin,  liut  his  great  rv.'gret  was  tliat  after  passing  unharmed  tlirough  six  luud 
hattlos  in  Mexico  he  should  die  in  the  wilderness  at  the  hands  of  an  Indian. 
It  ia  duuhtful,  however,  if  death  on  a  Jlcxiean  battle-lield  would  liavi;  lirought 
with  it  a  more  lasting  renown.  Stuiirt  Creek  on  wliieh  lie  was  intcri-ed  — c;imi) 
hc'in'j;  inacio  over  his  grave  to  obliterate  ii — and  the  warm  place  kept  for  him 
ill  the  hearts  of  Orcgonians  will  perpetuate  his  niemorj*.  Cnrdu-eH'H  Kmi<jrai.l 
Compdiiy,  MS.,  14;  Or.  Statrsmnii,  July  S,  IS.")!;  .V.  /'.  Alta,  July  10,  1851; 
Sl'tii'  HijIitH  Dnmcnit,  Dec.  loth  and  22,  1870; 

''  Card  well  relates  that  his  company  were  returning  from  Josephine  creek — 
named  after  a  daughter  of  Kirby  who  founded  Kirby ville — on  their  way  to 
Yruka,  when  they  met  Applegato  at  tiio  ferry  on  lloguo  River,  who  suggested 
tiiat  it  'would  be  proper  enough  to  assist  the  government  troops  and  liumer- 
ick's  volunteers  to  clean  out  the  Indians  in  Rogue  River  Valley. '  Tiiirty  men 
upnu  thi.s  suggestion  went  to  Willow  Springs  on  the  IGlh,  upon  the  uudei'- 
8taiHli)ig  that  Kearney  would  make  an  attjiek  next  day  near  the  mouth  of 
Stiiiut's  creek,  when  it  was  thought  the  Indians  would  move  in  this  direction, 
and  the  volunteers  could  engage  them  until  the  troops  came  up.  'Atday- 
ligiit  the  following  mornin,','  says  CardwcU,  '  we  heard  the  liring  coninieueij. 
It  was  kept  up  fpiite  briskly  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  There  was  a  terrible 
yelling  and  crying  by  the  Indians,  and  howling  of  dogs  durin<!  the  battle.' 
Emhjritut  Compaiii/,  MS.,  12;  Crime's  Top.  Mrin.,  MS.,  40  The  names  cf 
Applegate,  Scott,  Boone,  T'Vault,  Armstrong,  Blauchard,  and  Colontl  Tranor 
from  California,  are  mentioned  in  Lane's  correspondence  in  the  Or.  Stnlcimiaii 
July  22,  1851,  as  ready  to  assist  the  troops.  I  suppose  this  to  be  .l;imcs  W. 
Tsauor,  formerly  of  the  New  Orleans  press,  'an  adventurous  pioneer  and 
brilliant  newspaper  writer,'  who  was  afterward  killed  by  Indiana  while  cross- 
ing I'it  River.  Oakland  Tramcript,  Dec.  7,  lt>72. 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 

troops  were  better  furnished.  In  these  battles  the 
savaires  a<xain  suffered  sevcrclv,  and  on  the  other 
side  several  were  wounded  but  none  killed. 

While  these  events  were  in  progress  both  Gainos 
and  Lane  were  on  their  way  to  the  scene  of  action. 
The  governor's  position  was  not  an  enviable  one. 
Scarcely  were  the  riflemen  beyond  the  Willamette  win  n 
ho  was  forced  to  write  the  president  representing  the 
imprudence  of  withdrawing  the  troops  at  this  time,  no 
provi;>ion  having  been  made  by  the  legislature  for  or- 
ganizing the  militia  of  the  territory,  or  for  meeting  in 
any  way  the  emergency  evidently  arising.''  The  rt- 
plv  which  in  due  time  ho  received  was  that  the  ritlo 
regiment  had  been  withdrawn,  first  because  its  services 
were  needed  on  the  frontier  of  Mexico  and  Texa>;, 
and  secondly  because  the  Oregon  delegate  had  as- 
sured the  department  that  its  presence  in  Oregon  was 
not  needed.  In  answer  to  the  governor's  suggestion 
that  a  post  should  be  established  in  southern  Oregon, 
the  secretary  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  coin- 
mandiuLr  officer  in  California  should  order  a  rocon- 
noissance  in  tliat  part  of  the  country.  v:ith  a  view  t  • 
selecting  a  proper  site  for  such  a  post  without  loss  d' 
time.  But  with  regard  to  troops,  there  were  noin 
that  could  be  sent  to  Oregon;  nor  could  they,  if  jtut 
en  route  at  that  time,  it  being  already  Septemlxi-. 
reach  there  in  time  to  meet  the  cmerjjfoncv.  Tin 
secretary  therefore  suggested  that  companies  of  milit  ia 
niiixht  be  origan i.-ied,  which  could  be  mustered  intost  r- 
vice  for  short  periods,  and  used  in  conjunction  with 
the  regular  troops  in  the  pursuit  of  Indians,  or  as  the 
exigencies  of  I  he  service  demanded. 

Meanwhile  Gaines,  deprived  entirely  of  military  stip- 
]iort,  endeavored  to  raise  a  volunteer  companj'^  at  Ynii- 
calhi  to  escort  him  over  the  dangerous  portion  of  tin; 
route  to  Rogue  River;  but  most  of  the  men  of  Uiiip- 
<jua,  having  either  gone  to  tl\e  mines  or  to  reenl'mvij 

".'C(/  Coin/.,  Lit  Sess.,  II.  Ex.  Doc.  ^,  pt.  i.  l4j;  Or.  Sptdator,  Au;:.  I'.', 
ISJl. 


ACTION  OF  THE  GOVERNOR. 


229 


Kearney, this  was  a  difficult  undertaking, detain iiig-  hiiu 
^o  that  it  was  the  last  of  the  month  before  he  reached 
liis  destination.  Lane  having  already  started  south 
to  look  after  his  mining  property  before  quitting  Orc- 
oon  for  Washington  arrived  at  the  Unipqua  canon 
on  the  21st,  where  he  was  met  by  a  party  going  north, 
fiDUi  whom  he  obtained  the  news  of  the  battle  of  the 
irtli  and  the  results,  with  the  information  that  mon; 
lighting  was  expected.  Hastening  forward  with  his 
})arty  of  about  forty  men  he  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the 
Ivngue  River  mountains  on  the  night  of  the  2'Jd, 
whore  he  learned  from  an  express  rider  that  Kearney 
had  by  that  time  loft  camp  on  Stuart  creek  with  the 
intention  of  making  a  night  march  in  order  to  strike 
the  Indians  at  daybreak  of  the  23d. 

lie  set  out  to  join  Kearney,  but  after  a  hard  day's 
ri<le,  being  unsuccessful,  proceeded  next  morning  to 
(.'amp  Stuart  with  the  hope  of  learning  sonit  thing  of 
the  movements  of  Kearney's  connnand.  That  evening 
Scott  and  T'Vault  came  to  camj)  with  a  small  l»arty, 
r«ir  supplies,  and  Lane  returned  with  them  tt>  the 
army,  riding  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  to  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  being  lieartily  welcomed 
botli  by  Kearney  and  the  volunteers. 

Karly  on  the  25th,  the  command  moved  back  down 
tlie  river  to  overtake  the  Indians,  who  had  escaped 
(hning  the  night,  and  crossing  the  river  seven  inik's 
al)ove  the  ferry  found  the  trail  leading  up  Sardine 
creek,  which  being  followed  brought  them  uj*  with  the 
fugitives,  one  of  whom  was  killed,  while  the  others 
Mattered  through  the  woods  like  a  covey  of  (puiil  in 
the  grass.  Two  days  were  spent  in  pursuing  and 
taking  prisoners  the  women  and  children,  the  men 
escaping.  On  the  27th  the  army  scoui'ed  the  country 
from  the  ferry  to  Table  Rock,  returning  in  the  even- 
ing to  Camp  Stuart,  when  tlm  can»[>;iign  was  eonsid- 
red  as  closed.  Fifty  Indians  had  been  killed  and 
thirty  prisoners  taken,  while  the  Iosm  to  the  white 
warriors,  sinco  tho  lirst  battle,  was  a  few  wounded. 


230 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


The  Indians  had  at  the  first  been  proudly  defiant, 
Chief  Jo  boasting  that  he  had  a  thousand  warriors, 
and  r'ould  keep  tliat  number  of  arrows  in  the  air  con- 
tinually. But  their  piido  had  suffered  a  fall  which 
left  them  apparently  humbled.  They  complained  to 
I<ano,  whom  they  recognized,  talking  across  the  river 
in  stentorian  tones,  tliat  white  men  had  come  on 
horses  in  great  numbers,  invading  every  portion  (if 
their  country.  They  were  afraid,  they  said,  to  lie 
down  to  sleep  lost  the  strangers  should  be  U[)on  thoiu. 
They  wearied  of  war  and  wanted  i)eacc.**'  There  was 
truth  as  well  as  oratorical  oftect  in  their  haranffuos, 
for  just  at  this  time  their  sleep  was  indeed  insecuie; 
but  it  was  not  taken  into  account  by  tliem  that  they 
had  given  wliite  men  this  feeling  of  insecurity  of 
M'hich  they  complained. 

Now  that  tlio  fighting  was  over  Kearney  was 
anxious  to  resume  his  march  toward  California,  but 
was  om1)arrassed  with  the  charge  of  prisoners.  Tlic 
p)vernor  had  not  yet  arrived;  the  su[)erintendent  of 
Indian  afl^tiirs  was  a  great  distance  oft"  in  another  pait 
of  tlio  territory;  there  was  no  plaice  where  they  could 
Ite  confined  in  Rogue  River  valley,  nor  did  he  know 
of  any  means  of  sending  them  to  Oregon  City,  liiit 
he  was  determined  not  to  release  them  until  thoyliiid 
consenti'd  to  a  treaty  of  peace.  Sooner  than  do  that 
he  would  take  tliem  with  him  to  California  and  send 
them  back  to  Oregon  by  sea.  Imleed  he  had  pio- 
{;eeded  with  them  to  within  twenty-five  miles  of  Sha.sta 
Butte,  ii  mining  town  afti'iward  named  Yi'eka,*' win  ii 
]-iane,  who  when  his  servici\s  were  no  longer  needed 
in  the  field  had  continued  his  journey  to  Shiisla 
A'allty.  again  came  to  his  relief  by  ofi'ering  to  escuit 
the  piisoners  to  Oi-egon  ('ity  whither  he  was  about 
to  return,  or  to  deliver  them  to  the  governor  or  supei- 

«  Lrtlir  of  r.'iiir,  in  Oi:  StnfrKmnii,  .Inly  22,  1S.'"<1. 

*' It  is  saiil  tliiit  (111'  Inili.iiiM  ciilltMl  .Mount  SlniHtii  Yoo-ltn,  nnd  tlint  tlio 
tiiinci'M  liiivin^'  cMii^lit  tfnnit'tliinf;  nl  SiianJHli  ()i'tliii),'i'ii|iliy  and  iiroiinnciiiMnii 
iliangul  it  til  \'nKa;  luiuc  Sliastii  luittc  t'ity  licwiino  Vroku.  E.Stixli,ni 
Or,  Vvumil,  Jwir,  JM'f-S,  app.  44. 


THE  GAINES  TREATY. 


HI 


intcndent  of  Indian  affairs  wherever  he  might  find 
theni.  Lieutenant  Irvine,"  from  whom  Lane  learned 
Kearney's  predicament,  carried  Lane's  proposition 
to  the  major,  and  the  prisoners  were  at  once  sent  to 
liis  care,  escorted  by  Captain  Walker.  Lane's  party** 
set  out  immediately  for  the  north,  and  on  the  7th  of 
July  delivered  their  charge  to  Governor  Gaines,  who 
liiul  arrived  at  the  ferry,  where  he  was  encamped 
\\  itli  fifteen  men  waiting  for  his  interpreters  to  bring 
tlio  Rogue  River  chiefs  to  a  council,  his  success  in 
which  undertaking  was  greatly  due  to  his  possession 
of  tlicir  families.  Lane  then  hastened  to  Oregon  City 
to  embark  for  the  national  capital,  having  added  much 
to  his  reputation  with  the  peo[>lo  by  his  readiness  of 
action  in  this  first  Indian  war  west  of  the  Cascade 
]M()untains,  as  well  as  in  the  prompt  arrest  of  the 
ilcsorting  riflemen  in  the  spring  of  1850.  To  do,  to 
do  quickly,  antl  generally  to  do  the  thing  pleasinsj  to 
the  j)eople,  of  whom  he  .always  seemed  to  be  thinknig, 
was  natural  and  easy  for  him,  and  in  this  lay  the  secret 
tf  his  [)opularity. 

When  Gaines  arrived  at  Rogue  River  he  found 
Kearney  had  gone,  not  a  trooper  in  the  country,  and 
tht'  Iiulians  scattered.  He  made  au  attem[)t  to  col- 
lect (hem  for  a  council,  and  succeeded,  as  I  have  inti- 
mated, by  means  of  the  prisoners  Lane  brought  him, 
ill  inducing  about  one  hundred,  among  whom  were 
I'lcve'  head  men,  to  agree  to  a  peace.  Ry  the  terms 
of  the  treaty,  which  was  altogetluT  informal,  his  eoin- 
niis.sion  having  been  withdrawn,  the  Indians  |)laced 

*-lrvinr,  who  wnH  with  WilliimiHoii  on  a  topogmpliical  I'xpcilitinii,  hiid  an 
niKi'iitmc  lu'foi'o  lie  wan  wi-ll  out  nf  tlir  SliaHtu  cnuiitry  wil'i  two  Imliims  ami 
a  iVciii'iiiimii  will)  took  hi'p  pi-jsoni'i',  liountl  liiiii  to  a,  tfcc.  and  iiiHictcil  Noini- 
tnitiii'i's  npoii  him.  'I'l'.'  Krt'iicliiiiaii  wlio  wan  ii,siii>;  tho  JmliaiiH  I'm'  iiis  own 
lini|iiiM(s  hiialiy  si'iit  tin'iiiaway  on  homic  pri'tciicc,  ,"iiil  taiiiiij;  tin'  watch  ainl 
V  iliiiilili's  lii'loiixiiig  to  IrviiKi  wit  down  iiy  i\w  (.'aniiilin-  to  cunnt  iiis  Hjioil. 
\\  lull'  tliwH  cnj^anutl  the  licutciuiiit  Hm'ci'i'ch'il  in  Irrcing  liinisclf  from  lii^ 
lii'iiils,  Mini  I'usiiing  upon  tlie  fiillow  Hti'Urli  hini  hciisi'Ichn  foi' a  niomi'nt.  On 
I'l'i'iivc'iin^;  iiim.Mt'lf  the  Frvncinnrin  Mti'UKK''''  di'spi'i-atrly  with  liis  toi'mrr 
liii>iiiiii  I  hut  was  liuiiUy  kiliwl  anil  Irvino  t'scuin'il,  Or.  Stti/i.tmnii,  Aug,  ft, 
IVil. 

"  Amonn  Lane's  I'onipnny  wrro  Duiiiol  WuuU),  lIuntiT,  anil  Uust  of  Ken- 
tikky,  'iml  SimuiiHon  uf  liuliunu. 


232 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


Vh 


themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  and  protection  of 
the  United  States,  and  agreed  to  restore  all  the  prop- 
erty stolen  at  any  time  from  white  persons,  in  return 
for  which  promises  of  good  behavior  they  received 
back  their  wives  and  children  and  any  property  taken 
from  them.  There  was  nothing  in  the  treaty  to  ]ire- 
vent  the  Indians,  as  soon  as  they  were  reunited  to 
their  families,  from  resuming  their  hostilities;  and 
indeed  it  was  well  known  that  there  were  two  parties 
amongst  them — one  in  favor  of  war  and  the  other 
opposed  to  it,  but  the  majority  for  it.  Though  .so 
severely  punished,  the  head  chief  of  the  war  party  le- 
fused  to  treat  with  Kearney,  and  challenged  him  to 
further  combat,  after  the  battle  of  the  23d.  It  was 
(pnto  natural  therefore  that  the  governor  should 
(pialify  his  belief  that  they  would  observe  the  treaty, 
provided  an  efficient  agent  and  a  small  military  force 
could  be  sent  among  them.  And  it  was  no  les:^  nat- 
ural that  the  miners  and  settlers  should  doubt  tlio 
keeping  of  the  compact,  and  believe  in  a  peace  pro- 
cured by  the  riHe. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

PLAUSIBI^   PACIFICATION. 

1851-1852. 

OmcEKa  AND  Indian  Agents  at  Port  Orford — ATTirtrDE  op  thk  Co- 
QriLLEs — U.  S.  Troops  Ordered  out — Soldiers  as  Indian-fiohtehs — 
The  Savaoes  too  Much  for  Tueu — Something  of  Scahface  and 
THE  Shastas — Steele  Secures  a  Conference — Action  of  Si'perin- 
TENUENT  Skinner — Much  Ado  about  Nothing — Some  Fighting — An 
Lnsecdre  Peace — Moke  Troops  Ordered  to  Vancouver. 

General  Hitchcock,  commanding  the  Pacific  di- 
vision at  Benicia,  California,  on  hearing  Kearny's  ac- 
count of  affairs  between  the  Indians  and  the  miners, 
iiuule  a  visit  to  Oregon;  and  having  been  persuaded 
that  Port  Orford  was  the  proper  pomt  for  a  garrison, 
tiuiisforred  Lieutenant  Ivautz  and  his  company  of 
twiiity  men  from  Astoria,  where  the  governor  had 
declared  they  were  of  no  use,  to  Port  Orford,  where 
ho  afterward  complained  they  were  worth  no  moi';. 
At  the  same  time  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs, 
with  agents  Parrish  and  Spalding,  repaired  to  the 
t^oiithorn  coast  to  treat  if  possible  with  its  pe<>[)le. 
Thi'V  took  passage  on  the  propeller  Seagull,  from 
Toil  land,  on  the  12th  of  September,  1851,  T' Vault's 
party  being  at  that  time  in  the  mountains  looking  for 
a  road.  li)e  Seu<yull  arrived  at  P»)rt  Orfortl  on  the 
1  Ith,  two  davs  beforo  T'Vault  and  Brush  were  re- 
tuniud  to  that  place,  naked  and  stiff  with  wounds,  by 
tho  ('haritai)lo  natives  of  Cape  Blanco. 

The  twofold  policy  of  tho  United  States  tnado  it 
the  duty  of  the  supermtendcnt  to  notice  the  nujrderous 


234 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


il     ■'■ 


■ 


Wfiir 


!l 


I     '! 


conduct  of  the  Coquilles.  As  Dart  had  come  to 
treat,  he  did  not  wish  to  appear  as  an  avenger;  neither 
did  he  feel  secure  as  conciliator.  It  was  at  length 
decided  to  employ  the  Cape  Blanco  native,  who  under- 
took to  ascertain  the  whereabouts,  alive  or  dead,  of 
the  seven  men  still  missing  of  the  T'Vault  party. 
This  he  did  by  sending  two  women  of  his  tribe  to  the 
Coquille  River,  where  the  killing  of  five,  and  probablo 
escape  of  the  rest,  was  ascertained.  The  women  in- 
terred the  mangled  bodies  in  the  sand. 

The  attitude  of  the  Coquilles  was  not  assuring. 
To  treat  with  them  while  they  harbored  murderers 
would  no'l  do;  and  how  to  make  them  give  them  up 
without  'sailing  on  the  military  puzzled  the  superin- 
tendent. Finally  Parrish,  whose  residence  anionic 
the  Clatsops  had  given  him  some  knowledge  of  tho 
coast  tribes,  undertook  to  secure  hostages,  but  failed.^ 
Dart  returned  to  Portland  about  the  1st  of  October, 
leaving  his  interpreter  with  Kautz. 

Between  the  visits  of  Governor  Gaines  to  Rogue 
River  and  Dart  to  Port  Orford,  disturbances  IkuI 
been  resumed  in  the  former  region.  Gaines  had 
agreed  upon  a  mutual  restitution  of  property  or  of  its 
value,  which  was  found  not  to  work  well,  the  miners 
being  as  much  dissatisfied  as  the  Indians.  From  tliis 
reason,  and  because  the  majority  of  the  Rogue  Rivov 
natives  were  not  parties  to  the  treaty,  not  many  weeks 
had  elapsed  after  Gaines  returned  to  Oregon  City 
before  depredations  were  resumed.  A  settler's  cabin 
was  broken  into  on  Grave  Creek,  and  some  travellers 
were  fired  on  from  ambush;*  rumors  of  which  reach- 
ing tho  superintendent  before  leaving  the  Willanietto, 
ho  sent  a  messenger  to  request  tho  Rogue  River 
chiefs  to  meet  him  at  Port  Orford.  Ignorance  of 
Indian  ways,  unpardonable  in  a  superintendent,  coiill 
alone  have  caused  so  great  a  blunder.  Not  only  ilid 
they  refuse  thus  to  go  into  their  neighbor's  territuiy, 

^Or.  Anrcifotex,  MS.,  B8-61. 

*0r.  Slalesinan,  Sopt.  2,  0,  10,  and  30, 1851. 


AFFAIRS  AT  PORT  ORFORD. 


235 


men  iii- 


Imt  made  the  request  an  excuse  for  further  disturb- 
ances.^ Again,  there  were  white  men  in  this  region 
who  killed  and  robbed  white  men,  charging  their 
crimes*  upon  the  savages.  Indian  Agent  Skinner  held 
conferences  with  several  bands  at  Rogue  River,  all  of 
whom  professed  friendship  and  accepted  presents;* 
in  which  better  frame  of  mind  I  will  leave  them  and 
return  to  affairs  at  Port  Orford. 

When  intelligence  of  the  massacre  on  the  Coquille 
was  received  at  division  headquarters  in  California, 
jiunishment  was  deemed  necessary,  and  as  I  have  bc- 
i'oie  mentioned,  a  military  force  was  transferred  to 
till'  Port  Orford  station.  The  troops,  commanded  by 
Tiioutcnant-colonel  Casey  of  the  2d  infantry,  were 
]ioitions  of  companies  E  and  A,  1st  dragoons  dis- 
mounted, lieutenants  Thomas  Wriijht  and  George 
Stoncman,  and  company  C  with  their  horses.  The 
(hsniounted  men  arrived  at  Port  Orford  October  22d, 
!ui(l  the  mounted  men  by  the  next  steamer,  five  days 
later.  On  the  31st  the  three  companies  set  out  f  )r 
the  mouth  of  the  Coquille,  arriving  at  their  destina- 
iion  Xovember  3d,  Colonel  Casey  and  Lieutenant 
Stanton  leading  the  mounted  men,  with  Brush,  a  sur- 
vivor of  the  massacre,  as  guide,  and  a  few  stragglers. 
The  Coquilles  were  bold  and  brave.  One  of  them 
nu  eting  Wright  away  from  camp  attempted  to  wrest 
IVoin  him  his  rifle,  and  was  slutt  by  that  officer  for  his 
temerity.     On  the  5th  the  savages  assembled  on  the 

'  Two  drovers,  Moffat  an<l  Evans,  taking  a  herd  of  swino  to  tlio  Shasta 
iiiiiMs,  ciioampwl  vith  two  others  near  tho  foot  of  the  Siskiyou  Mountains, 
t  II  ir  liiitrs  t'liting  the  acorns  nscd  as  food  by  tho  natives,  whodenianili'd  ii  hog 
ill  ]iiiyiiR'nt.  Ono  of  them  pointed  liis  gun  at  a  pi^;  as  if  to  shoot,  Mhrreupou 
Miilliit  drew  his  pistol,  and  nuciduntally  disoliavginj,'  it,  linrt  liis  hand.  Irri- 
l.itiil  liy  tho  pain,  MolVat  lired  at  tiio  Indian,  killini;  liini.  Another  Indian 
till  11  tired  at  'lotlat,  giving  him  a  mortal  wouiiil.  In  tlie  excitement,  I'lvans 
mill  the  Indians  cxchan^'ed  shots,  wounds  lieiug  reeeived  on  huth  sides. 
Jliill'iit  was  from  Philadelphia,  whero  ho  iiud  ii  family.  Or.  iStaleKinan,  Nov. 
II  iiiid  •.'.">,  IS.M;  Or.  SjH'clutor,  Jan.  «,  18.V2. 

'Tliei-o  was  at  this  time  on  tho  southern  liorder  of  Oregon  an  organized 
hand  of  desperadoes,  whito  men,  half  breeds,  and.  Indians,  who  wero  tho 
tcriiir  of  the  nuners.  Soo  Poimlur  Trilnnial",  this  series,  passim. 

'•"i'.  S,  Si: II,  Doc,  3-d  cong.  'Jd  boss.,  i.  453. 


236 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


north  bank  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  by  their  gesticulations  challenged  the  troops  to 
battle.  The  soldiers  fired  across  the  river,  the  Co- 
quilles  returning  the  fire  with  the  guns  taken  from 
T' Vault's  party ;'  but  no  damage  was  done.  Construct- 
ing a  raft,  the  main  body  crossed  to  the  north  side 
on  the  7th  in  a  cold  drenching  rain,  while  Stanton 
proceeded  up  the  south  side,  ready  to  cooperate  with 
Casey  when  the  Indians,  who  had  now  retreated  up 
the  stream,  should  be  found.  It  was  soon  ascertained 
that  a  campaign  on  the  Coquille  was  no  trifling  matter. 
The  savages  were  nowhere  to  be  found  in  force,  hav- 
ing fled  toward  head  waters,  or  a  favorable  ambush. 
Marching  in  order  was  not  to  be  thought  of;  and 
after  several  days  of  wading  through  morasses,  olinil)- 
ing  hills,  and  forcing  a  way  among  the  undergrowth 
by  day  and  sleeping  under  a  single  wet  blanket  at 
niglit,  the  order  to  retreat  was  given.  Nothing  had 
been  met  with  on  the  route  but  deserted  villaLi^es, 
which  were  invariably  destroyed,  together  with  the 
winter's  store  of  provisions — a  noble  revenge  on  inno- 
cent women  and  children,  who  must  starve  in  conse- 
quence. Returning  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  Casey 
sent  to  Port  Orford  for  boats  to  be  brought  overland, 
on  the  arrival  of  which  the  campaign  was  recom- 
menced on  a  different  plan. 

In  three  small  boats  were  crowded  sixty  men,  in 
such  a  manner  that  their  arms  could  not  be  used;  and 
so  they  proceeded  up  the  river  for  four  days,  fimhiiL,' 
no  enemy.  At  the  forks,  the  current  being  strung', 
the  troops  encamped.  It  was  now  the  2Ci.h  of  No- 
vember, and  the  weather  very  inclement.  On  the 
2 1st  Casey  detailed  Stonenian  to  proceed  up  the  sontli 
branch  with  one  boat  and  fourteen  men;  while  Wright 


hi 


•T'Vault  says  there  were  eight  rifles,  one  muaket,  onodouhlc-hiirrnlloil  iiis- 
tol,  (uio  iSharp'a  patent  30  oliooting-rille,  one  Colt'a  Bix-shootor,  oiw  hriK't!  h'll- 
BttT  pistols,  with  ammunition,  luul  bomo  h'.nnliets.  Hero  Move  iniirtot'ii  slinnt- 
ing-iiniis,  many  of  them  repeating,  yet  tlm  parly  eoul<l  not  tli'tVuil  theniscU'  s 
on  ueeouut  of  tbo  suddouucsa  oud  uiuunei  of  tlio  attack.  Or.  UlaltsiiMu,  Oct. 
7,  1801. 


■!P|: 


FIGHT  WITH  THE  COQUILLES. 


23f 


with  a  similar  force  ascended  the  north  branch,  look- 
ing for  Indians.  After  advancing  six  or  eight  miles, 
Stoneman  discovered  the  enemy  in  force  on  both  banks. 
A  few  shots  were  fired,  and  the  party  returned  and 
reported.  In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  Wright  also 
returned,  having  been  about  eighteen  miles  up  the 
north  branch  without  finding  any  foe.  On  the  22d 
the  whole  command  set  out  toward  the  Indian  camp 
on  the  south  branch,  taking  only  two  boats,  with  five 
men  in  each,  the  troops  marching  up  the  right  bank 
to  within  half  a  mile  of  the  point  aimed  at,  when 
Stonoman  crossed  to  the  left  bank  with  one  company, 
nnd  the  march  was  resumed  in  silence,  the  boats  con- 
tinuing to  ascend  with  equal  caution.  The  Indians 
were  found  assembled  at  the  junction.  When  the 
Itoats  were  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  them 
the  savages  opened  fire  with  guns  and  arrows.  Wright 
then  made  a  dash  to  the  river  bank,  and  with  j'ells 
(h'ovc  the  savages  into  concealment.  ^Meanwhile 
Stonoman  was  busy  picking  off  certain  of  the  enemy 
stationed  on  the  bank  to  prevent  a  landing. 

The  engagement  lasted  only  about  twenty  minutes, 
and  the  Coquilles  had  now  scampered  into  the  woods, 
\\\wvQ  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  follow  them. 
Fifteen  were  killed  and  many  appeared  to  be  wounded. 
Their  lodges  and  provisions  were  burned,  while  their 
canoes  were  carried  away.  Casey,  who  was  with 
Wiight  on  the  north  bank,  joined  in  the  fighting  w'ith 
enthusiasm,  telling  the  men  to  take  good  aim  and  not 
throw  away  shots.^ 

The  troops  returned  to  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
where  they  remained  for  a  few  days,  and  then  marched 
hack  to  Port  Orford,  and  took  passage  on  the  Colum- 
bia tor  San  Francisco,  where  they  arrived  on  the  12th 


ti 


'The  alwvo  details  are  mostly  from  the  letter  of  a  private  solilier,  written 
lis  lirother  in  the  cast.     Before  the  letter  was  finished  tiio  writer  was 


iliownrd  in  the  Sixes  River  near  Capo  Blanco,  while  riding  express  from  Port 
Oriord  to  Lieut.  Stoncman's  camp  at  the  moutii  of  the  Coquille.  Tiio  letter 
win  puhlislied  in  the  AUa  California,  Dec.  14,  1851.  It  agrees  with  otlier 
I'ut  Irsa  particular  accounts,  in  the  .S'.  F.  Herald  of  Doc.  4, 1851 ,  and  Or,  States- 
man,  Due.  10 and  30, 1851.    See  also  Davidnon'a  Coast  PUot,  lit). 


238 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


of  December.*  This  expedition  cost  the  government 
some  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,"  and  resulted  in 
killing  a  dozen  or  more  Indians,  which  coming  after  tho 
late  friendly  professions  of  Indian  Agent  Parrisli,  did 
not  tend  to  confidence  in  the  promises  of  the  govern- 
ment, or  increase  the  safety  of  the  settlers.^'' 

I  have  told  how  Stanton  returned  to  Oregon  with 
troops  to  garrison  Fort  Orford,  being  shipwrecked 
and  detained  four  months  at  Coos  Bay.  He  had 
orders  to  explore  for  a  road  to  the  interior,  in  connec- 
tion with  Williamson,  who  had  already  begun  tliis 
survey.  The  work  was  prosecuted  with  energy,  and 
finished  in  the  autumn  of  1852. 


The  presents  distributed  by  Skinner  had  not  the 
virtue  to  preserve  lasting  tranquillity  in  the  minlii«^' 
region.  In  the  latter  part  of  April  1852,  a  citizen 
of  Marion  county  returning  from  the  mines  was 
robbed  of  his  horse  and  other  property  in  the  Grave 
Creek  hills  by  Rogue  River  Indians.  This  act  was 
followed  by  other  interruption  of  travellers,  and  de- 
mand for  pay  for  passing  fords."  Growing  bolder, 
robbery  was  followed  by  murder,  and  then  came  war.'- 

On  the  8th  of  July,  a  Shasta,  named  Scarfaee,  a 

*Cal.  Courier,  Dec.  13,  1851. 

*  Report  of  Major  Robert  Allen,  in  U.  S.  H.  Ex.  Doc.  2,  vol.  ii.  part  1,  [>. 
150,  32il  cong.  Istsess. 

"* '  Tho  commanders  went  without  an  interpreter  to  the  Coquillo  villa:,'o, 
and  just  banged  away  until  they  gratified  thcuioulves,  ami  then  went  to  I'ort 
Orford  and  back  to  San  Francisco.'  Parrinh's  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS.,  (50.  .Soo 
also  Alta  California,  Doc.  14,  1851. 

'» Ilearne's  Col.  Sketches,  M.S.,  2. 

"In  tho  early  spring  of  1852  a  party  of  five  men,  led  by  James  Coy.  left 
Jacksonvillo  to  look  for  mining  ground  toward  the  coast.  Having  (li-^cuv- 
ered  somo  good  diggings  on  a  tributary  of  Illinois  River,  now  called  .Idso- 
phiuo  Crock,  tlicy  were  following  up  tho  right  branch,  whon  they  discoviivd, 
three  miles  above  tho  junction,  the  remains  of  two  white  men,  evidiiiLly 
murdered  by  the  Indians.  Being  few  in  numlwr,  they  determined  to  ivtui  ii 
and  rci'nforce.  Camping  at  night  at  tho  mouth  of  Josephine  Creek,  tiny 
wero  attacked  by  a  largo  force.  They  kept  the  enemy  at  bay  until  tlu!  mxt 
night,  wlien  one  of  the  men  crowded  through  their  lines,  and  Imstinnl  to 
Jacksonville  for  aid.  All  that  day.  and  tho  next,  and  until  about  ten  o'l  ln-k 
on  tho  third,  the  besieged  defended  their  little  fortress,  when  a  party  (it  :IJ 
came  down  the  mountain  to  their  relief;  and  finding  the  country  i'i>li  in 
mines,  took  up  claims,  and  made  tho  first  permanent  settlement  in  lUiiiui* 
Valley,  itcra^js  Southern  Or.  Iliat.,  in  Ashland  Tidimjs,  Sept.  20,  1878. 


TROUBLES  WITH  THE  SHASTAS. 


239 


rnnicnt 
ilted  ill 
fter  tho 
isli,  did 
govern- 
on  witli 
vreckcd 
BEe  had 
con nee- 
un  tliis 
•gy,  and 

not  tlie 

mining 

k  citizen 

les    was 

)  Grave 

act  was 

nd  de- 

jolder, 

10  war.'- 

•face,  a 


part  1,  i>. 

llo  village, 

^ut  to  I'.'Vt 

(JG.    iSca 


1  Coy.  loft 

;lfT    lli'^ciiv- 

Icil  .luso* 
iscoveird, 

eviili'iilly 

to  ri'turii 

oek.  tlicy 

tin:  iH'xt 

Istt'Ill'il  to 

L'll  o'l'lni'k 

trty  of  83 
|y  Villi  ill 
111  llliauii 
178. 


notorious  villain,  who  had  killed  his  chief  and  usurped 
authority,  murdered  one  Calvin  Woodman,  on  Ind- 
ian Creek,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Klamath.     The 
white  men  of  Shasta  and  Scott's  valleys  arrested  the 
head  chief,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  Scarface 
and  his  accomplice,  another  Shasta  known  as  Bill. 
Tho  captured  chief  not  only  refused,  but  made  his 
escape.     The  miners  then  organized,  and  in  a  fight 
which  ensued  the  sheriff  was  wounded,  some  horses 
beinof  killed.     Mr  E.  Steele  was  then  living:  at  Yreka. 
Ho  had  mined  in  the  Shasta  valley  when  Lane  was 
digging  gold  in  that  vicinity.     The  natives  had  named 
liini  Jo  Lane's  Brother,  and  he  had  great  influence 
with  them.     Steele  had  been  absent  at  the  time  of 
the  murder,  but  returning  to  Scott  Valley  soon  after, 
found  the  Indians  moving  their  families  toward  tho 
Salmon    River    mountains,   a   sign    of    approaching 
trouble.     Hastening  to  Johnson's  rancho,  he  learned 
Mhat  had  occurred,  and  also  met  there  a  company 
from  Scott  Bar  prosecuting  an  unsuccessful  search  for 
tho  savages  in  the  direction  of  Yreka.     Next  day,  at 
the  request   of  Johnson,  who  had  his  family  at  tho 
laneho  and  was  concerned  for  their  safety,  Steele  col- 
lected the  Indians  in  Scott  Valley  and  held  a  council. 
The  Shastas,  to  which  nation  belonsred  the  Rogue 
River  tribes,  were  divided  under  several  chiefs  as  fol- 
low.s:  Tolo  was  the  acknowledged  head  of  those  who 
lived  in  the  flat  country  about  Yreka;  Scarface  and  Bill 
were  over  those  in  Shasta  Valley;  John  of  those  in 
Scott  Valley;  and  Sam  and  Jo  of  those  in  Rogue  River 
Vtilley,  having  been  formerly  all  under  one  chief,  tho  fa- 
ther of  John.     On  the  death  of  the  old  chief  a  feud  had 
arisen  concerning  the  supremacy,  which  was  inter- 
iiH>ted  by  the  appearance  of  white  men,  since  which 
time  each  had  controlled  his  own  band.     Then  there 
were  two  chiefs  who  had  their  country  at  the  foot  of 
the  Siskiyou  Mountains  on  the  north  side,  or  .south  of 
Jaiksonville,  namely,  Tipso,  that  is  to  say,  Tho  Hairy, 
fnun  his  heavy  beard,  tnd  SuUix,  or  the  Bad-tern- 


i 


mi 

1 1 

I 

n 


■Mlii 


r 


S40 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


pored,  both  of  whom  were  unfriendly  to  the  sottlerg 
and  miners."  They  also  had  wars  with  the  Shastas 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Siskiyou,"  and  were  alto- 
gether turbulent  in  their  character. 

The  chiefs  whom  Steele  induced  to  trust  themselves 
inside  Johnson's  stockade  for  conference  were  Tolo, 
his  son  Philip,  and  John,  with  three  of  his  brothers, 
one  of  whom  was  known  as  Jim.  These  affirmed  that 
they  desired  peace,  and  said  if  Steele  would  accom- 
pany them  they  would  go  in  search  of  the  murderers. 
Accordingly  a  party  of  seven  was  formed,  four  more 
jcnning  at  Shasta  canon.'*  Proceeding  to  Yreka, 
Steele  had  some  trouble  to  protect  his  savages  from 
the  citizens,  who  wished  to  hang  them.  But  an  order 
of  arrest  having  been  obtained  from  the  county  judge, 
the  party  proceeded,  and  in  two  days  reached  the 
hiding-place  of  Scarface  and  Bill.  The  criminals  had 
fled,  having  gone  to  join  Sam,  brother  of  Chief  Jo, 
Lane's  namesake,  who  had  taken  up  arms  because  Dr 
Ambrose,  a  settler,  had  seized  the  ground  which  was 
tlic  winter  residence  of  the  tribe,  and  because  he  would 
not  betroth  his  daughter  to  Sam's  son,  both  children 
being  still  of  tender  age. 

Tolo,  Philip,  and  Jim  then  withdrew  from  the  party 
of  white  men,  substituting  two  young  warriors,  wlio 
were  pledged  to  find  Scarface  and  Bill,  or  suffer  in 
their  stead.  A  party  under  Wright  then  proceeded 
to  the  Klamath  country.  Steele  went  to  Rogue  River, 
hearing  on  the  Siskiyou  Mountain  confirmation  of  tin; 
war  rumor  from  a  captured  warrior,  afterward  shot  in 
trying  to  effect  his  escape. 

Rumors  of  disaffection  reaching  Table  Rock/*seven- 

"Seo  CanJweWs  Em.  Co.,  MS.,  15,  7. 

>♦/</.,  15-21;  Axhluiid  Tiil,  Dec.  2,  9,  1876,  and  Sept.  20,  1878. 

'*Tho  Scott  Valley  men  were  John  McLeod,  James  Bruce,  James  White, 
Peter  Snellbaek,  John  Galvin,  ami  a  youth  called  Harry.  Tlio  four  fioiu 
Shasta  were  J.  D.  Cook,  F.  W.  Merritt,  L.  S.  Thompson,  and  Ben.  Wright, 
wlio  acted  as  interpreter. 

•"Jacksonville  was  at  this  time  called  Table  Rock,  though  without  rele- 
vance. The  first  joiirnal  published  there  was  the  Table  Jiock  Sentinel.  Prim's 
Judicial  Jjfuirs  in  S.  Or.,  MS.,  3. 


PARLEYS. 


241 


'  seven- 


Ics  White, 

If  our  from 

Wright, 

liout  riilc- 
\l.  Pnm'i 


tv-five  or  ciLjhty  men,  with  John  K.  Lamcrick  as 
1(  ;i(Il'1',  vokmteert'd  to  go  and  kill  Indians.  Heaiin:^^ 
(tf  it,  Skinner  hastened  to  prevent  slaughter,  but  only 
ohtained  a  prc^nise  not  to  attack  until  he  should  ha\  o 
liad  an  opportunity  of  parley.  A  con  niittee  of  four 
uas  a[)p<jinted  by  the  citizens  of  Table  Rock  to  ac- 
company the  agent.  They  found  Sam  at  hisencamp- 
lui'ut  ut  Big  Bar,  two  miles  from  tho  house  of 
Ambrose,  and  at  no  great  distance  from  Stuart's 
former  camp.  Sam  did  not  hesitate  to  cross  to  the 
south  side  to  talk  with  Skinner,  He  declared  him- 
sL'lf  for  peace,  and  proposed  to  «!end  for  his  brotiu  r 
Jo.  with  all  his  band,  to  meet  tuj  agent  the  following 
tl.iy;  nor  did  he  make  any  objection  when  told  that  a 
larg'  Mumber  of  white  men  would  be  present  to  wit- 
ness the  negotiations. 

.Vt  this  juncture,  Steele  arrived  in  the  valley  M-ith 
liis  party  and  two  Shastas,  Skinner  confessing  to  him 
that  the  situation  was  serious.  He  agreed,  how- 
ever, to  Steele's  request  to  make  the  delivery  of  the 
iimrderers  one  of  the  conditions  of  [)eace. 

At  the  time  ap])ointed.  Skinner  and  Steele  repaired 
to  Big  Jyir  with  their  respective  commands  and  tho 
voluii'.ec.s  under  Lamerick.  One  of  Steele's  Shastas 
was  .sent  to  Sam  with  a  message,  requesting  him  to 
coint.'  over  the  river  and  brinij  a  few  of  his  warriors  as 
a  body-guard.  After  the  usual  Indian  parley  he 
cainc,  accompanied  by  Jo  and  a  few  fighting  men; 
hut  seeing  Lamerick's  company  mounted  and  drawn 
up  in  line,  expressed  a  fear  of  them,  when  Skinner 
caused  them  to  dismount  and  stack  their  arms. 

The  messenger  to  Sam's  camp  told  Steele  that  ho 
had  recognized  the  murderers  aniong  Sam's  people, 
aiiil  Steele  demanded  his  arrest;  but  Skinner  refused, 
fearing  bloodshed.  The  aixent  went  further,  and 
ordered  the  release  of  two  prisoners  taken  by  Steele 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Siskiyou  Mountains,  Sam 
having  first  made  the  demand,  and  refused  to  negotiate 
until  it  was  complied  with.     The  order  was  accom- 

UlST.  Ob.,  Vol.  II.    IC 


242 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


I     !;i 


1"' 


paniofl  with  the  notice  to  Steele  that  he  was  witliiii 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  person  givini^  the  connnand. 
But  all  was  of  no  avail.  Steele  «eeniecl  as  deternuiu'd 
to  precipitate  war  as  was  Skinner  to  avoid  it.  Final- 
ly Skinner  addressed  himself  to  the  prisoners,  telling- 
them  they  were  free,  that  he  was  chief  of  the  white 
jieojtle  in  the  Indian  country,  and  they  should  acce|tt 
their  liberty.  On  the  other  hand,  Steele  warned  his 
jtriisoners  that  if  tiiey  attempted  to  escape  they  would 
be  shot,  when  Skinner  threatened  to  arrest  and  send 
him  to  Oregon  City.  The  quarrel  ended  by  Steele 
keepinL'  his  captives  under  a  guard  of  two  of  his  ow  ii 
men,  who  were  instructed  to  shoot  tliem  if  they  ran 
away,  Sam  and  his  party  being  inl'ormed  of  theordi  r. 
His  six  remaining  men  were  stationed  with  refereine 
to  a  surprise  from  the  rear  and  a  rescue. 

The  conference  then  pnjceeded;  but  presently  a 
hundred  armed  warriors  crossed  the  river  and  mixiu 
with  the  unarmed  white  men,  whereupon  Steele  or- 
dered his  men  to  resume  their  arms. 

The  council  n'sulted  in  nothing.  Sam  declined  to 
give  up  the  murderers,  and  the  talk  of  the  chiefs  was 
shullling  and  evasive.  At  length,  on  a  pretence  ol' 
wishing  to  consult  with  some  of  his  peoj)le,  Sam  nli- 
talncd  permissi«)n  to  return  to  tiie  north  bank  of  Ihf 
river,  from  which  he  shouted  back  defiance,  and  say- 
ing that  he  should  not  return.  The  wliite  toicfs 
were  then  divided,  Lamerick  going  with  half  the 
company  to  a  ford  above  JJig  Jiai-,  and  his  lieutenant 
with  the  re  i>ainder  to  the  ford  half  a  mile  below,  prc- 
)»ared  to  cross  the  river  and  attack  Sam's  camp  if  any 
liostile  demonstrations  should  be  made  at  the  couix  11 
ground.  ]iut  the  agent,  ap|)rehensive  of  an  outbreak, 
iullowed  the  angry  chief  U)  the  nc^rth  side,  the  Iiul- 
ians  also  crossing  over  until  about  fifty  t)nly  le- 
mained.  Becoming  alanned  for  the  safety  of  Skin- 
ner, Steele  i)laced  a  guard  at  the  crossing  to  pre\  iit 
all  the  Indians  returning  to  camp  before  the  agent 
should  come  back,  which  he  did  in  company  with  oiiu 


i  '^ 


THE  BATTLE  BEGINS. 


W 


witliiii 
iiinund. 

Fiiial- 

)  white 
[  accept 
notl  lii^ 
y  would 
id  send 
{  Steele 
his  own 
,hcy  rail 
10  order, 
etbroiiee 

scntly  a 
d  mixed 
Luolo  or- 

clincd  to 
dels  was 
tencu  ot 
Sum  ol)- 
>c  of  Ih.' 
lid  sa\ - 
o   lorei'S 
udl*  the 
uieiiaiit 
ow,  pre- 
j)  it'  any 
coun<il 

ithreak, 
ho  liid- 
)nly  i"e- 
f  'Skin- 
pre\  'lit 
o  ajjfeiit 
ith  one 


of  the  Shastas,  who  had  been  sent  to  warn  him. 
Thouj,di  the  agent  was  aware  that  tliis  man  could 
]K)iiit  out  the  murderers,  he  would  not  consent,  lest 
it  should  be  a  signal  for  battle. 

By  the  time  Steele  had  recrossed  the  river,  a  fresh 
commotion  arose  over  the  rumor  that  Soarface  was 
seen  with  two  others  going  over  the  hills  toward  the 
Klamath.  The  Rogue  River  warriors,  still  on  the 
south  side,  observing  it,  began  posting  themselves 
under  cover  of  some  trees,  as  if  preparing  for  a  skir- 
mish, to  prevent  which  Steele's  men  placed  them- 
selves in  a  position  to  intercept  them,  when  an 
encounter  appealing  imn.inent,  Martin  Angoll,^^  a 
settler,  proposed  to  the  Indians  to  give  jp  their 
arms,  and  sheltering  themselves  in  a  log  Louse  in 
the  vicinity,  to  remain  there  as  hostages  Uiitil  tho 
criminals  should  be  brought  back  by  their  own  petw 
]ile.  The  proposition  was  accepted;  but  ^.hen  they 
liad  filed  past  Steele's  party  they  made  a  dash  to 
Lraiii  the  woods.  This  was  the  critical  '  loment.  To 
allow  the  savj'ges  to  gain  cover  would  be  to  expose 
the  white  men  to  a  fire  they  could  not  return;  there- 
fnie  the  order  was  given,  and  firing  set  in  on  both 
sides. 

It  should  not  bo  forgotten  that  Steele's  men  from 
the  California  side  of  the  Siskiyou,  throughout  tho 
whole  affair,  had  done  all  that  was  done  to  precipitate 
the  eonfliet,  which  was  nevertheless  probably  una- 
voidable in  the  agitated  state  of  both  Indians  and 
white  men.  Tho  savages  were  well  armed  and  ready 
for  wa'',  and  the  miners  and  settlers  weri^  bent  on  tho 
mastery.  When  the  firing  began,  Lameriek's  com- 
jiaiiy  were  still  at  the  fords,  some  distance  from  tho 
others.  At  tho  sound  of  tho  guns  he  hastened  up 
t!ie  vaPey  to  give  protection  to  tho  settlers'  families, 

"  Aiinull  hod  formerly  rogidcHl  nt  Oregon  City.     Ho  roniovi'd  to  Uogi.e 

ars,  uiul  wiiH  killi'illiy  tlic  Niiva>.'<a 


KiviM  \'iilli>y,  iMirticipated  iii  tliu  Indian 

of  IWiit)  lUver  in  18^.     lie  woa  regurdvil  as  u  uo(j 

zvh.    iliiiiuly  Buu  luudu  hid  ruiiiduuco  at  Portluud 


Ms.,  107. 


woa  regarded  aH u  ^ood  nmii  and  a  ii^rtid  i.'i.i« 
Laiit'a  Autoliioiimihy, 


tM 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


't: 


leaviiiij  a  niinnrity  of  ilio  vohintoors  to  oncfaGfo  tho 
Indians  from  tho  north  side  should  they  atteun»t  to 
cross  the  river.^'' 

Tlie  fiL,ditin_i(  lasted  but  a  short  fhnc.  The  In(Hans 
matle  a  oliarL^e  with  tlie  desi<rn  of  releasing  Steele's 
prisoners,  when  they  ran  toward  the  river.  One  was 
shot  hefoj-e  he  reached  it,  the  other  as  he  came  out  tit' 
the  wat(?r  on  the  opposite  bank.  Sam  then  ordi  it  d 
a  pai'ty  of  warriors  to  the  south  side  to  cut  off  Stidc, 
bi.'t  they  were  themselves  surprised  by  a  detachment 
of  the  volunteers,  and  several  killed,'''  the  remiiindci-  ic- 
treatino".  Oidy  one  white  man  was  wounded,  ;ind  he 
in  one  tinsj^er.  The  Indian  {\Lfent  had  retired  to  his  i-.si- 
denceat  the  beij^innint^  of  the  flight.  That  sanu'  ni^ilit 
information  was  rcvcived  that  durino"  the  holthniiof  tin.' 
council  some  Indians  hr..d  pfono  to  a  bar  down  the 
river,  arul  had  surj)ris«'d  and  killed  a  small  conipanv nl' 
miners.  Lamerie!;  at  once  made  [)reparati(»ns  to  cioss 
the  river  (tn  the  nij^dit  of  the  10th  of  July,  and  take 
his  position  in  the  pass  l)etwecn  Table  ]vock  and  the 
river,  while  Steele's  company  moved  at  the  same  time 
farther  uj),  to  turn  the  Indians  back  on  Jjanieiick's 
force  in  the  mornin<;.  The  movenient  Mas  suceesslul. 
Sam's  peojde  wen-  surrounded,  and  the  <'hief  sued  for 
peact>  on  the  terms  first  offered,  namely,  that  hesheiilil 
^ive  up  the  murderers,  asking  that  the  agent  b.j  sent 
for  to  make  a  treaty. 

Ihit  ^skinner,  who  had  found  himself  ignored  as 


It 


"  '  I'ii'f(ivi>  we  rcnchod  tlio  place  wlicrii  tho  battle  wnH  pulufi  on,  \vi'  iin't  a 
Inriji'  jMii't'im  lit  the  ronipiiiiy  I'oiiiiii;^  tVuni  tli  Imitlr  us  liiHliiM  tlitir  Inirw* 
c'diilil  iHin.  'I'iu'  t'dii'MHiHi  iimii  NMiH  ( 'liiii  Iry  .liiliiixnii.  lie  ciillcd  Id  ini'  to 
CI  mil-  with  iiiin.  I  h.ihI,  "Have  thi<  I  ml  inns  \\hi|i|>i'(l  yoiiV"  Me  niiiil  ii<>lliliiu, 
hilt  ki'jit  nil  rtiiiniii;.',  ami  cryiiij;,  'M  'kiiio  i\m  wiiy."  Wi-  wlu'clril,  iiii'l  \Miit 
with  till-  I'i'Kwd,  who  wi'iit  to  tint  hdiiHc  (if  !»!■  Atnhro^t'.  Thi-  Imlimis  lunl 
Mtiii'ti'il  towai'il  tho  liHiiNi',  .'iml  it  wiih  KiippuHi'il  thuy  iiicuiil  t»  niunlii'  tliu 
family.'  <'iti<liri''r.t  Kniiiirn  ,1  Com/iiinii,  MS,,  '_'|, 

'"Steele  Niiyn  Hixtieii,  iiieliiiliii),'  tlui  pi iHoiieiM.  Ciirilwpll  RtntoH  thnt  iiuiny 
tprniiu'  iiitii  the  wiiter  iiiiil  were  shut.     Skiiim  ,■  j,'iveH  the  iiiinilier  hh  luui :  iiml 

«tjltes   further   thllt  '  ll  lliail  liy    tho   imilie  of  Steel,    who   (Uetemleil   til   he  llio 

U'li.h  r  of  tlie  pjiity  fiiiiu  sliiiNtfi,  WIIH  |iriiieipril!y  itmtniiiientiil  in  einiMim,'  tlio 
Bttiu  k  nil  tho  primmerN,  which  fur  ii  tiino  protlneoil  (general  liiiHlililie«.'  /  .  >'. 
iScii.  /'<<•.,  i,  ;jjil  eiiiL'.  '.M  NinM.,  \i»l.  i.  |)ti.  4.j7.  Citrdurli's  Lmijntiit  Cviii' 
pitiii/,  .MS.,  i!,");  Ciilijiirii ill  Star,  .Vug.  7,  iSi'iS. 


TRUCE  AND  REEXFORCEMKXT. 


24o 


In.  w  nit't  n 
Itlnii-  lii'iMi'S 
,'.l  tn  IIK'  to 
liiiil  iiotliliiu', 
1.1,  lUl'l  "'lit 
||ii<liiiii-<  III") 
1  mm  lift'  lilt' 


iiiniiitnincr  •C  the  peace,  an<l  was  l»usy  ))i'f[)ai'lii'jf  for 
xl'.r  (Ict'eiu/e  li'  liis  liouse  and  j)r()|K'it y,  was  slow  t<> 
ri>[»(>n(l  to  this  iv(jue«t.  A  <-oiiucil  was  appointed  tor 
tlif  lu'xt  (lay.  Ill  the  explanations  wliieh  followed  it 
was  ascertained  that  Searlace  had  not  been  with  ISani, 
hut  was  hi(hn<j'  in  the  Sahiion  River  niountnins.      'I'lie 


(> 


r  T 


lUSO  s 


]:  IS  )n  pointed  out  us  Scarface  was  Su' 
Ji;!:mI,  who  also  Imd  a  face  badly  scarrfu.  Th<'  real 
criminal  was  ultimately  arrested,  and  hjinL(<;d  at  ^'n•ka. 
A  tii'aty  Wiis  a^'reeil  to  by  Sam  re(juiriu^'  the  IJoi^tic 
lti\i  r  Indians  to  hold  no  communication  witli  the 
S!i.i>ta:  .  "  For  the  remainder  oi"  the  sumuici-  hoslili- 
tirs  (11  lioi;"ue  Kivi'r  wen;  suspi-ndcil,  tlu-  I  ndian  anvnt 
iMcasionallv  presentiiM^  Sam's  band  with  a  fat  o\,  tiiid- 
ill-'  it  i-asicr  and  cheaper  to  purcliase  peace  with  beet' 
tliaii  to  let  i'o!)beries  «_;'o  on,  or  to  punish  the  robbei's.-' 
Such  WHS  the  condition  of'  Indian  atliiirs  in  the 
h  of  ()reiL>-on  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  Is.VJ, 
II  the  superintendent  received  ollieial  iiolicc  (luit 
Indian  tr<.>aties  neL(otiatt;d  in  Orej^'oii  had  been 
ordered  to  lie  upon  t]\v  table  in  the  senate;  while 
he  wns  nistrurted  b}'  the  (M)uunissioni'r,  until  the 
|ji  iieial  policy  of  the  e^overnmeiit  should  be  more  i]t'\'- 
iiiliijy  understood,  to  enter  into  no  more  treaty  stip- 
u1.it ioiis  with  them,  except  siieh  as  nii'^ht  be  iiii|teri- 
'ii.>ly  iv(|uir<'(l  to  preserve  peace.'"'-'  As  if  partially  to 
iiSiit  the  probable  eonse(plelli'es  to  the  people  of  1  )re- 
umi  of  this  itji'ction  of  the  ti-eatics  entered  into  be- 
tween ( io\'ei-nor  ( Jaines,  Su|>eiintendent  1  )art,  and  the 
1 1  ili.iiis,  1  here  arrived  at  \'ancou\er,  in  September, 
-I '>  men,  ranU  and  file,  <'oniposin!^  the  skeleton  "f  the 
l!!i    leMimeiit  of  infantrv,  uiidi  r    i/ientenaiit-eoloni  I 


SOI  11 

ill!  t 


J 


>'iiiue\ule 


'jj 


1 


t  was  now  too  late  in  the  season  for 


'■'"Siillix  Wild  liniliy  wiHiiiili'il  on  fiio  ilay  uf  tlin  liuUlc.     Sco  ('i(c»/(/v//'h 

r.iiiiii'iil  <  'oiii/iinii/,  .\|.S.,  '2,'t  (1. 

■'  I'lii'  ••\|MiiM's  iif  Sti'clo's  i'X|M,'iliti(tn  weri'  $'J,-(H),  whiili  wi.td  iicvrr  ri-iin- 
I'lii.-.  .1  liiiiii  any  houii'i-. 

■'  /.'7(c  I,/  Aiini'ii  luirt  ill  Or.  S/nicsmnii,  Ort.  HI).  ls,"i-J,  |)iiit  rr.M.'nt'il 
ill  I 'n  I  inlicr,  lli.^  ic'-iLin.itiiiii  til  take  clliit  tlir  fullnw        .liino. 

^  .\  laiuc  niinilx'i'  ot'  tliu  ttU  rc^.  Ii.ol  <lit>l  on  tliu  IbtlwniiH.'  ih\  litules' 
null,,  ><  jit,  '.Vi,  l.s'iii. 


l|!i; 


246 


PLAUSIBLE  PACIFICATION. 


troops  to  do  more  than  go  into  winter  quarters.  TIio 
settlers  and  the  emigration  had  defended  themselves 
for  another  year  without  aid  from  the  government, 
and  the  comments  afterward  made  upon  their  manner 
of  doing  it,  in  the  opinion  of  the  volunteers  came  with 
a  very  ill  grace  from  the  officers  of  that  government.** 

'*Furtlipr details  of  this  campaign  aro  given  in  rMne'»  Anfohiofjmpfi)/,  MS.; 
CardioeU's  L'miijiant  Company,  MS.;  and  tbe  tileaof  the  Oregon  ktalesmaih 


ill 


CHAPTER  IX. 


SURVEYS  AND  TOWN-MAKINO. 

1851-1853. 

pRoposEn  Territorial  Division— Coast  StmvET — Lionr-norsES  Estab- 
iisHKD — Jame3  S.   Lawsox — His  Biography,  Publio  Services,  and 

CnNTRIBUTION  TO  IIlSTORT — PROGRESS  NoRTH  OF  THE  COLUMBIA— SoUTU 

UK  THE  Columbia — Birth  of  Towns — Creation  of  ConNTiEs— Proposed 
Nkw  Territory — Rivk.u  Navigation — Improvements  at  the  Clack- 
amas Rapids— On  the  Tualatin  River — La  Creole  River — Bridge- 

lU  ILDINO — WoitK    at  the   FaLLS  OF  THE  WILLAMETTE— FrOIT  Cui/FIRB 

—The  First  Apples  Sent  to  California — Agricultural  Progress^ 
l.Mi'ouTs  AND  Exports— Society. 

A  move5;rnt  was  made  north  of  the  Columbia 
l^ivcr  in  the  t-pring  of  1851,  to  divido  Oregon,  all 
that  portion  north  and  west  of  the  Columbia  to  bo 
vii'ctod  into  a  new  territory,  with  a  separate  goveni- 
iiu'iit — a  scheme  which  met  with  little  opjio.sitiori 
Irniii  the  le<jfislature  of  Oresjon  or  from  conijfivss. 
Afcordingly  in  March  1853  the  separation  was  con- 
Mii'iiiated.  The  reasons  advanced  were  the  alleged 
(hs'idvantages  to  the  l*uget  Sound  rcgiim  of  uneipmi 
li 'L;ishition,  distance  from  the  seat  of  govermnent, 
iiiitl  rivalry  in  commercial  interests.  North  of  the 
( 'nhiinl)ia  proijfresa  was  slow  from  tho  bo<j[inninir  of 
American  settlements  in  1345  to  1850,  when  tiie 
Tiiuet  Sound  rcixion  bc'ijan  to  feel  tho  effect  of  tho 
Caliloniia  gold  discoveries,  with  increas<Ml  facilities 
fur  cull,  aunication  with  the  cast.  In  answer  to  the 
(•t't-repcateil  prayers  of  t!ie  legislature  of  Oi-egon, 
tiiat  a  survey  might  be  mfide  of  the  ]*aciHc  coast  <»f 
the   Tiiitcd  States,  a  commission  was  appointed  in 

(W7) 


K     ' 


2m 


SURVEYS  AXD  TOWN-MAKING. 


IS 

n 


Xovcnibcr  1 848,  whose  business  it  wns  to  make  an  ex- 
amination witli  reference  to  point-  >t"  oecui)atioii  I'nr 
the  security  of  trade  and  eonimerco,  and  lor  military 
and  naval  |)urj)oses. 

The  connnissioners  were  Brevet  Colonel  J.  L.  Smith, 
]\lajor  Cornelius  A.  Ogden,  Lieutenant  JJiinville  Leail- 
belter  of  tlie  engineer  corps  of'tlie  United  States  army, 
and  commanders  l^ouis  ^T.  Coldsbo rough,  (t.  J.  V;ni 
J)runt,  and  Lieutenant  Simon  F.  JJlunt  of  the  iiavv. 
"]  hey  Bailed  from  San  Francisco  in  the  government 
j^team  j)ri>|»t'ller  Mossdc/tiiscffs,  ofHciied  by  Samu*  1 
Knox,  lieutenant  connnanding,  Isaac  X.  l^rici'landact- 
hig  lieutenant,  and  James  J  I.  ^loore  acting  masler, 
i.'rriving  in  l*uget  Sound  al»out  the  same  time  tlie 
J-Ji"ni</  reached  the  Cohuubia  Liver  in  the  s[»ring  nt' 
I8J0,  and  remaining  in  the  sound  until  July.  TIk' 
connnissioners  rej)orted  in  favor  of  lightdi()us(>s  ;it 
New  I  )ungenessand  Cape  Flatteiy,  or  Tatooch  Islaiil, 
iniorming  the  govei'nnient  that  trallic  had  nmch  in- 
(reasi'(l  in  ( )regon,  and  on  the  sound,  it  being  thiir 
opinion  that  no  sj)ot  on  the  globe  offered  e(pial  faciH- 
ties  I'or  tlie  h.mbir  trade.'  Shoalwater  ]»ay  was  ex- 
amined by  Jjieuti'nant  Lt'adl^etter,  who  gave  his  name 
to  ilie  southei'u  side  of  {\\c  I'litranco,  which  is  called 
Jjcadbettei'  I'oiiit.  The  MusstU'/niscfts  \isited  the  Co- 
lambia,  and  leconnnended  Cape  ])isaiipointmeiit  eii 
which  to  jilact!  a  light-house.  .Vfter  this  su[»erticial 
1  leonnoissance.  which  terminated  in  J'^Ay,  the  conuiiiN- 
^ioMwi's  returned  t(»  Cahfornia. 

The  leiigtli  of  time  elapsing  from  the  sailing  ofilie 
ronnnission  I'rom  Xew  Yolk  to  itsari'i\  al  on  the  Xortli- 
wcst  Ct)ast,  with  the  complaints  of  the  ( )regon  ilele- 
'•ate,  ctuised  the  .secri'tarv  of  the  tl'easui'V  to  reriUot 
J*i'ofessor  A.  1).  ])ache,  superintendiMit  of  coast  sur- 
\  eys.  to  hasten  ojieratioiis  in  that  (piarter  as  much  iis 
jiossibli'i  a  re<|Ue^t  \\hl<  h  lid  the  latter  to  despal  -h  ;i 
third  party,  in  the  spring  of  IS.IO,  under  Professor 
Tu  oige  ])avidson,  which  ariivetl  in  Caliibrnia  in  June, 

^Cuunl  Surviy,  \>M,  1-7. 


DAVIDSON'S  SURVEY. 


249 


11(1  profocdod  innnctliately  to  carry  out  the  iMtontit)ns 
r  tliu  govorp.inent.-     Buiii^  eini>lu3'0(l  on  the  coast  of 


111 


tlicni  California,  Davidson  tlid  not  reach  On 


roil 


till  Juno  1851,  when  ho  completed  the  tojioj^raphical 
Miivcy.s  of  Cape  Di^sappointinent,  Point  Adaujs,  and 
Sand  Island,  at  the  entrance  to  the  Coluinhia,  and  de- 
partt'd  southward,  having  time  only  to  examine  ]*ort 
(•it'oi'd  Iiarhor  belore  the  winter  stcjrms.  It  was  not 
until  duly  1852  that  a  jn'otracted  and  careful  survey 
was  hegun  by  Davidson's  party,  when  he  returned  in 
till'  steamer  Acllre,^  Captain  James  Alden  of  the  navy, 
to  examine  the  shores  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca  an<l  adja- 
ciMit  coasts,  a  work  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  sev- 
rial  years,  to  his  own  credit  and  the  ad\'antage  of  the 
iiiuiitiy.*  For  many  years  Captain  Lawson  has  di- 
1,  t  ted  his  very  valuable  eiforts  to  the  region  about 
]'u-vt  Sound.'^ 

•i';i\  i'l«i>ii'.s  jijirty  wore  all  younu  incn,  anxious  to  (li.stin,i,'\iis](  tlu'iiisflvoa, 
TliiVMii'u  A.  M.  Harrison,  .lanic:-!  S.  l^awsun,  funl  Julm  ItucliwiU.  'i'licy 
Kiiilnl  i:i  till'  stoanuT  I'hil'nli  l}ili'in,  Capt.  Ivulii  1 1  i'(;ars(in,  crci.ssiil  tii.'  Istliiii...!, 
nil  I  t  HiU  |ia>;Ma;,'o  111,'aiii  <mi  tlii;  Ti  luits^iii ,  Ca^it.  Culu,  for  Sail  FiiuitisLo.  Law- 
fijii'^  A'l'iiiii'i'jriiji/i!/,  Ms.,  .")-lS. 

•''I'ht!  .\ilin>  \\a:i  the  olil stoamor  O'vhl  lluiiUr  recliristcnuil.  L(tll^.•<(lll'■^ .la- 
(ohiiMir.'/ih  I,  MS.,  -I!). 

'  l'"or  liio;,'rajiliy,  ami  fuitlier  information  concerning  I'rof.  llavidson  and 
his  lalinrs,  mco  lii.s/.  Cttl.,  tliis  sciic  s. 

■'.liinn'H  S.  l^'iwson  wan  lioni  in  I'liilndclpliia,  l'\l).  Ill,  IS'JS,  w;is  ciliii'atiMl 
ill  till'  si'lionl.s  of  that  city,  anil  while  in  tho  I'ential  lii;,'li  .•^rhool  \\as  a  ila.ss- 
liKitc  (if  (icor:.(!  1  lav  iilsuii,  I'rof.  liaihc  In  in;.;  |iiiii.i|ial.  liariio  hail  toinitrly 
lin'ii  ip|e>iih'iit  of  ( liranl  ('olhirc.  ami  .'Jtiil  hail  chaini'  of  tiio  niaL'nctio  oIim'I- 
vatmy  in  the  imiIIilto  (.'I'oiiniN.  Tlio  ni;.'ht  oIlscivits  wcii'  silictiil  from  tho 
[1  .jiil  I  of  the  hi;^'li  sthool,  anil  of  thcso  Lawson  was  oin',  loniinuing  to  hcI'vo 
till  tl:i'  clo.>in.i{  of  tho  oliscrv.'itory  in  IM-">.  In  tiiat  year  J,a«son  was  n|i- 
I'liiitnl  Hi'coiiil  assistant  tiJulnT  in  tho  ( 'atlu  rinc-stivct  giaiuinai' mliool  of 
I'liilaiii'llihiu,  vliiili  |io;ition  lie  licM  h'l'one  year,  wiien  he  wasolhreil  a  po- 
Hitii.u  i.i  the  rriemls'  Hiiionl  at  W'lhningtoii,  I  tela  wan-,  iiniler  eliaive  of  Sain- 
iiil  Allsoll',  Jii  .laniiai'V  IslS  Lawsoii  eonniuneeil  duty  as  a,  eleik  to  Trof. 
Ikuhe,  then  Bii|ieiiiiteiuli'nt  of  the  I'.  .S.  coast  survey,  reniainiiiL,'  in  that  ca- 

Iiu'ity  until  detaiiied  and  ordered  to  join  I'axidson  for  the  Mirveys  on  tho 
'arilic  coast  ill  l.S."i(),  Kroni  the  time  of  his  arrival  on  the  I'acilic  coa.-^t  to  tho 
Jiir  cut.  Caiil,  Lawson  has  lu'cn  almost  contiiiuoiisl\'  en>;ijL;cil  in  the  lahor  of 
li.aliiiiH  goMinmiiit  surveys  as  an  assistant  of  i'rof.  |»a\idson.  I.inr^oii'it 
Aiti'i>il"ji-'ii'liii,  Ms., 'J.  His  Work  foi- a  nuinl"  r  of  yiais  has  Ihi  n  chiilly  in 
timt  ]''ition  of  tl.o  orii.'iiial  l  hcu'oii  territory  iioith  of  the  <  'olumliia  aii<l  wi'st 
(if  tlie  ( 'ascade  .Mountains,  and  his  icsidiiu'e  h.is  l«cn  at  Olyiiipia,  where  his 
lii'jh  rliai'actcr  and  sciiiitilin  attainments  have  secured  him  the  esteem  of  all, 
lil'il  in  w  liicli  i|uiet  aial  heautifiil  litt!(!  capital  rr|iose  may  he  fiiiiid  Ironi  oc- 
ciisi'Hiil  toil  iilid  esjiosiire.  Mr  Ilarri.xin  \v;is.  liUe  Ilavidsoii  and  Lausoii,  a 
gmi',u,i!u  of  the  I'liilail«'l|ihia  ( 'cnllal  m  liool.  and  of  tlie  s;imr  cla  .s. 

Thii  inanuticri^il  of  Luwbuu'ii  autliorclii^i  '\ti  one  ut  uuutiutil  vuluu,  uuiitaiu* 


rj 


il 

u 


'Ml  * 


i  I 


250 


SURVEYS  AND  TOWN-MAKING. 


I  have  referred  to  the  surveying  expeditions  in  this 
place  with  the  design,  not  only  of  bringing  theiu  into 
their  pro[)er  se(]uence  in  point  of  time,  but  to  make 
plain  as  1  proceed  correlative  portions  of  my  narra- 
tive. 

Between  184G,  the  year  following  the  first  Ameri- 
can settlements  on  Puget  Sound,  and  1848,  })(>pula- 
tion  did  not  much  increase,  nor  was  there  any  com- 
merce  to  speak  of  with  the  outside  world  until  the 
autumn  of  the  last-named  year,  when  the  settlers 
discarded  their  shingle-making  and  their  insignificant 
trade  at  Fort  Nisqually,  to  open  with  their  ox-teams 
a  wagon  road  to  the  mines  on  the  American  River. 
The  new  movement  revolutionized  affairs.  Not  only 
was  the  precious  dust  now  to  be  found  in  gratifying 
bulk  in  many  odd  receptacles  never  intendeil  for  sudi 
use  in  the  cabins  of  squatters,  but  money,  real  hard 
coin,  became  once  more  familiar  to  fingers  that  had 
nearly  forgotten  the  touch  of  the  precious  metals. 
In  January  1850,  some  returning  miners  reached  the 
Sound  in  the  first  America ;»  vessel  entering  those  wa- 
ters for  the  purposes  of  trade,  and  owned  by  a  com- 
]>any  of  four  of  them."  This  was  the  beginning  of 
trade  on  Puget  Sound,  which  had  increased  consi.Ki- 
ably  in  18r)*J-3,  owing  to  the  demand  for  IuiiiIk  r  in 
San  Francisco.  The  towns  of  Olympia,  Steihiconiu, 
Alki,  Seattle,  and  Port  Townsend  already  enjoy*  d 
some  of  the  advantages  of  commerce,  thouirh  vet  in 
their  nifancy.  A  town  had  been  started  on  JJakc  r 
Pay,  which,  however,  had  but  a  brief  existence,  and 
settlements  had  been  made  on  Shoalwater  Bay  and 
Gray  Harbor,  as  well  as  on  the  principal  rivers  enter- 
ing them,  anil  at  Cowlitz  Landing.  At  the  Cascades 
of  the  Colund)ia  a  town  was  surveyed  in  1850,  and 

Inn,  IhjsuIch  a  history  of  tlio  Bcicntifio  work  of  tho coast  survey,  mnnyoriL'in.il 
BcrnpH  <if  liistoiy,  liiojjriiphy,  nml  miocdotcs  of  persons  met  with  in  tlu' « m  ly 
vciuii  (if  tho  BiMvitc,  hoth  in Oro^jonnndt Wifornia.  rublishotUntiro it wtniM 
bo  reatl  with  interest.  It  in  often  a  soureo  of  regret  that  the  limits  ot  iny 
work,  extendeil  ns  it  is,  preclmlo  tiio  possibility  of  extracting  all  that  is 
tenii>ting  in  my  innnuscripts. 
•iSco  JJist.  O'lwA.,  this  series. 


POPULATION. 


231 


trading"  (^stal)lishmonts  located  at  the  upper  and  lower 
falls:  and  in  fact,  the  map  of  that  portion  of  Orejj^on 
north  of  the  Columbia  had  marked  upon  it  in  the 
spriiiLf  of  1852  nearly  every  important  point  which  is 
Boon  there  to-day. 

Of  the  general  condition  of  the  country  sout!i  of  the 
CoUimhia  at  the  period  of  the  division,  something  may 
be  h(  ro  said,  as  I  shall  not  again  refer  to  it  in  a  par- 
ticular manner.  The  population,  before  the  addition 
of  llie  large  immigration  of  1852,  was  about  twenty 
thousand,  most  of  whom  were  scattered  over  the 
WillaniL'tto  Valley  upon  farms.  The  rage  for  laying 
out  towns,  which  was  at  its  height  from  1830  to 
18r>.".,  had  a  tendency  to  retard  the  growth  of  any 
oiH'  of  them.'  Oregon  City,  the  oldest  in  the  terri- 
toi'v,  had  not  much  over  one  thousand  inhal>itants. 
I'oitland,  by  reason  of  its  advantages  for  unloading 
slii|iiiiiig,  luul  double  that  number.  The  other  towns, 
Milv,,iukio,  Salem,  Corvallis,  Albany,  Eugi-ne,  Lafay- 
ttti ,  I  )ayton,  and  llillsboro,  and  the  newer  onus  in  the 
s^oul  hern  valleys,  could  none  of  them  count  a  thousand.' 


Mo(^l  rulinorlinnglit.  the  claim  of  AtKUow  Smith,  and  foundoil  tlio  town 
of  |i;i\ ton  aljiiiit  IH.'iO.  Lafayetto  waa  tho  iiroi)crty  of  Joi'I  I'likiiis,  Cor- 
viiUis  III'  ,1.  ('.  Av(>ry,  AUmny  of  tiio  Monteitli  brotlicrs,  Eiiuciii!  of  Kn,t;i'iio 
Skiiiiii  r,  Caiiyniivilloof  Jcsso  Roberts,  who  sold  it  to  Marks,  8idt'iiian  &  Co., 
wliii  l;ii<l  it  (lilt  for  a  town. 

^\  tiiwii  ojiUdl  Mihviuikic  waa  surveyed  on  tho  claim  of  Lot  Whiteomb. 
It  ciMi!:iiiii(l  "lOO  iiilinliitantu  in  tho  autumn  of  18J(),  moro  than  it  had  tliirty 
yi'iiis  l.itir.  ";•.  Sjiccltitor,  Nov,  28,  1850.  Dmih/,  in  Orcrlnw/  Minitlihj,  i.  'XJ. 
0s\M' :•',  (ill  tho  vi'st  bank  of  tlio  Willamette,  later  famous  lor  itn  iiiin-uurkH, 
Mas  liii.l  nut  aiiout  tho  same  time,  but  never  had  tho  jiopuliitiiin  of  Mihvaiikio, 
of  wliirli  it  was  tho  rival.  Dallas,  in  I'olk  county,  «as  fnundi'il  in  I8,")'2. 
f»t  Ihlcii,  nil  \\w  Coluinliia,  was  competing  for  tlio  iidvautat^o  of  btiiiLf  tho 
Btiaiii.ii  (.1  Orcuiiii,  and  tlio  Paoilic  Mail  Steamship  ronijiany  liad  (li'iTced 
tliiit  (-M  it  slioiild  be,  when  tho  remonstrances,  if  not  the  sinister  acts,  of 
reitiiiiil  men  (Hectetl  tho  ruin  of  ambitious  hoj)e8.  St  llijeii  was  on  tlio 
iaiiil  (liiiin  of  11.  iM.  Knicliton,  an  immigrant  of  ISiri,  niid  lia<l  an  exeellent 
sitiiatiiii.  W'l <<!'.■<  QucnVhurlot!  .W.  A'xj).,  MS.,  7.  'Milton  ami  St  Helen, 
0111' ail  1  ,1  half  miles  apart,  on  th(!  Oolumhia,  had  each  •_'lt  or  'J.'>  houses.,., 
'iray,  a,  Dane,  was  tlio  chief  founder  of  St  Helen.'  Siiiiit-Aiiinii/,  Vhiiiujik 
I'll  'Vi  ,  ,f  r;,-.,;!(iS-l(,  ;{7S.  It  wasHurveyed  and  nmikcd  out  in  lot.saiid  iiloeks 
Ivl',  W.  <'iawfi>rd,  asidstod  by  W.  II.  Tappan,  and  afterward  mappfil  by 
.'"St  I'll  'Initeh,  later  of  Victoria,  B.  C  A  roail  was  laid  out  to  tlio  Tualatin 
I'lAiu-,  Mild  a  railroad  projected ;  tho  steamship  company  erected  a  w  li.ii  f  with 
ulliiT  iiiipi'uvcmonts.     But  nioetiugs  wcru  held  iu  i'ortlund  to  prevent  the 


!•;  I 


■    •A  hi 


•.  V 

u 


Mil 


I; 


ill:- 


2r)2 


SURVFA'S  A\D  TOWN-MAKING. 


Some  ambitious  persons  attempted  to  i^et  a  rounfy 
oi-ir;iiiiz;itioii  for  the  couutrv  east  of  the  Caxado 
jSIouiilaiiis  ill  tlie  winter  of  1852-3,  to  wliieli  tlie  li  4- 

stoppini;  i<(  the  steamers  below  that  town,  and  succLSsive  fires  «lestro_\i d  tlm 
iini)rovi'inent8  at  St  llcleu,  comiHiUing  their  vessrls  tuguto  thu 


COlUlHIDV 


I 


oniicr  plau( 


IUloij,  .'III 


itlur  I'jinilidato  fur  fjivor,  was  .situated  in 


CJIIMXI'lSO 


unn  I 
tains 


if  t\\v  Willainctti',  just  aliovi'  St  JItlcii.     It  was   fouinUiI    liy  .se. 

JI.  .Smith,  wlio   piii'i  liascd   tlic   11 


.\atl 


an  (  iiisliy  am 


nulls  ('II 


Milt. 


11  (  rei 


1   Th 


they 


d.     T 


where  tliey  in 
ley  also  opeiiei 


laile  liimher  to  load  tlie  liaik  /.' 


nii.-.;ik<.r 


I  a  St. 


re  there,  am 


1  a.-si.Ued 


the  rouil  ti)  the  Tualatin  ]ilains.     Several  sea-^iuinj,'  men  iiivi'sted  in  I. 
liusiness  l.ir  !i  time  was  liri.~k.      lint  all  tiieii-  Inilliaiit  lii>iies  weii'  .h.stini 


;i!.ii:i'' 


de.stnieti 


f<i 


or  tliere  eaiiie  a  suiiiiner   UddiI  which  swept  the  t.iwi 


ilitains   l»re\v,    .Menzies 


■-/■.• 


I'op. 


and   Williams   were   interested 


to 


I  away. 
Milton. 


MS.,  •J-_'.'{.     Anii.ni,'  the  st  tlliTs  in  the  vieiiiity  uf  St  II. 


ami  Miltim  was  ('a|)t.  !•".  .\.  Leiimiit,  of  lialli,  Maine,  whu  av  a  sailor  a 
panied  ( 'apt.  i)iiiiiinis  when  he  entered  tho(.<ihiiiihia  in  IS'J'.t-.'tO.     lie  wa.-iatt.  r- 


.111- 


.1 


\V 


yetl 


sel,  the  Mm/  Jjffrr,  wliieh  was  in  tlu^  river  in  ls:)l.     I 


turning  I.)  Ori'^Dii  after  haviii'f  JH'tii  iiui.'iter  of  several  vissels,  he  settli.l  at 
St  11.  leii  in  Is.ii),  while  he'  still  lesiihs.     Of  the  early  nsi.Unts   Lci 


f';iiii-!n'.l  iiK!  the  f.>ll<)wiii:;  list  from  iiieMior'':  lleniainin  !)urell,  Willi: 
11.  Tap 


C.   li 


inter, 


W. 
.I.iseph  'i'riit.  ':..  .lohn  Triit.h.  !..  ('.  (Iray,   .Aar.iii   llro^les,  .hiiiiis 

ill',', 
iliiam 


l>r  .V.llimi,  lliram  ]''ield,  Setli  I'ojie,  .lohn   l)od>i(,  (Jetji'-e  '1! 


William   Kiiu'li>h,    William    llaz-'ird,    lien 


Teal,    1! 


ih 


■y. 


w 


A.  E.  ( 


Meeker,  t'liailes  II.  l!eed,  .loseph  Caples,  .lusejih  ('unniii^diain, 
Eoliert  (ierniaiii,  <!.  W.  \'<  asie,  < '.  (  jirpeiiter,  J.  Cari)iiit(  r,  l.ueiv\\o.j.l,  Lit- 
tle, Trip)(,  IJerry,  |)niin,  IJiirrows,  l-'iske,  l.aytoii,  Ke.irns,  Holly,  Mayh(r, 
Arcliilles,  ('i)itlaml,  ami  .\twfxi.l.  with  others.     Kiiii;htoii,  tin;  owner  ..f  St 

a   ')iiesumptuoiis  man,'  liecau.s."  wliile 


]{ 


el.  11,    is    pr.'ll.iUIU'e. 


1  i>v  (• 


I  fonl 


n.iwiiiLr  iL'tliiiiL,'  aliDiit  navi;.Mtioii, 


('rawfonl  atliii 


he  nmlertii.ik  t.j 


jiiliit  the  Si/rii-  ilc  O'riissii  to  Astoria,  runidii,'  her  upon  the  roel 


11 


.'  suliseiiuell 


tlv 


i!..l, 


>sil   ti)  (■ 


\   Wllere  sliu 


.1  linall 


a  e.iptain  on  tlie  Willamette.      Knii'hton   "lie.l  at  Tlu!   Pall.'S  al 


V  eli^ie.'i  I 


His  \i  ile  was  I'^li/uilielh  Martin  of  Vaiiiliill  eoiinty.     He  left  seve'rul  eiiil.lr 
in  \\'asliiii'.'!oii. 

W'estp.irt,  on  the  Cfdnniliia,  thirty  miles  ahove  Astoria,  was  setti.il 
dohn  We-tiii  Is."));  an.l  l!ainiei,  opp.oitc  the  C'nwlitz,  hy  (  liailes  K.  I'e-; 


til 


It 


.1  f.ir  several  years  as  ii  di>ti  ilnitiiii: 


1" 


lit  f^ 


r  iii.-i.il 


il  passeiiu'ers  to  ail. I  from   I'li'.'et  Soiiml.     Frank  Warren,  A.  Harpiiiia 


.1  William  V.  M.io.ly  wei 


l.r.ith 
fonl' 
tier  ever  since  the  close  of  the  Cavuse  war; 


i.iii;,'  the  resi.lents  at  luiinier.  ( 


MS.,  I'dO.     At  or  near  The  Dalles  tliero  hail  heeii 


iilitiin 


d  iilso  a  settl.r  named  T.mili 


Boii,  ami  tu.i  l'"i'enclimen  on  farms  in  Ty;.'h  \'alley,  lifty  miles  or  iiioro.sinitli  ..f 
The  halles.  These  jiioiieers  of  eastern  OreH'iii,  after  the  niissiiiiial'ies,  iiiado 
money  as  well  as  iv  good  liviii;.',  liy  trading  in  cattle  and  horses  witli  eiiii- 
grants  and  Imlians,  wliieh  they  sold  to  the  miners  in  ('alir.irnia.  Alter  tlio 
C'Htahlisliment  of  ii  military  jmst  at  The  Halles,  it  reipiiieil  ii  gfivenuiieiit 
license,  issiie.l  hy  the  sup.  of  iii.lian  allairs,  to  tra.le  anywhere  almve  ti;o 


(' 


isi'.'i.l.s,  am 


I  a  sp( 


rmissioii  from  the  niiiimamler  of  the  po.-.t  t.t  Irailo 


It  this  p.iint.     .Liiiii  ('.  r.ell  of  Salem  was  the  lirst  tra.h'r  at  The   Hall 


hi 
were  <.ir. 


siitl.r  for  the  army  at  The  Halh's  in   IS.'K).     When  the  rilh.'  rcuimciit 


l-re.l 


ly,  I'.el!  s.ild   1. 1  William  (iihsoii,  w  ho  tl 


un   liecaine 


In    IS.'d  A.  M.'lviiilay  it  Co.,  of  Oregon  City,  oIitiiiiK  .1  iici'iiiissinn  t.i  .'stali- 
lish  a  trailin;.,'  jiost  at  The  Dalles,  and  liiiil.ling  a  caliiii 


It  111 


cimree  o 


f  I'errin  W  )iit 


man. 


Hi  1s"-J,  they  ereetcl  a  fr 


th.'y  1 

I'    lilliMilU'  «'.  st  et' 


tl 


le  pri'sell 


t  r 


liiatillii  11. line,  will 


h  til.  y 


.1 


stor. 


i.iit 


the  iMl.iW- 


iiig  year  to  biuiiiiii  and  iHunu«uu.     W.  <J.  Luughliii  took  a,  luiul  claiiii  tliii 


COUNTY  OROAXIZATIOX. 


253 


a  (Diiiity 
(  fiscal  le 

ili'strojiil  tlio 
■s  tu  go  t.i  tho 

poimo  I'lav,  an 
■  I  li)'  sea  i.aji- 
the  lluii.iaUtr 
irU  Ldlii/idii'i, 
L'll  ill  li;;i!iliiii; 
eil  ill  lols.  aii(l 
JIT  ik'.stiiicil  to 
•Mi  town  away, 
toil  in  Mili.iii. 

.y  (if    St    ilrlcu 

[I  sailiir  aniiiii- 
Ilo  \va.satt(r- 
riiilsni.  Uc. 
,  111'  Ki'ttlicl  at 
in  Lc'liiDiit  lias 
Wiilu'i.ll.W. 
r>r(i\les,  .Imiuh 
(JiMiiiic  'I'!. ill'.', 
nky,  Wiliiam 
I,  A.  K.  (".ark, 
.iickwouil,  Lit- 
l<il!y,    Mayt)n', 

U!    OWUlT  I'f  St 

1  lii'cail.;'.'  wliile 
ilii!t'rt("ik  to 
U  wiuTi'  sIh! 
ally  cii^.i'.'i  'I 
aliDUt  I'^lil. 
»;iu,l  uhililnn 

.IS  si'ttliil  l>y 
r.s  J'].  Vv.  ill 
lilt   f'lf  UN'.il 

.  Harper  aii'l 

liiiicr.  (',■.(.'■• 

;^.ilitr.r\  si't- 

iiicil  'rmiiliii- 

IKH'C  WHlt  ll  uf 

iiiaric.';,  luiiiio 

witli  I'lui- 

1.     Al'tiT  the 

j.;()Vfi'!iiiiclit 

IL-   alliiVr  t..c 

ji,i.-.t  to  tiailo 
It'  I  fall..-',  113 
lie   rt'j.illK'Ut 

■I'liiiu'    utlfr. 

lull  tn  'Stall- 

).!at'o.l  it  ill 
Mill:'  MTst  iif 

,1  t:i,'  i.iii.iw 

1,1  iKiuii  llii* 


n 


i-lnt lire  would  have  oonsontod  iftlievliad  acjrood  to 
liaM- the  new  eoiinty  attaehed  to  (larUe  for  judicial 
|itu])os(^s;  hut  tlii.s  l)einiLjf  ohjeotcd  to,  and  the  popula- 
tion hriii<r  scaree,  the  loj^islature  declined  to  create 
the  ('i)Uiity,  which  was  however  established  in  Janu- 
aiy  ISJ4,  and  called  Wasco.'  In  the  matter  ot'otlier 
(•(•iiiity  orLjanizations  south  of  the  Colunihia,  the  lejj^- 
i-latiire  was  ready  to  grant  all  ])etiti<»ns  if  not  to  an- 
ticipate them.     In  l8o2-3  it  created  Jackson,  includ- 

ycaraii'l  Imilt  a  house  upon  it.  A  Mr  Rif^elow  bronglit  a  small  stock  of 
j;iMiil>  to 'I'liu  ])allf.s,  cliit'lly  j^TDCCnos  and  liijilors,  and  imilt  ji  .stoic  the  fol- 
lowiiit;  yiar;  and  William  (Jilison  moved  his  store  from  the  pirri.soii  j,'roiuida 
to  till'  louii  out.side.  It  wa.s  siil)sei|iiently  imichased  by  Victor  'J'rcvitt,  w  ho 
ki'i't  a  .saloon  ealled  the  Moniit  Hood. 

Ill  the  autumn  of  1.S.V2,  companies  K  and  I  of  tho  4th  inf.  rcj;.,  un<ler 
Cajil.  Ahold,  relieved  the  little  scjuad  of  artillery  men  who  liiid  K-'nisoiied 
till'  post  .since  the  ileparturc  of  the  rith;  reu'inient.  It  was  tlie  jiost  wliieh 
fciiiiied  the  nucleus  of  trade  and  business  at  The  Jtalles,  and  which  made  it 
ncc(  ssiiiy  to  improve  the  means  of  transportation,  that  the  ^'ovcrnnieiit  sup- 
plies in  i;,'l  it  be  more  easily  and  raiiidly  conveyed.  'J'lit,'  inimi^'iation  of  Is.jj 
Weill  not  blind  to  tlie  adv,inta;;es  of  tho  location,  and  a  iiiinilierof  claims 
Well'  taken  on  the  small  streams  in  the  neighborhood  of  The  I  >alies.  Itu- 
iii"is  iif  yiild  di.scoverie.s  in  the  Cascade  MomiUiiiis  north  of  the  Cuhuiibia 
Kiver  v.eie  current  about  this  time.  11.  I'.  Isaacs  of  Walla  Walla,  who  ia 
ti.e  author  of  an  intelligent  account  of  tho  development  of  eastern  Oregon 
ai.'l  W'a  Iiiiigton,  entitled  '/Vie  (Jp/nr  ('nlnmhla  Hd.tiii,  M.S.,  relatis  that  :v 
Klikitat  foiuiil  and  j.'ave  to  a  Frenchman  a  piece  of  gold  (|iiartz.  w  hich  beini; 
exl.iliited  at  Oregon  City  induced  him  to  go  with  the  Indian  in  the  spring  of 
I'^.'d!  t>  look  for  i*;.  ]5ut  the  Klikitat  either  could  not  or  would  not  find  tho 
place,  and  Isaacs  went  to  trade  with  the  immigrants  at  Fort  l>oi>i',  putting  a 
ti  ny  niins.-  Snake  Itiver  in  tho  Rummer  of  tiiat  year,  but  riturniiig  to  Tho 
liuiic  >.  wlierc  he  remainetl  until  iSti.'J,  when  he  remove<l  to  the  Walla  Walla 


i!l.  y  and  put  up  a  grist  ni 


ill, 


SCl'tliill. 


Is 


d  assisted  in  \arions  ways  to  improve  that 


irried   a   daughter  of   .fames    I'lilton    of   '11 


Ha 


,f 


wiioiii  I  have  already  made  mention.  A  store  was  kept  in  The  Halles  by  L. 
.1.  lleiiilersiiii  and  Sliang,  in  a  canvas  house.  They  liuilt  a  log  luaiso  ilio 
next  year.     Tompkins  opened  a  hotel  in  a  building  jiut  up  by  .XbKiiilay  & 


C 


I'oriiii 


built  a  blacksmith  shop,  ami  I.ieut.  Forsyth  erceteil  a  two- 
story  tiaiiic  house,  which  was  occupied  the  next  year  as  a  Initel  by  <iates. 
Ca-hiii,'  and  Low  soon  put  up  another  log  store,  and  James  McAiilill'a  tiiird. 
l)<ili'/M„i,iitiil,„^<i;  May  "JS,  ISli'J. 

r.  Ji'iir.  Coiiiiril,  IS.VJ-.'l,  !)0;  f/fii.  Lnn'x  Or,,  .')44.     The  establishment 
i:(()  eonnty  was  opposed  by  Major  liaiiis  of  the  4th  infantry  stationed 


o  loiiiity  was  tlio 


of  W 

at  Foit  Dalles  iii  the  winter  of  IWa  4".     He  sai.l  that    Was. 

lai';j'    t  ivtr  known,  though  it  had  but  alioiit  thiityliv'e  white  inhabitants 

iiiid  th''st'  el, limed  a  right  to  locate;  where  they  chose,  in  aeeonlanee  with  tht; 

net  ot  Sept.  •27.  1S.")().  Or.  Juiii:  Coiiiiril,  l.S.vi-4,  app.  4!t-.">(»;   I'.  S.  S,,i.  hue 

hi,  Vol,  vi.  lli   17,  .S.'ld  eong.  'Jd  sess.     llains  rt'iiorted  to  Washington,  which 


f"i|. 
kti: 


.eat. 


tl  for  a  time  the  ellbrts  of  Fjino  to  u.'t  a  bill  through  congress  legii- 
ity  warrants  in  Oregon,  it  being  fear.il  tli.it  some  of  them  ini^lit 


in  Wa.sco  county.  (>i\  Sfitti miiun,  Maieli  'JK,   Is," 


"':/. 


.3:p.l  .oiig.  iM  ni'ss.,  4'JO.     \\  ni  t'.  I..aiighliii,  Warren  Keith,  .iinl  .l.ihn  Toiiip- 
appoiutcd  coiniuidsionurs,  J.  A,  Siniiuii  sliurill',  and  JustiuClicu- 


■55 

■II 

jtrl 


OWc'tl 


1,  Jllltj^U, 


s  , 


254 


if 


SURVEYS  AND  TOWNMAKIXO. 


» 


1' 


n* 


iiiiX  the  valley  of  liogue  River  and  the  country  west 
of  it  to  the  Pacific.  At  the  session  of  18jo,  it  cre.itrd 
Coos  county  from  the  western  portion  of  Jackson, 
Tillamook  from  the  western  part  of  Yamhill,  aiul 
Columhia  from  the  northern  end  of  Washington  coun- 
ty. The  county  seat  of  Douglas  was  changed  IVoni 
Winchester  to  lloseburg  by  election,  according  to  an 
act  of  the  legislature. 

The  creation  of  new  counties  and  the  loss  of  those 
north  of  the  Colun)bia  called  for  another  census,  uiul 
the  redi.stricting  of  the  territory  of  Oregon,  with  the 
reapportionment  of  members  of  the  legislative  assem- 
bly, which  consisted  under  the  new  arrangement  uf 
thirty  members.  The  first  judicial  district  was  made 
to  comjjrise  Marion,  Linn,  Lane,  Benton,  and  Polk, 
and  was  assigned  to  Judge  Williams.  The  second 
district,  consisting  of  Washington,  Clackamas,  Yam- 
hill, and  Columbia,  to  Judge  Olncy;  while  the  third, 
coniitrising  Umpqua,  Douglap,  Jackson,  and  Coos, 
was  <nven  to  McFadden,  who  held  it  for  one  term 
only,  when  Deady  was  reinstated. 

Notwithstanding  the  Indian  disturbances  in  south- 
ern Oregon,  its  growth  continued  to  be  rapid.  The 
shifting  nature  of  the  population  may  be  inferred  from 
fact  that  to  Jackson  county  was  apportioned  four  rej>- 
resentativcs,  while  Marion,  Washington,  and  Clacka- 
mas were  each  allowed  but  three.'" 

A  scheme  was  put  on  foot  to  form  a  new  territory 
out  of  the  southern  countries  with  a  portion  of  iioith- 
ern  California,  the  movement  originating  at  Yreka, 
where  it  was  advocated  by  the  Mountain  Herald.  A 
meeting  was  held  at  Jacksonville  January  7,  1854, 
which  ajipointed  a  convention  for  the  25th.  Memo- 
rials were  drafted  to  congress  and  the  Oregon  and 
California  legislatures.  The  proceedings  of  the  ceii- 
vention  were  published  in  the  leading  journals  of  the 
coast,  but  the  project  received  no  encouragement  iiom 

"0<-.  Statesman,  Feb.  14,  1854. 


STEAMERS  ON  THE  WILLAMETTE. 


2o5 


l('.jislator.s,  nor  did  Lane  lend  himself  to  the  scheme 
iuitlitr  than  to  present  the  memorial  to  eonj^ress." 
On  thi'  contrary,  he  wrote  to  the  Jacksonville  malec(m- 
tciits  that  he  could  not  approve  of  their  action,  which 
winiM,  as  he  could  easily  discern,  delay  the  admistsiou 
(if  Oici^on  as  a  state,  a  consummation  wished  for  hy 
his  supporters,  to  whom  he  essayed  to  add  the  demo- 
(lats  of  southern  Ore^jon.  Nothinj;  further  was 
thenceforward  heard  of  the  projected  new  territory." 

Nothincr  was  more  indicative  of  the  chanjxe  takinsf 
place  with  the  hitroduction  of  gold  than  the  improve- 
ment in  the  means  of  transportation  on  the  Willamette 
and  ('(jlumbia  rivers,  which  was  now  performed  by 

bteaniboats." 


•'  r.  S.  11.  Jour.,  609,  .33(1  cong.  1st  sess. 

''Tliu  Oroycju  men  kiujwu  to  Imvo  been  connected  with  this  movement 
\\vw  Saiimel  Culver,  T.  McFudden  Patton,  L.  F.  Moshcr,  D.  M.  Kenny,  S. 
Ettliii-M-.  .JesH(3  Richardson,  W.  W.  Fowler,  C.  Sims,  Anthony  Little,  S.  C. 
(iriivis,  W.  Hurt,  George  Dart,  A.  Mclntire,  O.  L.  Sneliing,  (J.  S.  l»re\v, 
Jiihii  K.  l!(is-s,  Richard  Dugan,  Martin  AngcII,  and  J.  A.  Lupton.  Thoso 
fini!L  the  south  iside  c'  the  Siskiyou  Mountains  were  E.  Steele,  1£.  (r.  Ferris, 
C.  N.  TliDinbury,  E.  J.  Curtis,  E.  Moore,  O.  Whcelock,  and  J.  Darrough. 
iir.  Si'ih<iiiaii,  Feb.  7  and  28,  1854. 

'^Tlic  lirst  .steamlioat  built  to  run  upon  thcso  waters  wa3  called  thoro/((m- 
ii't.  Sill-  was  an  oddly  shaped  and  clumsy  craft,  being  a  double-ender,  like  a 
linylM.at.  Her  niacldnery  was  pprchased  in  Califoriua  l)y  James  Frost,  uno 
(it  the  followers  of  the  rifle  regiment,  who  brought  it  to  Astoria,  where  his 
iHjiit  Nvas  "ouilt.  Frost  was  sutler  to  the  regiment  in  winch  his  brother  was 
(liuiiti^iiiiii-^ter.  Ho  returned  to  Missouri,  and  in  the  civil  war  held  a.  coni- 
ii'iiiil  in  tlio  reliellious  militia  of  that  state.  His  home  was  afterward  in  St 
L)ui<.  Iiiitly,  in  MrCrackiu'H  Portland,  MS.,  7.  It  was  a  slow  lx)at,  takitig 
'.Iii  hours  from  Astoria  to  Oregon  City,  to  which  point  slie  made  her  iirst  \oy- 
a-f  .liilvt,  l.s.lO.  S.  F.  Par.  iWws,  May  11,  July '-''*.  ""d  Aug.  1,  llwO;  i>'. 
/'.  //./v,/,/,  July  •J4,  ISjO;  Portland  Standard,  July  8,  ISTK. 

Till-  .scL'oiiil  venture  in  steam  navigation  was  tlie  Lot  ll'hitromb  ofOreijon, 
niuniil  iittor  her  owner,  built  at  Milwaukie,  and  launched  with  mucii  cere- 
iiiniiy  on  Cliiistm.'is,  1850.  Siic  began  running  in  Marcii  following.  The 
luiuii'  was  <icli'cted  i>y  a  comniitteo  nominated  in  a  public  ULeetiug  held  for  tlio 
I'liriicisc,  W.  K.  Kilborn  in  the  chair,  and  A.  Ihisli  secretary.  Tiio  commit- 
X<v,  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  Hector  Campbell,  W.  W.  Buck,  ('apt.  KillK)rn,  and  (!ov- 
cniiii'  ti.-iiucs,  decided  to  give  her  the  name  of  her  owner,  who  was  jtrcscnted 
with  .1  liauilsome  suit  of  colors  by  Kilborn,  Lovejoy,  and  N.  Ford  for  the 
niiitiiiL'.  Ur.  SiM-rtator,  Dec.  I'J,  1850,  and  Juno '27,  1851.  She  was  built  by 
a  ii'j;\ihir  shipinnlder,  named  Ilanscombe,  her  machinery  being  purcliased  in 
Sail  I'l  iiirisco.  JJiddy'M  JliMt.  Or.,  MS.,  21;  AfcCnirh  ii'n  Porlhtnd,  MS.,  II; 
l!d'i'i\  l',,rt  Townsfud,  MS.,  22;  Sacramento  '/'■•aiincrijit,  .June  2!(,  1S50; 
<ir,r.'<ii,d  Monih.'i/,  i.  37.  In  the  summer  of  1853  tiio  Whiliomh  was  sc)ld  to 
aCaliiniiiiik  i.ompany  for  ?50,000,  just  §42,000  more  than  she  coat.  The  Lot 
W'li'itniiiil,  was  greatly  superior  to  the  lirst  steamer.  Roth  obtained  largo 
piiccd  fur  currying  patisougcrs  and  frui^'ht,  and  fur  tuwiug  soiliug  viisacls  oa 


m 


£ 


I 


iti  11 « 


2o0 


SURVFA'S  AXD  KnYN-MAKIXO. 


Tlio  navii^atio!!  of  the  Willaiiu-tte  was  much  im- 
juvlcd  hy  I'ocks  and  ra]»iils.  (  )m  thi'  (  lachainas  rapids 
la'ldw  ( )ri'H()ii  (.'ity,  tliirty  thuiisaiid  dollai's  was  r\- 
))riidi'd  ill  rcinoviii!^  ohstriictioiis  t<>  ^stc'allK.'l•s,  niid  tin; 
clianii«'I  was  also  clearutl  to  Sakiii  in  IS.VJ.  Tliu 
Tualatin  Kivcr  was  inadu  iiavi'^ahK'  lor  scmuo  distaniv 
by  pi'i\ate  enterprise.     A  canal  was  made  to  idiUKct 

tlic  Ciiluiiiliiii.  MoCrai'ki'H  snys  lu'  i>aiil  tsvu  fumces  of  ;,'(iM-clust-  for  n  jms- 
B!»:^i!  nil  tliu  ( 'dhiiiilii'i  liKiii  Asluria  to  l'')i'tliilnl  u  liii  li  lasli'il  (w.)  'liiy.-i,  sK-.  j). 
in;,'  1)11  till'  iipi  T  iUmU,  till-  .sti'aiiiiT  liaviii:,'  a  ;,'ri'at  many  <iii  iMiaicl.  I'iirltiii.,1^ 
MS,,  1.  will'  tlic  Whilriimh  l)i;.,aii  riiiiiiiii:;  tlif  fare  was  ndiuiMl  tnSI't, 
•Inliii  Mi'Crackcii  laiiii'  tn  Oiv^'oii  lidiii  <  'aliiniiiia,  v  In  re  lu'  hail  licni  jii  imr. 
(.-aiitilo  jiiiisiiitH  at  Stoi'kttiii,  in  Xnvi'iiilifi'  Is4!>.  lit:  hcLraii  liiisiucss  in 
Uri'giiii  <'ity  in  !s.">((,  nilliii;,'  lii|iic,is,  ami  v.as  iiit«'r«'.stf(l  in  tlio  Isiai,  I  laill, 
III-  t;ulis<'.|iii  iitly  nniiivi'd  to  I'm  tlaml,  wJHi't'  he  iifcaiiif  a  !ar'_<'  oMnn'  in 
fliililiiiii.',  Htcaiiiiio  itM,  ami  iiuti  liaiKlisiii;/.  His  wiU-  wan  a  daiiglitvi  nl  jii' 
Jliinlay  nf  Oiij^mi  City,  rnriin'tiy  of  tin:  II.  I!,  i'o. 

IVciiii  till'  .siiiiiimr  (if  Is.'il,  htialiilii'ati  liiulli]ili('il,  tliKii'.'li  tiir  I'ashiiin  uf 
tlli'Iii  was  imt  vi'iy  (•(iiiiiiiniiious,  inH'  WiW  liuy  ('!r;,'alit  in  ihiir  aplmiii,  im  iit, 
liiit  tl'ry  Nt'ivi'il  till'  |inip()sc,  lor  wiiich  lliiy  \v<ri'  iutroilm-i  il,  of  <'sj>ti|it!:i,' 
tnivi'l. 

'J'lir  tliiril  liver  Htonnibont  wna  the  lllii'k  Ifn  rf,-,  a  simiil  iron  |.r.i|Mll.r 
1>roii;ilit  nut  from  Xi'w  N'ork.am!  niii  l»'t\Mtn  I'oi  tlaml  ainl  Oregon  (  ity,  liio 
J. 'I  W  hill  1111,1)  licin^;  too  ilci  p  to  ^.'it  ovtr  tin'  (  laikamaM  rapiils.  '11, ••  II' /• 
liiini III ,  t\.  htcani  s.  Iiooncr  lirloiii^'in,'  to  liowlainl  uikI  A.-|aii\\all,  an  ivcil  in 
Mnrcli  ls."i;!,  Iiy  s.iiiiii'^'  vcshiI,  luin;,' put  toMcilicr  on  tin' iipprr  Willai  '  "i, 
tiliislii'il  in  till'  antiiiun,  ami  run  for  it  HiaHoii,  after  w  liieli  Mite  ua.i  )iroii,]jt 
tivei  tlie  fall*,  ami  iiiiil  to  I'aiTV  the  in,iil  from  Astoria  to  I'cirtlamI;  liiitt.'u 
nrrival  of  the  steam -hip  ' '(//'(/(k*/'!,  '\  liieli  wi'iit  to  rortlaml  w  illi  thi' iii;ii!«, 
I'l-mlerecl  her  .'.ervires  nnneeesNary,  ami  hIk:  ua-t  xohl  to  a  eompaiiy  eompoMil 
of  Murray,  Jloyt,  llreek,  ami  otliirs,  wlm  took  lii'r  to  ( '.ilifornia,  win  le  ^llo 
rnn  a»  an  oppo!«if  ion  lioat  on  tin'  Sacra  men  to,  ami  \v,is  liiially  f^ohl  to  tln-t  ali' 
fornia  Steam  Na\  i^iation  (  ompaiiy.  Tin!  li  JUiiin  iir  «a-ta  m.Ic-m  la'el  sieanaT 
ami  tininheil  in  liiie  Ktyle,  Imt  not  ii(la|it<'il  lo  tliu  navigation  of  the  Whlaiii- 
t'ttt!  jJiver.  AiIki/'h  II  (,/•/, /((,/,>•,  MS...');  n,\  .S'/,,  ,/•,',„•,  Sept.  :t(t.  Is,*il.  'rill! 
JliHtn'nr,  laiilt  to  run  on  the  upper  river,  watt  iiiiitlK'il  in  .\|ay  Is'il,  i.ikI  tliti 
Yniiihill  '\\\  .\u;(iiHt,  In  the  autiiinii  of  the  Haiiic  yearii^niall  iio,;  Kie'iinn', 
<':'.!!i'i|  the  /tilth/  Wns/iiii;/'!!!!,  \\;tn  placed  on  the  !■  wer  river.  'I'liis  Uiit  «;iii 
HiiliKeipieiitly  taken  to  the  I'mpiL  la,  \\liei\'  hIic  ran  until  a  lulter  oin,  the 
Jliii^iliil' ,  owned  liy  llii|Md;ili'  and  li.nie,  wan  Imilt.  'I'he  .l//(////'i/iiil/»  W.i.^iil.v) 
Iniilt  tliir*  y>ar,  followeil  hy  tho  Oaullf,  in  Is.VJ,  liaml-ioniely  liiii>>ind,  tnr 
the  iipp' r  river  trade.  She  ran  a  lew  iiioiiiIin  and  Mew  up,  killing.' tuo  per- 
Koiix  ami  iiijiiiim^  otlierH.  The  ' 'o.s//,- and  the  O/'. '/'w;  wi're  al>o  iimiiiii,' iit 
t!iir<  time.  On  tin  I'pper  Coliimliia,  lietweeli  the  (aseadiH  and  The  hal!i>i, 
the  wteamer  Jniii- »  I  .  Fliiif  wat  juit  I'li  i';  tile  antnnin  o|  |s,")|.  Sin'  va< 
owned  liy  |).  I''.  l>railf'>ri|  ami  otheiM.  ,^ii"  htriiek  a  roek  and  rami.  ul.iU' 
hiin^iiiK'  down  the  iiiimi;.'ration  of  Is.VJ.  I»it  wax  raised  nml  re|iaireil.  Sliu 
Ua.s  eoiiinianded  liy  \'aii  lli'i^'er,  mate  .1.  W .  Watkilis,  hn'ln  ,\l,,iiiiiiiiiii-f. 
May 'JH,  iHi'iJI,  Tlie /;.//.■  and  the /■,''(./'.,  two  hiiiall  iron  Mteamri«,  w.  11' run- 
\\\\\)l,  on  the  < 'oliiinliia  alHiiit  this  time.  '\'\\'  11  Ih  was  liiilll  at  Oiei,Mii  (  ity 
for  U'ells  and  \\  illiams.  Tiie  hnjlr  waH  l'ron>.'ht  to  t  hej.'on  l«y  .h'ha  Irviiii;, 
whodieil  in  Vietoriii  in  \s'\.  The  /Vm'!/'.),)  ran  to  tin!  * 'a«e,idi  s  to  .  •iiiin't 
vitli  till'  ITnil.  I'"urlher  faet«  i>i  nerniiiLj  the  lii-itorvof  HteanilMiatin..'  «ill  '* 
liiiMiL'hl  out  in  iiiiothc  r  pint  of  tl.isvi.ik,  ilnsliiiet'  aliHtruct  l>utii|^  latiiuicJ 
ouly  tu  iihuw  the  prugi'i'MH  inudu  fruni  1:).X)  lo  ldJ3. 


PROSPEROUS  FARMIXO. 


nuich  im- 

,  was  (  \- 
a,  ami  tli<; 
>^')'l.  Tlui 
u  (listiUnv 

to   (•(llllU'<'t 

.(Inst  for  ft  I'iis- 
W.I  'liiy.^.  ^1'  !'• 
lanl.  I'<'itl(i,'l, 
i,.,lmf<l  {'>f\': 
iiil  lici'ii  i'l  111"'- 
•iiiv    liitsiui"---   '!l 

lai'-'"  "^^  "'■'   '" 
•laii^litfi   nt   lU 

;li  llic  l:i^lii"li  .if 

,1,  ft  i'\iiolit'.ii^ 

11  inm  i.vr'H'i" 
(lii.-diirity,  (!'.!' 
:,,,i,U.  Tl.-  li  I- 
iiwiill.  imivdl  III 
pnrr  Wlllal.'-'". 


J/i  rreole  River  with  tlie  Wil]aniotte.  The  Yamliill 
] liver  \v.*);t  spaniiud  at  Lafayotto  with  a  stn)n<^  <l<iul»le- 
lii'.k  Itridj^o  jdacL'd  on  abutinonts  of  hewn  tiinhcr, 
ImiUimI  ai'cl  filled  witli  earth,  and  raised  fifty  feet 
nlM.ve  low  water."  T!iis  was  the  first  structure  of 
the  kind  in  the  country.  The  Rockville  Canal  and 
Tiiiiisportation  Conji)any  was  inc(\porated  in  Fobru- 
arv  Is."):?,  lor  the  purpose  of  (onstructinjjf  a  hasin  or 
Idviikwatcr  with  a  canal  at  and  nround  the  falls  of  the 
Willaiiu'ttc,  which  work  was  completed  hy  Dcccinher 
is.)  I,  ijficatly  increasing  the  comfort  of  tra' el  hy 
avnidiuLC  tlu;  porta|.^e.'^ 

1 1!  isjl  the  fruit  trees  set  out  in  1847  hciran  to 
li.  Ill',  so  tliat  a  limited  supply  of  fruit  was  fiiniishcd 
tli«'  home  market;"'  t\nd  two  years  later  a  shi])nient 
was  made  out  (tf  the  territory  hy  Meek  Jind  Luell- 
\U'^,  el"  Milwaukie,  who  sold  four  bushels  of  ap|.les  in 
{Sail  i'^raneisco  for  five  hundi'ed  dollars  The  follow  ing 
year  thoy  cent  forty  buslu'ls  to  the  same  maiket, 
whi'li  broULjht  twenty-live  hundred  (U)llars.  Ju  1801 
tin  slii|iment  of  n|)ples  from  Orej^on  amoimtinl  to  over 
M.'V(  iity-live  thousand  bushels;''  but  tiiey  no  lonjjfer 

"'),■,  Sl't/iMvinn,  Sept.  2.1,  IS.") I. 

''/i/.,  l''i  I),  '.'(l,  \HXi.  Doaily  gives  snmo  account  of  tliis  iini^ortnnt  work 
in  liU  lli-i.  <h\,  MS.,  '_'S.  A  man  iiaiiu'il  I'ligo  Ii-dmi  < 'alil'dii.ia,  /I'lni'Mi'iitiiin 
ra|ill.il  isMliat  stato,  prociiri'il  the  i>a.ssa^,'<Mil'  tin.  ael  iif  iiu'in|Miratinii,  '|  ho 
luiiji  it  \\,iH  to  liuilil  a  liasiii  oii  tlic  west  hiilc  of  tlid  fixer  aliovi'  tlic  tail^,  with 
iiiili>,  iiinl  lioistiii^'  works  Id  lift  l,'(>o(Is  ai)o\<>  thi'  lalln,  ami  clt'|iosil  thi'iii  in 
tlic  \>:f'\\),  iii'iti'a'i  of  wa;L.'oniii({  tlicni  a  mile  or  more  a^<  liail  hccn  ih'ui'.  'liny 
iMimiriu'dil  tho  liartiii,  and  cro'tod  mills  iit  itn  lowrr  I'll;,'!-,  Tlio  hoixtim; 
vorks  wiii'  ii>ai|o  with  rojU'H,  w  IiccIm,  ait<i  «  .{<'H,  in  wli:>li  |iiins.hiii^'(  in  and 
pMiU  woe  lilted  ti|>.  Viiin*  waH  killed  .IV  fhti  .  >|iloBion  o!'  tlir '.' r.. ,'/. ,  ow  ni'd 
liy  till!  c'uni|iaiiy,  ufti'r  wldeh  the  «'nti  rpiis  •  went  to  piicrM  throUL^h  nuit« 
lii'tiiiLi.'it  nu'iihst  ihf  'onipaiiy  liy  cN^plny.-i,  and  the  propi  ity  fill  into  tlic 
liumlH.if  KcUi'V,  oneof  tJHj  lawyiMs,  .  nd  lt"l)rit  I'cntlaml.  In  tin  winltrof 
INIKH,  till'  niilU  and  all  wero  dcMtmyi'd  hy  liic,  when  woikM  of  ;i  Hiinilnr 
imliin' w  M'c  commcnei'd  on  the  oattt  sicle  ol  the  livi  r,  wluretlny  iiiimint'il 
tiiitil  tlic  I  inipletioit  of  tht'  ciinal  and  loeks  on  tlie  west  Hide,  of  a  m  <  nt  date. 

'"Oil  .\l,( 'arver'n  farm,  oiui  n.ilo  caNt  of  Oiei;on  ('ity,  was  an  oivhanl  of 
l.'nciis  cunt, Miiiiiu' "()ti  iipplodrei'H,  ami  lai)^e  nimilieiM  of  pears,  plum,  apri- 
CiifK,  ilmiii  H,  .u'ct  nines,  and  ninall  frnifs,  Ityiildcd  lliisyi'ar  l.'i  Imshelsof 
iiimnit.*,  inid  I  fnll  crop  of  tliu  aliov. -named  fruits,  O/,  ,sVi(/i.<(»fi(i,  .Inly 'Jit, 
»"*•'•..  Ill  IvV.  U,  ('.  ( Jeer  advertise.l  hJH  nursery  as  rontaiiiin^  IJ  varieties 
iif  nppli  t,  l.'i  ,f  peiirs,  ,"i  of  peai'h"H,  ami  I'l  of  eliorries.  'I'homas  ( '.i\  raised 
li  UIiihI,.  Islai  ,1  ^;i-.'enin)^  ['2\  inches  in  ciieuinferencc,  n  good  Hize  la'  a  youinj 

trvr.    /,/.,  I),    .    is    |V)'.>. 

''/■'..Sc  t,  •_••.',  isd'j;  f>n,/o»ii(iM,  July  15,  180'Ji  Owrland  Monthly,  ».  'M. 
II  . '.  on,,  Vol..  a.  n 


m 


!«.  f   s 


If  M 


■/hi 


j: 


258 


SURVEYS  AND  TOWN  MAKING. 


wore  worth  tlu'irwc'ii,Mit  ill  j^oltl.  The  pro(lurtivon(\ss 
of  tho  country  in  every  way  was  well  estuMishod  l.c- 
iore  IHaO,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  rre(|uent  allusions  to 
extraordinary  t^rowth  and  yield. '"  If  tlio  larini'i"  w.is 
not  ('onilortableand  lia|)j)y  in  the  jRriod  lu'twoi'ii  I  SAO 
antl  1800,  it  was  because  he  had  nut  in  him  the  ca- 
pacity for  enjoyiiij^  the  bounty  of  unspoiled  natiui', 
and  the  good  fortune  of  a  ready  nuuket;  and  yet 
some  there  were  who  in  the  midst  of  atlhuMjce  livid 
like  the  starvelin;^  jteasantry  of  otlur  countries,  fidm 
sim|)le  indiffereiKU!  to  the  advantages  of  coml'oit  in 
their  surroundings.'" 

The  imports  in  1852-3,  acoording  to  the  ronunerco 
and  navigation  i-eports,  amounted  to  about  .*!Sl,()(i(t, 
but   were   probably   more    tiian    that.     J)irect    trade 

ilh   China  was   begun   in    IHT)!,   the    brig  .iiii<c: 


\\ 


'III 


b 


tl'i 


)rnignig   a   caigo    oi    tea,   coiiee,   sugar,  syi'up,  and 
ithtT  articl(\s  fi-oin  Whampoa  to   i'oi-tland,  consi^ii>  ,| 


to  Xi 


oiiis  and  (ompany, 


\v  s',\\\u\  year  i  he  scIiouik  r 


Ji)/in  Ai/ci/nc  brought  a  cargo  of  Saridwich   Jslamis 
j)ro(hicls  eonsigne(l  to  Allen  M«-Kinlay  and  (^^m|tally 


of  Oregon  City,  but  nothing  like  a  n'gular  trade  with 
foreign  ports  was  established  for  several  years  lat  r, 
and  till' exports  g(Mierally  Went  no  farther  than  San 
Fi'aiicisco.  I"'ai-ining  machiiiet'y  did  not  begin  to  he 
intro(hiced  till  IS.VJ,  the  lii'.st  reap<r  brought  to  Ore- 
gon being  a  McCormick,  which  found  g-Mieral  ih 
throU'diout  the  territt)ry 


*• 


As  nn«: 


Id. 


l'\|iei 


■te.l. 


society  improved  in  its  outward   manifestations,  ami 
the  rising  generation  were  j)ermitle(l  to  enjoy  |''i\  i- 


llj 


'OiK'  Iniiu'li  iif  'J."i7  HfiilkH  I'f  \(li<Mit  from  « )»'«t'm  funii,  Miiiiuii  foimtv,  iiv- 


orni,'i'il  <i(t  ,{nii!m  to  tin'  li 


(Ml  HiiMiiitirH  I'liini  ill  \aiiiliill. 


Iic.l.l   -f 


tiniiitliy  iiK'iiMiirril  ||  iiiilu"<.  Oats  .in  MiAiiki'iH  farm  in  Clucl.niiiiii -i  ""I 
«>viT  H  fcft  in  ln'ij;lil,  III  llm  Ciiwlil/  N'lillcy  "IH'  liill  nf  iHituliM'fi  vMi-hi.j 
ri.'l  |i'iiiiiiU  mill  iiiiiitlii'i-  10  'I'wii  tiiriii|>M  \<i>iil<l  lill  a  hall  IiiinIu'I  ni<'ii.*iiir, 
Tiilinii',  lit  NiMi|iuiii\,  iiiinimI  an  niiixii  tliat  wci^liitil  a  ]hiiiiii|  ami  tt>ii  o'lii'i-^. 
('ohiiiiliiiiii,  .Siiv.  IS,  Is.'il.  'I'lic  ti'iiniw  III  Slfilai'ciiiiii  iiiiii'il  mi  j'j  .un-tiif 
({niiiiiil  .'i.INK)  IiiimIii'Ih  iif  piitutouM,  Hiiiiii' of  wliii'li  Miiglii'il  Imo  iioiiihU  <  nil. 
Or.  Si»'i-I,ih„;  Nov.  IS,  |IH.-(|. 

WV  linw'"  h'miirl.,  xiv.  (MKI-l!  IIhIk  r  ttiid  < 'Mi^n  Am.  SlnfixHr.i,  V.V-M. 


10 


Ur.  St,ih»maii,  .Inly  'J I,  IH.VJ 


TUADK  AND  ?50CIETY. 


'tivonoss 

slu!(l  lir- 
lisious  \n 

nuvv  WMS 
cvn  I  S;")0 
I  the  ca- 
l  natuif, 
aiul  yet 
ticc  livL'il 

jinlort  ill 


,  .SH4, 11(10, 
'oct  triult.' 
*  Ain(iy>ii 
yrup,  iiii'l 

schoMii*  r 
h  J^lamU 
(\»mi»aiiy 
riulo  with 
■ars  lat'  I, 
than  Sail 
•<_ri|i  to  \>v 
t  to  Oiv- 
in-ral  u-r 

I'XjU'l'till, 

Itioiis,  and 
joy  |i'i\i- 


\r>yoi^  whidi  tlioir  i)iiri:nts  hml  only  dreamed  of  wlieu 
tlit'V  set  tluMi"  laves  toward  tin;  tar  Paeitio — the  priv- 
i!i  i^^'s  of  education,  travel,  ami  intereoiirso  with  older 
niimtiit's,  as  well  as  va»v  iiud  itlenty  in  their  Oreu^on 
hollies.'^'  And  yet  this  was  only  the  heginnini,'  of  (ho 
(.lid  at  whieh  the  descendants  of  the  pioneers  wero 
tiititleil  hy  the  entlurance  of  their  fathers  to  arrive. 

"'Tho  "til  V.  S.  connuH  takt'n  in  I  S.IO  hIiowh  tlio  following  imtivitics  for  Or- 
•'t'"":  Mi-'soiiri,  L','J(Hi;  IlJinoiH,  l.lll'.'t;  Ki'iitucUy,  iivcr  7<Ht;  [nilianii,  over  7<KI; 
Oliiii,  cAir  (KM);  New  ^'<l|•k,  ovit  (MHI;  \'it'^Mi)ia,  over  4(NI;  Trniu  hhi'(>,  ii\<'r  liHI; 
IcttM,  (nir-KM);  rciiiisylvnili!),  nvrr  ;t(K);  North  < 'arolinii,  over 'J(KI;  MaHsacliu- 
Mttst,  Ih7;  Miiini',  I'Jii;  Vtrinoiit,  1 1 1 ;  Coimciticut,  7-;  Marylaml,  7.'t;  Arkaii- 
UK,  (il;  N(  w  .IiTw »',  (HI;  ami  in  all  tlic  ntlnr  8t:itfM  Irns  timn  .'iH  facli,  tim 
ifrn.'illi'Ht  nnniluT  Im'Mijj  from  Kloiida,  Tlic  total  forciLrn  iHipulation  was  I.J.V.t, 
;iiNtot'  \«lioni  wi'i'c  iiativt'Dof  Itritiitli  America,  '207  Kn^iixli,  aliont  '.'(M)  Iri>li, 
.iv.r  MM)  Siiit.'h,  anil  |."i«MuTnmn.  'I'lic  otlit'is  wryv  mattrrin^',  tin-  ^'irati  ^fc 
iHiinlx  I'  from  any  otlu'r  for<'i;:u  country  Ix'inv;  l.'i  from  France,  niiUmiwii.  I  i.'l; 
in  nil  i;i,Oi:i.  '.\l>ilnnt  ,,/  l/i>  Ilk  (Vuhhm,  ill;  .\f,,s,/i;/'.i  i,.  .  iS.iO  7.".,  '.l.'lj 
/V  l!"ir's  Kiifiirl.,  xiv.  .V.U-tKH).  'I'JicHt!  aro  tlnmc  who  art  morn  strictly 
clawKccj  HH  \>l  'it'ccs;  tlioHc- who  came  utter  them,  fiom  iH.'iO  ui  )H.');|,  thoii^'li 
te<>iitini,'  HO  much,  uh  I  havi'  uliowii,  in  the  (levclij|iment  of  the  teiritury,  wui'u 
i.>nly  piunuLi'M  in  ccrtuiii  thiuj^H,  unit  nut  [liuueerit  in  tliu  iurgcr  ueuuo. 


|>ll  eollllty,  liV' 
.  niic   lica'l  "f 

IcLaniii-*  'I'""! 

IllH'rt     WCljjil"! 

lihel  nicH"lllc, 
U  ten  o  ihcc^. 
L  I'J   a"'  ■"' 

Ijiounil  > '  1'  !'• 
l.(ic.s  V.V-M, 


CHAPTER  X. 

LAND  LAWS  AND  LANT)  TITLES. 

1851-18.15. 

TuE  Donation  Law — Its  Provisions  an.)  Wohkinos — ATTirrnF.  of  Cks- 
ouEss — Powers  of  the  Provisional  Government — QrAi.iFicATioN  i>f 

VdTK.RS  —  SlTKVEVS  —  HlOHTS     OF     WoMtN     AM>     CHILDREN     -  AMIM.. 

MENTS— Pkeemption  Privilf.oes— Dctieh  of  the  SrRVEVoR  Oenkiml 
— Claimants  to  Lands  of  the  Hcivson's  Kay  and  Pitoet  Socnd  Com- 
I'aniks — Mission  Claims— Mkthodists,  Pkesuytkhians,  and  Caiiiu. 
Lies  — riioMiNENT  Land  Cases— Litihation  in  Keoahd  to  the  Site  <«■' 
Portland — The  Hiohts  of  Settlers— The  Cari-tiiers  Claim-'I'mk 
Daim'.s  Town-mite  Claim— Pretensions  of  the  Methodists— Claim -^ 
(IF  TiiK  Catholics — Auvantaoes  and  Disadvantages  of  the  Donation 

SVSTEM. 


A  srnjECT  wliioli  was  regarded  as  of  tlic  liinliest 
iniportaiue  after  the  jias.sago  of  the  donation  act  nt 
Sri)tonilK'r  27,  1850,  was  the  proper  construction  ot 
\\\{i  law  as  ap[)lied  to  land  claims  under  a  variety  nt 
(•ii'euinstanees.  A  lai'<,'e  amount  oi'  land,  including 
tlio  Letter  portions  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  Iiml 
l)eon  taken,  occupied,  and  to  some  extent  imjiinvi  il 
under  the  provisional  government,  and  its  land  i.tu : 
the  latter  having  undergone  several  changes  to  iidapt 
it  to  the  convenience  and  hest  interests  of  the  peo]i!.  , 
as  T  have  not(>d  elstiwhere. 

The  provisional  legislative  assemhlics  had  Sv.,cr;il 
times  inomniialized  congress  on  the  suhject  of  cmi- 
tirming  their  acts,  on  estahlishing  a  teri'itorial  gov- 
ernment in  Oregon,  chieily  ^vith  regard  to  preserving 
the  land  law  inlact.  Their  petition  was  granted  witli 
I'egard  to  every  other  legislative^  enactment  exci'iitiiiLf 
that  ull'eiting  the  titles  to  lands;  and  with  regard  to 


DONATION  LAW. 


281 


this,  the  org.anic  act  expressly  said  that  all  laws  pn;- 
vioiisly  jxisscd  in  any  way  aU'octitJij  the  title  to  hiiitl.s 
.slioiild  be  null  and  void,  and  the  legislative  asseniUly 
>hi)iild  he  prohibited  tioni  passing  any  laws  interier- 
iii.;-  with  the  primary  dis[H)sal  of  the  soil  which  be- 
jniiocd  to  the  United  States.  The  fn>t  section  of 
tiiat  act,  however,  made  an  absolute  grant  to  the  nii>- 
-ioiKiry  stations  then  occupied,  of  G40  acres,  wiJh  tin; 
iuij'ruvements  thereon. 

Thus  while  the  missionary  stations,  if  there  wcit! 
;iiiy  within  the  meaning  of  the  act  of  that  time,  had 
an  incontrovertible  right  and  title,  the  settlers,  w  hose 
iiicans  were  often  all  in  their  claims,  had  none  what- 
t  vcr;  and  in  this  condition  they  were  kept  for  a 
pt  riod  of  two  years,  or  until  the  autumn  of  IrfjO, 
will  n  their  rights  revived  under  the  donation  law, 
whose  benelicent  provisions  all  recognised 

This  law,  which  1  have  not  yet  fully  reviewijil,  pro- 
viilcil  in  the  first  place  for  the  survey  of  the  pul)li«; 
1,1  III  Is  in  Oi'cgon.  It  then  proceeded  to  grant  to  every 
while  settler  or  occuj)ant  of  the  public  lands,  Auicii- 
caii  half-breeds  included,  over  eighteen  years  of  age, 
ami  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  oi- having  dt.'clared 
his  iiit(;ntion  according  to  law  t)f  becoming  such,  or 
who  shouhl  make  such  de-laration  on  or  Ix.'fore  tlu; 
tiistilay  of  Decend)er  18 Jl,  then  residing  in  tlm  tei- 
rituiy,  or  becoming  a  resident  before  J)eceii!ber  l.s.iO 
— a  provision  made  to  includt;  tin;  innuigratii)n  ol  thai, 
year— G40  acres  to  a  married  man,  half  of  w  hicli  was 
In  belong  to  his  wife  in  her  own  right,  and  ;{-()  acres 
til  a  single  man,  or  if  he  siiould  become  mairied  within 
a  year  from  the  1st  of  Deceuiber  ISjO,  o'JO  more  to 
his  wife,  no  patents  to  issue  until  after  a  I'oiir  ye;u.s' 
iL>i(lcnc(>. 

At  thi.s  point  for  the  lii'st  time  tho  act  t«)ok  cog- 
'lizaiico  of  tho  i»rovisional  law  ncaking  the  surviving 
iliililren  or  heirs  of  claimants  under  thai  law  the  le- 
!.:al  heirs  also  under  tho  donation  law;  this  provision 
iiltplying  as  well  to  tho  heirs  of  aliens  who  had  de- 


Of-) 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


Hit 


•  hirc'tl  IliL'ir  intention  to  V>Gconic  naturalized  citi/.on=< 
<»t'  tlio  ITnited  States,  but  who  died  before  conipleliii^- 
thelr  naturalization,  as  to  native-born  citizens.  Tin 
several  provisos  to  this  part  of  the  land  law  declaivil 
that  tlie  donation  should  embrace  the  land  actuallv 
occupied  and  cultivated  by  the  .settler  thereon ;  that 
all  sales  of  land  niad*.'  before  the  issuance  of  patents 
should  be  voi<i:  and  lastlv,  tliat  those  clainiinyf  undi  r 
tlic  treaty  with  Great  Britain  could  not  claim  under 
tin,'  donation  act. 

Then  came  another  class  i>f  beneficiaries.  All  white 
inale  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  [>ersons  who 
should  have  made  a  declaration  of  their  intention  to 
becoioe  such,  above  twenty-one  years  of  a;^e,  and  cnii- 
^lating  to  nnd  settlini^  in  Oreufon  after  Decembei-  1, 
I  8  jO,  and  befi>re  December  1 ,  I  Si^S,  and  all  white  mali> 
AiMcrican  citizens  not  before  j»rovided  for  who  sliould 
become  l\ventv-oi;e  years  of  ajjfe  in  the  territoiy  be- 
tween ])ccemi)er  1851  and  ])e(!omber  ii8a3,  and  who 
should  coni[»ly  with  the  n^quirements  of  the  law  as 
ah'eady  ;4ate(b  should  each  receive,  if  single,  l('»0  acres 
ol' land,  and  if  niarrietl  anothei-  100  to  his  wifi',  in  h<  i- 
own  right;  or  if  becoming  married  within  ayearaftrr 
his  ariival  in  the  territory,  or  one  year  after  bee(»niiiig 
twenty-one,  the  sam<.'.  The.s(>  wei-o  the  (Mniditions  et 
the  gifts  in  resp(>ct  of  qualificatitMis  and  time. 

liut  furtlier,  the  law  required  the  .settler  to  notify 
the  siirvi'vor  'General  within  three  months  after  th 
survey  had  been  made,  wlcn-  hi>  claim  was  locati  •! 
or  if  the  settlemeiit  should  commonco  after  the  survey, 
tlu'n  three  mct.iths  aftei'  makini;  his  claim;  and  the 
law  re(juired  all  t  laims  al'ter  J)ecend)er  I,  ls.»0,  iu  he 
boundeil  by  lines  I'unning  cast  and  west  and  north 
and  --outh,  and  t<»  be  taken  in  compact  Ibrn..  Proof 
of  liaving  connnenceil  settleuu-ut  and  cultixation  lia<l 
to  be  made  to  the  survevor  ereneral  within  twelve 
months  after  tnesurvev  or  after  settlement.  All  these 
terms  being  complied  w  it  h,  at  any  time  after  the  c\|  lira- 
lion  of  lour  years  from  date  of  .settlement  the  bur- 


COXDITIOXS  AXD  QUESTIONS. 


203 


I  citizens 
iinpleliii!^ 
ns.  Tlu- 
doclaiod 
actually 
}on;  that 
f  patents 
UiX  uiitli  r 
,im  uikKt 

All  white 
sous  who 
eutiou  to 
,  nud  enii- 
:'cuil>er  1, 
•hite  ui.'tl' 
ho  should 
I'itory  he- 
,  and  who 
10  law  as 
ICOacr.s 
',  iu  lur 
'ar  at'ti'i- 
jceouiin;;" 
itious  ol 

.)  nolitV 

I'ioY  th' 

loeati  (I 

sutvev, 

and   the 

.0,  U>  hi' 

uiirth 
Pr.M.t' 
t ion  h.'i-l 
tw.lvt; 
\11  th'-ne 
I'  e\|»iru- 


vcvor  ijonoral  luii^ht  issue  a  oortifieato,  wln.'U,  upou 
thi  proof  being  complete,  a  [)atent  would  issue  iVoin 
the!  eounnissiouer  of  the  oenoial  lantl  office  to  tiie 
holder  of  the  claiu»s.  The  surveyor  general  was  fur- 
nished with  judicial  power  to  judge  t)f  all  cpiestions 
arising  luuler  the  act;  hut  his  judgment  was  not  ne- 
cessarily linal,  hcing  })reliminary  only  to  a  final  decision 
acionling  to  the  laws  of  the  territory.  These  were 
the  principal  featui-es  of  the  donation  law.' 

In  order  to  he  ahle  to  settle  the  vai-ious  questions 
whieh  mioht  arise,  it  was  necessaiy  first  to  decide  what 
constituted  naturalization,  or  how  it  was  impaiied. 
Thi'  first  case  whieh  can»e  up  for  considck'ation  was 
tli:d,  of  John  McLoughlin,  the  piincij)al  featin^s  of 
which  have  been  given  in  the  history  of  the  ( )regon 
City  claim.  It  was  sought  in  this  case  to  show  a 
ilaw  in  the  proceedings  on  account  of  tin;  im[»crfeet 
(iigani/ation  of  the  courts.  In  the  discussion  which 
tiillowed,  and  for  which  Thurston  had  sought  to  pj'e- 
]i;iiv  himself  hy  pi'ocuring  Kgal  ojiinions  heforehand, 
coii-itlerahle  alarm  was  felt  among  other  aliens.  S.  ,M. 
llolderness  applied  to  .fudgt;  J?i'att,  then  the  only  dis- 
liict  Jutlgc  in  the  te-riitor} ,  (.;.  the  17th  of  May  isTiO, 
to  kiinw  if  the  procei'dings  weii;  good  in  hiscax',  as 
ni.iny  others  were  similarly  situated,  and  it  was  im- 
j'oi  t;int  to  have  a  precedent  istal'li>hi'd. 

Pnitt  gave  it  as  his  opinion  th.d  the  Clackamas 
( Minify  circuit  court,  as  it  existed  on  tln^  'jrili  ot' 
M.iicii  184'.),  was  a  competent  court,  within  the  mean- 
ing of  the  naturali/a'ion  laws,  in  which  a  dedaivitlon 
el'  intention  hy  an  alien  etiuld  he  legally  maile  as  a 
|iiv|iiiratory  step  to  hecoming  a  citi/»  n  of  the  I'nited 
Sillies;  the  naturalization  powi'r  hcing  vested  in  con- 
^ic>s,  which  liatl  provi(K'd  that  appli«\ition  might  he 
iiiide  to  any  circuit,  distrii.-t,  <ir  territorial  court,  ur  to 
iniv  tiiiiUi  court  which  was  a  court  of  record,  haxiu'''  a 

'Sio  f'.  .S^  //.  Ex.  />')'•.  ii.,  veil,  ii  pt  iii.  .'i  S,  :K\  o'.nfr  Ist.  »i<h*.  ;  Ihtdy'a 
Or.  LnifH,  lvS45-at,  84-lK(j  he.uly'Hh;  Um.  Lun-i,  1H4J,  7-',  Oa-7."». 


i 


■ 


I  i 


1 

i 

1 

i 

i 

■ 

1        1 
1 

LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


seal  and  clerk;  and  the  declaration  might  be  niadii 
hefore  the  clerk  (if  one  of  the  courts  as  well  as  hi  lore 
the  court  itself.  The  oidy  (|uestion  was  whether  the 
circuit  court  <>f'  Clackamas  county,  in  the  district  of 
( )reL,'on,  was  on  the  '2H.\\  of  March,  1841),  or  about  that 
time,  a  teiritoiial  court  of  the  United  States. 

(.\>n!j;ress  altine  had  authority  to  make  all  ncedriil 
rules  and  reirulations  iesi)ectin<;  the  territoi-v  and 
other  property  of  the  United  States,  and  that  |»o\\i  r 
was  ihst  exercised  in  ()re;j;on,  and  an  organized  guv- 
ernnient  given  to  it  l)y  tlie  congressional  act  of  Au- 
gust It,  IS48.  It  went  into  efl'ect,  and  the  teii-itniy 
had  ii  legal  existence  from  and  after  its  passage,  and 
the  laws  of  the  United  States  were  at  the  same  time 
extended  over  the  teri'itory,  anumgst  the  others,  (Ii.it 
of  the  naturalization  of  aliens,  liut  it  was  admitted 
tiial  the  ln'nejits  t()  lu;  derived  from  proceedings  un- 
der thi!se  laws  would  Ix;  practically  valueless  unit  ss 
the  machinery  of  justice  was  at  the  same  time  pin- 
vidc'd  to  aid  in  tiu^ir  administration  and  enfor-eenietit. 
Congress  had  not  (»mitteil  this;  but  there  existed  ;iii 
extraordinary  state  of  things  in  Oregon  whieh  made 
it  unHAC  other  teiritoriai  districts  at  the  datu  of  its 
organization.  Unusual  means  had  theri'fore  been  jno- 
vidcfl  to  meet  the  emergency.  Without  waiting  to  go 
through  the  ordinaiy  I'outine  of  directing  the  electing' 
of  a  hgislative  body  to  assenil)le  and  iVaino  a  code  of 
statutes,  laws  were  at  once  pio\  id(>d  by  the  adopti 
of  those  already  l'ui'nislu'(l  tt>  their  hand  by  the  n 
sities  of  the  lato  |)rovi,sional  govei'iiiuent;  and  in  ad- 
<lition  to  extending  the  laws  <»f  the  United  Stales 
over  the  territory,  it  was  di'clai'(;d  that  the  laws  thus 
adopted  should  riMiiain  in  force  until  niodilii d  ni'  re- 
pealed. C'ongress  had  thus  made  its  own  a  system 
of  laws  which  had  been  in  use  by  the  people  before 
thtj  ti'i'ritory  had  a  legal  existence.  Among  thos»! 
laws  was  oui;  ci'eating  and  establishing  certain  com  Is 
of  record  in  I'ach  county,  known  as  circuit  courts;  and 
one  of  those  courts  conniosing  the  circuit  was  that  el 


oil 


eces- 


;!'  I 


ATTITUDE  OF  CONGRESS.  tB6 

tlio  county  of  Clackamas,  which  tribunal  coni^rcss  had 
adcjptetl  as  a  territorial  court  of  the  United  States. 
The  permanent  judicial  power  provided  for  in  the  or- 
ganic act  was  not  in  force,  or  had  not  superscdr  I  the 
tt  inporary  courts,  because  it  had  not  at  that  time  cn- 
t.  red  a])on  the  dischar<^e  of  its  duties,  Chief  Justice 
Jlivaiit  not  assumin;^  the  judicial  ermine  in  Ortj^'ou 
until  the  23d  of  May  1841),  the  cases  in  question  oc- 
curring in  March.''  To  the  point  attem[)ted  to  bo  made 
latii-,  that  there  had  been  no  court  because  of  the  ir- 
rr'4ularity  of  the  judi^es  in  convening  it,  he  replied 
that  tiie  court  itself  did  notecase  to  exist,  after  being 
cstaldished,  because  there  was  no  judge  to  attend  to 
its  (hities,  the  clerk  continuing  in  ottice  and  in  charge 
(•r  the  records.' 


There  had  been  a  contest  immediately  after  tlie  es- 
tablishment of  the  territorial  government  concerning 
the  riirht  of  the  foreign  residents  to  vote  at  anv  flee- 
tinu  after  the  Hrst  one,  for  which  the  organic  act  had 
distinctly  prtfvided,  and  a  strong  ettbrt  had  been  made 
to  declare  the  alien  vote  of  I  841)  illegal.  The  lii-st 
tvnitniial  h^gislature,  in  providing  for  and  regulating 
gcucial  elections  and  prescribing  the  (pudilications  of 
voters,  declared  that  a  foreigner  must  be  duly  natu- 
ralized before  he  could  vote,  the  law  being  one  of  those 
atliipted  from  the  Iowa  statutes.  One  jiarty,  of  whom 
Tliuiston  was  the  head,  suppoited  b}'  the  ndssionary 
iiitrrest,  strenuously  insisted  ujuui  this  c(»nstructiou 
et'tlie  jth  section  of  the  organic  law,  because  at  tho 
election  which  made  Thursttui  delegate  the  foieign- 
linrii  voters  had  not  supported  him,  and  with  him  the 
lueasures  of  the  missi(»nai'y  class. 

Till'  ((pinion  of   the   United  States  judges    being 

_  ■'  III  I'ljitt'H  tipini(M)  on  tlio  locution  of  tlio  scat  of  f;ovcriiiiiciit,  lie  rcilcnitca 
tliii  liclii  I,  ainl  savs  llial  Imtli  liii  ainl  lii-y.uit  held  that,  'no  jmwcr  cMsti  il  liy 
wliiili  tl.c  hii|iiciiic  «'oiirt  coiilil  lie  lct;ally  luM  licl'orc  tlic  went  of  j^ovii  niiiciit 
Wusrst;il.li-lic(l.'  (h:  SiiilisiiHiii,  ,\-M\.  (I,*1S.V.'.  Acconliii;,'  to  tliis  bvlicl,  tlio 
IUm.  M.liii  ;s  of  the  (lintiiit  cniiits  woo  iUcgiil  for  nuai'ly  two  years. 
•■<'/•.  Si.,rtiitor,  .May  'J-J,  KV>1. 


266 


LA\D  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


'U 


asked,  Strong  replied  to  a  letter  of  Thurston's,  roii- 
firniing  the  position  taken  hy  tiie  delegate,  that  alter 
the  first  election,  until  their  naturalization  was  com- 
pleted, no  foreigner  could  be  allowed  to  vote.*  The 
iiilerence  was  plain;  if  not  allowed  to  vote,  not  a  citi- 
zen ;  if  not  a  citizen,  nr>t  entitled  to  the  beneliiJb  of  the 
land  law.  Thurston  aUo  procured  the  expression  ot' 
a  sinjilar  opinion  from  the  chairman  of  the  judiciary 
of  the  house  of  representativi's,  and  from  the  chairiiiiiii 
of  the  committee  on  territories,  which  he  hail  pul)- 
lished  in  the  Spectdtor.  Under  these  iniluenccs,  the 
legislature  of  1850-1  substantially  reiinacted  the 
Iowa  law  ado[)ted  in  1811),  but  Deatly  succeeded  in 
procuring  the  passage  of  a  proviso  giving  foreigners 
Mho  had  resided  in  the  country  five  years  prior  to  that 
tim<\  and  who  had  declan-d,  as  inost  of  them  liad, 
their  intention  of  becomiij'C  citizens,  a  ri<dit  to  vote  '^ 
The  Thurston  interest,  asserting  that  congress  had 
n»»t  intended  to  invest  the  foi-eij'n-born  iidial>itants  dt' 
Oregon  with  the  priviKges  (»f  citizens,  dechired  tiiat 
it  was  not  necessary  that  the  oath  to  support  tlie  gev- 
ei-nnient  of  the  Uniteil  States  and  the  ort^anic  art 
should  be  taken  before  a  court  of  record,  but  might 
for  such  purpose  be  tlone  bef()re  a  common  magistrato. 
C'(»uhl  they  delude  the  ignorant  into  making  thiseirnr, 
ad\antage  could  betaken  of  it  to  invalidate  subsetjUi  iit 
pioceediiigs.  ]>ut  I*ratt  pointed  out  that  while  jiail 
of  the  [)roci'edings,  namely,  th<>  taking  of  the  oath  rc- 
(piiri'd,  could  have  been  done  before  a  magistrate,  I  hi; 
iledaration  of  intenti»tn  to  become  a  citizen  c(»iild  only 
be  \\\i\\\v  according  to  the  form  and  before  the  couit 
prescribed  in  the  naturalization  laws;  and  that  the 
act  of  congress  setting  forth  what  was  necessary  t" 
be  done  to  become  entitled  to  the  light  to  vote  at  Hi. 
first  election  in  Oi-egon  ilid  not  separate  them — linni 

*0i'.  S/tfctator,  Nov.  2S,  1S,-|0. 

'^lU'inly  Hjij-H  lio  liiiil  II  "lianl  llplit.'  Tlio  proviso  \vn«  mrniit,  and  ^^!l•^ 
iinilci'HtiMiil  ti>  iiiciiii,  tlio  MHtonttinii  to  MiL>iii,L;liliii,  imd  tlu'  Jliiiisli  miI'|ii'1s 
V  lio  Imd  uluuya  livud  iii  tliu  uuuutry,  vt  tliv  cluctivu  tiuuchitiu.  JJiJ.  (Jr. ,  M.S., 


legi?;lative  action.  m 

^vlli(•ll  it  was  plain  that  confjrcs.s  meant  to  confer  u pi »n 
ihf  alien  pojmlation  of  Orej^^on  the  privile<;es  of  eiti- 
zrn^hip  \vith<jut  tlehiy,  and  to  cement  tlie  popuhitioii 
of  the  tenitoryas  it  stood  when  it  asked  that  its  pro- 
\i>i(>nal  laws  should  be  adopted. 

TIk-  niianinj,'  <)f  the  5th  section  of  the  organic  act 

shuuM  have  l)een  plain  enough  to  any  hut  pirjuiliced 

iiiimls.     In  the  first  place,  it  required  the  voter  to  ho 

a  mall'  ahuvc  the  age  of  twentv-one  years,  and  a  rcsi- 

(K'lit  of  the  teriitory  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of 

the  act.     The  (jualitications  prescribed  were,  that  ho 

>li<iuld  l)t^  a  citiziiu  of  the  United   States  of  that  agi;, 

(pi  that  being  twenty-one  he  should  have  declared  on 

(latu  his  intention  to  become  a  citizen,  and  havu  taken 

til'    oath  to  support   the  constitution  of  the  United 

Statis  and  the  provisions  of  the  organic  act.     Thi.s 

U,i\f  liini  the  light  to  vote  at  the  fii-st  election,  and 

iii;i(le  him  eligible  to  olKce;   but  the  ([Ualilications  of 

\nti  rs  and   ollice-holders  at  all    subse(pu'nt  elections 

hlioiild    be    prescribi'd    by   the    legislativi'    assi-ndtly. 

Thl^  did  not  mean  that  the  legislature  should  enact 

liw-i  contrary  to  this  which  athuitted  to  <"itizenshi[>  all 

tlin>('  wlio   voted   at   the  first  election,  by   the   very 

Iriiiis  reiiuired,  namely,  to  take  the  oath  of  allcLiiance 

iiii'l  make  a  declaration  of  an  intention  to  assmne  the 

duties  of  an  .\merican  citizen;  but  that  after  having 

Ml  out  on  its  territorial  career  under  these  conditions, 

it  could  make  such  changes  as  were  found  neces.sary 

('!■  dc>ir;d»]e  thereafter  not  in  conflict  with  the  oiganic^ 

ait.     The  j>roof  of  this  position   is  in   the  fact  that 

al'ti  r  and  not  befor<>  giving  tlie  legislature  the  piiv- 

\h"^t\  conies    tlu!   j)roviso  containing   the   ]irescril)i'd 

(jUidifications  of  a  vt)ter  which  nnist  go  int(»  the  ter- 

liiiiiial  laws,  the  same  bi-ing  ,lio,se  whicii  entitled  any 

while  man  to  vote  at  the  lirst,  election.     Having  once 

taken  those  obligations  which  were  forever  to  make 

liiia  a   citizen   of  the  United    States   by  the?  oigaide 

net,  the  le^islatiU'e  had  no  right,  though   it  exercist-d 

the  assumed  power,  to  disfraui'hise  those  who  voted 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


V] 


<^ 


'<^l 


n 


^J: 


7 


M 


1.0 


S«||lilM    12.5 


IIIIM 

m 


I.I 


12.2 


12.0 


1.8 


1.25 

1.4      1.6 

6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR,N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)  S73-4S03 


,^ 


&9 


A 


268 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


at  the  first  election.  When  in  1852-3  the  legislature 
amended  the  laws  regulating  elections,  it  removed  in 
a  final  manner  the  restrictions  which  the  Thurston 
democracy  had  placed  upon  foreign-born  residents  of 
the  country.  By  the  new  law  all  white  male  inhab- 
itants over  twenty-one  years  of  age,  having  become 
naturalized,  or  having  declared  their  intention  to 
become  citizens,  and  having  resided  six  months  in  tliu 
territory,  and  in  the  county  fifteen  days  next  preced- 
ing the  election,  were  entitled  to  vote  at  any  election 
in  the  territory. 

To  return  to  the  donation  law  and  its  construction. 
Persons  could  be  found  who  were  doubtful  of  the 
meaning  of  very  common  words  when  they  came  to 
see  them  in  a  congressional  act,  and  who  were  unable 
to  decide  what  'settler'  or  'occupant'  meant,  or  how 
to  construe  'improvement'  or  'possession.'  To  1k1|) 
such  as  these,  various  legal  opinions  were  submitted 
through  the  columns  of  newspapers;  but  it  was  gen- 
erally found  that  a  settler  could  be  absent  from  his 
claim  a  great  deal  of  his  time,  and  that  occupatitm 
and  improvement  were  defined  in  accordance  with  the 
means  and  th(^  <•  nvenience  of  the  claimant." 

The  sur\  -general,  who  arrived  in  Oregon  in 
time  to  begin  ihe  surveys  of  the  public  lands  in  Oc- 
tober, 1851,  had  before  him  a  difficult  labor.''  Tlio 
survey    of  the  Willamette  meridian   was   begun   at 

"Sco  J  fame  Mmionanj,  vol.  24,  150.  Tiiornton  held  tliiit  tlicro  wiih  sik  li 
a  thing  im  iii4)lic(l  rcaidi'iici*,  and  tliiit  n  nitui  nuglit  l)u  n  reHidi'nt  l<,v  tin'  icm- 
idcnco  of  hit)  agi'nt;  and  citod  Kctil'n  Com.,  77.  Also  tliat  a  oliiiniiiht  \\liii--o 
dwuiling  was  not  on  lliis  land,  l»nt  wiio  improved  it  by  the  apidiaitiun  of  liis 
personal  lai)or,  or  that  of  ids  liiied  man,  or  member  of  his  family,  could  din. mid 
a  patent  at  tiiu  expiration  of  fo\ir  years.  Seo  o|)inion  of  ,1.  (^».  Tiiomtoii  in 
(>/•,  Si>crl<i/or',  Jan.  1(1,  bSi'il.  It  is  nignilicant  that  in  tiioHo  diHt'UNnioiiM  and 
ojiiidons  ill  whicii  Tiiornton  tooi(  a  )i)'ondnent  ])urt  at  tiio  time,  he  liiid  mi 
claini  to  tiio  authorship  of  the  land  hivv.  To  do  thiu  was  an  aft(i'thou>;lit. 
Mrs  Odell,  in  her  liioijroiihji  of  TInirMon,  MS,,  ',!S,  remarks  njion  thi-s. 

^  CoiKj.  O'lobe,  app.,  IsrcJ-H,  vol.  xxvii.  .'l.'ll,  Jl'id  cong.  'J<1  senw, ;  ('.  S. 
If.  IC.v.  JJoc.  'J,  vol.  li.  ptiii.  Ti-S,  ,TJd  eong.  Ist  sess.  'I'he  survey  wns  i  ii- 
duutod  on  the  method  of  biiso  ami  meridian  lines,  and  triangidiitions  linm 
fixed  stutioim  to  all  prominent  objects  vithin  tiie  range  of  tlio  tiieodolitr,  Ivy 
means  of  wldcli  relative  distiinees  were  oltttiined,  togetiier  witli  u  yeuoal 
kuuwiudgu  uf  tho  uuuutry,  in  udvanuu  uf  tiiu  linear  BUiveys.  /(/. 


SETTLERS  AND  SURVEYS. 


gislature 
noved  in 
Thurston 
sidcnts  of 
,lo  inliab- 
•y  become 
entioii  to 
tbs  in  tbo 
Lt  proccd- 
y  election 


istruction. 
ful  of  the 
jy  eauu!  to 
ere  unable 
lit,  or  bow 
'     To  help 
submitted 
^t  was  geu- 
t  from  bis 
occupation 
:e  with  tbe 

0 

Ore*;-on  in 
hds  in  Oc- 
[bor;     Tlio 
begun   at 

there  wiif<  k"*-''' 
hi'iit  I'.V  tlw  !>•»• 
loliiinmiit  whoso 
Ijiliaitiim  nl  lii'} 
,-,  L'lmltl'liii.Hii'l 
il^t,  Tl\»tnili'ii  ill 
UnfUHMions  iiii'l 
in.',  Ill'  liii'l  iw 
I  iifti  vtlioiiKlit. 

]i()ii  this. 

id   80««.l    ''•   ^• 

uviy  Nviis  I'tm- 
ifuliilioiii^  fidiu 

rtin'oauiitr,  I'Y 

with  tt  gLiiiiiil 


the  upper  mouth  of  the  Willamette  River,  and  the 
base  line  7f  miles  south,  in  order  to  avoid  the  Co- 
lumbia River  in  ext;;nding  the  base  line  east  to  the 
Cascade  Mountains.  The  intersection  of  the  base 
and  meridian  lines  was  3^  miles  west  of  the  Wil- 
lamette. The  reason  given  for  fixing  the  point  of 
beginning  at  this  place  was  because  the  Indians  were 
fiiondly  on  either  side  of  the  line  for  some  distance 
north  and  south,  and  a  survey  in  this  locality  would 
best  accommodate  the  immediate  wants  of  the  set- 
tlors.^ But  it  was  soon  found  that  the  nature  of  the 
country  through  which  the  initial  lines  were  run 
^vould  make  it  desirable  in  order  to  accommodate 
the  settlers  to  change  the  field  of  operations  to  the 
inhabited  valleys,^  three  fourths  of  the  meridian 
line  north  of  the  base  line  passing  through  a  coun- 
try broken  and  heavily  timbered.  The  base  line 
east  of  the  meridian  to  the  summit  of  the  Cascade 
^lountains  also  passed  through  a  densely  timbered 
cduntry  almost  entirely  unsettled.  But  on  the  west 
side  of  the  meridian  line  were  the  Tualatin  plains, 
this  section  of  the  country  being  first  to  be  benefited 
by  the  survey. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1852,  appeared  the  first 
mttiee  to  settlers  of  surveys  that  had  been  completed 
in  certain  townships,  and  that  the  surveyor  general 
was  prejiared  to  receive  the  notifications  of  their  re- 
spective claims  and  to  adjust  the  boundaries  thereof, 
he  being  made  the  arbiter  and  register  of  all  donation 
claims.^"  At  the  same  time  settlers  were  advised 
that  they  must  have  their  claims  surveyed  and  cor- 

•/.V/)^ ,/  Prr»ton  in  U.  S.  H.  Ex.  Doc.  B2,  1851-2,  v.  2.1,  .list  oong.  Ist 
BCM,  \i  was  (lono  by  Thurston's  advioo.  See  Cong.  Qlohe,  184U-50,  xxi.  pb 
ii.  1077,  .'lint  oong.  Ist  8C88. 

•  W  illiiim  Ivus  was  the  contractor  for  tho  survoyof  the  base  lino  and  Wil- 
liumtto  inciidian  north  of  it;  and  James  Froomnn  of  tlio  VVillaniutto  mo- 
liili.iii  sdiith  of  it,  as  fur  ns  tho  Umpiiua  Valley. 

"Till!  lirst  surveys  advertised  wore  of  townshin  1  north,  range  1  oast; 
to\viisl,i[)a  7  nnd  8  south,  range  1  wostj  and  towusliip  7  south,  range  3  and  4 
vi^t.  'I  Ii('  oldest  patents  issued  for  donation  claims  are  those  in  Wasiiington 
enmity,  unless  the  Oregon  City  lots  may  be  older,  tiee  Or.  Sptctalor,  Fob. 
10,  Wo'i, 


270 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITL*ES. 


ners  established  before  the  government  survey  was 
made,  in  order  that  they  might  be  able  to  descril»o 
their  boundaries  by  courses,  distances,  metes,  and 
bounds,  and  to  show  where  their  lines  intersected  tlie 
government  lines,  claims  being  generally  bounded 
according  to  the  fancy  or  convenience  of  the  owner, 
instead  of  bj  the  rectangular  method  adopted  in  the 
public  surveys. 

The  privilege  of  retaining  their  claims  as  they  hud 
taken  them  was  one  that  had  been  asked  for  by  me- 
morial, but  which  had  not  been  granted  without  qual- 
ification in  the  land  law.  Thurston  had  explained 
how  the  letter  of  the  law  was  to  be  evaded,  and  liad 
predicted  that  the  surveyor  general  would  be  on  the 
side  of  the  people  in  this  matter."  Preston,  as  had 
been  foreseen,  was  lenient  in  allowing  irregular  boun- 
daries; a  map  of  that  portion  of  Oregon  covered  by 
donation  claims  presenting  a  curious  patchwork  of 
parallelograms  with  angles  obtuse,  and  triangles  with 
angles  of  every  degree.  Another  suggestion  of  the 
surveyor  general  was  that  settlers  on  filing  their  no- 
tifications, date  of  settlement,  and  making  proof  of 
citizenship,  should  state  whether  they  were  married;'^ 
for  in  the  settlement  of  Oregon  and  the  history  of 
its  division  among  the  inhabitants,  marriage  had  been 
made  to  assume  unusual  importance.  Contrary  to  all 
precedent,  the  women  of  this  remote  region  wore 
placed  by  congress  in  this  respect  upon  an  equality 
with  the  men — it  may  be  in  acknowledgment  of  tlitii' 
having  earned  in  the  same  manner  and  measure  a  ri^lit 
to  be  considered  creditors  of  the  government,  or  tlio 
men  may  have  made  tliis  arrangement  that  tluy 
through  their  wives  might  control  more  land.  It  had, 
it  is  true,  limited  this  equality  to  those  who  were  niai- 
ried,  or  had  been  married  on  starting  for  Oregon,^'' 


"  Letter  to  the  Electors  of  Orrgoti,  8. 
"  Porlland  Orqtoninn,  Fob.  7,  1852 


" '  As  rospoots  grants  of  land,  tlioy  will  be  placed  upon  the  same  foot  in? 
mule  citizoua,  provided  thut  bucIi  widows  wore  iu  tins  country  before  Do- 


M  male 


WOMEN  AND  CHILDREN. 


271 


but  it  was  upon  the  presumption  that  there  were  no 
unmarried  women  in  Oregon,  which  was  near  the 
truth.  Men  took  advantage  of  the  law,  and  to  bo  able 
to  lord  it  over  a  mile  square  of  land  married  girls  no 
more  than  children,  who  as  soon  as  they  became  wives 
were  entitled  to  claim  half  a  section  in  their  own 
riijfht;"  and  girls  in  order  to  have  this  right  married 
without  due  consideration. 

Congress  had  indeed,  in  its  effort  to  reward  the  set- 
tlers of  Oregon  for  Americanizing  the  Pacific  coast, 
refused  to  consider  the  probable  effects  of  its  bounty 
u[H)n  the  future  of  the  country,  though  it  was  not  un- 
known what  it  might  be."*  The  Oregon  legislature, 
notwithstanding,  continued  to  ask  for  additional  grants 
and  favors;  first  in  1851-2,  that  all  white  American 
women  over  eighteen  years  of  age  who  were  in  the 
territory  on  the  1st  of  December  1850,  not  provided 
for  in  the  donation  act,  should  be  given  320  acres  of 
land;  and  to  all  white  American  women  over  twenty- 
one  who  had  arrived  in  the  territory  or  might  arrive 
botween  the  dates  of  December  1,  1850,  and  Decem- 
ber 1,  1853,  not  provided  for,  IGO  acres;  no  woman 
to  receive  more  than  one  donation,  or  to  receive  a 
})atent  until  she  had  resided  four  years  in  the  terri- 
torv. 

It  was  also  asked  that  all  orphan  children  of  white 
parents,  residing  in  the  territorj'^  before  the  1st  of 
December,  1850,  who  did  not  inherit  under  the  act,^' 

ccmbor  1,  IS-TO,  and  aro  of  American  birth.'  Or.  Siwctntor,  May  8,  1851. 
Tliiirstdii  in  \na  Lcttvr  to  the  Electors  rcniiiika  tluit  tliia  feiituro  of  the  dona* 
tidii  act  wns  iv  populiir  ono  in  congress,  and  that  ho  tlionjrlit  it  just. 

"It  Ima  been  decided  that  the  words  'single  man'  incliidod  an  unmarried 
woinim,  7  Wall.,  210.  Seo  JJentli/'.^  Gen.  Laws  Or.,  \HiH-T2.  Hut  I  do  not 
RIO  how  under  that  construction  a  woman  coidd  he  prevented  holding  as  A 
'siiiLjlo  man' first  and  as  a  married  woman  afterward,  IiocauHo  tho  patent  to 
ill  r  Imshand,  as  a  married  man,  would  include  040  acres,  3'20  of  which  would 
bo  hers, 

'•* '  Thoy  said  it  would  Iw  Injurious  to  tho  country  schools,  by  provontina 
tho  Kiuntry  from  being  thickly  settled;  that  it  wouhl  retard  tho  agricultural 
Kiuwtli  of  the  country;  and  tliough  it  would  meet  tho  case  of  many  tlesorv- 
hig  men,  it  would  open  tho  door  to  frauds  and  speculations  by  all  means  to 
boiiviiidod.'   Thurston's  Letter  to  the  Electors  of  Orei/on,  8;  lieaille's  Under. 


'  ',  702  3;  Home  Misrionartf,  vol.  26,  p.  45. 
'"Those  wlioso  parents  hail  ilied  iu  Orojron 


Oregon  before  the  passage  of  the  law 


S'  ifi 


272 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


i 


should  be  granted  eighty  acres  each;  and  that  all 
orphan  children  whoso  parents  had  died  in  coming  to 
or  after  arriving  in  Oregon  between  1850  and  1853 
should  receive  forty  acres  of  land  each.^^ 

Neither  of  these  petitions  was  granted^®  at  the 
time,  while  many  others  were  offered  by  resolution  or 
otherwise.  As  the  period  was  expiring  when  lands 
would  be  free,  it  began  to  be  said  that  the  time  should 
be  extended,  even  indefinitely,  and  that  all  lands 
should  be  free.'' 

There  was  never,  in  the  history  of  the  world,  a 
better  opportunity  to  test  the  doctrine  of  free  land, 
nor  anything  that  came  so  near  realizing  it  as  the  set- 
tlement of  Oregon.  Could  the  government  have  re- 
stricted its  donations  to  the  actual  cultivators  of  the 
soil,  and  the  quantity  to  the  reasonable  requirements 
of  the  individual  farmer,  the  experiment  would  have 
been  complete.  But  since  the  donation  was  in  the 
nature  of  a  reward  to  all  classes  of  emigrants  alike, 
this  could  not  be  done,  and  the  compensation  had  to 
be  ample. 

Some  persons  found  it  a  hardship  to  be  restrained 
from  selling  their  land  for  a  peri.d  of  four  years, 
and  preferred  paying  the  minimum  price  of  ^1.25  au 
acre  to  waiting  for  the  expiration  of  the  full  term. 
Accordingly,  in  February  1853,  the  donation  law  was 
so  amended  that  the  surveyor -general  might  receive 

did  not  como  under  the  requirements  of  the  donation  net;  nor  those  wluwe 
pui'cnts  liad  died  upon  the  roixd  to  Oregon.  Aa  they  could  not  inherit,  a  ili- 
rect  grunt  was  nskcd. 

"(>/•,  Slatfinmati,  Doc.  IC,  1851. 

'"Heirs  of  settlers  in  Oregon  who  died  prior  to  Sept.  27,  1850,  cannot  in- 
herit or  liold  land  by  virtue  of  tlie  residence  and  cultivation  of  their  iiuccs- 
tors.  J'hril  vh  Kinnedy,  1  Or.  16(J.  The  daughter  of  Jason  Leo  was  portion- 
less, wlulo  the  children  of  later  comers  inherited. 

'"Si'o  Or.  SloJenman,  Nov.  0,  1853.  A  resolution  offered  in  the  assembly 
of  18.VJI-.1  ttskod  tliat  the  land  east  of  the  Cascade  mountains  should  ho  im- 
mediately surveyed,  and  sold  at  the  minimum  price,  in  quantities  not  cxocul- 
ing  040  acres  to  each  purchaser;  the  money  to  be  applied  to  the  construct  ion 
of  tliat  portion  of  the  contemplated  Pacilio  railroad  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. This  won  the  firat  practical  suggestion  of  the  Oregon  legislature  cuii- 
cerning  the  overland  railroad,  and  appropriated  all  or  nearly  all  the  land  in 
Oregon  to  the  use  of  Oregon,  the  western  portion  except  that  north  uf  tiie 
Columbia  being  to  a  groat  extent  claimed. 


WORKINGS  OF  THE  LAW. 


S78 


that  all 
joming  to 
and  1853 

'^  at  the 
Qlution  or 
len  lands 
ne  should 
all   lands 

world,  a 
free  land, 
IS  the  set- 
t  have  ro- 
Drs  of  the 
uirements 
ould  have 
'as  in  the 
mts  alike, 
on  had  to 

restrained 
>ur  years, 

$1.25  an 
full  term. 
11  law  Wiis 

it  receive 

those  whose 
I  inherit,  a  Ui- 


^0,  cannot  in- 

their  iiiiccs- 

1  was  portiuii- 

[the  assembly 
Ihouhl  lie  iiu- 
Is  not  cxci'i'il- 
1  construct  inn 
llocUy  Moim- 
lislftt'ure  cdii- 
,  the  land  in 
luorthof  the 


this  money  after  two  years  of  settlement  in  lieu  of  the 
rouiaining  two  years,  the  rights  of  the  claimant  in  the 
event  of  his  death  to  descend  to  his  heirs  at  law  as 
before.  By  the  amendatory  act,  widows  of  men  who 
had  they  lived  would  have  been  entitled  to  claim  under 
the  original  act  were  granted  all  that  their  husbands 
would  have  been  entitled  to  receive  had  they  lived,"'' 
and  their  heirs  after  them. 

By  this  act  also  the  extent  of  all  government  res- 
ervations was  fixed.  For  magazines,  arsenals,  dock- 
yards, and  other  public  uses,  except  for  forts,  the 
amount  of  land  was  not  to  exceed  twenty  acres  to 
each,  or  at  one  place,  nor  for  forts  more  than  640 
acres."  If  in  the  judgment  of  the  president  it  should 
be  necessary  to  include  in  any  reservation  the  improve- 
ments of  a  settler,  their  value  should  be  ascertained 
and  paid.  The  time  fixed  by  this  act  for  the  ex[)ira- 
tlon  of  the  privileges  of  the  donation  law  was  April 
1855,  when  all  the  surveyed  public  lands  left  unclaimed 
should  be  subject  to  public  sale  or  private  entry,  the 
same  as  the  other  public  lands  of  the  United  States. 

The  land  law  of  Oregon  was  again  amended  in  July 

1854,  in  anticipation  of  the  coming  into  market  of  the 
public  lands,  by  extending  to  Oregon  and  Washington 
the  preemption  privilege  granted  September  4,  1841, 
to  the  peo[)le  of  the  territories,  to  apply  to  any  un- 
claimed lands,  whether  surveyed  or  not.  Ft)r  the 
convenience  of  the  later  settlers,  the  time  for  giving 
notice  to  the  surveyor  general  of  the  time  and  place 
of  settlement  was  once  more  extended  to  December 

1855,  or  the  last  moment  before  the  public  lands  be- 
came salable.  The  act  of  1854  declared  that  the  do- 
nations thereafter  should  in  no  case  include  a  town 
site  or  lands  settled  upon  for  purposes  of  business  or 

'"See  previous  note  13.  The  surveyor  general  hail  before  so  construed  the 
law. 

^'Tliis  was  a  great  relief  to  the  immigration  at  Tlie  Dalles,  wlicrc  the  mil- 
itary liiul  talien  np  ten  miles  square  of  land,  thereby  greatly  inconveniencing 
travulli'i,^  by  depriving  their  stock  of  a  range  anywhere  uear  the  usual  place 
of  tinbuikittion  on  the  Columbia. 
UiBi.  On,,  Vol.  II.    IH 


274 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


trade,  and  not  for  agriculture;  but  the  legal  subdivi- 
sions included  in  such  town  sites  should  be  subject  to 
the  operations  of  the  act  of  May  23,  1844,  "for  the 
relief  of  citizens  of  towns  upon  lands  of  the  United 
States,  under  certain  circumstances."'^^  The  proviso 
to  the  4th  section  of  the  original  act,  declaring  void  all 
sales  of  lands  before  the  issue  of  the  patents  therefor, 
was  repealed,  and  sales  were  declared  invalid  only 
where  the  claimant  had  not  resided  four  years  upon 
the  land.  By  these  terms  two  subjects  which  had 
greatly  troubled  the  land  claimants  were  disposed  of; 
those  who  had  been  a  long  time  in  the  country  could 
sell  their  lands  without  waiting  for  the  issuance  of 
their  patents,  and  those  who  had  taken  claims  and 
laid  out  towns  upon  natural  town-sites  were  left  un- 
disturbed.^ This  last  amendment  to  the  donation 
law  granted  the  oft-repeated  prayer  of  the  settlers 
that  the  orphan  children  of  the  earliest  immigrants 
who  died  before  the  passage  of  the  act  of  September 
27, 1850,  should  be  allowed  grants  of  land,  the  dona- 
tion to  this  class  being  160  acres  each.  Under  this 
amendment  Jason  Lee's  daughter  could  claim  the 
small  reward  of  a  quarter-section  of  land  for  her 
father's  services  in  colonizing  the  country.  These 
orphans'  claims  were  to  be  set  off  to  them  by  the  sur- 
veyor general  in  good  agricultural  land,  and  in  case  of 
the  decease  of  either  of  them  their  rights  vested  in 
the  survivors  of  the  family.  Such  was  the  land  law 
as  regarded  individuals. 

This  act,  besides,  extended  to  the  territory  of  Wash- 

*'  This  act  provided  that  when  any  of  the  8urvej)red  public  lands  had  been 
occupied  as  a  town  site,  and  was  not  therefore  subject  to  entry  under  the  ex- 
isting laws,  in  case  the  town  were  incorporated,  the  judges  of  tlie  cuunty 
court  for  that  county  should  enter  it  at  tho  proper  land  otRce,  at  tho  mini- 
mum price,  for  the  several  use  and  benefit  of  tne  occupants  thereof  acoonling 
to  their  respective  interests,  tiie  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  lots  to  bo  disposed  of 
according  to  rules  and  regulations  prescribed  by  t  iio  legislature;  but  tlto  land 
must  bo  entered  prior  to  the  commencement  of  th^  public  wle  of  the  body  of 
land  in  which  the  town  site  was  included.  See  iio'»  on  p.  72,  Oen.  Laws  Or. 
'*  Many  patents  never  issued.  It  was  held  by  tne  courts  that  the  law  act- 
ually invested  tho  claimant  who  had  complied  with  its  requirements  with  the 
ownership  of  the  land,  and  that  the  patent  WM  simply  evidence  which  did 
(.act  affect  the  title.  Deady\  'Scraps,  5. 


OREGON  CITY  CLAIM. 


m 


al  subdivi- 
subject  to 
4,  "for  the 
;he  United 
uhe  proviso 
•ing  void  all 
ts  therefor, 
ivalid  only- 
years  upon 
which  had 
disposed  of; 
luntry  could 
issuance  of 
claims  and 
ere  left  un- 
be   donation 
the  settlers 
immigrants 
f  September 
id,  the  dona- 
Under  this 
claim  the 
and  for  her 
itry.     These 
1  by  the  sur- 
,nd  in  case  of 
tts  vested  in 
;he  land  law 

)ry  of  Wash- 


ington all  the  provisions  of  the  Oregon  land  law,  or 
any  of  its  amendments,  and  authorized  a  separate  corps 
of  officers  for  this  additional  surveying  district,  whose 
duties  should  be  the  same  as  those  of  the  surveyor 
general,  register,  and  receiver  of  Oregon.  It  also 
gave  two  townships  of  land  each  to  Oregon  and 
Washington  in  lieu  of  the  two  townships  granted 
by  the  original  act  to  Oregon  for  university  purposes. 
"  Later,  on  March  12, 1860,  the  provisions  of  the  act 
of  September  28,  1850,  for  aiding  in  reclaiming  the 
swamp  lands  of  Arkansas,  were  extended  to  Oregon, 
by  which  the  state  obtained  a  large  amount  of  valua- 
ble lands,  of  which  gift  I  shall  have  something  to  say 
hereafter. 

From  the  abstract  here  given  of  the  donation  law 
at  different  periods,  my  reader  will  be  informed  not 
only  of  the  bounty  of  the  government,  but  of  the 
onerous  nature  of  the  duties  of  the  surveyor-general, 
who  was  to  adjudicate  in  all  matters  of  dispute  or 
question  concerning  land  titles.  His  instructions  au- 
thorized and  required  him  to  settle  the  business  of 
the  Oregon  City  claim  by  notifying  all  purchasers, 
donees,  or  assigns  of  lots  or  parts  of  lots  acquired 
of  McLoughlin  previous  to  March  4, 1849,  to  present 
their  evidences  of  title,  and  have  their  land  surveyed, 
in  order  that  patents  might  be  issued  to  them;  and 
this  in  1852  was  rapidly  being  done.^* 

His  special  attention  was  directed  to  the  third 
article  of  the  treaty  of  1846,  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  which  provided  that  in  the 
future  appropriation  of  the  territory  south  of  49°  north 
latitude,  the  possessory  rights**  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 

"  U.S.  H.  Ex.  Doe.  52,  v.  25,  32d  cong.  Ist  sess. 

'^'his  subject  came  up  in  a  peculiar  shape  as  late  as  1871,  when  H.  W. 
Corbett  waa  in  the  U.  S.  senate.  A  case  had  to  be  decided  in  the  courts  of 
Oregon  in  1870,  where  certain  persons  claimed  under  William  Johnson,  who 
Itefore  the  treaty  of  1846  settled  upon  a  tract  of  land  south  of  Portland. 
But  Johnson  died  before  the  land  law  was  passed,  and  the  courts  decided 
tliatin  this  case  Johnson  had  first  lost  his  possessory  rights  byabandonins 
the  claim;  by  dying  before  the  donation  law  was  passed,  he  was  not  providea 


Sfl 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


4 


l    !■- 


Company,  and  of  all  British  subjects  who  should  be 
found  already  in  the  occupation  of  land  or  otlar 
property  lawfully  acquired,  within  the  said  territory, 
should  be  respected;  and  to  the  fourth  article,  which 
declared  that  the  farms,  lands,  and  other  property 
belonging  to  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural  Company 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Columbia,  should  be  con- 
firmed to  the  said  company,  with  the  stipulation  that 
in  case  the  situation  of  these  farms  and  lands  should 
be  considered  by  the  United  States  to  be  of  public 
and  political  importance,  and  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment should  signify  a  desire  to  obtain  possession 
of  the  whole  or  any  part  thereof,  the  property  st»  re- 
quired should  be  transferred  to  the  said  government 
at  a  proper  valuation,  to  be  agreed  upon  between  the 
parties.  The  conmiissioner  directed  the  surveyor- 
general  to  call  upon  claimants  under  the  treaty,  or 
their  agents,  to  present  to  him  the  evidence  of  thj 
rights  in  which  they  claimed  to  be  protected  by  the 
treaty,  and  to  show  him  the  original  localities  ami 
boundaries  of  the  same  which  they  held  at  the  date 
of  the  treaty;  and  he  was  not  required  to  survey  in 
sections  or  minute  subdivisions  the  land  covered  by 
such  claims,  but  only  to  extend  the  township  lines 
over  them,  so  as  to  indicate  their  relative  position  and 
connection  with  the  public  domain. 

The  surveyor-general  reported  with  regard  to  these 
claims,  that  McLoughlin,  who  had  recently  become  a 
naturalized  citizen  of  the  United  States,  had  given 
notice  September  29,  1852,  that  he  claimed  under  the 
treaty  of  1846  a  tract  of  land  containing  640  acres, 
which  included  Oregon  City  within  its  boundaries, 
and  that  he  protested  against  any  act  that  would  dis- 


for  in  that  act,  and  therefore  had  no  title  either  under  the  treaty  or  the  laml 
law  by  which  his  heirs  could  liold.  This  raised  a  (luestion  of  law  with  n-Lfard 
to  the  lieirs  of  British  residents  of  Oregon  before  the  treaty  of  1840;  ami  t'ur- 
bett  introduced  a  bill  in  the  senate  to  extend  the  ri{;hts  of  citizenship  to 
half-breeds  born  within  the  territory  of  Oregon  previous  to  184G,  ami  now 
subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  which  was  passed.  Sii}>.  (  )»'< 
Decmoiis,  Or.  Laws,  1870,  227-9;  Coug.  OM>e,  1871-2,  app.  730,  42d  con^'.  '.'J 
Bess.;  Vonij,  Giobe,  1871-2,  part  ii.,  p.  1179,  42d  cong.  2d  seas. 


HUDSON'S  BAY  COMPANY. 


277 


10  should  he 
d  or  othor 
d  territory, 
'tide,  which 
>er  property 
al  Company 
>uld  be  coii- 
(ulation  that 
lands  should 
be  of  public 
States  gov- 
n  possession 
)perty  so  re- 
govermiieiit 
between  the 
he  surveyor- 
le  treaty,  ur 
dence  of  tli«i 
ected  by  the 
ocalities  and 
at  the  date 
to  survey  in 
covered  by 
vnship  lines 
position  and 

[ard  to  these 
dy  become  a 
[,  had  given 
id  under  the 
640  acres, 
boundaries, 
It  would  dis- 


turb  his   possession,  except  of  the   portion  sold   or 
granted  by  him  within  the  limits  of  the  Oregon  City 


26 


Claim. 

As  to  the  limits  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's 
claim  in  the  territory,  it  was  the  opinion  of  chief  fac- 
tor John  Ballenden,  he  said,  that  no  one  could  state 
th(^  nature  or  define  the  Imits  of  that  claim.  He 
called  the  attention  of  the  general  land  commissioner, 
and  through  him  of  the  government,  to  the  fact  that 
settlers  were  claiming  valuable  tracts  of  land  included 
within  the  limits  of  that  claimed  by  the  Hudson's 
Bay  and  Puget  Sound  companies,  and  controversies 
had  arisen  not  only  as  to  the  boundaries,  but  as  to  the 
rights  of  the  companies  under  the  treaty  of  1846 ;  and 
declared  that  it  was  extremely  desirable  that  the  na- 
ture of  these  rights  should  be  decided  upon.^  To  de- 
cide upon  them  himself  was  something  beyond  his 
power,  and  he  recommended,  as  the  legislative  assem- 
Uy,  the  military  commander,  and  the  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs  had  done,  that  the  rights,  whatever 
they  were,  of  these  companies,  should  be  purchased. 
To  this  advice,  as  we  know,  congress  turned  a  deaf 
car,  until  squatters  had  left  no  land  to  quarrel  over. 
The  people  knew  nothing  and  cared  less  about  the 
rights  of  aliens  to  the  soil  of  the  United  States.  In 
the  mean  time  the  delay  multiplied  the  evils  complained 
of.  Let  us  take  the  site  of  Vancouver  as  an  examjde. 
Either  it  did  or  it  did  not  belong  to  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  by  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  1846.  If  it 
did,  then  it  was  in  the  nature  of  a  grant  to  the  com- 
pany, from  the  fact  that  the  donation  law  admitted 
the  right  of  British  subjects  to  claim  under  the 
treaty,  by  confining  them  to  a  single  grant  of  land, 
and  leaving  it  optional  with  them  whether  it  should 

'"  I  have  already  shown  that  having  become  an  American  citizen,  McLough- 
lin  could  not  claim  under  the  treaty.  See  Demb/x  Or.  Lawx,  1845-04,  5(i-7. 
^IcL(nl^hlin  was  led  to  commit  this  error  by  the  efforts  of  his  foes  to  destroy 
liisi'itizonsliin. 

'" ''.  .v.  //.  Ex.  Doc.  14,  iii.  14-17,  32d  cong.  2d  sesa.;  Olympia  Columbian^ 
April  1),  1853. 


m 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


n  ^i  i 


^^■fj 


be  under  the  treaty  or  under  the  donation  law.''  In 
one  case,  however,  it  hmited  the  amount  of  land,  and 
in  the  other  it  did  not.  But  there  was  no  provision 
made  in  the  donation  law,  the  organic  act,  or  any- 
wliere  else  by  which  those  claiming  under  the  treaty 
could  define  their  boundaries  or  have  their  lands  sur- 
veyed and  set  off  to  them.  The  United  States  had 
simply  promised  to  respect  the  company's  rights  to 
the  lands,  without  inquiring  what  they  were.  They 
had  promised  also  to  purchase  them,  should  it  be  found 
they  were  of  public  or  political  importance,  and  to 
pay  a  proper  valuation,  to  be  agreed  upon  between 
the  parties.  But  the  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
covering  the  lands  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  Puget 
Sound  Agricultural  companies  with  claims,  under  the 
donation  law,  deprived  both  companies  and  the  United 
States  of  their  possession. 

One  of  the  settlers — or,  as  they  were  called,  squat- 
ters— on  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  lands  was 
Amos  M.  Short,  who  claimed  the  town  site  of  Van- 
couver.'® When  he  first  went  on  the  lands,  before 
the  treaty,  the  company  put  him  off.  But  he  per- 
sisted in  returning,  and  subsequently  killed  two  men 
to  prevent  being  ejected  by  process  of  law.  Never- 
theless, when  the  donation  law  was  passed  Short  took 
no  steps  to  He  a  notification  of  his  claim.  Perhaps 
ho  was  waiting  the  action  of  congress  with  regard  to 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  rights.  While  he  waited 
he  died,  having  lost  the  benefits  of  the  act  of  Septem- 
ber 27,  1850,  by  delay.  In  the  mean  time  congress 
passed  the  act  of  the  14th  of  February,  1853,  permit- 
ting all  persons  who  had  located  or  might  hereafter 
locate  lands  in  that  territory,  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  law  of  1850,  in  lieu  of  continued 
occupation,  to  purchase  their  claims  at  the  rate  of 
$1.25  an  acre,  provided  they  had  been  two  years 

^*Deady'»  Om.  Laws  Or.,  1845-64,  86. 

'■"  I  have  given  a  part  of  Short's  history  on  page  793  of  vol.  L  He  waa 
drowned  when  the  Vandalia  was  wrecked,  in  January  1S53. 


VANCOUVER  CLAIM. 


279 


tol.  i.    He  wM 


upon  the  land.  The  widow  of  Short  then  filed  a 
notification  under  the  new  act,  and  in  order  to  secure 
the  whole  of  the  640  acres,  which  might  have  been 
claimed  under  the  original  donation  act,  dated  +be 
residence  of  her  husband  and  herself  from  1848.  But 
Mrs  Short,  whose  notification  was  made  in  October 
1853,  was  still  too  late  to  receive  the  benefit  of  the 
new  act,  as  Bishop  Blanchet  had  caused  a  similar 
notification  to  be  made  in  May,  claiming  640  acres 
for  the  mission  of  St  James**  out  of  the  indefinite 
grant  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  Though  the 
company's  rights  of  occupancy  did  not  expire  until 
1851),  the  bishop  chose  to  take  the  same  view  held 
by  the  American  squatters,  and  ciairaed  possession  at 
Vancouver,  where  the  priests  oi"  his  church  had  been 
simply  guests  or  chaplains  Tender  the  clause  in  the 
organic  act  giving  missions  a  nule  square  of  land; 
and  the  surveyor  general  of  Washington  Territory 
decided  in  his  favor. ^^  No  patent  was  however  issued 
to  the  catholic  church,  the  question  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company's  claim  remaining  in  abeyance,  and  the 
decision  of  the  surveyor  general  being  reversed  by 
the  commissioner  of  the  general  land  office,  after 
which  an  appeal  was  taken  to  the  secretary  of  the 
interior.''^ 

'"Says  Roberts:  'Even  the  catholics  tried  to  get  the  land  at  Vancouver. . . 
In  the  lace  of  the  11th  section  of  the  donation  law,  by  which  people  were 
prjchuktl  from  interfering  with  the  company's  lands,  how  coulcl  Short,  the 
koiaan  catholics,  and  others  do  as  they  did?'  JiicoUeciiom,  MS.,  90,  93. 

"'  The  papers  show  that  the  mission  notification  was  on  file  before  any 
claims  were  asserted  to  contiguous  lands.  It  is  the  oldest  claim.  Its  recog- 
nitiuu  is  coeval  with  the  organization  of  Oregon,  and  was  a  positive  grant 
more  than  two  years  before  any  American  settler  could  acquire  an  interest 
in  or  title  to  unoccupied  public  lands.  Jieport  of  Surveyor  Oeneral,  in  Claim 
of  Si  James  Mission,  21;  Oli/mpia  Standard,  Aprils,  1802. 

'-'  The  council  employed  for  the  mission  furnished  elaborate  arguments  on 
the  side  of  the  United  States,  as  against  the  rights  of  the  Hudson  s  Bay  Com- 
pany, one  of  the  most  striking  of  which  is  the  following:  'The  fundamental 
ohjictioii  to  our  claim  i»,  tl>r.t  the  United  States  could  not  in  good  faith  dis- 
pose of  these  lands  pending  the  "indefinite"  rights  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany. We  have  seen  tiiat  as  to  time  they  were  not  indefinite,  but  had  a  fixed 
termination  in  May  1859.  But  cither  way,  how  can  the  United  States  at  the 
same  time  deny  their  right  to  appropriate  or  dispose  of  the  lands  permanently, 
only  respecting  the  possessory  righta  of  the  company,  and  yet  in  1849.  ISoO, 
185;t,  or  I8.")4  have  made  such  ,;^)nropriation  (for  military  purposes)  and  per- 
manent disposition,  and  now  set  it  up  against  its  grant  to  us  in  1848?. .  .It  is 


^K- 


280 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


The  case  not  being  definitely  decided,  a  bill  was 
brou<;ht  before  congress  in   1874  for  the  relief  of  the 

"...  1        • 

catholic  mission  of  St  James,  and  on  being  referred 
to  the  committee  on  private  land  claims,  the  chairman 
reported  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  committee 
that  the  mission  was  entitled  to  640  acres  under  the 
act  of  August  14,  1848,  and  recommended  the  ])assago 
of  the  bill,  with  an  amendment  saving  to  the  United 
States  the  right  to  remove  from  the  premises  any 
j)roperty,  buildings,  or  other  improvements  it  miglit 
have  upon  that  portion  of  the  claim  covered  by  the 
military  reservation.^^  But  the  bill  did  not  pass;  and 
in  1875,  a  similar  bill  being  under  advisement  by  tlio 
committee  on  private  land  claims,  the  secretary  of 
war  addressed  a  letter  to  the  committee,  in  which  lio 
said  that  the  military  reservation  was  valued  at  a 
million  dollars,  and  that  the  claim  of  the  St  James 
mission  covered  the  whole  of  it;  and  that  the  war  de- 
partment had  always  held  that  the  religious  establish- 
ment of  the  claimants  was  not  a  missionary  station 
among  Indian  tribes  on  the  14th  of  August  1848,  and 
that  the  occupancy  of  the  lands  in  question  at  that 
date  was  not  such  as  the  act  of  congress  required. 
The  secretary  reconnnended  that  the  matter  go  befoio 
a  court  and  jury  for  final  adjustment,  on  the  i)assiigo 
of  an  act  providing  for  the  settlement  of  this  and  sim- 
ilar claims.''* 

Again  in  1870,  a  bill  being  before  congress  whoso 
object  was  to  cause  a  patent  to  be  issued  to  the  St 
James  mission,  the  committee  on  private  land  claims 


said  tlmt  tlio  United  States  Imil  title  to  the  Innds,  yet  it  could  not  disposu  of 
tliDiii  uliaolutoly  in  jint'nciiti,  so  tlmt  the  grantee  could  dcnumd  iiiinu'iliiiti'  pus- 
sesnion.  <  Inintod,  ho  far  a«  the  Hudson's  Hay  Company  was  upon  thi'so  IjiihIh 
willi  its  possessory  rights,  tlioso  rights  must  bo  respected.  But  imw  ilocs 
this  adniiMsiou  derogate  from  the  right  to  grant  such  title  as  tiie  United  Stall's 
tlien  had,  wliich  was  the  proprietary  right,  eucund)ered  only  ))y  a  tcii.iinraiy 
right  of  possession,  for  lunited  and  special  purpose?'  The  argumtiiis  and 
ovitkuiee  in  this  case  are  published  in  a  pamplilet  called  Caiiin  <;/' '/.'  St 
JamiK  Mi.isioii,  Vancourer,  U',  7'.,  to  G40  acres oj  Laud,  from  which  tho  abovo 
is  (luoted. 

^»  (\  S.  IT.  Rept.,  mo,  43d  coug.  Ist  soss.,  1873-4. 

••  U.  S.  n.  Ex.  Doc,  117,  13d  cong.  'Jd  Bosa. 


PORTLAND  CLAIM. 


2S1 


I  bill  was 
iicf  of  tlio 
r  referred 
:  cliainnan 
3omniittee 
under  the 
lie  ])assa|Lje 
ho  United 
mises  any 
i  it  might 
■cd  by  the 

pass;  and 
ont  by  the 
icretary  of 
1  which  ho 
lined  at  a 

St  James 
/he  war  de- 
5  establish- 
iry  station 
,  1848, and 

m  at  that 
re(|nired. 
<v()  before 

lie  passage 

a  and  sini- 

\qhh  wlioso 

to  the  St 

Ind  elaims 


liiot  <lis]io8o  of 

Vmu'tliiiti'l''"*- 
1)11  tlu'so  Imids 

lillt    lll'W    lI'HH 

lUuilfd  StiitfH 

a  tcir.|inriny 

I'giiiiuiiiH  iiiiil 

lilH  III'  tl.''  -S' 

lloh  tlio  abo\o 


reported  in  favor  of  the  mission's  right  to  the  land  so 
far  oidy  as  to  amend  the  bill  so  as  to  enable  all  the 
adverse  claimants  to  assert  their  rights  before  the 
couits;  and  recommended  that  in  order  to  bring  the 
matter  into  the  courts,  a  patent  should  be  issued  to 
the  mission,  with  an  amendment  saving  the  rights  of 
advirse  claimants  and  of  the  United  States  to  any 
huildings  or  fixtures  on  the  land.** 

After  long  delays  the  title  was  finally  settled  in 
November  1874  b\'  the  issuance  of  a  patent  to  Abel 
({.  liijip,  mayor  of  Vancouver,  in  trust  for  the  sev- 
eral use  and  benefit  of  the  inhabitants  according  to 
their  I'espective  interests.  Under  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature the  mayor  then  proceeded  to  convey  to  the 
occupants  of  lots  and  blocks  the  land  in  their  [)os- 
f^cssidu,  according  to  the  congressicmal  law  before  ad- 
verted to  in  reference  to  town  sites. 

That  a  number  of  land  cases  should  grow  out  of 
misunderstandings  and  misconstructions  of  the  land 
liiw  was  inevitable.  Among  the  more  important  of 
the  unsettled  titles  was  that  to  the  site  of  Portland. 
The  reader  already  knows  that  in  1843  Overton 
claimed  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Willamette  G40 
acres,  of  which  soon  after  he  sold  half  to  Ijovejoy, 
imd  ill  1840  the  other  half  to  Pettvgrove;  and  that 
these  two  jointly  improved  the  claim,  laying  it  off 
int(t  lots  and  blocks,  some  of  which  tliey  sold  to 
other  settlers  in  the  town,  who  in  their  turn  made 
iiii|ii'ovements. 

Jn  184;"),  also,  Lovejoy  sold  his  half  of  the  claim 
to  llenjamin  Stark,  who  canie  to  Portland  this  year 
its  supercargo  of  a  vessel,  Pettygrove  and  Stai'k  con- 
tinning  to  hold  it  together,  and  to  sell  lots.  In  1848 
]*ct(ygr()ve,  Stark  being  absent,  sold  his  remaining 
interest  to  Daniel  H.  Lownsdale.     The  land  being 

_  »V',„-,7.  (!lnh(\  lS7fi-7,  44;  IT.  S\  If.  Pqit,  180,  44th  conK.  iHtHoss.,  INT'Mij 
r.  s',  //.  <'i)iii.  Itfjil,  i.  'J40,  44tli  cong.  1st  scss;}  PortUimi  Omjoruiii,  Oct. 
HO,  isdii;  AWsf,  tSoiiL'iiiirK,  vi.  00. 


282 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


i   i'i*    ^^ 


registered  in  the  name  of  Pettygrove,  Lownsdale 
laid  claim  to  the  whole,  including  Stark's  portion, 
and  filed  his  claim  to  the  whole  with  the  registrar,  re- 
siding upon  it  in  Pettygrove's  house.^ 

In  March  1849  Lownsdale  sold  his  interest  in  the 
claim  to  Stephen  Coffin,  and  immediately  repurchased 
half  of  it  upon  an  agreement  with  Coffin  that  he  should 
undertake  to  procure  a  patent  from  the  United  States, 
when  the  property  was  to  be  equally  owned,  the  ex- 
penses and  profits  to  be  eqna-Iy  divided;  or  if  the 
agreement  should  be  dissolved  by  mutual  consent, 
Coffin  should  convey  his  half  to  Lownsdale.  The 
deed  of  Coflfin  reserved  the  rights  of  all  purchasers  of 
lots  under  Pettygrove,  binding  the  contracting  parties 
to  make  good  their  titles  when  a  patent  should  bo 
obtained.  In  December  of  the  same  year  Lownsdale 
and  Coffin  sold  a  third  interest  in  the  claim  to  W. 
W.  Chapman,  reserving,  as  before,  the  rights  of  lot 
owners. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  partition  of  the 
land;  but  in  the  spring  of  1850,  Stark  having  re- 
turned and  asserted  his  right  in  the  property,  a  divi- 
sion was  agreed  to  between  Stark  and  Lownsdale, 
by  which  each  held  his  portion  in  severalty,  and  to 
confirm  titles  to  purchasers  on  their  separate  parcels 
of  land,  Stark  taking  the  northern  and  Lownsdale 
the  southern  half  of  the  claim. 

Upon  the  passage  of  the  donation  law,  with  its 
various  requirements  and  restrictions,  it  became  neces- 
sary for  each  claimant,  in  order  not  to  relinquish  his 
right  to  some  other,  to  apply  for  a  title  to  a  definitely 
described  portion  of  the  whole  claim.  Accordingly, 
on  the  10th  of  March,  1852,  Lownsdale,  having 
been  four  years  ia  possession,  came  to  an  arraii;^e- 
ment  with  Coffin  and  Chapman  with  regard  to  the 
division  of  his  part  of  the  claim  in  which  they  wore 


»•  Lownsdale  had  previouoly  resided  west  of  this  claim,  on  a  crcuk  whoro 
ho  liad  IV  tAiincry,  tlio  first  in  Oregon  to  niuko  leather  lor  sale.  Uu  I'aid  fur 
the  cluini  iu  Icatliur.  Owrlaiid  Monthly,  i.  30. 


TEST  CASES. 


283 


equal  owners.  The  division  being  agreed  upon,  it  be- 
came necessary  also  to  make  some  bargain  by  which 
tlio  lots  sold  on  the  three  several  portions  of  Lowns- 
dalc's  interest  might  fall  with  some  degree  of  fairness 
to  the  three  owners  when  they  came  to  make  deeds 
after  receiving  patents;  the  same  being  necessary 
with  regard  to  the  lots  previously  selected  by  their 
wives  out  of  their  claims,  which  were  exchanged  to 
bring  them  within  the  limits  agreed  upon  previous  to 
going  before  the  surveyor  general  for  a  certificate. 
Everything  being  settled  between  Lownsdale,  Chap- 
man, and  Coffin,  the  first  two  filed  their  notification 
of  settlement  and  claim  on  the  11th  of  March,  and 
the  latter  on  the  10th  of  August. 

On  the  8th  of  April  Lownsdale,  by  the  advice  of 
A.  E.  Wait,  filed  a  notification  of  claim  to  the  whole 
G40  acres,  upon  the  ground  that  Job  McNamee,  who 
liad  in  1847  attempted  to  jump  the  Portland  claim, 
but  liad  afterward  abandoned  it,  had  returned,  and 
was  about  to  file  a  notification  for  the  whole  claim. 
Lownsdale  and  Wait  excused  the  dishonesty  of  the 
act  by  the  assertion  that  either  of  the  other  two 
owners  could  have  done  the  same  had  they  chosen. 
A  controversy  arose  between  Chapman  and  Coffin  on 
one  side  and  Lownsdale  on  the  other,  which  was  de- 
cided by  the  surveyor  general  in  favor  of  Chapman 
aiul  Coffin,  Lownsdale  refusing  to  accept  the  decision. 
Stark  and  the  others  then  appealed  to  the  commis- 
sioner of  the  general  land  office,  who  gave  as  his 
opinion  that  Portland  could  not  be  held  as  a  donation 
cliiini:  first,  because  it  dated  from  1845,  and  congress 
did  not  recognize  claims  under  the  provisional  gov- 
ernment; again,  because  congress  contemplated  only 
a^nioultural  grants;  and  last,  on  account  of  the  clause 
in  the  organic  act  which  made  void  all  laws  of  the 
provisional  government  affecting  the  title  to  land. 
Ho  also  believed  the  town-site  law  to  be  extended  to 
Oregon  along  with  the  other  United  States  laws;  and 


284 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


f  '   I 


further  asserted  that  the  donations  were  in  the  na- 
ture of  preemption,  only  more  Hberal,*^ 

This  decision  made  the  Portland  land  case  more 
intricate  than  before,  all  rights  of  ownership  in  the 
land  being  disallowed,  and  there  being  no  reasonable 
hope  that  those  claiming  it  could  ever  acquire  any; 
since  if  they  should  be  able  to  hold  the  land  until  it 
came  into  market,  there  would  still  be  the  danijer  that 
any  person  being  settled  upon  any  of  the  legal  suit- 
divisions  might  claim  it,  if  not  sufficiently  settled 
to  be  organized  into  a  town.  Or  should  the  town-site 
law  be  resorted  to,  the  town  would  be  parcelled  out 
to  the  occupants  according  to  the  amount  occupietl 
by  each.     Sad  ending  of  golden  dreams! 

But  the  commissioner  himself  pointed  out  a  possi- 
ble flaw  in  the  argument,  in  the  word  'surveyed,'  in 
the  second  line  of  the  act  of  1844.  The  lands  settled 
on  in  Oregon  as  town  sites  were  not  surveyed,  which 
might  ailect  the  application  of  that  law.  Tlie  doubt 
led  to  the  employment  of  the  judicial  talent  of  tlie 
territory  in  the  solution  of  this  legal  puzzle,  which 
was  not,  after  all,  so  difficult  as  at  a  cursory  glance 
it  had  seemed.  Chief  Justice  Williams,  in  a  case 
brought  by  Henry  Martin  against  W.  G.  T' Vault 
and  others,  who,  having  sold  town  lots  in  Vancouver 
in  exchange  for  Martin's  land  claim,  under  a  bond  to 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  expected  dona- 
tion law,  and  then  to  convey  to  Martin  by  a  good  and 
sufficient  deed,  refused  to  make  good  their  agreenioiit, 
reviewed  the  decision  of  Commissioner  Wilson  and 
Secretary  McClelland  in  a  manner  that  threw  niufh 
light  upon  the  town-site  law,  and  showed  Oregon 
lawyers  capable  of  dealing  with  these  knotty  questions. 

Judge  Williams  denied  that  that  jmrtion  of  the 
organic  act  which  repealed  all  territorial  laws  atllct- 
ing  the  title  to  land  repealed  all  laws  regulating  the 

*'' Or.  Sfnffisman,  Juno  fl,  1834;  Ohimpia  Pionerr  and  Democrat,  Juiu' '.H, 
18M;  /'nrt.liiiiiHhrgoniiiii,  Juno  10,  l8o4.  Sue  ulao  Uric/  oil,  whulj'  of  Stark, 
Coffin,  and  Vhapnum,  prepared  by  S,  S.  Uaxtor, 


RIGHTS  OF  SETTLERS. 


285 


ancouvor 


possessory  rights  of  settlers.  Congress,  he  said,  was 
aware  that  many  persons  had  taken  and  largely  im- 
proved claims  under  the  provisional  government,  and 
did  not  design  to  leave  those  claims  without  legal  pro- 
tection, but  simply  to  assert  the  rights  of  the  United 
States;  did  not  mean  to  say  that  the  claim  laws  of  the 
territory  should  be  void  as  between  citizen  and  citizen, 
l)ut  that  the  United  States  title  should  not  be  encum- 
l)crcd.  He  argued  that  if  the  act  of  1848  vacated 
such  claims,  the  act  of  1850  made  them  valid,  by 
i>ranting  to  those  who  had  resided  upon  their  claims, 
111  id  by  protecting  the  rights  of  their  heirs,  in  the 
case  of  their  demise  before  the  issuance  of  patents. 
The  surveyor  general  was  expressly  required  to  issue 
certificates,  upon  the  proper  proof  of  settlement  and 
cultivation,  "whether  made  under  the  provisional 
o'dvernmont  or  not."  He  declared  untenable  the 
proposition  that  land  occupied  as  a  town  site  prior  to 
1850  was  not  subject  to  donation  under  the  act.  A 
man  might  settle  upon  a  claim  in  1850,  and  in  1852 
lay  it  out  into  a  town  site;  but  the  surveyor  general 
could  not  refuse  him  a  certificate,  so  long  as  he  had 
continued  to  reside  upon  and  cultivate  any  part  of  it. 

The  rights  of  settlers  before  1850  and  after  were 
placed  upon  precisely  the  same  footing,  and  therefore 
if  a  claim  were  taken  in  1847,  and  laid  off  in  town 
lots  in  1849,  supposing  the  law  to  liave  been  complied 
with  in  other  respects,  the  claimant  would  have  the 
waino  rights  as  if  ho  had  gone  ujion  the  land  after  the 
passage  of  the  donation  law.  The  surveyor  general 
could  not  say  to  an  applicant  who  had  complied  with 
the  law  that  he  had  forfeited  his  right  by  attempting 
to  build  up  a  town.  A  settlor  had  a  right  to  admit 
persons  to  occupy  under  him  or  to  exclude  them;  and 
it'  ho  admitted  them — such  action  not  being  against 
the  public  good — it  ought  not  to  prejudice  his  claim. 

Judge  Williams  further  held  that  the  town-site  law 
of  1844  was  not  applicable  to  Oregon,  and  that  the 
luud  laws  of  the  United  States  had  not  been  extended 


286 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


:<;  j 


if  ■'  .1 


:  !« .  1 


over  this  territory.  The  preemption  law  had  never 
been  in  force  in  Oregon;  there  were  no  land  districts 
or  land  offices  established.**  No  claims  had  ever  been 
taken  with  reference  to  such  a  law,  nor  had  any  one 
ever  thought  of  being  governed  by  them  in  Oregon. 
And  as  to  town  sites,  while  the  California  land  law 
excepted  them  from  private  entry,  the  organic  act  of 
Oregon  excepted  only  salt  and  mineral  lands,  and  said 
nothing  about  town  sites;  while  the  act  of  1850  spe- 
cifically granted  the  Oregon  City  claim,  leaving  all 
other  claims  upon  the  same  footing,  one  with  another. 

Meanwhile,  the  citizens  of  Portland  who  had  pur- 
chased lots  were  in  a  state  of  bewilderment  as  to  their 
titles.  They  knew  of  whom  they  had  purchased;  but 
since  the  apportionment  of  the  surveyor  general,  which 
made  over  to  Coffin  a  part  of  Lownsdale's  convey- 
ances and  to  Lownsdale  and  Chapman  a  part  of  Cof- 
fin's conveyances,  they  knew  not  where  to  look  for 
titles.  To  use  the  words  of  one  concerned,  a  'three 
days'  protracted  meeting'  of  the  citizens  had  been  held 
to  devise  ways  and  means  of  obtaining  titles  to  their 
lots.  They  finally  memorialized  congress  to  pass  a 
special  act,  exempting  the  town  site  of  Portland  from 
the  provisions  of  the  donation  act,  which  failed  to 
meet  with  approval,  being  opposed  by  a  counter-peti- 
tion of  the  proprietors ;  though  whether  it  would  have 
succeeded  without  the  opposition  was  unknown. 

In  the  winter  of  1854-5  a  bill  was  before  the  legis- 
lative assembly  for  the  purchase  of  the  Portland  land 
claim  under  the  town-site  law  of  1844,  before  men- 
tioned, Portland  having  become  incorporated  in  1851, 
and  having  an  extent  of  two  miles  on  the  river  by 
one  mile  west  from  it.  Coffin  and  Chapman  opposed 
the  bill,  and  the  legislature  adjourned  without  taking 


'*Two  land  districts  were  established  '\n  February  1855,  Willamette  ami 
Utnpqua,  but  the  duties  of  officers  appointed  were  by  act  declared  tu  bu  '  tlia 
same  as  are  now  prescribed  by  law  for  other  land  offices,  and  for  the  surveyor 
general  of  Oregon,  so  far  as  they  apply  to  such  offices.'  Or.  Statutes,  18j,'i-4, 
67.  They  simply  extended  new  facilities  to,  without  imposing  any  now  ru^u* 
lationa  upon,  the  settlers. 


TOWN  SITE  LAWS. 


287 


any  action  in  the  matter.''  Finally,  the  city  of  Port- 
land was  allowed  to  enter  320  acres  under  the  town- 
site  law  in  1860,  some  individual  claims  under  the 
same  being  disallowed.*" 

The  decision  rendered  by  the  general  land  office  in 
1858  was  that  the  claims  of  Stark,  Chapman,  and 
Coffin  were  good,  under  their  several  notifications; 
that  Lownsdale's  was  good  under  his  first  notification ; 
and  that  where  the  claims  of  these  parties  conflicted 
with  the  town-site  entry  of  320  acres  their  titles  should 
be  secured  through  the  town  authorities  under  the 
provisions  of  the  act  of  1844,  and  the  supplementary 
act  of  1854  relating  to  town  sites.*^ 

On  the  demise  of  Lownsdale,  not  long  after,  his 
heirs  at  law  attempted  to  lay  claim  to  certain  lots 
in  Portland  which  had  been  sold  previous  to  the  ad- 
justment of  titles,  but  with  the  understanding  and 
agreement  that  when  their  claims  should  be  con- 
firmed the  grantors  of  titles  to  town  lots  should  con- 
firm the  title  of  the  grantees.  The  validity  of  the 
titles  obtained  from  Stark,  Lownsdale,  Coffin,  and 
Chapnian,  whether  confirmed  or  not,  was  sustained 
by  the  courts.  A  case  different  from  either  of  these 
was  one  in  which  the  heirs  of  Mrs  Lownsdale  proved 
that  she  had  never  dedicated  to  the  public  use  in 
streets  cr  otherwise  a  portion  of  her  part  of  the  do- 
nation claim;  nor  had  the  city  purchased  from  her 
the  ground  on  which  Park  street,  the  pride  of  Port- 
land, was  laid  out.  To  compel  the  city  to  do  this,  a 
row  of  small  houses  was  built  in  the  street,  where 

"Or.  Statesman,  Feb.  6,  1855.  As  the  reader  has  probably  noticed,  the 
town-site  law  was  extended  to  Oregon  in  July  1854,  but  did  not  apply  to 
claims  already  taken,  consequently  would  not  apply  to  Portland.  See  also 
}kc.  Slip.  Ct,  relative  to  Town  Sites  in  Or.;  Or,  Statesman,  Aug.  8,  1875;  Or. 
S.  C.  liepts,  1863-4. 

'"  A.  P.  Dennison,  and  one  Spear,  made  claims  which  were  disallowed. 
The  ktter's  pretensions  arose  from  having  leased  some  land  between  1830  and 
18.'):),  mid  believing  that  ho  could  claim  as  a  resident  under  that  act.  Deuni- 
floiiH  inetensions  were  similarly  founded,  and,  I  believe,  Carter's  also. 

'^liiie/inbehalfo/Stark,  Coffin,  Lownsdale,  andChapman,  1-24;  Or,  States- 
nan,  Dec.  21,  1858.  See  also  Martin  vs  T'Vault,  1  Or.  77;  Lownsdale  va 
CiUj  of  Portland  (U.  S.  D.  C),  1  Or.  380;  Chapman  vs  School  District  No.  1 
ti  ul.;  Opin,  Justice  Dead)/,  C.  C.  U.  S,;  Burke  vs  Lownsdale, 


I 


288 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


:i      ii 


I  S ! 


they  remain  to  this  time,  the  city  unwilling  to  pur- 
chase at  the  present  value,  and  the  owners  determined 
not  to  make  a  present  of  the  land  to  the  public." 
There  was  likewise  a  suit  for  the  Portland  levee,  which 
had  been  dedicated  to  the  use  of  the  public.  The  su- 
preme court  decided  that  it  belonged  to  the  town ;  but 
Deady  reversed  the  decision,  on  the  ground  that  at 
the  time  the  former  decision  was  rendered  the  land 
did  not  belong  to  the  city,  but  to  Coffin,  Chapman, 
and  Lownsdale." 

*^  Lownsdale  died  in  April  1862.  His  widow  was  Nancy  Gilllhan,  to  whom 
he  was  married  about  1850. 

*^  Apropos  of  the  history  of  Portland  land  titles:  there  came  to  Oregon 
with  tlio  immigration  of  1847  a  woman,  commonly  believed  to  be  a  wiihnv, 
calling  herself  Mrs  Elizabeth  C'aruthers,  and  with  her,  Finice  Caruthers,  her 
son.  They  settled  on  land  adjoining  Portland  on  the  south,  and  when  the 
donation  law  of  1850  was  passed,  the  woman  entered  her  part  of  the  claim 
nndcr  the  name  of  Elizabeth  Thomas,  explaining  that  she  had  married  one 
T' '^mas,  in  Tennessee,  who  had  left  her,  and  who  she  heard  luid  diod  in 
1821.  Slie  preferred  for  certain  reasons  to  be  known  by  her  maiden  iiiunu  uf 
Carutners.  She  was  allowed  to  claim  320  acres,  and  her  son  320,  making  a 
full  donation  claim.  A  house  was  built  on  the  line  between  the  two  portions, 
in  which  both  claimants  lived.  In  due  time  both  '  proved  up  '  and  oljtained 
their  certificates  from  the  land  office.  About  1857  Mrs  Camthers-Thonias 
died;  Z..A  in  18(50  Finice,  her  son,  died.  As  he  was  her  sole  heir,  the  whole 
640  acres  belonged  to  him.  Leaving  no  will,  and  being  without  family,  the 
estate  was  administered  upon  and  settled. 

So  valuable  a  property  was  not  long  without  claimants.  The  state  claimeil 
it  as  an  escheat,  Or.  Jour.  House,  1808,  44-0,  40.">,  but  resigned  its  preten- 
sions on  loarning  tliat  there  were  heirs  who  could  claim.  During  this  time 
an  attempt  had  been  made  to  prove  Finice  Thomas  illegitimate.  This  fail- 
ing, A.  J.  Knott  and  R.  J.  Ladd  preempted  the  land  left  by  Mrs  Thomas,  on 
the  ground  that  being  a  woman  she  could  not  take  under  the  donation  act. 
Knott  and  Ladd  obtained  patents  to  the  land;  but  they  were  subsequently 
set  aside  by  the  U.  S.  sup.  ct,  which  held  that  a  woman  was  a  man  in  legal 
parlance,  and  that  Mrs  Thomas'  claim  was  good. 

Meantime  agitation  brought  to  the  surface  new  facts.  There  were  men 
in  Oregon  who  had  known  the  husband  in  Tennessee  and  Missouri,  and  who 
believed  him  still  alive.  Two  who  had  known  Thomas,  or  as  he  was  called, 
Wrestling  Joe,  were  sent  to  St  Louis,  accompanied  by  a  lawyer,  to  discover 
the  owner  of  south  Portland.  He  was  found,  his  identity  established,  his  in- 
terest in  the  property  purchased  for  the  parties  conducting  the  search,  and  lie 
was  brought  to  Oregon  to  aid  in  establishing  the  right  of  the  purchasers.  In 
Oregon  were  found  a  number  of  persons  who  recognized  and  identitiecl  him  as 
Wrestling  Joe  of  the  Missouri  frontier,  though  old  and  feeble.  He  \vas  a 
man  not  likely  to  be  forgotten  or  mistaken,  and  had  a  remarkable  scar  (>n  l)is 
face.  In  1872  a  ease  was  brought  to  trial  before  a  jury,  who  on  the  evidence 
decided  that  the  man  brought  to  Oregon  was  Joe  Thomas.  Soon  after,  and 
pending  an  appeal  to  the  sup.  ct,  a  compromise  was  effected  with  the  cun- 
testants,  by  tlie  formation  of  the  South  Portland  Real  Estate  Association, 
which  bought  up  all  the  conflicting  claims  and  entered  into  possession.  Sub- 
Bcqucntly  they  sohl  to  Villard. 

After  the  settlement  of  the  suits  as  above.  Wrestling  Joe  became  incensed 
with  some  of  the  men  connected  with  the  sottlemeut,  and  denied  that  he  wua 


THE  DALLES  CLAIM. 


289 


ihan,  to  whom 


Advantage  was  sought  to  be  taken  by  some  of  that 
clause  in  the  donation  law  which  declared  that  no  laws 
passed  by  the  provisional  legislature  interfering  with 
the  primary  disposal  of  the  soil  should  be  valid.  But 
the  courts  held,  very  properly,  that  it  had  not  been 
the  intention  of  congress  to  interfere  with  the  arrange- 
ments already  made  between  the  settlers  as  to  the 
disposal  of  their  claims,  but  that  on  the  contrary  the 
organic  law  of  the  territory  distinctly  said  that  all  bonds 
and  obligations  valid  under  the  laws  of  the  provisional 
government,  not  in  conflict  with  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  were  to  be  valid  under  the  territorial  laws  till 
altered  by  the  legislature,  and  that  the  owners  of  town 
sites  who  had  promised  deeds  were  legally  bound  to 
furnish  them  on  obtaining  the  title  to  the  land.  And 
the  courts  also  decided  that  taxes  should  be  paid  on 
land  claims  before  the  patents  issued,  because  by  the 
act  of  September  27,  1850,  the  land  was  the  property 
in  fee  simple  of  every  claimant  who  had  fulfilled  the 
conditions  of  the  law. 

A  question  arose  concerning  the  right  of  a  man  hav- 
ing an  Indian  woman  for  a  wife  to  hold  640  acres  of 
land,  which  was  decided  by  the  courts  that  he  could 
so  hold. 


The  Dalles  town-site  claim  was  involved  in  doubt 
and  litigation  down  to  a  recent  period,  or  during  a 
term  of  twenty-three  years.  That  the  methodists 
first  settled  at  this  point  as  missionaries  is  known  to 
the  reader;  also  that  in  1847  they  sold  it  to  Whitman, 
who  was  in  possession  during  the  Cayuse  war,  which 
drove  all  the  white  population  out  of  the  country. 
Thus  the  first  claim  was  methodist,  transferred  to  the 
presbyterians,  and  finally  abandoned.     But,  as  I  have 

tliat  person,  asserting  that  his  name  was  John  C.  Nixon,  and  that  all  lie  had 
ttstiticil  to  before  was  false.  This  led  to  the  indictment  and  arrest  of  tlio 
men  who  went  to  St  Louis  to  find  and  identify  Thomas,  but  on  their  trial  tho 
evkleii.c  Wiia  so  strong  that  they  were  acquitted.  Soon  after,  Thomas  re- 
turned to  St  Louis,  where  lie  lived,  as  before,  after  the  manner  of  a  niendi* 
caut.  Sec  criniinnnication  by  W.  C.  Johnson,  in  Portland  Or,,  Feb.  2,  1878. 
Uwr.  On.,  Vol.  II.    19 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 

elsewhere  shown,  a  cathoHc  mission  was  maintained 
there  afterward  for  some  years. 

From  the  sale**  and  abandonment  of  the  Dalles 
mission  to  June  1850  there  was  noprotestant  mission 
at  that  place ;  but  subsequent  to  the  passage  of  the 
donation  law,  and  notwithstanding  the  military  reser- 
vation of  the  previous  month  of  May,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  revive  the  methodist  claim  in  that  j^ear  by 
surveying  and  making  a  claim  which  took  in  the  old 
mission  site;  and  in  1854  their  agent,  Thomas  H. 
Pearne,  notified  the  surveyor  general  of  the  fact.*'  In 
the  interim,  however,  a  town  had  grown  up  at  this 
place,  and  certain  private  individuals  and  the  town 
officers  opposed  the  pretensions  of  the  methodists. 
And  it  would  seem  from  the  action  of  the  military 
authorities  at  an  earlier  date  that  either  they  differed 
from  the  methodist  society  as  to  their  rights,  or  were 
willing  to  give  them  an  opportunity  to  recover  dam- 
ages for  the  appropriation  of  their  property,  the  for- 
mer mission  premises  being  located  about  in  the  centre 
of  the  reservation. 

When  the  amended  land  law  in  1853  reduced  the 
military  reservations  in  Oregon  to  a  mile  square,  the 
reserve  as  laid  out  still  took  somethinof  more  than 
half  of  the  claim  as  surveyed  by  the  methodists  m 
1850.*^     For  this  the  society,  by  its  agent,  brought  a 

**  The  price  paid  by  Whitman  for  the  improvements  at  The  Dallea  was, 
according  to  the  testimony  of  the  methodist  claimants,  $(500  in  a  (h\aft  on  tlie 
American  board,  the  agreement  being  cancelled  in  1849  by  a  surrender  of  tlio 
draft. 

*'The  superintendent  of  the  M.  E.  mission,  William  Roberts,  advertised 
in  the  Spectator  of  Jan.  10,  1850,  that  ho  desi<^ed  to  reoccupy  the  plaoc.  de- 
claring that  the  society  had  only  withdrawn  from  it  for  fear  of  the  Imliaiis, 
though  every  one  could  know  that  when  the  mission  was  sold  the  war  had  not 
yet  broken  out.  The  Indians  were,  iiowever,  ill-tempered  and  detiaiit.  :is  I 
have  related.    See  Fidtoii'B  Jiastern  Oregon,  MS.,  8. 

*"  Fulton  describes  the  boundaries  as  follows:  'When  the  governinniit  re- 
duced the  military  reservations  to  a  mile  square,  it  happened  that,  on  survey- 
ing the  land  so  as  to  bring  tiio  fort  in  the  proper  position  with  regard  to  the 
boundaries,  a  strip  of  laud  was  left  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width  next 
the  river,  which  was  not  covered  by  the  reserve.  To  this  strip  of  laiul  the 
mission  returned,  upon  the  pretence  that  as  it  was  not  included  in  the  military 
reservation,  for  which  they  had  received  §24,000,  it  was  still  theirs.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  river  front,  there  was  also  a  strip  of  land  on  the  east  siilo  of  the 
reserve  which  was  brought  by  the  government  survey  within  the  section  that 


MISSION  LANDS. 


291 


laintaincd 

he  Dalles 
nt  mission 
acre  of  the 
tary  reser- 
itempt  was 
it  year  by 
.  in  the  old 
Thomas  H. 
5  fact.*'    In 
up  at  this 
I  the  town 
methodists. 
he  military 
hey  differed 
tits,  or  were 
Bcovcr  dani- 
•ty,  the  for- 
n  the  centre 

reduced  the 
square,  the 

more  than 
ethodists  in 

brought  a 

(The  Dalles  was. 

]  ill  a  draft  on  the 

,  surrciuk'i-  of  tlio 

[berts,  aavertised 
Ipy  the  iilai-'c.  il«- 
Ir  of  the  Iii'liaiis, 
n  the  war  lunl  not 
fand  defiant,  as  1 

governinont  ve- 

that,  on  survey- 

|ith  regard  to  tlio 

lile  in  width  next 

Istripoflandtlic 

Ll  in  the  military 

ll  theirs.     1"  a'^" 

,  cast  side  of  the 

,  the  section  that 


claim  against  the  government  for  620,000  for  the 
land,  and  later  of  $4,000  for  the  improvements,  which 
in  their  best  days  had  been  sold  to  Whitman  for  6G00. 
Congress,  by  the  advice  of  Major  G.  J.  Raines,  then  in 
command  at  Fort  Dalles,  and  through  the  efforts  of 
politicians  who  knew  the  strength  of  the  society, 
allowed  both  claims;*^  and  it  would  have  been  seemly 
it'tliis  liberal  indemnity  for  a  false  claim  had  satisiied 
the  greed  of  that  ever-hungry  body  of  christian  min- 
isters. But  they  still  laid  claim  to  every  foot  of 
ground  which  by  their  survey  of  1850  fell  without 
the  boundaries  of  the  military  reserve,  taking  enough 
on  every  side  of  it  to  make  up  half  of  a  legal  mission 
donation,*^ 

Tiie  case  came  before  three  successive  surveyor- 
generals  and  the  land  commissioners,*^  and  was  each 
time  decided  against  the  missionary  society,  until,  as 
I  have  said,  congress  was  induced  to  pay  damages  to 
the  amount  of  $24,000,  in  the  expectation,  no  doubt, 
that  this  would  settle  the  claims  of  the  missionaries 
forever.  Instead  of  this,  however,  the  methodist  in- 
fluence was  strong  enough  with  the  secretary  of  the 
iiiterioi  in  1875  to  enlist  him  in  the  business  of  get- 
ting a  deed  in  fee  simple  from  the  government  of  the 
land  claimed  by  the  missionaries,'^''  although  the  prop- 
would  have  been  the  mission  claim  if  adhered  to  as  originally  occupied. 
Tills  also  they  claimed,  managing  so  well  that  to  make  out  their  section  they 
wuiit  all  around  the  reserve.  Etistern  Or.,  MS.,  3-5. 

'■  Bill  passed  in  June  1800.  See  remarks  upon  itby  Or.  Statesman,  April 
2(1,  l,s,-)!);  /,/.,  March  15,  1850;  Ind.  Aff.  licpt,  1854,  '284-0. 

'^  Tliey  made  another  point — that  Waller  had  left  The  Dalles  and  taken  land 
nt  Salcin,  where  ho  had  nut  half  a  claim,  which  he  wanted  to  liU  up  at  Tlio 
l>aU(H.  FuIUjii' A  Eastern  Or.,  MS.,  7.  Deady  saysnotwithstaudiiiL.'  tliat  liuh- 
ert.s  liml  declared  the  sale  to  Wliitman  cancelled  in  1840,  a  formal  di'cil  of 
ijiiittliiim  was  not  obtained  till  Feb.  28,  1859;  ami  further,  that  on  the  ;)d 
iif  NiiVL'nilier,  1858,  Walker  and  Eells,  professing  to  act  for  the  American 
board,  had  conveyed  the  premises  to  M.  M.  McCarver  and  Samuel  L.  \Miite, 
sulijcct  only  to  the  military  reservation.  Portland  Oretjonian,  Dec.  4,  1879; 
Or.  Siitiri^man,  Aug.  25  and  Sept.  8,  1855. 

'T.  ,S'.  //.  Ex.  Doc,  1,  vol.  V.  5,  38th  cong.  2d  sees.;  Land  Off.  Repf,  18C4, 
2;  I'urilnnd  Orefjnnian,  Jan.  2.1,  18C3. 

^  '''  I'lirllmid  Advocate,  May  0,  1875;  Vnvcouvrr  lier/ister,  Aug.  0,  1875;  X. 
Y.  Mtfliodi.it,  in  Walla  Walla  Statesman,  May  1,  1875.  Fulton  .«ays  Junes 
K.  Ki'lly  told  him  that  Delano  had  himself  been  a  methodist  minister,  V'liich 
may  account  for  the  strong  interest  in  this  case.  Eastern  Or,,  MS.,  0. 


292 


LAND  LAWS  AND  LAND  TITLES. 


erty  was  already  covered  by  a  patent  under  the  dona- 
tion act  to  W.  D.  Bigelow,  who  settled  at  The  Dalits 
in  1850/^  and  a  deed  under  the  town-site  act.  But 
hy  Judge  Deady  this  patent  was  held  of  no  effect, 
because  the  section  of  the  statutes  under  which  it 
was  issued  imposed  conditions  which  were  not  com- 
plied with,  namely,  that  the  grant  could  only  be  made 
upon  a  survey  approved  by  the  surveyor  general  and 
found  correct  by  the  commissioner,  neither  of  which 
could  be  maintained,  as  both  had  rejected  the  claim. 
And  in  any  case,  under  the  statute,"^^  such  a  patent 
could  operate  only  as  a  relinquishment  of  title  on  the 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  could  not  interfere 
with  any  valid  adverse  right  like  that  of  Bigelow  or 
Dalles  City,  nor  preclude  legal  investigation  and  de- 
cision by  a  proper  judicial  tribunal. 

This  legal  investigation  began  in  the  circuit  court 
of  Wasco  county  in  September  1877,  but  was  re- 
moved in  the  following  January  to  the  United  States 
district  court,  which  rendered  a  decision  in  October 
1879  adverse  to  the  missionary  society,  and  sustain- 
ing the  riijhts  of  the  town-site  owners  under  the  do- 
nation  and  town-site  laws,  founded  upon  a  thorough 
examination  of  the  history  and  evidence  in  the  case. 
The  mission  then  appealed  to  the  U.  S.  supremo 
court,  which,  in  1883,  finally  affirmed  Deady 's  deci- 
sion, and  The  Dalles,  which  had  been  under  this  clout! 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  was  at  length  enabled  to 
give  a  clear  title  to  its  property. 

The  claim  made  by  the  catholics  at  The  Dalles  in 


■*'  Bigelow  sold  and  conveyed,  Dec.  9,  1862,  an  undivided  third  interest  in 
'  acres  of  his  claim  to  James  K.  Kelly  and  Aaron  E.  Wait;  and  Dec.  I  -, 
)  04,  also  conveyed  to  Orlando  Humason  the  remaining  two  thirds  of  tliis 
ct.  Humason  died  in  Sept.  1875,  leaving  the  property  to  his  widow  Thaljo 
i  iiason,  who  Ijecame  one  of  three  in  a  suit  against  the  missionary  society. 
S.  The  Dalles  Mcth.  M'iks.  Claim  Cases,  5,  a  pamphlet  of  22  pp.  IJigtloiv 
al  oonveyed  to  Kelly  and  Wait  46  town  lots  on  the  hill  part  of  the  town, 
ku    rn  as  Bluff  addition  to  Dalles  City.  Id. 

•Deady  quotes  it  as  'section  2447  of  the  R.  S.,*  and  says  it  was  'taken 
fro  the  act  of  Dec.  22,  1854,  authorizing  the  issue  of  patents  in  certain  casi's, 
an.i  only  applies  where  there  has  been  a  grant  by  statute  without  a  provisiuu 
fur  the  issue  of  a  patent,'  which  could  not  be  altirmed  in  this  case. 


REFLECTIONS. 


203 


1848,  and  who  really  were  in  possession  at  the  time 
of  the  passage  of  the  organic  act,  was  set  asi<le,  ex- 
cept so  far  as  they  were  allowed  to  retain  about  half 
an  acre  for  a  building  spot.  So  difierently  is  law  in- 
ter[>reted,  according  to  whether  its  advocates  are 
governed  by  its  strict  construction,  by  popular  clamor, 
or  by  equity  and  common  sense. 

In  the  case  of  the  original  'old  mission'  of  the 
nuthodist  church  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  the  re- 
moval of  the  mission  school  to  Salem  in  1843  pre- 
vented title.  The  land  on  which  Salem  now  stands 
would  have  come  under  the  law  had  not  the  mission 
school  been  discontinued  in  1844;  and  the  same  may 
bo  said  of  all  the  several  stations,  that  they  had  been 
abandoned  before  1850. 

As,  to  the  grants  to  protestant  missions,  they  re- 
ceived little  benefit  from  them.  The  American  board 
sold  Waiilatpu  for  $1,000  to  Gushing  Eells,  as  I  liave 
btfore  mentioned.  It  was  not  a  town  site,  and  there 
was  no  quarrel  over  it.  An  attempt  by  the  catholics 
to  claim  under  the  donation  law  at  Walla  Walla  was 
a  failure  through  neglect  to  make  the  proper  notifica- 
tion, as  I  have  also  stated  elsewhere.  No  notice  of 
the  privilege  to  claim  at  Lapwai  was  taken  until  1 8G"J, 
when  the  Indian  agent  of  Washington  Territory  for 
the  Nez  Perces  was  notified  by  Eells  that  the  land  ho 
was  occupying  for  agency  purposes  was  claimed  by 
the  American  board,  and  a  contest  arose  about  sur- 
veying the  land,  which  was  referred  to  the  Indian 
bureau,  Eells  forbidding  the  agent  to  make  any  fui-- 
thcr  improvements.^^     But  as  the  law  under  which 


'^  Cliarles  Hutchina,  the  agent  referred  to,  remarkn  that  the  missionaries 
at  Liipwiii  may  have  acted  with  discretion  iu  retiring  to  the  Willamette  V.d- 
liy,  al  .lough  they  were  assured  of  protection  by  the  Xez  I'ercOs;  but  as 
tliuy  had  n)ade  no  demonstration  of  returning  from  1S47  to  1S(J2,  and  had 
lifLU  <iigaged  in  other  pursuits,  it  was  suggestive  of  the  thought  tliat  it  was 
the  Value  of  the  improvements  made  upon  the  land  that  prompted  them  to 
put  ill  their  claim  at  this  time.  Ho  could  have  added  that  the  general  im- 
pKntiueut  in  this  part  of  the  country  might  have  prompted  them.  Ind.  Aff, 
In'i't,  lSO-2,  426. 


204 


LAND  LAWS  ANP  LAND  TITLES. 


1 '! 


the  missions  could  claim  required  actual  occupancj-at 
the  time  of  its  passage,  none  of  the  lands  resided  ujiou 
by  the  presbyterians  were  granted  to  the  board  ex- 
cept tlie  Waiilatpu  claim  from  which  the  occupants 
were  excluded  by  violence  and  death.  Thus,  of  all 
the  land  which  tJie  missionaries  had  taken  so  much 
trouble  to  secure  to  their  societies,  and  which  the  or- 
ganic act  was  intended  to  convey,  only  the  blocnl- 
stained  soil  of  Whitman's  station  was  ever  coufirmod 
to  the  churcli,  because  before  1848  every  Indian  mis- 
sion had  l)een  abandoned  except  those  of  the  catho- 
lics, who  failed  to  manage  well  enough  to  have  their 
claims  acknowledged  where  they  might  have  doiiu 
so,  and  who  conmiitted  the  blunder  of  attem[)tiiig  to 
seize  the  land  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  at  Van- 
couver. 


i:  r 


it 

¥ 


I' 


Great  as  was  the  bounty  of  tho  government,  it  was 
not  an  umnixed  blessing.  It  developed  rapacity  in 
some  })laces,  and  encouraged  slothful  habits  among 
some  by  giving  them  more  than  they  could  care  for, 
and  allowing  them  to  hope  for  riches  from  the  sale  of 
their  unused  acres.  The  peo[)le,  too,  soon  fell  out  with 
the  surveyor-general  for  taking  advantage  of  his  po- 
sition to  exact  illegal  fees  for  surveying  their  claims 
]>ri()r  to  the  [)ublic  survey,  Preston  requiring  them  to 
bear  this  exi)ense,  and  to  employ  his  corps  of  survH-y- 
(»rs.  About  .$25, 000  was  extorted  from  the  larnicrs 
in  this  way,  when  Preston  was  removed  on  their  com- 
plaint, and  Charles  K.  Gardiner  of  Washington  city 
a[)pninted  in  his  place  in  November  1853. 

Gardiner  had  not  long  been  in  office  before  ho  fol- 
lowed Preston's  example.  The  peo[)le  protested  and 
threatened,  and  Gardiner  was  obliged  to  yield,  lioth 
the  beneficiaries  and  the  federal  officer  knew  that  :\u 
ap[)eal  to  the  general  land  office  wimld  result  in  tho 
people  having  their  will  in  any  matters  pertaining  to 
their  donation.  The  donation  privileges  ex[>ireil  in 
1855,  after  which  time  the  public  lands  were  suhjcct 


PREEMPTION  AND  PATENTS.  jpg 

el../so-^o*'tl  ^^^^.^'-^^^  f«r  preemption  and  pur- 
chase.  On  tlie  admission  of  Ore.ron  as  i  st-if  >  ;., 
1851)  out  of  eight  thousand  hxnd  claims  filed  if  to 
v<astrar  s  office  in  Oregon  City,  only  about  one  ei!d  h 
k  u  been  forwarded  to  Washington  for  patent,  ow  n  ' 
o  the  nc^dect  of  the  govermnent  to  funiish  clerks  to 

atc  daily.  Joes  not  being  allowed.,  this  officer  could 
.  |t  afford  to  hire  assistants.  But  in  18G2  fees  were 
u  lowed,  and  the  work  progressed  more  satisfactorily 

l.ougli  It  IS  doubtful  if  ten  years  afterward  all  he 
donation  patents  had  been  issued."" 

oiV^'l'ui^H^tsiJ^^^^  hold  tho 

uav  to  15.  J.  PenVni  ami  ho  in  f^  Tl     i/f  «rrV'"ttHl.     In  ISOl  l,o  ™vo 

"  /.n„d  Of.  Kent,  1838    33    iS   9 Po^  '"'"]'  "'' "'•'^«'>'>  "icii. 
Uulktin,  Jan. '28,  im  '  '  ^^  ''  ^'^  ^'■^"'''  S'^P*-  H.  1S58;  S.  F. 


'i  ■:  I 


CHAPTER  XI. 

POLITICS  AND   PROGRESS. 
1853. 

Legislative  Proceedings — Judicial  Districts — Public  BriLDiNGS— Tenor 

OF  LliOISLATION— InSTRCCTIONS  TO  THE  CONGRESSIONAL  DELEGATE — HaH- 

BORS  AND  Shipping— Lane's  Congressional  Labors — Charges  against 
Governor  Gaines — Ocean  Mail  Service — Protection  of  Overland 
Immigkan  IS — Military  Roads — Division  of  the  Territory — Fedeiial 
Appointments — New  Judges  and  their  Districts— Whigs  and  Dem- 
ocrats— Lane  as  Governor  and  Delegate — Alonzo  A.  Skinner— Ax 
Able  and  Humane  Man — Sketch  of  his  Life  and  Public  Services. 


I  HAVE  said  nothing  about  the  legislative  and  po- 
litical doings  of  the  territory  since  tbc  sunimer  (»t' 
1852,  when  the  assembly  met  in  obedience  to  a  cull 
from  Governor  Gaines,  only  to  show  its  contem[>t  l)y 
adjourning  without  entering  upon  any  business.^  At 
the  regular  term  in  December  there  were  i)re.«ent  five 
w'higs,  three  from  Clackamas  county  and  t\i'o  IVum 
Yandiill.  Only  one  other  county,  Um[)qua,  ran  a 
whig  ticket,  and  that  elected  a  democrat,  wliicli 
promised  little  comfort  for  the  adherents  of  Gaiiios 

'The  council  was  composed  of  Dcady,  Garrison,  Lovcjoy,  ITiill,  and  ^Vlly• 
miro  of  tlio  former  legislature,  and  A.  L.  llunipliry  of  Ik-nton  and  Limn 
counties,  Lucius  W.  Phelps  of  Linn,  and  Levi  Scott  of  UmiKpia,  l)()U;j;las,  nnd 
Jacksdii.  Lancaster,  from  the  north  side  of  the  Colunilna,  was  not  jirt'sint. 
'J'he  inemliers  of  tlio  lower  house  wore  J.  C.  Avery  and  George  K.  Cole  uf 
Itenton;  W.  T.  Mallock,  A.  E.  Wait,  and  Lot  Whitcomh  of  C]lacliaiiiiis; 
Joiin  A.  Anderson  of  Clatsop  and  Pacilic;  F.  A.  Chcnowcth  of  Chiriic  iunl 
Lewis;  Curtis  of  Douglas;  .lohn  K.  Hardin  of  Jackson;  Tiiomas  X.  Aiilucy 
of  ]^iiie;  James  Curl  anil  IJoyal  Cottle  of  Linii;  11.  F.  Harding,  l>eiij:iiiiia 
Simpson,  and  Jacoli  Couser  of  Marion;  H.  N.  V.  Holmes  and  .1.  M.  I'ulkii- 
Bon  of  Polk;  A.  C.  (iilibs  of  Umpijua;  John  Richardson,  F.  li.  Martin,  .unl 
John  Cai'cy  of  Yamhill;  ISeiijamin  Stark,  Milton  Tuttle,  and  Isiail  Mitrliill 
of  Wasidiigtou,  Or.  Utataimaii,  July  HI,  1852,  Tho  oUiccrs  elected  iaJuly 
held  over. 

(290) 


COURT  DISTRICTS. 


.DINGS— TeNOB 
XEGATE— II.UI- 
[AUGES  AGAINST 
OF  OVKUI-AM) 
'OKY— FEUKKAL 
IIIOS  AND  l^tM- 

.  Skin  NEK— An 

Lie  SEKVlCtS. 

vc  and  po- 
suininer  of 
CO  t<3  a  call 
3iitciupt  l>> 


moss. 


At 


)rosout  five 
t\*'o  IVoiii 

i|ua,  rail  a 
at,  whii'li 
of  Gainos 

[Tall,  an.l  Way 
Iiiton  ami  Lim" 
lii,  Douglas,  mill 
Laa  not  iinsint. 
|)rgo  H.  <'|>1''  "f 
"  of  CliK'kanws; 
of  C'liirkc  iiii.l 
lima  N.  Aul'ivy 
lUiig,  r.i'iijaiiiiii 
B  ,).  M.  Fiilki'i'- 
111.  Martin,  iui.l 
llaiwl  Miulnll 
ulected  ill  July 

;29fl) 


and  the  federal  judges,  whose  mendacity  in  denying 
the  vahdity  of  the  act  of  1849,  adopting  certain  of 
the  Revised  Statutes  of  1843  of  Iowa,  popularly 
known  as  the  steamboat  code,^  was  the  cause  of  more 
confusion  than  their  opposition  to  the  location  of  the 
scat  of  government  act,  also  declared  to  be  invalid, 
because  two  of  them  used  the  Revised  Statutes  of 
Iowa  of  1838,  adopted  by  the  provisional  government, 
in  tliiir  courts,  instead  of  the  later  one  which  the 
legislative  assembly  declared  to  be  the  law. 

As  I  have  before  recorded,  the  legislature  of  1851- 
2,  in  order  to  secure  the  administration  of  the  laws 
they  enacted,  altered  the  judicial  districts  in  such  a 
numnoi-  tliat  Pratt's  district  included  the  greater  part 
of  tlio  Willamette  Valley.  But  Pratt's  term  expired 
in  the  autumn  of  1852-3,  and  a  new  man,  C.  F. 
Train,  had  been  appointed  in  his  place,  toward  whom 
the  democracy  were  not  favorably  inclined,  simply 
because  he  was  a  whig  appointee.^  As  Pratt  was  no 
loni^ei-  at  hand,  and  as  the  business  of  the  courts  in 
the  counties  assigned  to  him  was  too  great  for  a  single 
jiulge',  the  legislature  in  1852-3  redisti'ictod  the  ter- 
ritory, making  the  1st  district,  which  belonged  to 
Chief  Justice  Nelson,  comprise  the  counties  of  Lane, 
Uui|)([ua,  Douglas,  and  Jackson;  the  2d  district,  which 
would  be  Train's,  embrace  Clackamas,  Marion,  Yam- 
hill, Polk,  Benton,  and  Linn;  and  the  3d,  or  Strong'.s, 
coii.sist  of  Washington,  Clatsop,  Clarke,  Lewis,  Tliurs- 
tiin,  IMorce,  and  Island.  By  this  arrangement  Nelson 
Would  have  been  compelled  to  remain  in  contact  with 
lioinh  r  life  during  the  remainder  of  his  term  had  not 
Deady,  who  was  then  president  of  the  council,  ro- 
k'lited  so  far  as  to  procure  the  insertion  in  the  act  of 

'AiiKiry  llolhrook  tlins  immiHl  it,  moaniiij^  it  was  a  cn-ry-all,  l)pcauso  it 
liml  nut  Ipim'ii  ailoptfd  act  by  act,  Saya  the  Or.  SNt'i'/nwui,  .laii.  M,  1S,").'1: 
'Tlio  cdiU'  iif  lawH  known  us  tlio  Htcanilioat  coiU",  cnactcil  liy  the  Ipu'lalativo 
msonilily,  lias  hcou  anil  in  still  ilisrcL^anloil  by  liolli  of  tlio  fcilcral  juili^cs  in 
till' till ilnry,  wliilo  tlio  olil  Iowa  blue-liook,  I'.xpreusly  ivpualotl  l>y  tlio  as- 
si'iiilily,  i^  (iiforcctl  tlii'ougltoiit  their  districts. ' 

'Tlic  Or.  Si(ti( small,  Dec.  IS,  185'2,  luuiUctcd  that  ho  would  uovcr  oomo  to 
Oruguii,  and  iio  uovor  did. 


293 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


■;h* 


i-'i  r 


M 


a  section  allowing  the  judges  to  assign  themselves  to 
their  districts  by  mutual  agreement,  only  notifyiiio* 
the  secretary  of  the  territor}^  who  should  publish  the 
notice  before  the  beginning  of  llarch;*  the  concession 
being  made  on  account  of  the  active  opposition  of 
the  whig  members  to  the  bill  as  it  was  tirst  drawn, 
they  making  it  a  party  question,  and  several  demo- 
crats joining  with  them.  The  law  as  it  was  passed 
also  made  all  writs  and  recognizances  before  issued 
valid,  and  declared  that  no  proceedings  should  bo 
deemed  erroneous  in  consequence  of  the  change  in 
the  districts.  The  judges  immediately  complied  witli 
the  conditions  of  the  new  law,  and  assigned  "them- 
selves to  the  territory  they  had  formerly  occupied. 

The  former  acts  concerning  the  location  of  the  pub- 
lic buildings  of  the  territory  were  amended  at  tliis 
term  and  new  boards  appointed,*  the  governor  l)ein;,' 
declared  treasurer  of  the  funds  appropriated,  without 
power  to  expend  any  portion  except  upon  an  order 
from  the  several  boards  constituted  by  the  legisla- 
ture." Here  the  matter  rested  until  the  next  term 
of  the  legislature. 

*/(/.,  Fcl).  12,  18r)3.  Tho  Slatcmian  romarketl  that  tho  majority  in  tlio 
hnuso  liad  killed  tho  iirst  bill  ami  ducidcil  to  leave  tho  people  without  cdiirt.-!, 
uidesa  they  eoidd  carry  a  party  point,  when  tho  council  in  a  conmieudablo 
spirit  of  conciliation  passed  a  new  bill. 

'•'I'lio  now  board  consisted  of  Eli  M.  Barnum,  Albert  W.  Ferguson,  iiml 
Alvia  Kiinscy.  liarnuni  waa  from  Ohio,  and  hia  wife  waa  Frances  liii timer  of 
Korwalk  in  that  state.  Tho  penitentiary  board  consisted  of  Williaui  M, 
Iving,  K.inuiel  I'arkor,  and  Nathaniel  Ford.  University  board,  Juim'.-i  A, 
Eenni'tt,  John  Trapp,  and  Lucius  I'helpa. 

"The  acts  of  tills  le;.,Mslatare  which  it  may  be  well  to  mention  arc  aa  follows: 
Creating  and  regulating  tho  ollico  of  prosecuting  attorney;  L.  V.  (ii'uvcr  he- 
in .(  a])p(iinted  for  the  '2d  district,  K.  itl.  Stratton  for  tho  1st,  and  AicxuiKkr 
Campbell  f(jr  the  Ud.  At  tlio ''lection  of  June  following.  K.  1'.  Bui.-i' \vii3 
chosen  in  tho  '2d  district,  Sima  in  the  lat,  and  Alex.  Camnbell  in  i\w  '.V\. 
lostablishing  probate  courts,  and  [iroviding  for  tho  election  ot  constahle;*  .iinl 
notaries  public.  A.  M.  l'(.io  waa  made  a  notary  f(U'  Thurston  county,  !'.  >'. 
Maynard  of  King,  John  M,  Chajiman  of  I'ierce,  R.  11,  Lansdalo  of  Isl.iii'l, 
A.  A.  riummcr  of  Jell'erson,  Adam  Van  Dusen  of  Clatsop,  James  iSciitlilcnif 
I'acillc,  Septinms  lleuhit  of  Clai'kamaa,  and  W.  M.  King  of  W'ashinutun 
county.  Or.  fStnlvsmnii,  Feb.  '20,  18i>.'{.  An  act  was  passed  authorizing'  tlio 
appointment  of  two  justicea  of  tho  peace  in  that  portion  of  Clackamas  last 
ot  the  Cascades,  and  apnoiuting  Cornelius  Talnu^r  and  Justin  CheunwiHli. 
Tho  comniissionors  of  eacli  county  were  authorized  by  act  to  locate  a  (piaitcr- 
seotiou  of  looid  for  tho  buuolit  uf  county  aouts,  iu  aucurdouco  with  the  law  vt 


LEGISLATION. 


299 


Qselves  to 
notifying 
lublish  the 
concession 
position  of 
rst  drawn, 
eral  demo- 
was  passed 
Fore  issued 
should  bo 
change  in 
uphed  with 
rned  tbeui- 
jccupicd. 

of  the  puh- 
ded  at  tliis 
pernor  being 
ted,  without 
jn  an  order 

the  Icgisla- 
next  term 


majority  in  tlio 

,  without  ciiurt.s, 

a  comuiciulab'io 

J,  Ferguson,  'mv\ 
lances  iiiiliiiHi'  nf 
ll  «jf  Willi^ui  M. 
^oiu'il,  .lium-s  A. 

^n  arc  aflfi 'Hows; 

..  F,  (Inivciln'- 

Tancl  AU'\:uuUr 

11.    r.    J5lli:-«'  wiw 

C)holl  in  tlie  ;M. 

constaliles  .iim 
1)11  ci>\intv.  '*  ^'' 
Mule  of'  l^l.ni'l. 
Ituni'H  Seinlilt'i' "' 

yf  \Vasliiii,L;t"i> 

lautlioriziiiL^  t'l" 
,ClaL'Uanias(':i«t 

bill  (.'ln'in'Wotli. 
locale  a iiuiiiti'i'- 
IwitU  the  law  I'f 


Tlie  resolutions  of  instruction  to  the  Oregon  dcle- 
rratc  in  congress  at  this  session  required  his  endeavor 
to  obtain  $100,000  for  the  improvement  of  the  Wil- 

coni,'res3  passed  May  26,  1824,  and  report  such  locations  to  the  surveyor 
gcmr.'il.  Or.  Ocn.  Lawx,  1852-3,  G8. 

1  liave  spoken  before  of  the  several  new  counties  created  at  this  sesainn, 
iivikin.i,'  necessary  a  new  ajiportionment  of  representatives.  Tliose  north  of  the 
('ihiml)ia  were  Pierce,  King,  Island,  and  Jeft'erson.  The  county  scat  of 
I'it'ioi'  was  located  on  the  land  claim  of  John  M.  Chaptnan  at  Stcilacooin; 
Kill',',  on  the  claim  of  David  S,  Maynard  at  Seattle;  Jetl'erson,  on  the  claim 
of  Allied  A.  Plunnner  at  Port  Townsend ;  Lewis,  on  the  claim  of  Frederick 
A.  Claik  at  the  upper  landing  of  the  Cowlitz.  Commissioners  of  King 
ciiimtv  were  A.  A.  Denny,  John  N.  Lowe,  Luther  M.  Collins;  David  C.  15or- 
iii.'.  siierili';  H.  D.  Ycsler,  probate  clerk.  Commissioners  of  Jofl'crson  county, 
Luiiiis  15,  Hastings,  David  F.  Brownlield,  Albert  Brigga;  H.  C.  Wilson, 
s'erilV;  A.  A.  Plummer,  probate  clerk.  Commissioners  of  Island  county, 
Saiiuul  1).  Howe,  John  Alexander,  John  Crockett;  W.  L.  Allen,  sheriff;  It. 
11.  I.Mn.sdale,  prolmte  clerk.  Commissioners  of  Pierce  county,  Thomas  M. 
Cluiiiilars,  William  Dougherty,  Alexander  Smith;  John  Bradley,  sheriff; 
.h.liii  -M.  Chiqunan,  probate  clerk.  The  county  seat  of  Thurston  county  was 
located  at  Olynipia,  and  that  of  Jackson  county  at  Jacksonville.  The  com- 
niis.siiiiH'is  ajipointed  were  James  Cluggagc,  Jamea  Dean,  and  Abel  tJeorge; 
Syki  t',  slarill';  Levi  A,  Uicc,  probate  clerk.  The  county  seat  of  Lane  was 
fixod  at  lOugene  City.  The  earliest  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  Willametto 
v\ie,  besides  Skinner,  Felix  Sct)tt,  Jacob  Spores,  Benjamin  Hichardsou,  John 
IjIiiwii,  Clarion  Scott,  John  Vatlcly,  Benjamin  and  Joseph  Davis,  C.  MuUi- 
(;:;ii,  i/iiuiel  Davis,  Hilyard  Shaw,  Elijah  Bristow,  William  Smith,  Isaac 
uail  l!lias  Briggs. 

'1  hv  ilcctiiiu  law  was  amended,  removing  the  five  years'  restriction  from 
furtiuii-biirn  citizens,  and  reducing  the  probationary  period  of  naturalized 
foreigners  to  six  months. 

All  act  was  passed  creating  an  irreducible  school  fund  out  of  all  moneys  in 
miy  \Miy  devoted  to  sehoul  purposes,  whether  by  donation,  becjuest,  sale,  or 
itMitof  school  lands,  or  in  any  manner  whatever,  the  interest  of  which  was 
1 1  lie  di\  iih'd  among  the  school  districts  in  proportion  to  tho  number  of  chil- 
(liTu  between  4  and  21  years  of  age,  with  other  regulations  concerning educa- 
tioiuil  iiuittei's.  A  board  of  commissioners,  consisting  of  Arnold  Fuller,  Jacob 
Maitiii,  and  Harrison  Linnville,  was  created  to  select  tlie  two  townships  of 
laiiil  granted  by  congress  to  a  territorial  university;  and  an  act  was  passed 
niiUiiiii/.iiig  tlie  university  commissioners  to  sell  ono  fourth  or  more  of  tho 
tijwir^hip,  to  be  selected  south  of  the  Columbia,  [or  the  purpose  of  erecting  a, 
liiiivriNity  building. 

i'lie  Wallamet  University  was  established,  by  act  of  tho  legislature 
,bui,  10,  IS."),'!,  the  trustees  being  David  Leslie,  WiUiani  Roberts,  (ieorgo 
.Muriuthy,  W.  H,  Wilson,  Alanscm  Beers,  Francis  S.  lloyt,  James  JL 
^yillm^,  Calvin  S.  Kingsley,  John  Flhm,  E.  M.  Barnum,  L.  F.  Crovcr,  B. 
Y.  Hauling,  Samuel  Burch,  Francis  Fletcher,  Jeremiah  Kalston,  John  D. 
IViiii,  ,b)stpli  Holiiian,  Webley  llanxhurst,  Jacob  (Jonser.  Alvin  1-',  Waller, 
.liijui  Stewart,  James  R.  Rubb,  Cyrus  Olney,  Asahel  Bush,  and  Samuel 
I'arkrr. 

I'll'itau'o  was  established  at  the  mouth  of  tho  Umpqna,  and  tho  olHco  of 
\vi((.ii-iii:i><ter  created  for  tho  several  counties  bordering  on  the  seaeoast.  S. 
^  Mann  \\as  appointed  for  Uni])qua  and  .lackson,  Thomas  (Joodwin  for  Clat- 
fop  and  I'acilie,  and  Samuel  B,  ('rocUett  for  the  coast  north  of  Pacilio  county, 
tu  Hi'ive  until  these  offices  were  Idled  by  election. 

The  I'iist  Methodist  Church  of  Portland  was  incorporated  January  25th, 
aud  tiio  city  of  I'urtluud  on  tho  2Sth.    A  divuicu  law  wua  passed  ut  this  acs* 


300 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


Ill 


lamette  River;  $30,000  for  opening  a  military  real 
from  Steilacoom  to  Fort  Walla  Walla;  $40,000  for  a 
military  road  from  Scottsburgto  Rogue  River  Valley; 
$15,000  to  build  a  light-house  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Umpqua;  v  15,000  for  buoys  at  the  entrance  of  that 
river;  and  $40,000  tu  erect  a  fire-proof  custoni-hoiiso 
at  that  place.  He  was  also  instructed  to  have  ISt 
Helen  made  a  port  of  delivery;  to  have  the  surveyor 
general's  office  removed  to  Salem;  to  procure  an  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  members  of  council  from  nine 
to  fifteen,  and  in  the  house  of  representatives  from 
eighteen  to  thirty ;  to  ask  for  a  military  reconnoissaiico 
of  the  country  between  the  Willamette  Valley  and 
Fort  Boise;  to  procure  the  establishment  of  a  mail 
route  from  Olympia  to  Port  Townsend,  with  post- 
offices  at  Steilacoom,  Seattle,  and  Port  Towuseiid, 
with  other  routes  and  offices  at  Whidby  Island  and  the 
mouth  of  the  Snohomish  River;  to  urge  tlie  sur\ey 
of  the  boundary  line  between  California  and  Orenon; 
to  procure  money  for  the  contmuance  of  the  geologi- 
cal survey  which  had  been  carried  on  for  one  year 
previous  in  Oregon  territory;^  to  call  the  attention  of 
congress  to  the  manner  in  which  the  Pacific  ^lall 
Steamship  Company  violated  their  contract  to  carry 
the  mail  from  Panama  to  Astoria;^  and  to  endeavor 

eiou,  tlio  first  ciiiictecl  in  tlie  territcy,  divorces  hitherto  having  been  granted 
by  tlic  le.LjislatHrc,  which  faiU'il  Vj  inqnire  closely  into  the  can.se  fi>r  iniii- 
l)laiiit.  Tho  law  made  inipotency,  adultery,  bigamy,  compulsion  or  friunl, 
wilful  desertion  for  two  years,  conviction  of  felony,  habitual  drunkiiiin'ss, 
gross  cruelty,  and  failure  to  support  tho  wife,  one  or  all  justiticatiou  for  s.v- 
ering  the  marriage  tie.  A  later  divorce  law  re(juircd  three  years'  aliiunlnii- 
inent,  not  otherwise  dilTering  essentially  from  that  of  ]8r)2-;i.  A  large  num- 
ber of  road  acts  were  passeil,  showing  the  development  of  the  country. 

'  In  ISol  congress  ordered  a  general  reconnoissanee  from  the  lincky  Moiiii- 
tains  to  the  I'acilic,  to  bo  performed  by  tho  geologists  J.  Evans,  J).  I'.  Owriis, 
B.  l'\  Shumard,  and  Norwood.  It  was  useful  in  i)ointingoi.t  the  IdCiti'Ui  ut' 
various  minerals  used  in  tho  operations  of  connnerco  and  manufactiiii',  tlioii;,''i 
most  of  the  important  discoveries  have  been  made  l)y  the  unlearned  hut  ]n\\.c- 
tical  miner.  (/.  S.  II.  JJr.  Doc,  '2,  pt  ii.  7,  .S'Jd  cong.  I  sesn. ;  U.  .*>'.  >'"'.  ' '  '»• 
Ji'i'l't,  177,  1-3,  (I,  ;}(ith  cong.  Ist  sess.;  0>:  i^jtcrlalor,  Nov.  IS,  1!Sj1;  Oli/m- 
2iia  ('olninhian,  Jan.  22,  18,Vi. 

*No  steamship  except  the  Fremont,  t\nd  she  only  once,  hail  ventinivl  to 
cross  tho  Umpcjua  bar.  From  IS.'il  to  18.")8  tiio  following  vessels  were  list 
on  the  southern  coast  of  Oregon:  At  or  near  tho  mouth  of  tho  Unip'iua.  tho 
liostonimi,  Culch  Ctirilx,  Uoauokf,  Achlllio,  Xd-ssnu,  Alm'irn,  Faini,  iiiul  A""- 
Choo;  and  at  or  near  tho  entrance  of  Cooa  liay  tho  Cyclops,  Jacksuii,  aud  two 


'a'' 


EMIGRANT  ROAD. 


301 


,  military  roal 
;  $40,000  tor  a 
J  River  Valley; 

mouth  of  the 
itrance  of  that 
f  custom-house 
cd  to  have  St 
Hi  the  surveyor 
procure  an  iii- 
)uncil  from  nine 
ientatives  from 
'  reconnoissance 
tto  Valley  and 
ment  of  a  mail 
end,  with  post- 
?*ort  Townseiid, 
■f  Island  and  the 
irire  tlie  survey 
lia  and  Ore;;-on; 
I  of  the  geoloyi- 
n  for  one  year 
the  attenti(»n  of 
le  Pacitic  Mall 
»ntract  to  carry 

nd  to  endeavor 

having  been  jjtrmitcil 
to  the  caU!<o  for  '■uin- 
couipul.si'in  "'■  fiiui'l, 
liahitual  aruiiki'iuu'ss, 
[l  justilicatinii  t'ursfv- 
ithvco  years'  aliainlnn- 
,S.")2-a.  A  large  iiuiii- 
(if  the  cnuutry. 
roin  tUeU-'eky  M'uni- 
.Evans,  J).  ]).  Ounis, 
Inijout  the  hioati'iii  nt 

nuuuifaeture,  tU'iiri'i 
[le  unlearned  liiit  imu- 
aesy.;  U.  >'■  >'"'•  ''  '"• 

Nov.  18,  ISJl;  t''//"»- 

Inco,  bail  ventmvil  to 
Hng  vessels  \v>'re  list 
L  of  the  UmiiMii".  *''" 
li/m,  1'mi-i>,  i""'  '■"'■ 
Lw.  Jacknoit,  aud  two 


to  liavc  the  salary  of  the  postmaster  at  that  place 
raised  to  one  thousand  dollars. 

This  was  a  formidable  amount  of  work  for  a  single 
delei,'ate,  but  Lane  was  equal  to  the  undertaking.  And 
here  I  will  briefly  review  the  congressional  labors  of 
Thurston's  successor,  who  had  won  a  lasting  place  in 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  constituency  by  using 
his  influence  in  favor  of  so  amending  the  organic  law 
as  to  permit  the  people  to  elect  their  own  governor 
and  judges,  and  when  the  measure  failed,  by  sustaining 
th(-'  action  of  the  legislature  in  the  location  of  the  seat 
of  <j;'overnmont. 

Lane  was  always  en  rapport  with  the  democracy 
of  the  territory;  and  while  possessing  less  mind,  less 
intellectual  force  and  ability,  and  proceeding  with  less 
foresight  than  Thurston,  he  made  a  better  impression 
in  congress  with  his  more  superficial  accomplishments, 
hy  his  frankness,  activity,  and  a  certain  gallantry  and 
bonhomie  natural  to  him.^  His  first  work  in  con- 
^nvss  was  in  procuring  the  amendment  to  Thurston's 
hill  to  settle  the  Cayuse  war  accounts,  which  author- 
ized the  payment  of  the  amount  already  found  due  by 
the  coininissioncrs  appointed  by  the  legislature  of 
1850-1,  amounting  to  $73,000.^'' 

Among  the  charges  brought  against  Governor 
Gaines  was  that  of  re-auditinjj  and  chantjing  the 
values  of  the  certificates  of  the  commissioners  ap- 


others.  In  IS.'iS  the  Emil;/  Packard  waa  wrecked  at  Shoal  water  Bay.  When 
(i'lv.  Cnrry  in  1  S"m-6  aililrosscd  a  conimunication  to  the  secretary  of  the  U. 
S.  treasury,  reminding  hiiu  that  an  apiiropriation  had  been  made  for  light- 
lumsis  mill  fog-signals  at  the  Unipqua  and  Columbia  rivers,  but  that  none  of 
these  aids  to  eominerce  had  been  received,  Guthrie  replied  that  there  was  no 
iiuiiKMliate  need  of  them  at  the  Umpqua  or  at  Shoalwater  15ay,  as  not  inoro 
tli:ui  ciiir  vessel  in  a  month  visited  eitlier  place!  I'erhaps  there  would  liavo 
i)  I'M  more  vessels  had  there  been  inoro  light-houses.  In  |)ec.  18.")0  the  light- 
h'Hise  at  Capo  Disappointment  w.as  completed,  and  in  1857  those  at  Capo 
Ibttery,  .\e\v  Dnngcness,  and  Umpqua;  but  the  latter  was  undermined  by 
the  sia,  lieing  set  ui)on  the  sands. 

'Tlii'ic  is  a  flattering  biography  of  Lane,  published  in  Washington  in 
Iv'i'J,  w  ith  the  design  of  forwarding  nia  political  asiiirations  with  the  national 
diiiiiiciatio  eouvontion  which  met  in  Baltimore  in  Juno  of  that  year. 

■"'/..S'.  If. Jour.,  1059,  1 224,  .T2d  cong.  Istsoas,;  U.  S.  Lawx,  in  Cotifj.  Olohe, 
H'll-.".'.',  ]it  iii,  i.x.;  U.  S,  II.  Jour,,  387,  33d  cong.  Ut  boss.;  Or.  Statesman, 
July  10,  1SJ2. 


■i-  !.| 


■fl' 


302 


rOJJTICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


pointed  by  the  legislature  to  audit  the  Cayusc  war 
claims,  and  of  retaining  the  warrants  forwarded  to 
him  for  delivery,  to  be  used  for  political  purposes. 
Lane  had  a  different  way  of  making  the  war  cliiims 
profitable  to  himself.  Gaines  was  informed  fiom 
Washington  that  the  report  of  the  territorial  couunis- 
sioners  would  be  the  guide  in  the  future  adjustniont 
of  the  Cayuse  accounts.  Lane  procured  the  passano 
of  an  amendment  to  the  former  enactments  on  this 
subject,  which  made  up  the  deficiency  occasioned  l)y 
the  alteration  of  the  certificates;  and  the  different 
manner  of  making  political  capital  out  of  the  war  claims 
commended  the  delegate  to  the  affections  of  the  ])c()- 
ple."  The  33d  congress  concluded  the  business  of 
the  Ca^^use  war  by  appropriating  $75,000  to  pay  its 
remaining  expenses.^^ 

Lane  urged  the  establishment  of  mail  routes  throuoli 
the  territory,  and  the  better  performance  of  the  mail 
service;  but  although  congress  had  appropriated  iu 
1852  over  $348,000  for  the  ocean  mail  service  on  the 
Pacific  coast,"  Oregon  still  justly  complained  that  less 
than  the  right  proportion  was  expended  in  carrying 
the  mails  north  of  San  Francisco.  The  appropriations 
for  the  various  branches  of  the  public  service  in  Ore- 
gon for  1852,  besides  mail-carrying,  amounted  to 
$78,300,  and  Lane  collected  about  §800  more  fioni 
the  government  to  pay  for  taking  the  census  of  1850. 
lie  also  procured  the  passage  of  a  bill  authorizing  tlio 
])rcsident  to  designate  places  for  ports  of  entry  ami 
delivery  for  the  collection  districts  of  Puget  Sound 
and  Umpqua,  instead  of  those  already  established,  and 
increasing  the  salary  of  the  collector  at  Astoria  to 
$3,000;  but  he  failed  to  secure  additional  collection 
districts,  as  had  been  prayed  for  by  the  legislature. 

"Or.  Statesman,  May  14,  1853;  Letter  of  Oaines,  in  Id..  Feb.  20,  I'^O.I; 
Covij.  Globe,  1853,  app.  341;  U.  S.  II.  Com.  liept,  1'2'J,  vol.  ii.  4-5,  liJil  cong. 
1st  scss. 

"*  U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc.  J,r,,  .S3(l  cong.  Ist  sesa.;  U.  S.  II.  Com.  Beid,  Vl'l, 
3.3il  coug.  lst8C88.;  Covij.  Globe,  18.j;J-4,  22.39,  33il  cong.  Ist  seas. 

"  U.  S.  Lawn,  iu  Coin/.  O'lobe,  1851-2,  pt  iii.  xxix. 


MATTERS  IN  CONGRESS. 


808^ 


lie  also  introduced  a  bill  granting  bounty  land  to  the 
ofiicers  and  soldiers  of  the  Cayuse  war,  which  failed  a3 
lirst  pre'  2nted,  but  succeeded  at  a  subsequent  ses- 


sion 


1-1 


A  measure  in  which  Lane,  with  his  genius  for  mil- 
itary affairs,  was  earnestly  engaged,  was  one  for  the 
protection  of  the  Oregon  settlers  and  immigrants  from 
Indian  depredations.  Early  in  February  1852  he  of- 
fered a  resolution  in  the  house  that  the  president 
should  be  requested  to  communicate   to  that  body 

at   steps   if  any  had   been   taken  to   secure  the 


w 

safety  of  the  inmiigration,  and  in  case  none  had 
been  taken,  that  he  should  cause  a  regiment  of 
mounted  riflemen  to  be  placed  on  duty  in  Rogue 
Elver  Valley,  and  on  the  road  between  The  Dalles  and 
Fort  Hall.^^  In  the  debate  which  followed,  Lane  was 
reproved  for  directing  the  president  how  to  dispose  of 
the  army,  and  told  that  the  matter  could  go  before 
the  military  committee;  to  which  he  replied  that 
there  was  no  time  for  the  ordinary  routine,  that  the 
iimnigration  would  soon  be  upon  the  road,  and  tliat 
the  refTfiment  of  mounted  riflemen  belonged  of  riijht 
to  Oregon,  having  been  raised  for  that  territory.  But 
he  \\as  met  with  the  statement  that  his  predecessor 
Tluirston  had  declared  the  regiment  unnecessary,  and 
had  asked  its  withdrawal  in  the  name  of  the  Oregon 
people i^"  to  which  I^ane  replied  that  Thurston  might 
havL"  so  believed,  but  that  although  in  the  inhabited 
portion  of  the  territory  the  people  might  be  able  to 
di'lcud  themselves,  there  was  no  protection  for  those 

"Sliced)  of  Brooks  of  N.  Y.,  in  Coiifj.  Oloh;  ISol-oS,  C27.  Failing  to 
have  Oregon  embraced  in  the  benefits  of  tlii3  hill,  Lnno  introduced  his  own, 
lis  lias  been  said,  and  lost  it.  But  at  the  'Jd  session  of  tlio  S.'M  congress  a 
bounty  land  bill  was  passed,  which  by  his  exertions  was  made  to  cover  '  any 
Wills'  in  which  volunteer  troops  had  been  regularly  euroUeil  since  1790.  lia- 
coii'.'i  M(rc.  Life,  MS.,  16. 

'•T,,,,;/.  Globe,  18.J1-2,  507. 

'"  Tlio  Bocretary  of  war  writes  Gaines :  'All  accounts  concur  in  representing 
tlio  Indiana  of  that  region  as  neither  numerous  nor  warlike.  The  late  del- 
li'gato  to  congress,  Mr  Thurston,  conlirmcd  this  account,  and  represented  that 
poino  ill  feeling  had  sprung  ui)  between  the  troops  and  the  people  of  the  ter- 
iitoiy,  and  that  the  latter  desired  their  removal.'  Or.  Spectator,  Aug.  1'2, 
ISol.     ■ 


804 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


travelling  upon  the  road  several  hundred  miles  from 
the  settlements,  and  cited  the  occurrences  of  1851  iu 
the  Shoshone  country.  His  resolution  was  laid  on 
the  table,  but  in  the  mean  time  he  obtained  an  assur- 
ance from  the  secretary  of  war  that  troops  should  be 
placed  along  the  overland  route  in  time  to  protect 
the  travel  of  1852."  On  the  8th  of  April  Lane  pre- 
sented a  petition  in  his  own  name,  as  a  citizen  of  Or- 
egon, praying  for  arms  and  ammunition  to  bo  placed 
by  the  government  in  the  hands  of  the  people  for 
their  defence  against  the  savages;  hoping,  if  no  other 
measure  was  adopted,  Thurston's  plan,  which  had 
gained  the  favorable  attention  of  congress,  might  be 
carried  into  effect.  At  the  same  time  Senator  Doiitr- 
las,  who  was  ever  ready  to  assist  the  representatives 
of  the  Pacific  coast,  reported  a  bill  for  the  protection 
of  the  overland  route,"*  which  was  opposed  because  it 
would  bring  with  it  the  discussion  of  the  Pacific  rail- 
road question,  for  which  congress  was  not  preparoil, 
and  which  it  was  at  that  time  anxious  to  avoid.  The 
bill  was  postponed.  Lane's  efforts  for  the  protection 
of  the  territory  being  partly  successful,  as  the  chapter 
following  will  show. 


■:  t. 


The  reconnoissance  from  the  Willamette  Valley  to 
Fort  Boisd  which  the  legislature  asked  for  was  de- 
signed not  only  to  hold  the  Indians  in  check,  but  to 
explore  that  portion  of  Oregon  lying  to  the  east  of 
the  head  waters  of  the  Willamette  with  a  vie\v^  to 
opening  a  road  directly  from  Boisd  to  the  head  of  the 
valley,  complaint  having  been  made  that  the  legisla- 
ture had  not  sufficiently  interested  itself  hitherto  in 
explorations  for  wagon  routes.  But  no  troops  caiiio 
overland  this  year,  and  it  was  left,  as  before,  for  the 

•'  At  the  same  time  Senator  Gwin  of  California  had  a  bill  before  the  sen- 
ate 'to  provide  for  the  better  protection  of  the  people  of  Califoniia  niid  Ore- 
gon.' Couq.  Olobe,  vol.  xxiv.,  pti.  p.  471,  32d  cong.  1st  sesa.;  Or.  Statesman, 
April  0,  1852. 

^^Cotig.  Globe,  1851-2,  1684. 


MILITARY  ROADS. 


305 


immigrations  to   open   new   routes,  with  the  usual 
amount  of  peril  and  suffering.^* 

Appropriations  for  military  roads,  which  were  asked 
for  by  the  legislature  of  1852-3,  had  already  boon 
urged  by  Lane  at  the  first  session  of  the  32d  congress, 
and  were  obtained  at  the  second  session,  to  the  amount 
of  lorty  thousand  dollars;  twenty  thousand  to  con- 
struct a  rniHtary  road  from  Steilacooni  to  Walla  Wal- 
la,-'^ and  twenty  thousand  for  the  improvement  of  the 
road  from   the    Umpqua  Valley  to  Rogue    River." 

"The  legislature  of  18.')l-2  authorized  a  company  of  seven  men,  William 
Maocy,  John  Dianiontl,  W.  T.  Walker,  William  Tandy,  Alexander  King, 
Jost-'lili  Meadows,  and  J.  Clarke,  to  explore  an  immigrant  road  from  the  up- 
])cr  puit  of  the  Willamette  Valley  to  Fort  Bois6,  expending  something  over 
gli.OOO  ill  the  enterprise.  They  proceeded  by  the  middle  branch  of  the  river, 
by  « liat  is  now  known  as  the  Diamond  Peak  pass,  to  the  summit  of  the  Cascade 
Moiiiitiiins.  They  named  the  peak  to  the  south  of  their  route  Macey,  now 
called  Seott  peak;  and  that  on  tiie  north  Diamond  peak.  They  followed 
down  a  small  stream  to  its  junction  with  Des  Chutes  River,  naming  the 
iiKiuntains  which  here  cross  the  country  from  south-west  to  north-cast  the 
Walker  l!anj,'c,  and  down  Des  Chutes  to  Crooked  River,  from  which  they 
travelled  cast  to  the  head  of  Malheur  River,  naming  the  butte  which  here 
Bi'eins  to  terminate  the  Blue  Range,  King  peak.  After  passing  this  peak  they 
were  at  lacked  by  Indians,  who  wounded  three  of  the  party  and  captured 
tlicir  l)a},'f5aL;c,  when  they  wandered  for  8  days  with  only  wild  berries  to  eat, 
coming  to  the  old  immigrant  road  60  miles  from  Bois(5,  and  returning  to  the 
Willaiiii'tte  by  this  route.  Or.  Jour.  Council,  1852-3,  app.  13-15.  Anotlicr 
coinpany  was  sent  out  in  1853  to  improve  the  trail  marked  out  by  the  first, 
wliicli  they  did  so  hastily  and  imperfectly  that  about  1,500  people  who  took 
the  new  route  wore  lost  for  five  weeks  among  the  mountains,  marshes,  and 
deserts  of  the  region  about  the  head  waters  of  the  Des  Chutes,  repeating  the 
cxpcrienees  in  a  gieat  measure  of  the  lost  immigrants  of  1845.  No  lives 
were  lost,  but  many  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  property  was  sacrificed.  Or. 
Staicsman,  Nov.  1,  1853,  May  16,  1854;  Alhany  JleijUer,  Aug.  21,  1809.  I 
liiivc  Ijeforc  me  a  manuscript  by  Mrs  Rowena  Nichols,  entitled  Indian  A/- 
Juir.<.  It  relates  chiefly  to  the  Indian  wars  of  southern  and  eastern  Oregon, 
tlioiiL'ii  treating  also  of  other  matters.  Mrs  Nichols  was  but  2i  years  old  wh(;i» 
witli  her  mother  and  grandmother  she  passed  through  this  experience.  She, 
ami  Olio  otiier  child,  a  boy,  lived  on  the  milk  of  a  cow  which  their  ciders 
managed  to  keep  alive  during  about  six  weeks,  being  unable  to  eat  the  beef 
of  starving  o.\en,  like  their  elders.  The  immigration  of  this  year  amounted 
ti)  0,480  men,  women,  and  children,  much  less  than  that  of  1852.  T.  Mercer, 
in  U'a^hinrjloii  Sketches,  MS.,  I;  Ilinen'  Or.,  209;  Olympia  Columbian,  Nov. 
27,  1S5_';  S.  F.  Alta,  Aug.  16,  Sept.  19,  Oct.  7,  8,  24,  and  25,  and  Nov.  21, 
lSo:i;  ,S'.  F.  D.  Herald,  Aug.  31,  1852;  Or.  Statesman,  Oct.  4  and  Nov.  1, 
185.');  Olympia  Columbian,  Nov.  26,  1853. 

'"Evans  in  his  Puyallup  address  says:  'Congress  having  made  an  appro- 
ririation  for  a  military  road  between  Fort  Walla  Walla  and  Fort  Steilacooni, 
Lieut  Richard  Arnold  was  assigned  the  duty  of  expending  it.  Ho  avoided 
t'lat  inouiitain  beyond  Greenwater,  but  in  the  main  adopted  the  work  of  tho 
immigrants  of  18u3.  The  money  was  exhausted  in  completing  their  road. 
He  asked  'n  vain  that  the  labors  of  the  citizens  should  bo  requited.'  iVcw  7'a- 
como  .'jfdijcr,  July  9,  1880.     This  road  was  opened  in  1854  for  travel. 

"'  Tliis  road  was  surveyed  in  1853  by  B.  Aivord,  assisted  by  Jesse  Apple- 
UiBT.  Ob.,  Vol.  11.    20 


I 


I 


306 


POUTICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


After  his  re-election,  Lane  secured  another  twcnty- 
thousand-dollar  appropriation  to  build  the  road  aslce  1 
for  by  the  legislature,  from  Scottsburg  to  connect 
with  the  former  road  to  Rogue  River,"  besides  otlur 
appropriations  sufficient  to  justify  his  boast  that  ho 
had  obtained  more  money  for  his  territory  than  any 
other  delegate  had  ever  done.^ 

I  have  already  spoken  of  the  division  of  the  ter- 
ritory according  to  the  petitions  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  territory  north  of  the  Columbia,  and  a  memorial 
of  the  legislature  of  1852-3.  This  measure  also 
Lane  advocated,  upon  the  ground  that  the  existing 
territory  of  Oregon  was  of  too  great  an  area,  and  en- 
couraged the  democratic  party  in  Oregon  to  persist 
in  memorializing  congress  to  remove  the  obnoxious 
federal  officers  appointed  by  a  whig  president.'^* 

The  spring  of  1853  brought  the  long-hoped-for 
change  in  the  federal  appointments  of  the  territory. 
Two  weeks  after  the  inauguration  of  Pierce  as  presi- 
dent. Lane  wrote  his  friends  in  Oregon  that  all  the 

gate.  It  was  thought  that  a  route  might  be  found  which  would  avoid  the 
Umpqua  canon;  but  after  expending  one  quarter  of  the  appropriation  in  sur- 
veying, the  remainder  was  applied  to  improving  the  canon  and  the  (iiuve 
Creek  hills.  The  contracts  were  let  to  Lindsay  Applegate  and  Jesse  Koberts, 
t'oiiff.  Globe,  1852-.3,  app.  332;  Or.  Statesman,  Nov.  8,  1853. 

''^The  survey  of  this  road  was  begun  in  October  1854,  by  Lieut  Witliois, 
U.  S.  A.,  and  completed,  after  another  appropriation  had  been  obtaincil,  in 
1858,  by  Col.  Joseph  Hooker,  then  employed  by  Capt.  Meudall  of  the  topo- 
grapiiieal  engineers.  Hooker  was  born  in  Hadley,  Mass.,  in  1819,  graduated 
at  West  Point  in  1837;  was  adjutant  at  that  post  in  1841,  and  regimental  ad- 
jutant in  184C.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  brevet  colonel  in  the  Mexican  wm; 
after  *hich  he  resigned  and  went  to  farming  in  Sonoma  County,  Cal,  in 
1853,  losing  all  his  savings.  When  the  civil  war  broke  out  he  was  living  in 
Rogue  River  Valley,  and  at  once  offered  his  services  to  the  government,  ami 
made  an  honorable  record.  Ho  died  at  Garden  City,  Long  Island,  in  Octoljjr 
1879.  Or.  Statesman,  June  3,  1801,  and  Aug.  18,  1802;  Bowies'  Far  Wexl,  \oi\ 
S.  F.  Bulletin,  >;<.?■.  1,  1879. 

"  Lanf'ti  J  :aobii  jraphy,  MS.,  131.  For  his  territory,  and  not  for  himself. 
Lane's  ambitioi»  was  for  glory,  and  not  for  money.  Ho  did  compel  con.;rcs3 
to  amend  the  ig.nic  act  which  gave  the  delegate  from  Oregon  only  §-', JOH 
mileage,  and  lO  .^ive  him  the  same  mileage  enjoyed  by  the  California  senators 
and  representatives,  according  to  the  law  of  1818  on  this  subject.  In  tiie  de- 
bate it  came  out  that  Thurston  had  received  $900  over  the  legal  sum,  'Ijy 
what  authority  the  committee  were  unable  to  learn.'  Cong.  Globe,  1851-'2, 
1377. 

'*Tlie  territorial  officers  chosen  by  the  assembly  were  A.  Bush,  printer; 
L.  F.  Grover,  auditor;  C.  N.  Terry,  librarian;  J.  D.  Boon,  treasurer. 


DISTRICTS  AND  JUDGES. 


m 


er  twenty- 
road  aske-l 

to    COniKH't 

ssides  other 
Eist  that  he 
y  than  any 

of  the  tor- 
habitants  of 
a  memorial 
leasure   also 
:he  existing 
irea,  and  en- 
n  to  persist 
e  obnoxious 
dent.'-'* 
ng-hoped-for 
be  territory, 
srce  as  presi- 
that  all  the 

would  ayoid  the 
iropriation  in  sur- 
m  and  the  (iiiive 
ind  Jesse  Roberts. 

jy  Lieut  Withers, 

ri)cen  obtained,  in 

]ndaU  of  the  topo- 

n  1819,  graduated 

Ind  regimental  ad- 

Ithe  Mexican  \v;ir, 

County,  Cal,  in 

|t  he  was  living  in 

government,  and 

Island,  in  October 

pes'  far  WeM,  4J3; 

Id  not  for  himself. 
I  conipel  conj;rcs3 
tegon  only  S-!.')00 
lalifornia  senators 
tject.  In  the  (  c- 
Bie  legal  sum,  'by 

[g.  Globe,  ISJl-A 

Ia.  Bush,  printer; 
\reasurer. 


former  incumbents  of  the  federal  offices  were  dis- 
placed except  Pratt,  and  lie  was  made  chief  ju.stice, 
with  Matthew  P.  Deadv  and  Cyrus  Olney^^  as  asso- 
ciates. Before  the  connrmation  of  the  appointments, 
however,  Pratt's  name,  owing  to  some  rumors  unfa- 
vorable to  him  having  reached  Washington,  was  with- 
drawn,^ and  that  of  George  H.  Williams,'^"  a  judge 
in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  substituted. 

With  regard  to  the  other  judges,  both  residents  of 
Oregon,  it  was  said  that  Lane  procured  the  appoint- 
ment of  Deady  in  order  to  have  him  out  of  his  way 
a  few  months  later.  But  Deady  was  well  worthy  of 
the  position,  and  had  earned  it  fairly.  The  appoint- 
ments were  well  received  in  Oregon,  and  the  judges 
o|K'ned  courts  in  their  respective  districts  under  fa- 
vt)rable  circumstances,  Deady  in  the  southern,  Olney 
ill  the  northern,  and  Williams  in  the  central  counties. 
Ikit  in  October  it  began  to  be  rumored  that  a  new 
appointment  had  been  made  for  a  judgeship  in  Ore- 
gon; to  what  place  remained  unknown  for  several 
weeks,  when  O.  B.  McFadden,  of  Pennsylvania,  ap- 
peared in  Oregon  and  claimed  the  1st  district,  upon 
the  ground  that  in  making  out  Deady's  commission  a 
mistake  in  the  name  had  been  made,  and  that  there- 

"  Olney  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  Cincinnati,  removing  after  a  few  years  to  Iowa,  wliero  he  was  circuit 
judge,  and  whence  he  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  18.)1.  Ho  resided  at  diflFerent 
times  in  Salem,  Portland,  and  Astoria.  He  was  twice  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, and  helped  to  frame  the  state  constitution.  He  was  twice  married, 
and  hud  7  children,  none  of  whom  survived  him.  He  died  at  Astoria  Dec. 
2S,  1S70. 

''^  The  charge  preferred  against  Pratt  in  the  senate  was  made  by  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  that  ho  had  been  corrupted  by  British  gold. 

"George  H.  Williams  was  bom  in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  March  2, 
182,1.  He  received  an  academic  education,  and  began  the  practice  of  law  at 
an  early  age  in  Iowa,  where  he  was  soon  elected  judge  of  the  circuit  court. 
His  circuit  included  the  once  famous  Half-breed  Tract,  and  the  settlers  elected 
liini  in  the  hope  that  he  would  decide  their  titles  to  the  land  to  be  goo<l;  but 
he  (lisappoiuted  them,  and  was  not  reelected.  In  the  presidential  campaign 
of  I8.V.',  lie  canvassed  Iowa  for  Pierce,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  electors  to 
carry  the  vote  of  the  state  to  Washington.  While  there  ho  obtained  the 
a'ipointmcnt  of  chief  justice,  and  removed  to  Oregon  the  loUowing  year. 
He  retained  this  position  till  1859,  when  the  state  was  admitted.  In  person 
tall,  angular,  and  awkward,  yet  withal  fine-lookiug,  he  possessed  brain 
rower  and  force,  and  was  even  sometimes  eloquent  as  a  speaker.  Corr.  S,  F. 
Bulletin,  in  PorOand  Oregonian,  Oct.  8,  1864. 


308 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


I    '" 


fore  he  was  not  duly  coniinissioned.  On  this  flimsy 
pretence,  by  whom  suj^f^ested  was  not  known,'*  Duady 
was  unseated  and  McFadden'*''  +ook  his  place.  Ijcin-r 
regarded  as  a  usurper  by  the  majority  of  the  doiinx  - 
racy,  McFadden  was  not  popular.  With  his  ofruial 
acts  there  was  no  fault  to  be  found;  but  by  public 
meetings  and  othenvise  Lane  was  given  to  under- 
stand that  Oregon  wanted  her  own  men  for  iu(l<'cs. 
and  not  imported  stock.  Accordingly,  after  holding 
one  term  iri  the  southern  district,  before  the  s[)iin<»- 
came  McFadden  was  transferred  to  Washington  Tcr- 
ritory,  and  Deady  reinstated.  From  this  time  tor- 
ward  there  was  no  more  appointing  of  non-residont 
judges  with  every  change  of  administration  at  Wash- 
ington. The  legislature  of  1853-4  once  more  redis- 
tricted  the  territory,  making  Marion,  Li  mi,  Lano, 
Benton,  and  Polk  constitute  the  1st  district;  Clat- 
sop, Washington,  Yamhill,  and  Clackamas  the  i^<l; 
and  the  southern  counties  the  3d — and  peace  reigned 
thenceforward  among  the  judiciary. 

As  if  to  crown  this  trmmph  of  the  Oregon  democ- 
racy. Lane,  whose  term  as  delegate  expired  with  ilio 
32d  congress,  was  returned  to  Oregon  as  goveinor, 
removing  Gaines  as  Gaines  had  removed  liini." 
Lane's  popularity  at  this  time  throughout  the  west- 
ern and  south-western  states,  whence  came  the  mass 
of  the  emigration  to  Oregon,  was  unquestioned.  Jlo 
was  denominated  the  Marius  of  the  Mexican  war;' 
the  Cincinnatus  of  Indiana,  and  even  his  proceedings 

''"  Lano  was  accused,  as  I  have  said,  of  recommending  Deady  to  prrvcnt  liii 
running  for  delegate,  whicli  was  fair  cuougli;  but  it  was  furtlier  allcjinl  that 
iio  planned  tlio  error  in  the  name,  and  the  removal  which  followed,  fur  wlii^  li 
tlioro  does  not  apnniir  lionorable  motive. 

'•Obadiah  B.  McFadden  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn.,  Nov.  IS, 
1817.  HoBtiidied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  184'2,  and  in  l^^t.'l  »,is 
elected  to  tlio  statu  Icgisluturo.  In  1845  ho  was  chosen  clerk  of  tliu  cuiii  t  nf 
coniiiKm  pleas  of  his  county,  and  in  18.J.1  was  appointed  by  President  I'iiKu 
associate  justice  of  the  sup.  ut  for  the  territory  of  Oregon,  Olymjiui  I'.iIm, 
July  I,  1875. 

'"In  his  AntoUofiraphy^M?).,  58,  Lano  remarks:  'I  took  care  to  liuva 
Gaines  removed  as  a  kind  of  compliment  to  mo  '  I 

^^Jenkim'  llidory  qf'the  War  with  Mexico,  40d 


CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION. 


with  regard  to  the  Rogue  River  Indians  were  paraded 
as  brilliant  exploits  to  make  political  capital.  There  was 
an  ingenuous  vanity  about  his  public  and  private  acts, 
and  a  happy  self-confidence,  mingled  with  a  flattering 
(Itt'oronce  to  some  and  an  air  of  dignity  toward  others, 
which  made  him  the  hero  of  certain  circles  in  Washing- 
ton, as  well  as  the  pride  of  his  constituency.  It  was 
witli  acclaim  therefore  that  he  was  welcomed  back  to 
Divgon  as  governor,  bringing  with  him  his  wife,  cliil- 
dix'n,  ai'.d  relatives,  to  the  number  of  twenty-nine,  that 
it  niiglit  not  be  said  of  him  that  he  was  a  non-resident 
of  the  territory.  He  had  taken  pains  besides  to  have 
all  the  United  States  officers  in  Oregon,  from  the  sec- 
rrt;ii  y,  George  L.  Curry,  to  the  surveyors  of  the  ports, 
appointed  from  the  residents  of  the  territory.^' 

Lane  arrived  in  Oregon  on  the  IGth  of  May,  and 
on  the  19th  he  had  resigned  the  office  of  governor  to 
hoconio  a  candidate  for  the  seat  in  congress  he  had 
just  vacated.  The  programme  had  been  arranged  be- 
I'orchand,  and  his  name  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
democratic  ticket  a  month  before  his  return.  The 
opposing  candidate  was  Indian  Agent  A.  A.  Skinner, 
Lane's  superior  in  many  respects,  and  a  man  every  way 
tittcd  fur  the  position.**     The  organization  of  political 

'MV  F.  Ilanling  was  made  U.  S.  attorney;  J.  W.  Nosmith,  U.  8.  mar- 
si;  1;  .rcicl  r.ilnicr,  sujit  Iniliuii  alfiiirs;  JdIiu  Adair,  collector  at  Astoria;  A. 
('.  «;ililis,  (.tiik'i'tor  at  L'mpijua;  Win  M  King,  port  mirveyor,  Portland;  liol)- 
nt  W.  Uuiiliar,  port  surveyor,  Milwaukic;  1*.  ().  Stewart,  port  surveyor, 
I'luilic  City;  and  A.  L.  Lovcjoy,  postal  aj;ent.  A.  (!.  illihhs  superscileil 
('"lin  Wilson,  tlio  lirst  collector  at  Uinp(iua.  TIio  8urveyo;s  of  ports  re- 
iimvid  w(  ro  Thomas  J.  Dryer,  J'ortland;  (}.  l'.  Nowull,  l*acilio  City;  N.  JJu 
I'lnis,  Miiuaukie.  Or.  S/nfeKitinn,  April  ,'U),  KS"),'!. 

''W!iiii/o  A.  SUiiui  i  \sas  boin  in  I'ortage  co.,  Ohio,  in  1SI4.     He  received 

II  ;;"ii(l  eiliicjiilon,  arri  "as  admitted  to  the  bar  in  IS4I),  and  in  lS4l!  ,set(led 
ill  I'litii.iiii  CO.,  wiieri    he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney,  his  eoiuinis.sion 

III  in,' si,'iu'd  liy '!"hoiims  Corwin.  In  I.S4.'>  ho  emiuratecl  to  Oregon,  lieiiig  up- 
Imiiitril  liy  tiovcMio:'  Aliernethy  one  of  the  circuit  judges  undei'  the  provi- 
siDiiul  UDveiiiinent,  wliieh  ollicc  ho  retained  till  the  organization  of  tin!  tor- 
ritiu'v,  III  Is.'il  ho  Wiis  appointed  commissioner  to  treat  with  the  Indians, 
tii^ji'tiicr  witli  (Joveinor  (I, dues  and  Heverly  Allen.  In  the  latter  ]iai't  of  that 
J'liii'  lie  \\iis  made  Indian  agent  for  the  liogiie  Iviver  \'alley,  anil  rcnioved 
Iniii  Oi'i'L'iin  City  to  southern  Oregon.  Ueing  a  «Iiig,  and  the  ti'rritoiy  over- 
wiuliiiiimly  ileniiii'l'iitic,  he  WHS  iieaten  in  a  contest  lor   the  ilelcgatcihip  of 

^_  nri';!iiii  ill  IS,");),  Lane  lieing  the  siicci'ssfiil  candidate.  After  the  e.xpiialion 
P^  <'i  lin  trrm  of  otlico  in  Indian  agent,  he  returned  to  l^ugi'Ue  C^'y,  which  wan 
^  fuuiiilcl  liy  Kugeuo  F.  Skinner,  whoro  he  married  Eli/.i  Lincoln,  ono  of  tho 


310 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


parties,  on  national  as  well  as  local  issues,  began  with 
the  contest  between  Lane  and  Skinner  for  the  j)laee 
as  delegate,  by  the  advice  of  Lane,  and  with  all  tlio 
ardor  of  the  Salem  clique  of  partisan  democrats,  whoso 
mouth-piece  was  "^he  Oregon  Statesman.  The  canvass 
was  a  warm  one,  with  all  the  chances  in  favor  of  Lano, 
who  could  easily  gain  the  favor  of  even  the  whigs  of 
southern  Oregon  by  fighting  Indians,  whereas  SkiuiKr 
was  not  a  fighting  man.  The  whole  vote  ci.st  at  tlio 
election  of  1853  was  7,486,  and  Lane's  majority  was 
1,575,  large  enough  to  be  satisfactory,  yet  showing 
that  there  was  a  power  to  be  feared  in  the  'people's 
])arty,'  as  the  opponents  of  democratic  rule  now  styled 
their  organization. 


As  soon  as  the  result  became  known,  ILr.ie  :o|.  ilrcd 
to  his  land  claim  near  Roseburg,  and  bega?!  bi.  "iig 
a  residence  for  his  family.^*  But  before  ho  ]\aO  made 
much  progress,  he  was  called  to  take  part  in  subduiiij^r 
an  outbreak  among  the  natives  of  Rogue  River  A'al- 
Icy  and  vicinity,  which  will  be  the  subject  of  tlio  next 
chapter.  Having  distinguished  himself  afresh  as  i,'eii- 
eral  of  the  Oregon  volunteers,  he  returned  to  ^Vasll- 
ington  in  October  to  resume  his  congressional  labors. 


woi'tliy  and  nccoinpllaheil  women  sent  out  to  Oregon  as  teachers  by  novri'imr 
Slatle.  On  tlio  death  of  ]{iloy  E.  Stratton,  in  18()(J,  he  was  iippoiuted  liy  i  lnv- 
ernur  Woods  to  till  the  vuuanuy  on  the  bench  of  the  sup.  ct.  On  rftii'iiii{ 
from  this  position  ho  removi'd  to  Coos  co.,  and  was  appointed  collrctoi' of 
cimtonia  for  the  port  of  Coos  Hay,  about  1870.  Ho  died  iu  April  IS7,,  at 
8anta  Cruz,  Cal.,  whither  ho  had  gone  for  hualtli.  Judge  Skinniu-wasaii  oi<l- 
Btylo  gentleman,  generous,  atl'ablo,  courteous,  with  a  dignity  whii-li  jnit  vul- 
gar familiarity  at  a  distanuo.  If  ho  did  not  insuribo  his  name  highest  on  Ui<< 
roll  (if  fame,  he  left  to  his  family  and  country  that  whiuh  is  of  greater  \  il's 
the  memory  of  an  upright  and  noble  life.  See  Porflaiiil  Orexjoiiuw,  <  )(:t.  I,  ;", 
"'I  haa  <letormiin'd  to  locate  in  the  Unip(|uu  Valley,  onaciMiiint  of  tiiO 
80(!nery,  the  grans,  and  tiie  water.  It  just  suited  my  taste.  Insteiid  nf  in- 
vesting in  I'ortland  and  making  my  fortune,  I  wanted  to  please  my  f.iii<v.' 
Lmiv'x  Autobioiir(ii)h!i,  M.S.,  (Kt.  Oaines  also  took  a  oiuim  about  tiu  iiiilud 
from  Sulum.  Or.  i^Hatimnaii,  Juno  '28,  1853. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


llo  icOii  l;Kl(lo 


m 


EOGUE  RIVER  WAR 

1853-1854. 

Impositions  and  Retaliations — OrrTRAOEa  by  VA'hite  Men  and  Indians — 
The  Military  Called  upon — VVah  Declakeo— Suspension  op  Busi- 
ness—Roads Blockaded — Firing  from  Ambusu — Alden  at  Table 
Rock— Lane  in  Command— Battle— The  Savages  Sue  for  Pkacr— 
AuMisTicE — Preliminary  Agkeement — Hostages  Given — ANOTiit;ii 
Tkeaty  with  the  Rogue  River  People — Stipulations— Other 
Tkeaties— Cost  of  the  War. 

NoTWiTHSTANDiNQ  the  treaty  entered  into,  as  I  have 
rt'liited,  by  certain  chiefs  of  Koljuo  River  in  tlie  suni- 
iiur  of  1852,  hostihties  had  not  altogether  ceased, 
i\U!i()iigh  conducted  less  openly  than  before.  With 
su(  li  a  rout^li  element  in  their  country  as  these  min- 
ors and  settlers,  many  of  them  bloody-minded  and  un- 
jiriiK'ipled  men,  and  most  of  them  holding  tlie  opinion 
that  it  was  right  and  altogether  pro[)er  that  the 
natives  should  be  killed,  it  was  impossible  to  have 
lirace.  The  white  men,  many  of  them,  did  not  want 
iKiice.  The  (piicker  the  country  was  rid  of  the  red- 
Kkiii  vermin  the  better,  they  said.  And  in  carrying 
(lilt  their  determination,  they  often  outdid  the  savage 
in  savagery. 

Tliere  was  a  sub-chief,  called  Taylor  by  white  men, 
who  rai'.ged  the  country  about  Grave  Creek>  a  iiDi'tli- 
cia  tributary  of  Rogue  River,  who  was  siiecialiy 
hatrd,  having  killed  a  party  of  seven  tluring  a  winter 
stdiin  and  rei)orted  tluun  drowned.  He  committed 
other  (le[)reilation8  upon  small  parties  passing  over 


•:  ii), 


312 


ROGUE  RIVER  WAR. 


1i  t. 


the  road.*  It  was  believed,  also,  that  white  women 
were  prisoners  among  the  Indians  near  Table  Rock, 
a  rumor  arising  proba.  ly  from  the  vague  reports  v^' 
the  captivit}'^  of  two  white  girls  near  Klamath  Lake 

Exeited  by  what  they  knew  and  what  they  iiiiaj,'- 
ined,  about  the  1st  of  June,  1853,  a  paity  from 
Jacksonville  and  vicinity  took  Taylor  with  three 
others  and  hanged  them.  Then  they  went  to  Tul»le 
Hock  to  rescue  the  alleged  captive  white  women,  and 
finding  none,  they  fired  into  a  village  of  natives,  kill- 
ing six,  then  went  their  way  to  get  drunk  and  boast 
of  their  brave  deeds.^ 

There  was  present  neither  Indian  agent  nor  mili- 
tary otiicer  to  prevent  the  outrages  on  either  sidu. 
The  new  superintendent,  Palmer,  was  hardly  installed 
Bee,  and  had  at  his  command  but  one  agciit,^ 
\v  a]  he  despatched  with  the  company  raised  to  ()[)tu 
the  middle  route  over  the  Cascade  Mountains.  As 
to  troops,  the  4th  infantry  had  been  sent  to  the  north- 
west coast  in  the  preceding  September,  but  were  so 
distributed  that  no  com;)anies  were  within  reach  if 
liogue  River.*  As  might  have  been  expected,  a  few 
weeks  after  the  exploits  of  the  Jacksonville  com- 
pany, the  settlements  were  suddenly  attacked,  and 
a  bloody  carnival  followed.®  Volunteer  com[)aui('s 
quickly  gathered  up  the  isolated  families  and  patrolled 

^  Drew,  in  Or.  Jour.  Council,  1857-8,  app.  26j  Or.  Statesman,  June  2S, 
ISn.^;  J in-honvilh  Sentinel,  May  2."»,  1807;  Dowe.Wa  Nar.,  MS.,  5-0. 

■■■  VLot  our  motto  bo  cxtcrniiimtion,' ci'ii'8  tlio  editor  of  tlic  Yrcbi  lid'"!'!, 
'  anil  ilcath  to  all  opposers.'  Seo  also  S.  F.  Alia,  Juno  14,  IS.'j.'t;  Jarhnnrillc 
ScnUiivl,  May  '23,  1807.  The  leaders  of  the  company  were  Bates  and  Two- 
good. 

"Tina  was  J.  M.  Garrison.  Other  appointmonts  arrived  soon  after, 
dcsi^natin,!;;  .Samuel  II.  Culver  and  R.  R.  Tiiompson.  J.  L.  Panisli  wiis 
retained  as  suti-agont.  Bciit  of  Siipt  Palmer,  in  U.  S.  II.  Ex,  Doc,  i.,  vol. 
i.  pt.  i.  448,  .'J.'ld  Cong.  Ist  scss. 

*l'ivi)  companies  were  atationcd  at  Columbia  barracks.  Fort  Vancouver, 
ono  at  Fort  Stoilacoom,  ono  at  the  mouth  of  Unipcpia  River,  two  at  r<iit  Oi'- 

ford,  and  ono  at  If       ""  " 

vt<iv,  Sept.  4,  IS.Vi. 


ford,  and  ono  at  Humboldt  Bay.   Cal.  Mil,  Aff.  Scraps,  i;j-14;  Or.  .S'/d^s 


nptpia 
1/  Scr 


''i\u,L;uNt  4tli,  Richard  Edwards  was  killed.  August  Cth,  next  ni  ,'lif, 
TlioiiiiisJ.  Mills  and  Rhodes  Noland  were  killed,  and  ono  Davis  and  lUiiril 
V.  (I'lilliu  Woro  wounded.  Ten  houses  wore  burned  between  JaiksoiiMlK' 
and  \\ .  G.  T'Vault's  pluue,  known  as  the  DaiduuuUus,  u  distance  ut  ttu 
iniloa. 


i»' 


GATHERING  OF  VOLUNTEERS. 


313 


tlio  country,  occasionally  being  fired  at  by  the  con- 
ci  .iltnl  jbe.^  A  petition  was  addressed  to  Captain  Ai- 
de ii,  in  command  of  Fort  Jones  in  Scott  Valley, 
asking  for  arms  and  ammunition.  Alden  immediately 
came  forward  with  twelve  men.  Isaac  Hill,  with  a 
small  company,  kept  guard  at  Ashland.^ 

On  the  7th  of  June,  Hill  attacked  some  Indians 
five  miles  from  Ashland,  and  killed  six  of  them.  In 
ret  urn,  the  Indians  on  the  17th  surprised  an  immi- 
grant camp  and  killed  and  wounded  several.**  The 
houses  everywhere  were  now  fortified;  business  was 
susponded,  and  every  available  man  started  out  to 
hunt  Indians.^ 

On  the  15th  S.  Ettinger  was  sent  to  Salem  with 
ft  re  (j  'est  to  Governor  Curry  for  a  requisition  on 
Colonel  7^onneville,  in  command  at  Vancouver,  for  a 
howitzer,  rifles,  and  ammunition,  which  was  granted. 
With  the  howitzer  went  Lieutenant  Kautz  and  six 
artillorymen;  and  as  escort  forty  vohmteers,  ofHoered 
hy  J.  W.  Nesmith  captain,  L.  F.  Grover  1st  lieu- 
tt'iiant,  W.  K.  Beale  2d  lieutenant,  J.  D.  McCurdy 
sur,;eon,  J.  M.  Crooks  orderly  sergeant.^*'  Over  two 
hundred  volunteers  were  enrolled  in  two  companies, 
and  the  chief  command  was  given  to  Alden  From 
Yroka  there  were  also  eighty  volunteers,  under  Cap- 

•^  Tims  wore  killed  John  R.  Hardin  and  Dr  Hoae,  both  prominent  citizens 
of .l.iiksoii  county.    Or.  Statcmnaii,  Aug.  2',\,  KSo.'J. 

'  Tlio  iiion  wiTO  quartered  at  tiio  houses  of  Fieilerick  Albenling  and  Pat- 
rick !>iiiiii.  Tlicir  names,  so  far  as  I  know,  besides  Alberding  and  Dunn, 
viiv  'I'liiMiias  Smith,  William  Taylor,  and  Andrew  11.  Carter.  Tiio  nunu's 
(if  scltK  TH  who  were  gathered  in  at  this  place  were  Frederick  J  Leber  and 
\vifi  ;  l!<iliert  Wrigiit  and  wife;  SanuiclOrubb,  wife  aiul  live  ehiklien;  Will- 
iiim  Tiiylur,  Iv.  IJ.  Hagardine,  Jolm  Gibba,  M.  B.  Morris,  l{.  Tungate,  Morris 
lli'Ui  II.  Ou  tlio  1,'lth  of  Aug.  they  were  joined  by  an  innuigiant  piirty  ju.st 
iiiri\('il,  ('(insisting  of  A.  (i.  Fordyeo,  wife  and  tiirco  cliihh'en.  J.  Kennedy, 
llii:;h  Smith,  Ihiue  Whicmore,  Ira  Arrowsmitli,  William  llodgkins,  wife  and 
thivc  eliildren,  nil  of  Iowa,  and  George  Harnett  of  Illinois.  iScrapM  o/Suuthi  rn 
Vr.  Hint.,  in  Ashlaml  Tiiliiii/s,  Sept.  '27,  1S78, 

"Hugh Smith and.Tohn  Giblw  were  kille(l;  Williani  Hodgkins,  lldco  Whit- 
innii,  A.  G.  Fordyeo,  and  M.  11.  Morris  wounded. 

^ Ihnicnii'ti  Soii/':crii  Or.,  MS.,  8,  says:  'The  enraged  populace  began  to 
Blaii;;litcr  riL;ht  iiinl  left.'  Martin  Angoll,  from  his  own  door,  shot  an  ludiuu. 
Vr.S'filrHWfii,  Aug.  2.1,  ISoH. 

'"(.'/uwr'w  J'ub.  Li/'e  in  Or.,  MS.,  20;  Or.  Stutenman,  Aug.  23,  30,  1853. 


i 


■rs 


I 


■If  ''.\   fi 

*¥  'I " 


I 


: 


■I  f' 


\j: 


It 


■b  I 


III 


314 


ROGUE  RIVER  WAR. 


tain  Goodall.  By  the  9th  of  August,  both  Nesniith 
and  the  Indian  superintendent  were  at  Yoncalla. 

Fighters  were  plenty,  but  they  were  without  sub- 
sistence. Alden  appointed  a  board  of  mihtary  coui- 
njissioners  to  constitute  a  general  department  of  su|)- 
ply.'^  Learning  that  the  Indians  were  in  force  near 
Table  Rock,  Alden  planned  an  attack  for  the  night  of 
the  nth;  but  in  the  mean  time  information  came  that 
the  Indians  were  in  the  vallev  killing  and  burning  riylit 
and  left.  Without  vv'aiting  for  officers  or  orders,  away 
rushed  the  volunteers  to  the  defence  of  their  houits, 
and  for  several  days  the  white  men  scoured  the 
country  in  small  bands  in  pursuit  of  the  foe.  Sam, 
the  war  chief  of  Rogue  River,  now  approached  the 
volunteer  camp  and  offered  battle.  Alden,  having 
once  more  collected  his  forces,  made  a  movement  on 
the  15th  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  supposed  to  be  en- 
camped in  a  bushy  canon  five  miles  north  of  Table 
Rock,  but  whom  he  found  to  have  changed  their  ])o- 
sition  to  some  unknown  place  of  concealment.  Fol- 
lowing their  trail  was  exceedingly  difficult,  as  the 
savages  had  fired  the  woods  behind  them,  which  <•!»- 
literated  it,  filled  the  atmosphere  with  smoke  and 
heat,  and  made  progress  dangerous.  It  was  not  until 
the  morning  of  the  17th  that  Lieutenant  Ely  of  the 
Yreka  company  discovered  the  Indians  on  Evans 
Creek,  ten  miles  north  of  their  last  encampment. 
Having  but  twenty-five  men,  and  the  main  force  lia\- 
ing  returned  to  Camp  Stuart  for  supplies,  Ely  f'  11 
back  to  an  open  piece  of  ground,  crossed  by  eret  k 
channels  lined  with  bunches  of  willows,  whore,  after 
sending  a  messenger  to  headquarters  for  reiinforee- 
ments,  he  halted.  But  before  the  other  companies 
could  come  up,  he  was  discovered  by  Sam,  who  has- 
tened to  attack  him. 

Advancing  along  the  gullies  and  behind  the  willows, 
the  Indians  opened  fire,  killing  two  men  at  the  liist 

"George  Dart,  Edward  Shell,  L.  A.  Loomia,  and  Richard  Duguu  coubti- 
tutcd  the  comuiiiiaiun. 


BATTLE  NEAR  TABLE  ROCK. 


315 


discharge.  The  company  retreated  for  shelter,  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  to  a  pine  ridge  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
away,  but  the  savages  soon  flanked  and  surrounded 
Ihcin.  The  fight  continued  for  three  and  a  half 
liours,  Ely  having  four  more  men  killed  and  four 
wounded."  Goodall  with  the  remainder  of  his  com- 
pany then  came  up,  and  the  Indians  retreated. 

On  the  21st,  and  before  Alden  was  ready  to  move, 
Lane  arrived  with  a  small  force  from  Roseburg.*^  The 
coiiiuiand  was  tendered  to  Lane,  who  accepted  it." 

A  battalion  under  Ross  was  now  directed  to  pro- 
ceed up  Evans  Creek  to  a  designated  rendezvous,  while 
two  companies,  captains  Goodall  and  Rhodes,  under 
Alden  with  Lane  at  their  head,  marched  by  the  way 
of  Table  Rock.  The  first  day  brought  Alden's  com- 
mand fifteen  miles  beyond  Table  Rock  without  hav- 
ing- discovered  the  enemy;  the  second  day  they  passed 
over  a  broken  country  enveloped  in  clouds  of  smoke; 
the  third  day  they  made  camp  at  the  eastern  base  of 
a  rocky  ridge  between  Evans  Creek  and  a  small  stream 
farther  up  Rogue  River.  On  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
day  scouts  reported  the  Indian  trail,  and  a  road  to  it 
w  as  made  by  cutting  a  passage  for  the  horses  through 
a  tliicket. 

1  Jet  ween  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  Lane,  riding  in  ad- 
vance along  the  trail  which  here  was  quite  broad, 
heard  a  gun  fired  and  distinguished  voices.  The 
troo[»s  were  halted  on  the  sunnnit  of  the  ridge,  and 

"■}.  Sliaiie,  1''.  Ki'fitli,  Flunk  PeiTy,  A.  Douglas,  A.  C.  Colburn,  niul  L. 
L<H'ktii>;  \M.'ri!  killoil,  and  Lieut  Kly,  John  Albiii,  .luiiieii  I'urrol,  and  Z,  SlmU 
ttouiuliil,   ('/•.  Shi/iniiinii,  Si'pt.  (I,  18j.'J;  .S'.  K  Attit,  An^'.  'JH,  IS.");}. 

' '  Aia'oini)anyiii^  Lano  wuie  I'luusiint  Armstrong  of  Vaialiill  county,  Junius 
<'lii.';^ii.i,'i',  hIio  iiaii  liocn  to  tlio  Unipiiua  V'lilley  to  t'lilist  if  imssiblo  tho 
K.I'  kiiat  Indians  ugainNt  tlu)  lloguo  lliviTS,  but  witltout  success,  und  eleven 
(jUui.<.  See  l.iini'»  Aulohioijraphu,  M8.,0;J. 

''('iii'iy  iiad  euniniisaioiied  Liino  brigadier-general,  and  Nesinith,  who  hud 
iii't  \  rt  arrived,  was  bearer  of  the  eoniuiission,  out  this  wna  unknown  to  either 
Alilrii  (ir  Jjine  ut  the  time.  Itesivlos,  Ltmo  was  a  more  e.\|>erieiice<l  lieltl-otliccr 
tiiiiM  Alden;  but  Cuiit.  ('ram,  of  tho  topographical  engiiieerH,  Biibseoueutly 
111. line. I  AhU'U,  as  well  as  the  volunteerg,  because  the  eominan<i  was  given  to 
l.iiiii ,  'wiiih'  Alden,  an  army  ollicer,  was  there  to  take  it.'  V.  S.  II.  Ex.  I)w., 
HI,  i>.  41,  3oth  uung.  'Jd  ttcss.;  II,  Ex.  JJuc,  i.,  pt  ii.  42,  33d  cong.  liit  scss. 


1: 

i:^ 

'               t 

i 

1 

1 

;«!''   I 


816 


ROGUE  RIVER  WAR. 


m 


ordered  to  dismount  in  silence  and  tie  their  horses. 
When  all  were  ready,  Alden  with  Goodall's  coinp.iiiy 
was  directed  to  proceed  on  foot  along  the  trail  and 
attack  the  Indians  in  front,  while  Rhodes  with  liis 
men  took  a  ridge  to  the  left  to  turn  the  enemy's  flank. 
Lane  waiting  for  the  rear  guard  to  come  up,  whom  liu 
intended  to  lead  into  action. ^^ 

The  first  intimation  the  Indians  had  that  they  were 
discovered  was  when  Alden's  conmiand  fired  into 
their  camp.  Although  completely  surprised,  tiny 
made  a  vigorous  resistance,  their  camp  being  foiti- 
fied  with  logs,  and  well  supplied  with  ammunition. 
To  get  at  them  it  was  necessary  to  charge  througli 
dense  tbickcts,  an  operation  both  difficult  and  dan- 
gerous from  the  opportunities  offered  of  an  am- 
bush. Before  Lane  brought  up  the  rear,  Alt  Ion 
had  been  severely  wounded,  the  general  finding  him 
lying  in  the  arms  of  a  sergeant.  Lane  then  led  a 
charge  in  person,  and  when  within  thirty  yftrds  of  tin.' 
eneniy,  was  struck  by  a  rifle-ball  in  his  right  arm  near 
the  shoulder. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  Indians  called  out  for  a 
parley,  and  desired  peace;  whereupon  Lane  ordered 
a  suspension  of  firing,  and  sent  Robert  B.  Metcalt'e 
and  James  Bruce  into  their  lines  to  learn  what  tliey 
had  to  say.  Being  told  that  their  former  iViend, 
Lane,  was  in  conunand,  they  desired  an  interview, 
which  was  granted. 

On  going  into  their  camp,  Lane  found  many 
wounded;  and  they  were  burning  their  dead,  as  if 
fearful  they  would  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
He  was  met  by  chief  Jo,  his  namesake,  and  his 
brothers  Sam  and  Jim,  who  told  him  their  heaifs 
were  sick  of  war,  and  that  they  would  meet  him  se\  (  n 
days  thereafter  at  Table  Rock,  when  they  would  give 

'*In  this  expedition,  W.  G.  T'Vault  acted  ns  niJ  to  Gen.  Lane,  C.  Lrwix, 
n  volunteer  captain,  as  asst  adjutnnt-gen.,  lint  falling  ill  on  the  'JJttli,  <  .i|it. 
L.  F.  Moslier,  who  afterward  iiiurried  one  of  Lane's  dunghters,  tc  jk  his  jiLh  r. 
Mosher  had  Itelonijed  to  the  4th  Ohio  volunteers.  Laiie'a  litpt  iu  U.  ^.  11. 
Ex.  Doc,  i.,  pt  ii.  40,  33d  eung.  lat  seas. 


ARMISTICE. 


317 


up  their  arms,*'  make  a  treaty  of  peace,  and  place 
themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  Indian  super- 
iiit(ni(lent,  who  should  be  sent  for  to  be  present  at  the 
cotitieil.  To  this  Lane  agreed,  taking  a  son  of  Jo  as 
liostage,  and  returning  to  the  volunteer  encampment 
at  the  place  of  dismounting  in  the  morning,  where  the 
\v()Uii<!ed  were  being  cared  for  and  the  dead  being 
buried.*' 

Tiie  Ross  battalion  arrived  too  late  for  the  fight, 
and  having  had  a  toilsome  march  were  disappointed, 
and  would  have  renewed  the  battle,  but  were  restrained 
hx  Lane.  Although  for  two  days  the  camps  were 
witliin  four  hundred  yards  of  each  other,  the  truce 
remained  unbroken.  During  this  interval  the  Indian 
women  brought  water  for  the  wounded  white  men; 
and  when  the  white  men  moved  to  camp,  the  red  men 
furnished  bearers  for  their  litters.*'  I  find  no  men- 
tion made  of  any  such  humane  or  christian  conduct 
on  the  ))art  of  the  superior  race. 

On  the  29th,  both  the  white  and  red  battalions 
moved  slowly  toward  the  valley,  each  wearing  the 
iippearance  of  confidence,  though  a  strict  watch  was 
covertly  kept  on  both  sides,*'  The  Indians  established 
themselves  for  the  time  on  a  high  piece  of  ground 
directly  opposite  the  perpendicular  cliffs  of  Table 
Eoek,  while  Lane  made  his  camp  in  the  valley,  in 
l)l;iin  view  from  the  Indian  position,  and  about  one 
mile  distant,  on  the  spot  where  Fort  Lane  was  after- 
ward located. 

'"Tliey  had  111  rifles  and  86  pistols.   S.  F.  Alia,  Sept.  4,  1853. 

'"  Sic  0/-.  Statrstnaii,  Nov.  15,  1853,  Among  the  slam  was  Pleasant  Arm- 
stroDL',  brother  of  the  author  of  Ongon,  a  descriptive  work  from  which  I  liavo 
B  iinciimi's  quoted.  Tiie  latter  says  that  as  soon  as  the  troops  were  away  the 
niiKiiiis  (if  Ilia  brother  were  cxbunicd,  and  being  cut  to  pieces  were  left  to  tlio 
wolvt's.  ArmHtroiiiyi^  Or.,  52-3.  Joliu  Scarborough  and  Isaac  Bradley  were 
also  killcl.  Tlio  woun<led  were  Sin  number,  one  of  whom,  Charles  C.  Abbo, 
aftoi'w.'U'd  died  of  Ills  wounds.     The  Indian  loss  was  S  killed  and  20  wounded. 

*'  Liiie'n  Antohiotiraphy,  MS.,  0(>-7. 

'* .-^idnjou  Counhj  Affair;  MS.,  2,  4-5;  Sf in f o's  Ear hj Da !is,Uf^.,  46;  GrO' 
rrr'i  I'lib.  Life,  MS.,  28-51;  lirown's  Snlim  JJir.,  1871,  33-5;  Ynka  Moiin- 
tain  llrmlil,  Sept.  24,  1853;  Or.  Statenvi.ni ,  Oct.  11,  1853;  U.S.  II.  Ex.  Dor., 
IH,  p.  41-2,  .S.'ith  cong.  2d  sess. ;  Jnrk»oiivilte  Sentinel,  iJuly  1,  1807;  Aleteorol, 
llty.,  18,'(3-4,  594;  Nenmith^K  liemiiiucances,  in  Trann,  Or.  Pionetr  Aaso.,  1879, 
p.  44;  Or.  Slateaman,  Sept.  27,  1803. 


iii  i 


y  lir  1; 


}i     . 


318 


ROGUE  RIVER  WAR. 


The  armistice  continued  inviolate  so  far  as  con- 
cerned the  volunteer  army  under  Lane,  and  the  Ind- 
ians under  Sam,  Jo,  and  Jim.  But  hostilities  wtro 
not  suspended  between  independent  companies  ran^f- 
ing  the  country    and  the  Grave  Creek  and   Aj)pl(> 

fate  Creek   Indians,  and  a  band  of  Shastas  under 
'ipso,  whose  haunts  were  in  the  S  skijou    Moun- 
tains.'^" 

A  council,  preliminary  to  a  treaty,  was  held  the  4th 
of  September,  when  more  hostages  were  given,  and 
the  next  day  Lane,  with  Smith,  Palmer,  Grover,  and 
others,  visited  the  Rogue  River  camp.  The  8th  was 
set  for  the  treaty-making.  On  that  day  the  white 
men  presented  themselves  at  the  Indian  encarapnient 
in  good  force  and  well  armed.  There  had  arrived,  Ix  - 
sides,  the  company  from  the  Willamette,  with  Kaiiiz 
and  his  howitzer,'^^  all  of  which  had  its  effect  to  oKtaiu 
their  consent  to  terms  which,  although  hard,  the  con- 
dition of  the  white  settlers  made  imperative,"^  plaei 


'o' 


'"R.  Williams  killed  12  Indians  and  lost  one  man,  Thomas  Pliilips. 
Owens,  on  (Jrave  Creek,  under  pledge  of  peace,  got  the  Indians  into  liis  lamp 
and  shot  them  all.  U.  S.  H.  Ex.  Doc,  9!),  p.  4,  33d  cong.  Istscss.  Al^.  in 
Williams  surprised  a  party  of  Indians  on  Applegate  Creek,  and  after  iinliio- 
ing  thini  to  lay  down  their  arms  shot  18  of  tliem,  etc. 

"  The  Indians  had  news  of  the  approach  of  the  howitzer  several  days  lie- 
fore  it  reached  Rogue  River.  They  said  it  was  a  hycm  rifle,  whiuli  tunU  .k 
hatful  of  powder  for  a  load,  and  would  shoot  down  a  tree.  It  was  lui  i')- 
ject  of  grrat  terror  to  the  Indians,  and  they  begged  not  to  have  it  liu'l. 
Or.  Slate.iman,  Sept.  27,  18o.3. 

'^The  treaty  bound  the  Indians  to  reside  permanently  in  a  place  to  1"'  st  t 
aside  for  tlicm;  to  give  up  their  fire-arms  to  the  agfnt  put  over  tliem,  c\ii|it 
a  few  for  hunting  purposes,  17  guns  in  all;  to  pay  out  of  the  sum  rcccivtll  r 
their  lands  indemnity  for  property  destroyed  by  them;  to  forfeit  all  their 
annuities  should  they  go  to  war  again  against  the  settlers;  to  notify  tiio 
agent  of  other  tribes  entering  the  valley  with  warlike  intent,  and  assi.-t  ia 
expelling  them ;  to  apply  to  the  agent  for  redress  whenever  they  suircrid  iuiy 
grievances  at  the  hands  of  the  white  people;  to  give  up,  in  short,  tlnir  en- 
tire independence  and  become  the  wards  of  a  government  of  which  they  kuL'W 
nothing. 

The  treaty  of  sale  of  their  lands,  concluded  on  the  10th,  convi V(<1 
all  the  country  claimed  by  them,  which  was  bounded  by  a  line  beginning'  :|t 
a  point  near  the  mouth  of  Applegate  Creek,  running  southerly  to  thcsuuuiit 
of  the  Siskiyou  Mountains,  and  along  the  summits  of  the  Siskiyou  and  (  as- 
cade  mountains  to  the  head  waters  of  Roguo  River,  and  down  that  stream  to 
Jump  GIT  Joe  Creek,  thence  down  said  creek  to  a  point  duo  north  of,  ami 
thence  to,  the  place  of  beginning — a  temporary  reservation  being  iwyh  of 
about  100  square  miles  on  the  north  side  of  Rogue  River,  between  'l':ililo 
Rojk  and  Evans  Creok,  embracing  but  ten  or  twelve  square  miles  of  ar.ible 


COUNCIL  AND  TREATY. 


319 


ar  as  con- 
J  the  1 11(1- 
ilities  wcro 
mies  raiig- 
nd  Appltj- 
stas  uiidcr 
ou    Moun- 

eld  the  4th 
given,  ami 
jrover,  and 
'he  8th  was 
the  white 
ncaiiipint'ut 
arrived,  hc- 
with  Kautz 
;ct  to  ohtaiu 
ird,  the  coii- 
ve,'^  placiu;,' 


Thomas  riiilirs. 

ms  into  his  ininp 

1st  sess.     Ag.  ill 

aud  after  iiuiuc- 

several  days  lio- 
|fle,  which  tucili  a 
It  was  iiii  ob- 
to  have  it  ihvl. 

la  place  to  hc!  set 
,'er  them,  exeqit 
Isum  receivLiliV'r 
Iforfeit  all  their 

i;  to  notify  tlio 
lit,  ami  assist  in 
[hey  snircri' limy 
short,  tluir  eu- 

irhich  they  kiaw 

1 10th,  conveyed 

inc  beguiiiiiiir  '^} 

[y  to  the  8umir.it 

tkiyou  and  t  :is- 

\i  that  stream  to 

lo  north  of,  "'"d 

being  niii'lc  <'f 

between  'r^ihlo 

1  milea  of  ar.iblo 


the  conquered  wholly  in  the  power  of  the  conquer- 
ors, and  in  return  for  which  they  were  to  receive 
([uasi  benefits  which  they  did  not  want,  could  not 
understand,  and  were  better  off  without.  A  treaty 
was  also  made  with  the  Cow  Creek  band  of  Umpquas, 
usually  a  quiet  people,  but  afiected  by  contact  w-ith 
the  Grave  Creek  band  of  the  Rogue  River  nation.^ 

land,  the  remainder  being  rough  and  mountainoua,  abounding  in  game,  while 
the  vicinity  of  Table  Rock  furnished  their  favorite  edible  roots. 

The  United  States  agreed  to  pay  for  the  whole  Rogue  River  Valley  thus 
gold  the  sum  of  $60,000,  aft^r  deducting  $15,000  for  indemnity  for  losses  of 
property  by  settlors;  $^,000  or  the  remaining  $4,"),000  to  be  expended  in  ag- 
riciiltui-al  implements,  blankets,  clothing,  and  other  goods  deemed  by  the  sup. 
most  cnnducivo  to  the  welfare  of  the  Indians,  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of 
iSeptemhor  18o4,  and  for  the  payment  of  such  pennanent  improvements  as  had 
been  made  on  the  land  reserved  by  white  claimants,  the  value  of  which 
shoulil  be  ascertained  by  three  persons  appointed  l)y  the  sup.  to  appraise  them. 
The  remaining  $40,000  was  to  be  paid  in  10  «qual  annual  instalments  of 
$J,.'i(»0  each,  commencing  on  or  about  the  1st  of  September,  1854,  in  clothing, 
blankets,  farming  utensils,  stock,  and  such  other  articles  as  would  best  meet 
the  needs  of  the  Indians.  It  was  further  agreed  to  erect  at  the  expense  of 
the  government  a  dwelling-house  for  each  of  three  principal  chiefs,  the  cost  of 
which  should  not  exceed  $500  each,  which  buildings  should  be  put  up  aa 
8(1011  as  practicable  after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty.  When  the  Indians 
shoulil  bo  removed  to  another  permanent  reserve,  buildings  of  equal  value 
should  be  erected  for  the  chiefs,  and  $15,000  additional  should  be  paid  to  the 
trilje  ill  five  annual  instalments,  commencing  at  the  expiration  of  the  previ- 
ous iiistahnents. 

Otiier  articles  were  added  to  the  treaty,  by  which  the  Indians  were  bound 
to  protect  the  agents  or  other  persons  sent  by  the  U.  S.  to  reside  among 
them,  and  to  refrain  from  molesting  any  white  person  passing  through  their 
reseives.  It  was  agrsed  that  no  private  revenges  or  retaliations  should  bo 
iixluiged  in  on  cither  side;  that  the  chiefs  should,  on  complaint  being  made 
to  the  liidiau  agent,  deliver  up  the  oll'ender  to  be  tried  and  punished,  oou- 
formably  to  the  laws  of  the  U.  S.;  and  also  that  on  complaint  of  the  Indiana 
for  any  violation  of  law  by  white  men  against  them,  the  latter  should  suU'cr 
the  penalty  of  th«5  law. 

'J'hc  saciedness  of  property  was  equally  secured  on  either  side,  the  Ind- 
ians iPidmising  to  assist  in  recovering  horses  that  bad  been  or  might  be  stolen 
by  their  people,  and  the  United  States  promising  indemnification  for  prop- 
erty taken  from  thein  by  the  white  men.  And  to  prevent  mischief  being 
miule  by  evil-disposed  persons,  the  Indians  were  required  to  deliver  up  on 
the  leiiiiisition  of  the  U.  S.  authorities  or  the  agents  or  sup.  any  white  per- 
son residing  among  them.  The  names  appended  to  tho  treaty  were  J(jel 
ralim  r,  superintendent  of  Indian  aflfairs;  Samuel  H.  Culver,  Indian  agent; 
Apsi  rkaliar  (Jo),  Toquahear  (Sam),  Anachaharah  (Jim),  John,  and  Lyinpe. 
Tiio  witnesses  were  Joseph  Lane,  Augustus  V.  Kautz,  J.  ^V.  Xesinith,  R.  B, 
Metialf,  John  (interpreter),  J.  D.  Mason,  and  T.  T.  Tierney  "r.  Stotes- 
mmi,  Sept.  27,  1853;  Xexmith's  lieviiinsrencfs,  in  Trann.  Or.  i'''vpr  Asxn., 
ISTll,  M,  Portland  West  Shore,  May,  1879,  154-5;  .S'.  F.  Alta,  ^;  la.  24,  I85;j; 
rdliKr'n  Wagon  Trains,  MS.,  50;  Ind.  Aff.  Jiept,  1850,  205-7;  and  1805, 
4G'J-7I. 

"i'lio  land  purchased  from  the  Cow  Creek  band  was  in  extent  about  800 
fquaio  miles,  nearly  one  half  of  which  was  excellent  farming  land,  and  the 
renuiinder  mountainous,  with  a  good  soil  and  fine  timber.     The  price  agreed 


320 


ROGUE  RIVER  WAR. 


On  the  whole,  the  people  of  Rogue  River  behaved 
very  well  after  the  treaty.  The  settlers  r  ^1  miners 
in  the  Illinois  Valley  about  the  middle  of  '  jber  1)0 
ing  troubled  by  incursions  of  the  coast  tribeo,  who  had 
fled  into  the  interior  to  escape  the  penalty  of  their 
depredations  on  the  beach  miners  about  Crescent  Citv, 
Lieutenant  R.  C.  W.  Radford  was  sent  from  I\»rt 
Lane  with  a  small  detachment  to  chastise  them. 
Finding  them  more  numerous  than  was  expected, 
Radford  was  compelled  to  send  for  reenforcements, 
which  arriving  under  Lieutenant  Caster  on  the  22d, 
a  three  days'  chase  over  a  mountainous  country  brought 
them  up  with  the  marauders,  when  the  troops  had  a 
skirmish  with  them,  killing  ten  or  more,  and  captur- 
ing a  considerable  amount  of  property  which  had  heeii 
stolen,  but  losing  two  men  killed  and  four  wounded. 

After  this  the  miners  hereabout  took  care  of  them- 
selves, and  made  a  treaty  with  that  part  of  the  RoguG 
River  tribe,  which  was  observed  until  January  1854, 
when  a  party  of  miners  from  Sailor  Diggings,  in  their 
pursuit  of  an  unknown  band  of  robbers  attacked  the 
treaty  Indians,  some  being  killed  on  bo""^  sides;  l)ut 
the  Indian  agent  being  sent  for,  an  e  'latiou  en- 
sued, and  peace  was  temporarily  restoiv... 

The  Indian  disturbances  of  1853  in  this  part  of  Or- 
egon, according  to  the  report  of  the  secretary  of  war,'-* 
cost  the  lives  of  more  than  a  hundred  white  persons 
and  several  hundred  Indians.  The  expense  was  esti- 
mated at  $7,000  a  day,  or  a  total  of  $258,000,  though 
the  war  lasted  for  little  more  than  a  month,  and  there 
had  been  in  the  field  only  from  200  to  500  men. 

In  addition  to  the  actual  direct  expense  of  the  war 

upon  was  ?1 2,000,  two  small  houses,  costing  about  $200,  fencing  and  plowing 
a  field  of  five  acres,  and  furnisiiiiig  the  seed  to  sow  it;  the  purchase  iiioiicy 
to  be  paid  in  annual  instalments  of  goods.  This  sum  was  insiynificint  ( oiii- 
pared  to  the  value  of  the  land,  but  bargains  of  this  kind  were  graded  liy  tho 
number  of  persons  in  the  band,  the  Cow  Creeks  being  but  few.  Ik'sides, 
Indian  agents  who  intend  to  have  their  treaties  ratified  must  get  the  best 
bargains  thnt  can  be  extorted  from  ignomnco  and  need. 
**  U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc,  i.,  pt  ii.  43,  33d  cong.  let  sesa. 


:\:U 


COST  OF  FIGHTING. 


821 


wo:^  the  loss  by  settlers,  computed  by  a  commission 
coiisistini^  of  L.  F.  Grovcr,  A.  C.  Gibbs,  and  G.  H. 
Aii)1>n<.se^'  to  be  little  less  than  $40,000.  Of  this 
lU'H'unt  $17,800,  including  payment  for  the  improve- 
iiimts  on  the  reserved  lands,  was  deducted  from  the 
sum  ])aid  to  the  Indians  for  their  lands,  which  left 
only  slM),000  to  be  paid  by  congress,  which  claims, 
to^i  tlier  with  those  of  the  volunteers,  were  finally 
settled  on  that  basis. ^' 

■'^Portland  Oregunian,  Dec.  30,  1854;  U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc,  65,  43J  cong. 

2(1  si's.s. 

'J'lu;  names  of  tlie  claimants  on  account  of  property  destroyed,  on  which 
the  liiiliaii  duimrtnient  paid  a  pro  rata  of  34.77  per  cent  out  of  the  §1."),000 
rftiiiiii'il  from  the  treaty  apiiropriation  for  tliat  purpose,  were  as  follows, 
sliDwiiii,'  wlio  were  doing  business,  had  settled,  or  were  mining  in  tlie  Rogue 
I'Awr  Vidiey  at  this  period:  Daniel  and  Ephraini  Raymond,  Clinton  Ikruey, 
iMvi'l  I'^van.s,  Mai'tin  Angell,  Michael  Brennan,  Albert  B.  Jennison,  William 
J.  Ni'wton,  Wm  Thompson,  Henry  Rowland,  .John  W.  Patrick,  John  R. 
Hanliii.  Pleasant  W.  Stone,  Jeremiah  Yarnel,  Wm  S.  King,  Cram,  Rogers  & 
Co..  Ilditli  M.  Xeckel,  John  lieiijamin,  David  N.  Binlscye,  Lewis  Rotlierend, 
Mary  Ann  Ilodgkins,  George  H.  C.  Taylor,  John  Markley,  Sigmond  Eulingor, 
JiiiKL-i  ('.  Tolinan,  Henry  Ham,  William  M.  I'.lliott,  Silas  and  Kdward  Day, 
Janus  'J'riplctt,  Nathan  B.  Lane,  John  Agy,  .'ames  Hruce,  James  B.  Fryer, 
Win  (i.  F.  Vaiik,  Hall  &  Burpee,  John  r<iu.i'ger,  Jolui  E.  Ross,  John  S. 
Mill.r.  I).  Irwin,  Burrell  B.  Griffin,  Trtw  tna  McComb,  "\Vm  N.  Ballard, 
Friini.m  Smitli,  Nicliolas  Kohenstein,  Daniel  F.  Fisher,  Thomas  D.  Jewett, 
^;ylvc■^tl■r  iVase,  David  Hayhart,  McGreer,  Drury  &  Runnels,  James  Mooney, 
Jolni  <  llicen,  'I'heodosia  Cameron,  James  Abrahams,  Francis  Nasjirett,  Gal- 
liy  \'  Oliver,  T.  B.  Sanderson,  Frederick  R{j8enstock,  Dunn  &  Alluding,  Asa 
(i  i'Mrilyte,  0)>.idiali  D.  Harris,  James  L.  London,  Samuel  (irul)b.  Win 
Knlili-r,  Siiniuel  Williams,  Hiram  Niday,  John  Anderson,  Elias  Huntington, 
Sliirtiirk  Abrahams,  Tiiomas  Frazell,  Weller  &  Rose,  Robert  B.  Metcalf, 
Cliail's  Williams,  ,b)hu  Suinden,  James  R.  Davis,  Isaac  \V'oolen,  Wm  ^L 
Hii;.'lis.  ( )f  the  settlers  on  the  reservation  lands  who  brought  claims  were 
tliiso:  David  Evans,  Matthew  G.  Kennedy,  John  G.  Cook,  William  Hutch- 
insDM,  Charles  Grey,  Roljert  B.  Metcalf,  Jacob  Gall,  George  H.  C.  Taylor, 
John  M.  Silcott,  James  Lesly.  Beport  of  Supt  Palmer,  in  U.  S.  H.  Ex.  Doc, 
o'J,  p.  ',\-'\  38th  cont^.  2d  sess. 
HiBT.  Ob.,  Vol.  n.    ai 


: 


■ '  9  'I 


U  i!  r 


ii 


It 


tail 


«    %i 


it 


If 


im 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 

1853-1854. 

John  W.  Davis  as  Governor — Legislative  Proceedings — AppRorRiATioNs 
BY  Congress— Oregon  Acts  and  Rbsoldtions — Affairs  on  thf,  Umi-- 
qha — Light-house  Building — Beach  Mining— Indian  Disturua.nc  ks— 
Palmer's  Superintendence — Settlement  of  Coos  Bay — Expunn- 
TioNS  and  Mountain-climbing — Politics  of  the  Period— Tiik  Qi  ks- 
TioN  of  State  Organization — The  People  not  Rkady— Hahd  Timis— 
Decadence  of  the  Gold  Epoch— Rise  of  Fahminu  Interest— Some 
First  Things  — Agricultural  Societies— Woolen  Mills— Tki.k- 
GRAPHS— River  and  Ocean  Shipping  Interest  and  Disasters— Wauo 
Massacre — Military  Situation. 

Late  in  October  1853  intelligence  was  received  in 
Oregon  of  the  appointment  of  tFolin  W.  Davis  of  In- 
diana as  governor  of  the  territory.^  He  arrived  vciy 
opportunely  at  Salem,  on  the  2d  of  December,  just  as 
the  legislative  assembly  was  about  to  convene,  lie 
brought  with  him  the  forty  thousand  dollars  aj)))!!)- 
priated  by  congress  for  the  erection  of  a  capitol  and 
penitentiary,  which  the  legislature  had  been  anxiously 
awaiting  to  apply  to  these  purposes.  WhetluM'  or 
not  he  was  aware  of  the  jealousy  with  which  tho  law- 
making body  of  Oregon  had  excluded  Governor  (Jaincs 
from  participating  in  legislative  aftairs,  he  prudently 

'  Davis  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  whoro  ho  atiulied  mcdifino,  Hi  nli- 
Bcqueiitly  sottlcil  in  Indiana,  Hurved  in  tl>o  logislaturo  of  that  state,  lnim; 
spoidici'  of  tlio  lower  house,  and  was  thi'do  times  elected  to  eongr''.sH,  sci^ii'ij 
from  IS.'t.T  to  1S.37,  from  IS.'JO  to  1841,  and  from  184:«  to  1847.  Ho  \v;is  mno 
speaker  of  the  house  of  i'ej)re8cntativeH,  and  twieo  president  of  tlie  iialimial 
deniuiralic  convention.  During  Pollt's  administration  ho  was  eDmniissKuur 
to  Ciiina.  lie  died  in  1859.  Or.  Slakar.an, Oot.  25, 1853,  /(/., Oct.  II,  1  wUi 
Or.  Aiyuii,  Oct.  15,  1859. 


LEGISLATURE  18o3-4. 


323 


rofrained  from  overstepping  tlie  limits  assigned  him 
1)V  tlie  (^)rganie  law.  When  informed  by  a  joint  reso- 
lution of  th«^  assembly  that  they  had  completed  their 
organization,"  he  simply  replied  that  it  would  afford 
him  pleasure  to  communicate  from  time  to  time  from 
the  archives  any  information  they  might  require. 
This  was  a  satisfactory  beginning,  and  indicated  a  pol- 
ity from  which  the  fourth  gubernatorial  appointee 
found  no  occasion  to  depart  during  his  administra- 
tion. 

The  money  being  on  hand,  the  next  thing  was  to 
spend  it  as  quickly  as  possible,'  which  the  commis- 
sioners had  already  begun  to  do,  but  which  the  legis- 
lature was  compelled  to  check*  by  appointing  a  new 
penitentiary  board,  and  altering  the  plans  for  the  cap- 
ital building.     A  bill  introduced  at  this  session  to  ro- 

''J'lio  members  of  the  council  elected  for  Isr)3-4  were  L.  P.  Powers,  of 
Clatsop;  Kiiliil\  Wilcftx,  of  Wasliingtoii;  J.  K.  Kelly,  of  Clackanma;  lienj, 
Miiiiisdii,  of  .Marion;  John  Jvichardson,  of  Yamhill;  .J.  .\l.  Fiilkcrson,  of  I'olk. 
Tl;u>o  hnjdiii;,'  over  wei'o  L.  W.  Phelps,  A.  L.  Htinipl.ry,  and  Levi  Seott. 
'I'ho  hdiimi  of  representatives  consisted  of  J.  W.  Motiit,  Z.  C.  Bishop,  Robert 
Tiioiiipson,  F.  ('.  (.'ason,  L.  F.  Carter,  11.  B.  .liiekson,  L.  F.  (Jiover,  J.  V. 
Tivlilis,  ]•].  F.  (.'(ilby.  (*rlnndo  Iluniiison,  Andrew  Shuck,  A.  B.  Westerfield, 
i;.  I',  lioisie,  W.  S,  (Jilliiun,  I.  N.  Smith,  Luther  Klkins,  J.  A.  Bennntt,  Benj. 
A.  ('Iiaimiau,  H.  (I,  lliidlt'y,  Wm  J.  Martin,  <  loorgo  H.  Ambrose,  .lohu  F. 
Mill;'!',  A.  A.  Miirliam,  L.  S.  Thompson,  S.  (iotf,  Chivunccy  Kyo.  Tluiro  was 
l)Ut  (iiie  wiiig  ill  the  ooinieil,  iiml  four  in  tlic  house.  Or.  Statexnian,  June  "JS, 
is.'i.'i.  Ualph  VVilco.x  was  elected  prcsitlent  of  the  council;  Samuel  B.  <lar- 
ritt,  of  Benton  chief  I'.ork;  and  A.  B.  P.  Wood,  of  Polk,  assistant  clerk; 
Juliii  K.  nelashinutt,  ser^;eant-at-arm8.  The  house  was  organized  by  electintj 
Z.  t '.  |Jiaho|),  spuaiici-;  John  McCrackcn,  chief  clerk;  C.  1'.  C'randell,  enroll- 
iiisi  ill  rl<;  (}.  |).  R.  Boyd,  assistant  clerk;  G.  D.  RussoU,  sergeant-at-arins, 
aud.ltisepli  lliiMsaker,  doorkeeper.    Or,  Jour,  Coumit.  ISJi.'l  4,  p,  4,  T), 

•'Half  of  tlio  !?•_•(), (K)()  npi)ropriatcd  for  a  o.i.ato  liouso,  nccording  to  the  com- 
missiuiicrs'  rep(  rt,  was  already  expended  on  tho  foundations,  tho  architect  9 
plan  lii'ing  to  ni.'dvu  nn  elcijr.ut  building  of  stone,  costing,  at  his  estiinate, 
?7i,iMHI.  Tho  land  on  whicli  tho  foumliition  was  laid  was  block  S4  in  tiio 
tnVMi  (i|  .^idoin,  nnd  was  donated  by  W.  IL  Willson  ami  wife,  from  tiie  land 
wliiiii  tlity  Hucceedeil  in  alienating  from  tho  niethodist  university  hinds, 
tliH  bi'inn  """  ^*''''.V  of  cnhancring  tho  value  of  the  remainder.  Tlie  lugislaturo 
onliii  d  the  siiperstructuro  to  bo  made  of  wood. 

'Tlio  peniteiiti,'iry  eommissionors  had  selected  two  blocks  of  land  in  Port- 
liiiid,  and  had  iiiado  somu  Bliirht  progress,  expending  9.'>,(i<N)  of  tho  |^2(),U^K) 
iipi Kiiaiated,  William  M,  King,  prcs)ili>nt  of  tlio  board,  charged  ^10  per 
(lay  iH  ciiniiiiissioner,  and  $.'»  more  as  acting  coiiiinixsioner.  Ifo  spoculatcj 
i:i  I'll-*,  paying  Lownsdalo  iS|'>()  each  for  four  lots<,  on  coiiditii-n  that  two  lot'* 
Klimilil  lh>  jiixt'ii  to  iiim,  for  which  lio  rcceirei!  ^."KIO,  '  in  this  way,'  says  tlhj 
"/■■:/'./(i'(/i  of  Feb.  4,  1S.">4,  'King  has  noeketed  ijiD'.'ft,  KowiiNclalo  JiMMt,  aiiil 
I'ni^li  i?J,S(M),  nf  the  penitentiary  fund,  Aihl  t<'  this  between  ?l,ltK»  and 
fl-iiii  for  his  in  valnublo  8ervu:>s  for  letting  ali  the  ^irisoners  run  away,  and 
ui'  h  i\c  a  fair  exhibit  of  tiuuiiuiuring  under  dunioLralio  misrule  iii  Oregon.' 


324 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


:i.-fl^ 


i  ,t 


i 


m 


locate  tlie  seat  of  government  may  have  had  some 
influence  in  determining  the  action  of  the  assemhly 
with  re*mrd  to  the  character  of  the  edifice  ah'eadv  iu 
process  of  construction.  It  was  the  entering  wetlgo 
for  another  location  war,  more  bitter  and  furious 
than  the  first,  and  wiiich  did  not  cuhninate  until 
1855-G.  The  university  had  not  made  so  nuich  ad- 
vanct.'ment  as  the  state  house  and  })enitentiary,  the 
appropriations  for  the  former  being  in  land,  which  had 
to  be  converted  into  money.^ 

Remembering  the  experiences  of  the  past  throe 
years,  the  legislative  assembly  enacted  a  militia  Liw 
constituting  Oregon  a  military  district,  antl  rctjuiiiiig 
the  appointment  by  the  governor  of  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral, who  should  hold  office  for  three  3'ears,  unless 
sooner  removed;  and  the  choice  at  the  annual  elect i<tii 
in  each  council  district  of  one  colonel,  one  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  one  major,  who  should  meet  at  a  c(tn\  rii- 
ient  place,  within  three  months,  and  lay  oft' their  regi- 
mental district  int*^  com})any  districts,  to  contain  as 
nearly  as  possible  one  hundred  white  male  adults  be- 
tween the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five  years  caiia- 
l)le  of  bearing  arms,  and  wlio  should  ap[)oint  captains 
and  lieutenants  to  each  com[)any  district,  theca[)tains 
to  a[)pnint  sergeants  and  corporals.  Conunissiitns 
were  to  issue  from  the  governor  to  all  officers  except 
sergeants  and  corporals,  the  term  of  offi<.'e  to  be  t\v.» 
3'ears,  unless  prevented  by  uns(»undness  of  mind  "f 
body,  each  officer  to  rank  acconbng  to  the  <hite  el' 
Ids  commission,  the  usual  rules  of  military  organiza- 
tion and  government  being  incorporated  into  tlie  art." 
In  com[)liance  with  this  law,  Governor  Davis  a[)[)t  >in!  el, 

^Tlu-  lnnislntunj  of  l.S.V2-.'l  had  authorized  the  coiniiiiHHioiiciH  to  L-inivliiut 
tlio  uiii\»iiNitv  l)uildinj{  'atthu  town  of  Miiiysvilli-,  in  tht!  louiity  of  lliMtna, 
oil  HiH'li  laiiil  aa  hIiuII  Iiu  donatud  for  that  piiriiosu  l>y  .losc'|ih  I'.  l''i'ii'<llv.' 
uiik'SM  Homo  iM'ttcr  or  niorti  uli^'iblo  Hituatiuii  alioutd  ho  olFortMl.  Or.  Stiiti .^111111}, 
l'\'l>,  .'),  IS.'i.'t.  Tlio  ooiiiiiiiaHioiiera  to  select  the  two  towuuliipa  had  only  just 
completed  tiieir  work. 

<U)i:  Join:  <\miirif,  18r>;V-4,  ll.'J,  118,  I'iS;  Lawnofih.,  iu  Or.  Staltmu", 
Feb.  21,  18.Vi;  Or.  Jour.  VouiicU,  1854-5,  upp.  I'J,  15,  17. 


RAILROAD  CHARTERS. 


325 


>r.  Suuemu', 


in  April  1854,  J.  W.  Nosmitli,brigudicr-g'encral;  E.  ^I. 
]);iiiiuin,  adjutant-general;  M.  M.  MeCarver,  coni- 
iiiissmy-general;  and  S.  C.  Drew,  quarterniaster-gen- 
(i;il.'  An  act  was  also  passed  providing  for  taking 
tlu'  w  ill  of  the  people  at  the  June  election,  concerning 
a  ( onstitutional  convention,  and  the  delegate  was  in- 
structed to  secure  from  congress  an  act  enabling  them 
to  form  a  state  government.^  But  the  people  very 
stiisihly  concluded  that  they  did  not  want  to  he  a 
state  at  present,  a  majority  of  809  being  against  the 
iiirasuie;  nor  did  congress  think  well  of  it,  the  slavery 
(|iU'stion  as  usual  exercising  its  influence,  and  although 
Lane  said  that  Oregon  had  G0,000  population,  which 
was  an  exaggeration. 

Tlie  doings  of  the  alcaldes  of  Jackson  county  an 
justices  of  the  peace  were  legalized;  for  up  to  the 
time  (if  the  appearance  of  a  United  States  judge  in 
that  county  the  administration  of  justice  had  been 
irii'gular,  and  often  extraordinary,  making  the  })er- 
sons  engaged  in  it  liable  to  prosecution  for  illegal 
|ii'(icccdings,  and  the  judgments  of  the  miners'  coui'ts 
viiitl.''  The  business  of  the  session,  taken  all  in  all, 
was  unim})ortant.*"     Worthy  of  remarl.  was  the  char- 

'Attlic  .luno  ('lection,  Wiisliiiigton  county  eliost-  .1.  li.  MccU  col,  R.  M. 
I'lirtir  licut-col,  .loliii  Tool  niii.j. ;'  Vaiiiliill.  .1.  W.  Mollit  col,  W.  Stair 
licuti'dl,  ,1.  A.  ( 'iinipin:!!  inn  j. ;  Marion,  ( icoix"-  l\.  shfji  col,  .lolin  Met  'ratkcii 
lii'iit-iiil,  ,1.  ( '.  (iicr  niaj.;  ('lackiiiniiM,  W.  A.  (  ason  lol,  'rims  W  atciliury 
lii  it-ctil.  W.  11.  Makers  innj.;  Linn,  L.  S,  Helm  col,  \  (i.  McDoiialil 
liriiticil,  Isaac  N'.  Smith  niaj.;  |iouj:las,  \V.  .1.  Martin  col.  . I.  S,  Lane  liciit- 
1  il.  I'.  I'laiiic.s  niaj.;  Coos,  Stoplicn  Oavis  col,  ( '.  (Juiinni,»  liciit  col,  lliijih 
<i\'(il  niiij,  Dr.  S/tih.-<i,inii,.h\w  l.'t,  '.'(»,  'JT,  IH.')4.  I'olk  iiikI  Tillamook  loiin- 
li.s,.|(vt(il  .1.  K.  l>clanlininttcol,  H.  V.  McLcncli  licnl-col,  \\.  K.  liuicli  niaj.; 
riiit'iii  ami  L.inc.  .1.  Kcmlall  col,  .Facolt  Alli'ii  licnt-co|,  William  <iii(l  ni.ij.; 
.liicKMin,  .lolin  !•;.  IJoss  col,  \Vm  .L  Newton  licutcol.  ■lames  II.  RuhhuU  iiiaj. 
>ii\  S'li''  siiiiiii,  .Inly  I,  ls,")4.  <  h\  Jiiiir.  <  'diiihII,  \S'>'  S.  .\iip.  ."i7. 

/,  .•.  ^  "J   Or.,  in   i)i\   Sluti.sinilii,    \'\\).   7,   IS.VI;   Cmfj.   (ilnln,    vol.  I'S,    pt 
il.  II 17  H,  X\d  cont;.  Ist  kcs.s. 

""/•■  .Idiir.  ('iiiiiiril.  |s,i;i-4,  ."lO;  Or.  S'<ii<^iii<iii,  .Un\.  17,  lH,'i4.  Tin- t'oiiiier 
iiKmI  Ics  were  .lolin  .\.  Ilanlin,  V.  S.  Ilaydcn.  Cliannccy  \ye,  Clark  Uoi,'i»|-M, 
iiii'l  W.  W.  I'owlcr,  Ldirn  of  iin [1(111.,  in  <>r.  S'liii.yiiniii,  .Ian,  17,  Is.ii. 
Aiiil  this,  not\villi»tiuiiliii>;  KowKt  IiikI  Ncnteneecl  one  I'.rown  to  lie  lian;.jeil 
i'T  imir.ler.  /'r!  /'s  JulkM  Amnhtci,  MS,,  10.  Tlio  lirst  term  (if  tlio  U,  S. 
iliitiirt  court  licM  liy  .ludgo  Dojuly  began  Sept.  5,  IH.'iU. 

'"CiKis,  ('(iliiiiiliin^  (Hi,l  Wasco  counties  wen*  estiililislieil.  Tlie  nftnie  of 
M.ii'.Y-*\iiic  Was  eliangetl  to  Cor\allis,  Ho.nne  Hiver  liail  its  imine  clianjjecl 
t')'i"M  Uiver,  ami  (Immi  Circk  to  Lelaml  Cri'ik;  Imt  sm  li  is  tlie  toiccof 
ciiMtnin.  tjiese  changes  were  not  regardeil,  unil  the  next  legiHliitiirii  changed 


lit' 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


.11 . 


ij' n  •« 


tering  of  four  railroad  companies,  only  one  of  v^hich 
took  any  steps  toward  carrying  out  the  declared  inten- 
tions of  the  company.  In  the  case  of  the  Willanictto 
Valley  Railroad  Company,  the  commissioners  held 
one  meeting  at  Thorp's  mills,  in  Polk  county,  and 
a[)pointed  days  for  receiving  subscriptions  in  each 
of  the  counties.  But  the  time  was  not  yet  ripe  for 
railroads,  and  this  temporary  enthusiasm  seems  to 
have  been  aroused  by  the  Pacific  railroad  survey,  then 
in  progress  in  the  north-west  territory  of  the  United 
States." 

The  success  of  the  Oregon  delegates  in  securiii<( 
ai)prc)[)riations  led  the  assembly  to  ask  for  money  from 
the  general  government  for  "every  conceivable  pur- 
])use,"  as  their  mentor,  the  Statesman,  reminded  them, 
and  for  which  it  reproved  them.  Yet  the  greater  part 
of  these  applications  found  favor  with  congress,  either 
through  their  own  merits  or  the  address  of  the  dele- 
ting niiiiio  of  Gold  River  back  to  Rogue  River.  The  metliodists  incorpoiat(  il 
Suiiliaii)  Academy  at  LolMinon,  in  Linn  county,  Portland  Academy  ami  Kc- 
iniilo  Seminary  at  Portland,  and  Corvallis  Academy  at  Corvallis.  The  yin*- 
byltriuas  iucor|M)ratutl  Union  Academy  at  Union  Point.  The  congregiitiuii- 
alist.s  incorporated  Tualatin  Academy  and  Pacific  University  at  Foivst 
(jiove;  and  the  citizens  of  Polk  county  the  Rickreal  Academy,  on  the  land 
claim  of  one  Lovela<ly— Rickreal  being  the  corruption  of  La  Cr(5ole,  in  euiii- 
moil  use  Mith  the  early  settlers.  Albany  hatl  its  name  changed  to  Tek.'iiiali, 
but  it  was  changed  l>ack  aga'n  next  sesMiou.  Thirty  wagou  roads  ueiv  inti- 
tioned  for,  ami  many  granted,  and  the  Ump(|ua  Navigation  and  Maini' 
faeturin^f  Company  was  incorporated  at  this  session,  tho  object  of  whirii 
was  to  improve  the  navigation  of  tho  river  at  tho  head  of  tide-water,  and 
utilize  tho  water-))owui' at  tho  falls  for  mills  and  maiiufactorivs.  'liie  ciiiii' 
nany  consisted  of  Rolnirt  J.  Loidd,  J.  W.  Drew,  R.  K.  Stratton,  ISenjaniin 
Jirattaii,  and  F.  W.  Meiritt;  but  nothing  came  of  it,  tho  navigation  <t  tlio 
river  being  impracticable.  N(me  of  tlie  ploiis  for  making  ScoUslniig  :\ 
manufacturing  town  at  this  time,  or  down  to  the  present,  succeeded.  An 
appioj)riatiou  for  tho  improvement  of  the  river  above  that  plucuMas  iiMJi'il 
Bccureil  from  congress  and  applied  to  that  purpose  a  few  years  Liter,  mi  lai- 
that  a  small  steamer  built  lor  a  low  stage  of  water  made  one  trip  t<>  W  ni- 
chestor.  Tho  Ump<iua  above  tho  falls  at  Scottsburg  is  a  succession  of  nipiiU 
over  rocky  ledges  wliii'li  form  the  bottom  of  the  stream.  Tho  water  in  f-nni- 
mer  is  shallow, and  in  winter  often  a  rushing  torrent.  lu  thewiuterof  i^il  - 
it  curried  away  the  mills  and  must  of  the  valuable  improvements  at  the  Iovmi' 
town,  which  were  not  rebuilt. 

"The  Willamette  Valley  railroad  was  to  have  been  built  on  the  west  siilu 
of  the  valley.  Tlie  connnissitmers  were  Fred.  Waymire,  .Tohn  'riioi|i,  and 
Martin  L.  Harljer.  Or.  SUUikhkiii,  April  '2!i,  18.54.  Tho  first  railroad  \>ri>- 
jected  in  Oregon  was  from  .St  Helen,  on  tho  Columbia,  to  Lafayetti',  liio 
idea  being  put  forth  by  II.  M.  Knighton,  original  owner  of  the  foruur  yl^-'', 
and  Crosby  uad  Smith,  owners  of  Milton  town  site.  Sue  Or.  HijecUUvr,  A^uil 
17, 18ol. 


APPROPRIATIONS.  |p> 

gate  in  advocating  them.  The  principal  appropria- 
tions now  obtained  were  the  sum  before  mentioned 
fur  paying  the  expenses  of  the  Rogue  River  war; 
Ji5 1 0,000  to  continue  the  military  road  from  Myrtle 
Creek  to  Scottsburg;  and  $10,000  in  addition  to  a 
I'diuier  appropriation  of  $15,000  to  construct  a  light- 
lioiiso  at  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua,  with  a  propor- 
tionate part  of  a  general  appropriation  of  $59,000  to 
bo  used  in  the  construction  of  light-houses  on  tlie  coasts 
of  California  and  Oregon.^'^ 

^'('nnij.  iUobe,  1853-4,  2249.  This  work,  which  had  been  commenced 
on  the  Oregon  coast  in  1853,  waa  delayed  by  the  loss  of  tlic  bark  Oriole 
of  iliiltiiiiorc,  Captain  Lcntz,  wrecked  on  the  bar  of  the  Columl>ia  the 
l!itli  of  Sept.,  just  as  slie  liad  arrived  inside,  with  material  and  men  to 
cni-t  llie  light-Iiouso  at  Cape  Disappointment.  Tiie  wind  failing,  on  the 
elili  of  tiie  tidu  tlio  Oriole  drifted  among  the  breakers,  and  on  account  of  the 
stone  and  other  lieavy  cargo  in  her  hohl,  was  ijuickl^  broken  up.  The 
crew  iinil  twenty  workman,  with  the  contractor,  F.  X.  KoUey,  and  tlie  bar- 
iiilnt,  ('ii|)t.  Flavcl,  escaped  into  tiic  bcjats,  and  aft«!r  twelve  hours'  work  to 
li(('|)  tlieni  from  being  carried  out  to  sea,  were  picked  up  by  the  pilot-lM>at 
bikI  taken  to  Antoria.  Tims  ended  the  first  attempt  to  build  the  much  needed 
li;;lit  lumse  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columliia.  In  1854  Lieut  (ieorgo  II.  Derby 
w.i.i  ap|)i)iMted  su^ieriutendont  of  light-houses  in  Cal.  and  Or.  Additional  ap- 
pni|iii:iiions  were  asked  for  in  1854,  In  1850  the  lightdiouse  at  Capo  Disap- 
piiiiituient  was  completed.  Its  first  keeiK>r  was  John  lioyil,  a  native  of 
Maine,  who  eame  to  Or.  in  1853,  and  \\a»  injured  in  the  explosion  of  the  Ga- 
zillt.  lie  married  Miss  Olivia  A.  Johnson,  also  of  Maine,  in  IS.V.t.  Tlicy 
hail  foiu'  eliildren.  Boyd  died  Sept.  10,  1805,  at  the  Cape.  J'oiilftinl  Orajo- 
nini,  Sept.  18,  1805.  The  accounting  oilicer  of  the  treasury  was  authorized 
toailjiist  the  expenses  of  the  commissioners  appointed  hy  the  ter.  a.ssembly 
to  pn'|iare  a  code  of  laws,  and  of  collecting  and  iiriuting  the  laws  and  aivhives 
of  tli<'  jirov.  govt.  U.  S.  Houtie  Jour.,  7"25,  33d  cong.  1st  sess;  Co)nj.  O'nbi; 
lS'>:t-4,  app,  '2',i'2'2.  The  laws  and  archives  of  the  provisional  goviTunient, 
coiiJi'iled  liy  ii.  F,  (Jrover,  were  printed  ui  .Salem  by  Astdiel  Ihisli.  Tho 
ciiilv  was  sent  to  New  York  to  bo  printed.  Tho  salaries  of  the  ter,  judges 
aiiil  tlu^  see.  'vere  increased  $5()0  each,  and  the  services  of  (loo.  L.  (,'urry, 
while  acting  governor,  were  computed  the  same  as  if  he  had  been  gov- 
eitiur.  Tiie  legislative  and  other  contingent  expenses  of  tho  ter.  amounted 
to  .SIJ,(KM>,  hcsitles  those  of  tho  surv.-gen.  olliec,  Ind.  dep,,  mil.  dep.,  and 
mail  service.  Tho  expenses  of  tho  govt,  not  included  ni  those  paid  by 
tile  I'.  S.,  amounted  for  tho  tiscal  year  ending  Doc.  1853  to  oidy  .'*3,35!)..')4; 
and  tile  piililio  debt  to  no  more  than  $S5.">.37.  Or.  Slnlcumdii,  Dec.  'JO,  IH53; 
Or  Jiiiiniiil  Coinicil,  I8.J.3-4,  p.  143-5;  I'urlhtiid  Ori'ijonlnii,  Jan,  27,  1854. 
Tmo  new  diHtriets  for  the  collection  of  customs  were  established  at  tho  2il 
Bi'BM.  of  the  .Till  cong.,  viz..  Cape  I'erpetua,  and  I'ort  Orfoid,  with  collectors 
liawin^;  salaries  of  ;?2,000  each,  who  mi^jjit  emphty  each  a  elerk  at  iJisi.oOO; 
niid  a  deputy  at  each  port  of  delivery  at  lfl,(K)0  a  year;  besides  ganger,  weigh- 
i'i\  and  measurer,  at  ijO  a  day,  and  an  inspector  at  ?4.  (\ni<j.  Otnw,  vol.  31, 
fll>|>.  .'IHI,  ;i;id  cong.  2tl  sess.  Tho  port  of  entry  for  the  district  of  Capo  Per- 
liitnii  w.is  llxed  at  Oardiner,  on  tho  l'inpi|ua  Kiver.  More  vessels  entered 
the  Cuhnuiiia  than  all  the  other  ports  tt>gether.  From  Sept.  I,  18.">3,  to  July 
111,  I'>'>1,  inclusive,  there  were  1 ,1(  arrivals  at  tho  jiort  of  Astoria,  all  from  S, 
V.  ('\re|it  one  from  C<Km  Ikiy,  two  from  \i!w  York,  and  ono  from  liondon. 
Tlie  London  vessel  brought  goods  for  tho  Hudson's  Uay  (joni^muy,  tho  only 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


■■■ !  ^ 


Next  to  the  payment  of  the  war  debt  was  the 
demand  for  a  more  efficient  mail  service.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  Willamette  Valley  still  complained  that 
their  mails  were  left  at  Astoria,  and  that  at  the  host 
the}^  had  no  more  than  two  a  month.  In  southern 
Oregon  it  was  still  worse;  .ind  again  the  citizens  of 
Umpqiia  memorialized  congress  on  this  vexatious  sub- 
ject. It  was  represented  that  the  valleys  of  southern 
Oregon  and  northern  California  contained  some  30,000 
inhabitants,  who  obtained  their  merchandise  from 
Umpqua  harbor,  and  that  it  was  imperatively  neces- 
sary that  mail  communication  should  be  establishod 
between  San  Francisco  and  these  valleys.  Their  })e- 
tition  was  so  brought  before  congress  that  an  act  was 
passed  providing  for  the  delivery  of  the  mails  at  all 
the  ports  along  the  coast,  from  Humboldt  ]iay  to 
Port  Townsend  and  Olympia,  and  $125,000  ap[)ropri- 
ated  for  the  service."  Houses  were  built,  a  newsjia- 
per"  was  established,  and  hope  beat  high.     But  again 


foreign  vessel  entering  Oregon  during  that  time.  The  departures  from  tlio 
Colunibiii  nunilwrcd  184,  all  for  S.  P.  except  one  for  Coos  Bay,  two  foiCa- 
llao,  one  for  Australia,  ami  one  for  the  S.  I.  Most  of  these  vessels  ciuiicil 
lunilx;r,  tiio  numl>er  of  feet  exported  being  22,.')((7,000.  Or.  Slntismaii,  Anu. 
1,  1S.")4.  The  direct  appropriations  asked  for  and  ohtained  at  the  '2i\  hcss.  of 
tliia  i'i)iig.  were  for  the  creation  of  a  new  land  district  in  southern  ()i-.  c.ilU'il 
the  Umpuna  district,  to  distinguisii  it  from  tlio  Willamette  diMtrict,  willi  an 
otlico  nt  such  point  as  the  president  might  direct,  Znhrlxkie.  LhhiI.  I^mr^,  (i:;il; 
Coiiij.  GldUe,  vol.  31,  app.  .'WO,  ',VM\  cong.  '2d  eess.,  the  appropriation  of  .T^+i*,- 
000  to  complete  tlie  penitentiary  at  Portland,  $'27,000  to  comjilete  the  si;ito 
house  at  Salem,  and  $30,000  to  construct  the  military  ro.id  from  Siilfiii  to 
Astoiia.  marked  out  in  I8r)0  hy  Samuel  Culver  and  Lieut  Wood  of  ilio 
mounted  rifles.  Oi;  Sfnffmnnu,  Oct.  3,  18r»0.  The  military  I'oad  to  ,\Htuna 
was  partly  constructed  in  1855,  under  tlio  direction  of  Lieut  l)eri)y.  Mum'y 
failinu',  a  further  approjjriation  of  ,'J15,(K)0  was  applied,  and  still  tin;  roinl  re- 
mained practically  useless.  The  appropriation  of  $.SO,000  for  a  liglitlioiisi'  at 
tlio  Ump(|uii  was  also  expended  l)y  government  officers  in  1857.  'riuMnwcr 
was  105  feet  high,  hut  heing  huilt  on  a  sandy  foundation,  it  fell  over  into  the 
Bea  ill  1870.  It  does  not  ajipear  tiiat  the  money  Ixsstowed  upon  ()rei.'iiii  hy 
congri'ss  in  ttsrritorial  times  accomplished  the  purposes  for  wliii'h  it  wn*  dc- 
nignccl.  Not  one  of  the  military  roads  was  better  than  a  mule  trail.  iMiy 
ronil  that  could  lie  travelled  hy  wagons  heing  opei>'id  hy  the  people  at  tin  ir 
own  (!\i)enHe. 

»  r.  ,S'.  //.  Jniir.,  '2.S7,388,411,51«,  53(5,n<l3,.'Wdcong.  Istsess.;  C.S.  II. 
Ef.  J >'>,:,  i.  pt  ii.  015,  024,  701,  '.VM  cong.  '2d  sess. 

'*  lly  1).  J.  Lyon,  at  Scottslmrg,  called  tiie  Um/iqiin  Gn-.rl/i'.  It  was  lirst 
Issued  in  Api'il  1854,  and  its  iirinter  was  William  .1.  Ikiggs.  In  Nov.  \^'>^, 
(i.  1).  It.  Hoyd  purciuisetl  a  halfintcrest,  and  later  removed  themutiiid  to 
Jttcksonvillo  wliero  the  publication  of  thu  TtMc  Jlock  Sentinel  was  bt'i,'un  iii 


BEACH  GOLD  AIINIXO. 


329 


in  the  summer  of  1854,  as  after  the  efforts  of  Thurs- 
ton, the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company  made  a 
spasMiodic  pretence  of  keeping  their  contract,  which 
uas  St  )on  again  abandoned  out  of  fear  of  the  Umpqua 
bar,'^  and  this  abandonment,  together  with  the  suc- 
ccMsrul  rivalry  of  the  road  from  Crescent  City  to  the 
R(iL,nic  liiver  Valley,  and  the  final  destruction  of  the 
Sci ittsburg road  by  the  extraordinary  storms  of  1 80 1-2, 
tciniiiiatcd  in  a  few  years  the  business  of  the  Ump- 
qua, exco})t  such  lumbering  and  fishing  as  were  after- 
waid  carried  on  below  Scottsburg. 


The  history  of  beach  mining  for  gold  began  in  the 
sjiiiun'  of  1853,  the  discovery  of  gold  in  the  sand  of 
tlu.'  sea-beach  leading  to  one  of  those  sudden  migra- 
tions of  the  mining  population  expressively  termed  a 
'rush.'  The  first  discovery  was  made  by  some  half- 
bircds  ill  1852  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek  a  lew  miles 
north  of  the  Coquille,  near  where  Kandolph  appears 
on  the  ump.**  The  gold  was  exceedingly  fine,  the  use 
of  a  microscope  being  often  necessary  to  detect  it;  yet 
vhcn  saved,   by   amalgamation   with    mercury,    was 

Ndv.  18,V>,  liy  W.  G.  T'Vault,  Tivylor,  and  Blakcsly,  with  IJeggs  as  jiriiiter. 
Or.  S'^iii.-^iiiitii,  Deo.  8,  18.")5;  Or.  A ly us,  Dec.  8,  ISu.'i.  The  luimewiisoliuiigcd 
toiliiitnf  iirajdiiSt'iitiDfl  in  18o7.  /'/.,  July  -i">,  I8.57.  J>.  J.  Lyons  wiisltorn 
iiiCnrk,  [rohuiil,  in  1818,  liis  family  lieing  in  tliu  niiddlo  rank  of  lilu,  anil 
ciiiiui  cjtcil  with  tho  political  trouliles  of  1798.  His  fatlitT  eniigratud  to  Kcn- 
tuiUy  in  ISIS.  Young  Lyons  lost  his  sight  in  his  ?  oyhood,  hut  muh  xvull  edu- 
cate! \<y  tutors,  and  being  of  a  inusioul  ami  literary  turn  of  mind,  wrote 
siiiji  fiisliiuimliie  in  tho  circle  in  which  licorge  I).  I'rentico,  iidniunil  ]'"la).'g, 
mil  Aiiifliiv  A\'rlliy  were  promin'Mit.  Lyitns  was  connected  with  several  light 
liui:;i V  ]iiil(lii!itions  heforc  coming  to  (Iregon,  He  had  married  Virginia  A. 
riitiiaiii,  il.'iiiglitcr  of  .ioscph  I'utnam  of  Lexington,  with  whom  lu^  emi;;rated 
tii(lr(  .:im  in  I S.");i,  settling  at  Scottslturg,  where  he  resideil  nciirlV'tt)  years, 
riiiin\  MIL,'  afterward  to Marshiield,  on  ( 'oos  IJay.  JJeggs  was  a  lirillinnt  writer 
uii  p'ljilu's,  liiit  of  dissipated  habits.  He  nuirried  a  Miss  ISeebc  of  Salem, 
ftinl  (li-rrtcd  her.     He  ran  a  brief  career,  dying  in  misery  in  \ew  York  (,'ity. 

''The  whiile  t^oast  was  little  understood,  and  unimitroved  as  to  harbors. 
Tile  .\iii/'i  was  lost  at  I'ortOrford  in  Oct.  18.V2.  Three  vessels,  the  ./.  JAW- 
lid"-,  .Ml  iiiliirtt,  iiwl  I'ltHf/a/m,  were  wrecked  at  the  mouth  of  the  ('olumbiu 
ill  .1.111.  Is.'i.l.  (apt.  K.  H.  ]ioard  of  tho  I'aHdalin,  who  wiw  from  Ikltiniorc, 
Mil..  «;is  cli'ciwnetl. 

'"S.  S.  Mann  snys  that  tho  half-breeds  sold  their  cloim  to  McXamaru 
Bintliii.s  fur  .S-'l»,(K)0.  Siillimait  of  Coon  Jiai/,  MS.,  14.  Armstrong,  in  his 
O/'v/ 'I,  (i(i,  clainis  that  his  brother  discovered  gold  on  tho  bouili  at  tho 
('  x|uiil>'  ill  1st-',  being  driven  in  thuru  iu  a  suhoouer  by  a  ttorin,  while  ou  liid 
Way  tn  Sail  I'rancisco. 


330 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


EiU 


found  to  be  in  paying  quantities.  The  sand  in  which 
it  was  found  existed  not  only  on  the  modern  beach, 
but  on  the  upper  Coquille,  forty  miles  in  the  interior, 
at  a  plaee  know^n  as  Johnson  Diggings;  but  the  i)iin- 
cipal  deposits  were  from  the  Coquille  River  south 
along  the  recent  beach  to  the  California  line.*^ 

A  mining  town  called  Elizabeth  sprung  up  during 
the  sunmier  about  thirty  miles  south  of  Port  Orl'onl, 
and  anotlier  seven  miles  north  of  the  Coquille,  called 
Randolph  City.^^  The  latter  name  may  still  be  found 
on  the  maps,  but  the  town  has  passed  out  of  ex- 
istence with  hundreds  of  others.  For,  although  the 
returns  from  certain  localities  were  at  first  flattering, 
the  irregular  value  of  the  deposits,  and  the  difficulty 
of  disposing  of  the  gold  on  account  of  expense  of  .sep- 
aration, soon  sent  most  of  the  miners  back  to  the 
placer  diggings  of  the  interior,  leaving  a  few  of  the 
less  impatient  to  further  but  still  futile  efforts. 

The  natives  living  at  the  mouth  of  the  Coquille 
questioned  the  right  of  the  white  men  to  occupy  that 
region,  and  added  to  insolence  robbery  and  murder. 
Therefore,  on  the  28th  of  January,  a  party  of  forty, 
led  by  George  H.  Abbott,  went  to  their  village,  killed 
fifteen  men,  and  took  prisoners  the  women  and  chil- 
dren.    Seeing  which,  the  chiefs  of  other  villages  were 

'"  'The  deposit  where  the  gold  was  found  is  an  ancient  beach,  1  h  uiilis  tast 
or  l)ack  of  the  present  Iteach.  The  miuea  are  180  teet  alwve  the  Irvil  of  tlio 
ocean,  wliicii  has  evidently  receded  to  that  extent.  Tlie  depth  c)f  the  jjoKl 
varies  from  one  to  twelve  feet,  tliere  being  12  feet  on  the  ocean  side  U<  "ne 
foot  on  what  was  formerly  the  sliore  side.  The  breadtli  is  from  .'((Mt  t^  .")(I0 
feet,  which  is  covered  witli  white  sand  to  a  depth  of  40  feet.  Tlit!  siii t^.c  is 
overgrown  witli  a  dense  forest,  and  trees  of  great  size  are  found  in  tlic  Maik 
sand,  in  a  good  stftte  of  preservation,  which  proves  that  tiiere  the  licirh  uiis 
at  no  remote  period.  Iron  is  a  largo  conqwnent  of  tins  black  s.'iiul.  mikI  it 
would  probably  pay  to  work  it  for  that  metal  now.'  Oak'n  licnoiirns  •■/  <  'ixih 
Cimuh/,  31.  Nee  also  Him  Travip'n  Adventurer,  154-5;  Ariuiitroiiii'.i  ('/• ,  (i4- 
f).  oT-l);  JJaciilsvii\  CooMt  PiM,  11!);  J/iirjjer'n  Mtnth/y,  xiii.  ."iM-.'i;  S.  /•'. 
i'om.  Adirrther,  Feb.  'J3,  1854;  Taylor's  S/we.  VreM,  5S4;  Cram'"  Ti'p. 
Alvm.,  37.  W.  1*.  lilake,  in  Silliman's  Journal,  vol.  20,  74,  says:  'tloM  in 
found  in  the  beach  sand  from  tho  surface  to  the  depth  of  0  feet  or  nii>r> :  it  is 
in  very  small  thin  scales,  and  separates  from  tho  black  sand  with  dill;,  ulty. 
I'Litinum  and  the  associate  metals,  iridosmine,  etc.,  are  found  with  tlif  -'hM 
in  large  (juantitics,  and  as  they  cannot  l>e  separated  from  the  gold  by  w.isiiiiuj,', 
its  value  in  the  market  is  coiisidenibly  lessened. ' 

'"i'ariish.  in  Jiid.  A  If.  Jiepl,  1854,  208-75,  288;  S.  F.  Alia,  Juno  .■),  0, 
July  15,  and  Aug.  lU,  1804. 


r. 


coos  BAY  COMPANY. 


3l'1 


I  in  wLich 
?rn  beach, 
c  interior, 
:  the  [irin- 
ver  south 

up  (luring 
»rt  Ori'onl, 
ille,  called 

II  be  found 
)ut  of  ex- 
,houp;h  the 

flatter!  Hi,', 
e  difficulty 
nse  of  sep- 
ack  to  the 
few  of  the 
3rts. 

le  Coqnillo 
>ccupy  that 
id  murder. 
y  of  forty, 

aixc,  killed 
and  chi!- 
atreswcre 

!i,  ]},  mill's  cast 
no  Irvil  of  tlio 
)th  of  tlir  piKl 
'iui  siili'  to  one 
inini  :«HMo  ')l»0 
Tllf  siutarc  is 

1,1  in  tiic  l>i;uk 

the  1h 111  h  uiis 

L'k  sJlllil,  :ili'l  it 

iitiircix  ■:''  '  ""■'' 
I'oiif/'s  ('/' .  li+- 

Cntui'^  /'"/'• 
wiys:  '(lolil  is 
;  or  mop-,  it  is 
,itii  .litlimltv. 
with  tlic  L'olil 
llil  liy  wiisliiug, 

l((,   JuiR  ."i,  (5, 


glad  to  make  peace  on  any  terms,  and  keep  it  until 
driven  again  to  desperation.^^ 

Superintendent  Palmer,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  began 
a  round  of  visits  to  his  savage  wards,  going  by  the 
wav  of  the  Rogue  River  Valley  and  Crescent  City, 
and  proceeding  up  the  coast  to  Yaquina  Bay.  Find- 
iiiH'  the  Indians  on  the  southern  coast  shy  and  unap- 
proachable, he  left  at  Port  Orford  Sub-agent  Parrish 
A\  itli  presents  to  effect  a  conciliation.** 

Prominent  among  matters  growing  out  of  beach 
luiiiiiig,  next  after  the  Indian  difficulties,  was  the 
more  perfect  exploration  of  the  Coos  Bay  country, 
which  resulted  from  the  passing  back  and  forth  of 
supply  trains  between  the  Umpqua  and  the  Coquille 
livers.  In  May  1853,  Perry  B.  Marple,^'  after  hav- 
ing,' examined  the  valley  of  the  Coquille,  and  found 
what  he  believed  to  be  a  practicable  route  from  Coos 
Bay  to  the  interior,''-  formed  an  association  of  twenty 
iiu  II  called  the  Coos  Bay  Company,  with  stock  to  bo 
divided  into  one  hundred  shares,  five  shares  to  each 
joint  proprietor,''  and  each  proprietor  being  bound  to 

'"Indian  Ajicnt  F.  M.  Smith,  after  flue  investigation,  pronounced  the  kill- 
u\i!  an  unjustitiablo  massacre.   U.  S.  11.  Ex.  Doc.  76,  '2U8-71,  34th  coug.  3d 

SL'.»S. 

*'Sie  Pfirrixh'x  Or.  Anerdotes,  MS.,  passim;  Ind.  Af.  Pept,  18.")4,  254-60. 

•"  lit'  wa.s  an  eccentric  genius,  a  great  talker,  of  whom  liia  comrades  used 
to  siiy  tliat  he  '  came  within  an  ace  of  being  a  Patrick  Ilenry,  but  just  missing 
it,  inis.-si'il  it  entirely.'  He  was  a  man  of  mark,  however,  in  hiscotmty,  wliich 
li('H|iru,sonted  in  the  Gonstitutional  convention — a  bad  mark,  in  some  respects, 
juilf^ing  from  Dealy's  observations  on  disbarring  him:  'i  havo  long  since 
C'-a-iil  to  iT-rtrd  anytliing  you  assert.  All  your  nnti  show  ad"^reo  of  mental 
mill  iiuiial  ()l)li(|uity  which  renders  you  incapable  of  diocrini'nating  between 
tiiitii  and  falsehood  or  right  and  wrong.  You  liavc  no  capacity  for  the  practice 
I'l  law.  and  in  that  profession  you  will  ever  prove  a  curse  to  yourself  ami  to  the 
iDiiiuiuMity.  For  these  reasons,  and  altogether  overlooking  the  present  alle- 
f;:itioiis  (if  unprofessional  conduct,  it  would  bo  an  act  of  mercy  to  strike  your 
ii.iiiii'  from  the  roll  of  attorneys.'  Marple  went  to  the  Florence  mines  in 
I'lutirn  Oic'gon  on  the  outbreak  of  the  excitement  of  l>S(il,  and  there  died  of 
inii-mnption  in  the  autumn  of  1862.  Or.  Sla/omuii,  Dec.  8,  1862,  ami  Jan. 
I'J,  isds. 

•Tllf  first  settlement  was  made  on  Coos  Hay  in  the  summer  of  18^.1,  and 
n  li.ii  iirr  named  Sherman  took  a  provision  train  over  the  mountains  from 
'iiaw'  (lick  by  a  practicable  route.  He  reported  discoveries  of  coal.  Or. 
Sliii.smai,,  .June  28,  18J3. 

'I  lu'  proprietors  were  Perry  li.  Marple,  James  C.  Tolman,  I'ollin  L.  Bel- 
kuap,  Solomon  Bowermaster,  Joseph  11.  Mc\ay,  J.  >.  J.  McVay,  VVm  H. 


S32 


LEGISLz^TION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


f  f       ' 


f)rocee(l  without  delay  to  locate  in  a  legal  form  all  tlie 
and  necessary  to  secure  town  sites,  coal  mines,  and 
all  important  points  whatsoever  to  the  company.  If 
upon  tliie  consideration  any  one  wished  to  withdraw 
from  the  undertaking  he  was  bound  to  hold  his  claim 
until  a  substitute  could  be  provided.  Each  person 
remaining  hi  the  company  agreed  to  pay  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  dollars  to  the  founder,  from  wliom 
he  w^ould  receive  a  certificate  entitling  him  to  one 
twentieth  of  the  whole  interest,  subject  to  the  mlju- 
lations  of  the  company,  the  projector  of  the  enter|)iiso 
being  bound  on  his  part  to  reveal  to  the  company  all 
the  advantageous  positions  upon  the  bay  or  on  Co- 
quille  river,  and  throughout  the  country,  and  to  re- 
linquish to  the  company  his  selections  of  land,  the 
treasures  he  had  discovered,  both  upon  the  earth  or 
in  it,  and  especially  tlie  stone-coal  deposits  by  lihii 
found.'** 

The  members  of  the  company  seemed  satisfied  with 
the  project,  and  lost  no  time  in  seizing  upon  the  va- 
rious positions  supposed  to  be  valuable.  Empire  ( 'ity 
was  taken  up  as  a  town  site  about  the  time  the  company 
was  formed,'*'  and  later  Marshfield,'*  and  the  affairs  of 

Harris,  F.  G.  Lockhait,  C.  W.  .Johnson,  A.  P.  Goskell.W.  H.  Jackson,  I'nsly 
G.  Williite,  A.  P.  Do  Cuis,  David  Rohren,  Charles  Pearce,  .Miittlii.H  M. 
Loiirn,  Henry  A.  Stark.  Charles  H.  Haskell,  Joseph  Lane,  S.  K.  Tfiiiile. 
Ar/irleH  of'  Indenture  of  the,  t'oc.  Bay  Company,  in  Oregoniun,  Jan.  7,  1^")4: 
G'»6is'  Soles  on  Or.  Jlixt.,  MS.,  15. 

^^Artickit  of  Iiidentuie  of  the  Coos  Day  Company,  in'  Oregonian,  .I:im.  7, 
1854.     See  S.  F.  Alia,  Jan.  3,  1854. 

'•'"  Empire  City  had  (in  18.55)  some  thirty  board  houses,  and  a  iialf-liiiHlieil 
wharf.   I'aii  Tramp'x  Adventurrs,  100. 

'^'''  I  am  informed  by  old  residents  of  Mavshtield  that  this  was  the  olaim  of 
J.  C.  Toluian,  who  was  associated  in  it  with  A.  J.  Davis.  The  usual  iniilti- 
sion  as  to  titles  ensued.  Tohnan  was  fttrced  to  leave  t!ic  place  on  atinunt  I'f 
his  wife's  health,  and  put  a  man  named  Chapman  in  charge.  Davis,  liaviiii? 
to  go  away,  put  a  man  named  Warwick  in  charge  of  his  half  of  the  tii«  ii  j-itf- 
Subsecjuently  Davis  bought  one  half  of  Tolman's  half,  but  having  luintliiv 
claim,  allowed  Warwick  to  enter  the  Marshfield  claim  for  him,  in  lii>  uvvn 
name,  though  according  to  the  land  law  he  could  not  enter  land  for  tnwnsite 
purposes.  Warwick,  however,  in  some  way  obtained  a  patent,  and  soM  the 
claim  to  H.  H,  Lnce,  Mho30  title  was  disputed  because  the  patent  wns  liiml- 
ulently  obtained.  A  long  contest  over  titles  resulted,  others  oliiiniiiiL'  tlic 
right  to  enter  it,  because  Davis  had  lost  his  right,  and  Warwick  had  nivir 
had  any.  Luce  held  possesMion,  however.  The  remaining  portion  of I'Imihis 
half  of  the  town  site  waa  sold  to  a  nmn  named  Uatoli,  wboao  claim  is  n<  t  ilia- 
puted. 


coos  BAY  COAL. 


iom 


m  all  tliG 
linos,  and 
mny.  If 
witluliaw 
his  claim 
;h  person 
the  sum 
)ra  whom 
m  to  one 
the  \V[f\\- 
3nter|)iise 
iiipauy  all 
)r  (Ml  Co- 
iiid  to  re- 
land,  the 
e  earth  or 
ts  by  him 

isfictl  with 
^n  the  va- 
iipire  City 
eonipany 
i  ati'airs  of 

[•kson,  I'ri'slv 
Matthias  M. 
K.  To'iii'lf. 
Jan.  7,  1^"»4: 

iildii,  Jitri.  7, 

lialf-linislicd 

8  the  L'hdiii  iif 
usual  iiiiilu- 
on  aiiouiit  cf 
Itavis.  Inning 
tlif  town  sill'. 
iving  iiiiiitlicr 
n.  ill  iii>  'i»ii 
for  town-site 

and  ^*||l'' ''"-' 

nt  was  li'iiul- 

olaiiiiiii-'  tlio 

■k  li.ul  never 

InofTnl'.iimrM 

liiu  is  II''  'lis- 


the  company  prospered.  In  January  1854,  the  ship 
Ucunir's  Cove  iroui  San  Francisco  entered  Coos  Bay 
with  a  stock  of  goods,  bringing  also  some  settlers  and 
iiiiiicis,  and  in  the  same  month  the  Louisiana,  Ca[)- 
taiii  Williams,  from  Portland  took  a  cargo  into  Coos 
Bay  for  Northup  &  Simonds  of  that  town,  who 
L'stalilished  a  branch  business  at  Empire  City,'*' 
Xorthiip  accompanying  the  cargo  and  settling  at 
that  i-laee.'^ 

Coal  was  first  shipped  from  the  Newport  mine  in 
April  1855,*  and  in  1856  a  steam-vessel  called  the 
Xcii'iiort,  the  first  to  enter  this  harbor,  was  employed 
ill  carrying  cargoes  to  San  Francisco,**  and  the  same 
year   two  steam    saw-mills  were    in   operation   with 

-'  111  a  letter  written  by  Northup  to  his  partner,  and  published  in  the  Ore- 
(jonian  oi  A[)ril  22,  1854,  lie  tells  of  the  progress  of  alTairs.  They  had  suunded 
tiic  liiiy  and  found  from  12  to  30  feet  of  water.  The  land  was  level  and  tim- 
liereil,  Imt  not  hard  to  clear.  The  Coijuille  was  'one  of  the  prettiest  rivers' 
ever  eeii.  Mr  Davis  of  S.  F.  was  forming  a  company  to  build  a  railroad 
frein  ilie  ))ranch  of  the  bay  to  the  Coquille,  the  travel  going  that  way  to  tho 
lUindnl|iii  mines.  Machinery  for  a  steamer  was  also  coming.  The  whole  of 
soutliei'  I  Oregon  was  to  be  connected  with  Coos  Bay.  Tlie  miners  were 
iloiiiu'  well,  and  business  was  good. 

'■  •  Ntv-mi  Xorthup,  a  pioneer  of  Portland,  whociune  to  the  jilace  in  1851, 
ami  s'liii  alter  fonned  the  tinn  of  Northup  &  Simonds,  well  known  merchants 
of  tim-r  days.  In  1854  they  dispo.sed  of  their  business  to  E.  J.  Northup 
and  .1.  M.  Blossom,  and  removeil  to  Coos  Bay,  taking  into  that  j  ort  the  sec- 
ond vessel  from  Portland.  Northup  remained  at  Coos  Bay  several  years, 
and  ill  the  mean  time  opened  up,  at  great  expense,  the  first  coal  mines  in  that 
liiealitv,  iinw  so  famed  in  that  respect.  He  died  at  the  residence  of  his  smi 
K.  .1.  Noitliup,  in  tho  65th  year  of  his  age,  on  the  3tlof  July,  1874.'  Port- 
iiiiil  Oi'.jciiiuii,  July  4,  1874. 

"S.  /•.  .!//«,  May  4,  6,  12,  June  28,  and  Oct.  7,  1854;  Or.  Statesman, 
Mav  !•_',  l^.-)4. 

"':-lii'  was  a  small  craft,  formerly  the  Hartford.  Her  engines  were  after- 
ward tiaiisfiMTcd  to  a  small  teak-wood  schooner,  which  was  christened  The 
Ftnrlf^.  and  was  the  first  and  for  many  years  the  only  tug-l>oat  on  the  bay. 
She  Was  liiially  lost  near  Coos  Head.  A  story  has  lieen  told  to  this  efl'eet: 
liyoiiH  lit'  tlio  early  trips  of  tho  Xi'irjiorf.  an  order  was  sent  to  Estell,  her 
uwnei,  to  forward  a  few  laborers  for  the  Newport  mine.  Estell  had  charge 
iif  till'  (  aiiforniu  state  prison,  and  took  an  interest,  it  was  said,  in  its  occu- 
Hanis.  volar  as  to  let  them  slip  occasionally.  On  tho  return  of  the  Xnriiort, 
aeripwd  ot  forty  hard  cases  appeared  uiwn  her  deck.  A  few  only  were  re- 
i|iiiied  ill  the  mine,  and  the  renuiinder  droppeil  ashore  at  Empire  City.  Tho 
iinsii'pi'.  ting  citizens  scanned  them  curiously,  and  then  retired  to  their 
tloniicili  s.  But  consternation  soon  prevaileil.  Hen-roosts  were  despoiled 
ami  tloUies-Iines  stripped  of  gracefully  iwiident  garments.  Anything  and 
cvciyiliin;,'  of  value  began  to  disappear  in  a  mysterious  manner.  Tlio 
ppiiple  li.gan  to  suspect,  and  to  'go  lor' the  strangers,  who  were  strongly 
U'.;.'ed  lo  1  migrate.  The  touching  recollections  connected  with  this  gang  led 
the  ( iti/i  lis  always  after  to  speak  of  them  as  the  Forty  Thieves,  t'ooa  Baa 
litUli.nn.:,  10,11. 


334 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


from  three  to  five  vessels  loading  at  a  time  with  lum- 
ber and  coal,  since  which  period  coal-mining,  IuuiIh  r- 
ing,  and  ship-building  have  been  carried  on  at  this 
point  without  interruption.  Railroads  were  early 
projected,  and  many  who  first  engaged  in  the  dovol- 
opment  of  coal  mines  became  wealthy,  and  resided 
here  till  their  death,^* 

Some  also  were  unfortunate,  one  of  the  share- 
holders, Henry  A.  Stark,  being  drowned  in  the  spring 
of  1854,  while  attempting  with  five  others  to  go  out 
in  a  small  boat  to  some  vessels  lying  off  the  bar. "^ 
Several  of  the  Umpqua  company,  after  the  failure  of 
that  enterprise,  settled  at  Coos  Bay,  prominent  among 
whom  was  S.  S.  Mann,  author  of  a  pamphlet  on  the 
early  settlement  of  that  region,  embellished  wit;,  an- 
ecdotes of  the  pioneers,  which  will  be  of  interest  to 
their  descendants.'' 

Any  new  discovery  stimulated  the  competitive 
spirit  of  search  in  other  directions.  Siuslaw  Ilivcr 
was  explored  with  a  view  to  determining  whether  the 

"  P.  Flanagan  was  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  early  settlers.     At  Rnndiilph 
hia  pack-train  and  store  wer  the  pioneers  of  trade.     Then  at  Johii^mi'  ai  I 
on  The  Sixes  in  a  similar  way.     I^ter,  he  became  associated  in  tho  pai.n; 
ship  of  tlie  Newport  coal  mine,  where  his  skill  and  experience  addiu  liir'.'> ' 
to  its  success. 

"'Stj.'rk  was  a  native  of  New  York,  emigrated  to  Cal.  in  1840,  tlieiico  to 
Or.  in  1S50.  He  was  a  land  claimant  for  the  company  at  Coos  liiiy,  as  wtll 
as  a  sharciholder.  John  Dnhy,  a  native  of  New  York,  emigruted  to  tlu'  S.  i. 
in  1840,  t'lence  to  Cal.  in  1848,  going  to  Yreka  in  1851,  and  thence  to  Coos 
Bay  at  its  settlement  in  185.3.  John  Robertson  was  a  native  of  Nova  Srntia, 
and  a  sailor.  John  Winters  was  bom  in  Pcnn.,  and  came  to  Or.  tliin,i-'i 
Cal.  Alvin  Brooks,  born  in  Vt,  came  to  Or.  in  1851.  John  Mitchell  (if  New 
York,  a  sai'or,  came  to  Or.  in  1851.  Portland  Oreyoiiiun,  March  "25,  18J4;  S. 
F.  Attn,  March  '22,  1854. 

'^^Coos  Bay  Selllemeiit,  18.  This  pamphlet  of  25  pages  is  madi'  \\\>  <if 
scraps  of  pioneer  history  written  for  the  Coon  Bay  Mail,  by  8.  S.  Mann,  altcr- 
ward  republished  in  this  form  by  the  MnU  publlsiiers.  Mann,  lifiiif,'  uiiu  i.f 
the  earliest  of  the  pioneers,  was  enabled  to  give  correct  information,  ami  to 
his  writings  and  correspondence  I  am  much  indebted  for  the  facts  Ikk'  --et 
down.  Mann  mentions  the  nimesof  T.  1).  Winchester,  H.  IT.  Lnsc  A.  M. 
Simpson,  John  Pershbaker,  Jum<^8  Aiken,  Dr  Foley,  Curtis  Noble,  A.  J. 
Davis,  P.  Flanagan,  Amos  and  Anson  Rogers,  H.  P.  Whitney,  W.  D.  I--  V- 
Smith,  David  Holland,  L  Hacker,  R.  F.  lto:<s,  \okani,  lAuilretli,  llnd^'ii. 
Collver,  Bogue,  Miller,  McKnight,  Dryden,  Hirst,  Kcnyon,  Na.sbui;.',  <')"". 
Morse,  Cammann,  Buckhoni,  and  De  (Jussuns,  not  already  nieiitinin"! 
among  the  original  proprietors  of  the  Coos  Bay  Company;  and  alao  tli<'  ii.iiiu'a 
of  Perry,  Leglinherr,  Rowell,  Dement,  Harris,  Schrocdcr,  Grant,  ami  Ham- 
block,  among  the  early  settlers  of  Coi|uillo  Valley. 


r. 


ROAD  EXPLORATIONS. 


335 


with  lum- 
y,  lumlnr- 
)n  at  til  is 
^ere  eavlv 
the  devol- 

ul  resided 

the  share- 
the  spring,' 
1  to  <ro  out 
the  hai."^ 
i  failure  of 
lent  anioii!^' 
ilut  on  the 
;d  w'liu  aii- 
interest  to 

:;onipctitivc 
slaw  liivcr 
whether  tlie 

At  Randiilpli 
It  Johii^iin'  :ii'  I 
in  till'  iiaiiiK 
lo  addtii  litru'i'  ■ 

11840,  theiico  to 
|>o8  B«y.  :i^  ^^'" 

Iteil   totlirS.   1. 

theni'i'  toC'ioa 

of    NoVilS.ntiil, 

|to  Or.  tlii'iiiji 
litchell  "f  N^w 

■is  matlf  u|i  of 
Is.  Manii,  after- 
In,  lifiiif^  "III; "' 
(matioii,  iiii'l  ti> 
facts  li'i'-  -'^^ 

It.  lus.'.  a.  m. 

Noblf.  A.  J. 

W.  I>.  I-  !•'• 

flrfth,  ll'"l  ■'"• 

Jusljuiv,  «''i"ii. 

i,ly    ninitiiiiifl 

lalao  till-  ii.iim'9 

mt,  luiil  Ham- 


course  of  the  river  was  such  that  a  practicable  coni- 
numication  could  be  obtained  between  it  and  the 
Uiiii)qua  through  Smith  River,'*  a  northern  branch 
of  tlic  Siuslaw.  The  exploration  was  conducted  by 
K.  Schofield.  The  object  of  the  opening  of  the 
proposed  route  was  to  make  a  road  from  the  Willa- 
iiKjtte  Valley  to  the  Urapqua,  over  which  the  products 
of  the  valley  might  be  brought  to  Scottsburg,  at  the 
same  time  avoiding  the  most  difficult  portion  of  tiie 
mountains.  But  nature  had  interposed  so  many  ob- 
stacles; the  streams  were  so  rapid  and  rocky;  the 
mountains  'io»-ough  and  heavily  timbered;  the  valleys, 
though  rich  ao  .larrow,  and  filled  with  tangled  growths 
of  tough  vine-mapic  and  other  shrubby  trees,  that 
any  road  from  the  coast  to  the  interior  could  not  but 
be  costly  to  build  and  keep  in  repair.  The  Siuslaw 
exploration,  therefore,  resulted  in  nothing  more  ben- 
eficial than  the  acquisition  of  additional  knowledge  of 
the  resources  of  the  country  in  timber,  water-power, 
and  soil,  all  of  which  were  excellent  in  the  valley  of 
the  Siuslaw. 

Other  explorations  were  at  the  same  time  being 
carried  on.  A  trail  was  opened  across  the  mountains 
from  Rogue  River  Valley  to  Crescent  City,  which 
competed  with  the  Scottsburg  road  for  the  business 
of  the  interior,  and  became  the  route  used  by  the  g()\- 
ermncnt  troops  in  getting  from  the  seaboard  to  Fc»rt 
Lane.^^  Gold-hunting  was  at  the  same  time  pro.se- 
cutod  in  every  part  of  the  territory  with  varying 
success,  of  which  I  shall  speak  in  another  place.^ 

''  Tliis  in  the  stream  where  Jcdediah  Smith  had  his  adventure  with  the 
Iniliaiis  who  massacred  his  party  iu  1828,  as  related  in  my  llistory  of  the 
Isorlhirest  Count. 

'^  hmdifa  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  25. 

"■'.Mount  Hood,  Indian  name  Wiyeast,  waa  ascended  in  August  1854.  for 
the  first  time,  l)y  a  party  consisting  of  T.  J.  Dryir  of  the  Orrijoiiiaii,  (.'>.  O. 
Halli'i-,  Ohiey,  Wells  Lake,  and  Travillot,  a  French  seaman.  Drytr  asceiiilfil 
Mount  St  Helen,  Loowit  Lftkla,  the  previous  summer,  and  promised  to  climi> 
Mounts  .rcfferson.  Photo,  and  the  Three  Sisters  at  some  future  time.  He 
ascertained  the  fact  that  Hood  and  St  Helen  were  c.vpirinj^  volcaiiot's,  wliith 
Btill  I'jiiitted  smoke  and  ashes  from  vents  near  their  Bummits.  Urti/oiiiuii, 
Feb.  2.5  and  Aug.  19,  1854.  The  fii-st  ascent  of  Mount  Jefferson  was  iii.ide 
by  r.  LooLy,  Johu  Allphin,  William  TuUbright,  John  W.ilker,  and  E.  L. 


33C 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


lilt 


TIk'  politics  of  1854  turned  mainly  on  the  f|uesti()n 
of  a  stiito  constitution,  tl)ou»»li  thu  election  in  .luiio 
revealed  the  fact  that  the  democracy,  while  still  in 
the  ascendant,  were  losinj^a  little  jjround  to  the  u  hi's. 
and  chictly  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  tenilorv. 
Of  the  three  |>rosecutin<jf  attorneys  elected,  t>ne,  I*.  J*. 
Prim,'''  was  a  whi>if,  and  was  chosen  in  the  :5d  distii<  t 
l>y  a  majoiity  of  seven  over  the  democratic  candi- 
date, K.  E.  Stratton,^^  former  incumbent.  II.  1*. 
Boise  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  f(»r  the  1st 
or  middle  district,  and  N.  Huber  of  the  2d  or  north- 
ern ilistiict. 

The  democratic  leaders  were  those  most  in  fiivoi-  of 
assuminijf  state  dignities,  while  the  whi»'sheld  npbi  Imiu 
their  following  the  bill  of  cost;  thougli  none  objected 

MiiMsi'y,  July  II,  I.S,">4,  a  jMirty  prospecting  fur  gold  in  tlio  ('us<';i<I<'  Mcum. 
tains.  Or.  Sfiiti'Minan,  Aul'.  'J'J,  l.St'i4.  Mt  AilaniH  wuh  called  l)y  tho  liidiuiiij 
Ktirk'ilal,  and  Mt  Kuiiiiur,  Tukoiuii.  (Itild-hitiitiiii/  in  the  Vanctula  MiiiinliiiiK, 
puaxiin. 

I'lijiie  1'.  I'rini  was  horn  in  Tenn.  in   1S'2*J,  vudgratcd  to  Or.  in   l,s.">l, 


und  went  t>>  tlie  niini'n  in  llogno  UiviT  N'allt'v  tlio  follnwii-g  vimt. 


Ill 


tiun  a.s  iirosi'iMiting  attcirnoy  of  tlio  soutlici'n  distrii't  lirou^flit  liini  into  lintici-, 
and  on  the  divisinu  ot  the  Htato  of  Oregon  into  four  judicial  ill  itricts,  and  w  luii 
l)catly,  ihoticu  judge  of  tho  HUpreino  court  from  that  di.strict,  was  a|i| itid 


U.  S.  di.4 


di 


I  le  (jov.  api'H  1 


t.^  I  Prinj  to  fill  the  vai'aiuv  (m-w  {'. 


distlict  fur  the  remainder  of  the  term,  to  which  ollice  he  wa.s  sidis((|Uiiitly 
eleited,  holding  it  for  many  years.     A  valnahle 


nunUHcript,  entitled   /' 
eminisce 


L'ences  of  till'  niiiiiii  r 

IllltS, 


Jiitliriitl  Aiifi-iloli.t,  ha.s  furni.shed  me  very  vivid  r 

of  iidministering  juxtice  in  the  early  mining  campH,  and  lirHt organi/i' 

to  wldcii  I  have  oi'casion  to  refer  freiiuently  in  this  work.  See  /'n/'iildr  I'nh- 

inmlt,  passim,  this  serii  s. 

"'Iiiiey  K.  Stratton  was  a  native  ol  I'enn.,  Iiorn  in  IS'Jl.  lie  wiin  t:iu 'lit 
the  traile  of  ,t  nuUwri^ht,  hut  itlterward  took  a  collegiate  course,  an!  ■^y^^■ 
uated  at  .Marietta,  Oliio,  with  the  intention  of  hecoming  a  nijnistii;  liiri 
plans  lieing  changed,  h"  studied  law,  an>l  was  admitted  to  tlic  har  in  M;i>li- 
son,  Ind.,  coming  to  Or.  hy  way  of  Cape  Morn  in  IS.VJ,  his  father,  (.  .  1'. 
Stratton,  enngrnting  overland  in   the  same  year.     ('.  1".  Slrattnii  «ii^  lina 


in 

ogu 


New    York    Mee.    ,'l(l,    I7!HI.     lie  removed   to  I'enn    in  his   liu\|ioi 


in  to  Ind.  in  ISItd.      Me  had  Iwr.ve  i  l:>'il;en,  of  whom  ('.   ('.  Str.iti"M  is 


a  minister  o 


f  tir 


thoilist  chnrcli.  .md  president  of  the  l'niversit\  ■■!  iliu 


i.M'.ly 

•^.  lllril 


I'acilic  ill  California.  Me  settled  in  the  l'mpi|Ua  N'alley,  hut  sidnci 
removed  to  .Sahlii,  where  he  dieil  Kelt.  'H\,  \^','X  iJiley  E.  Stratton 
ut  Seotlshiirg.  Me  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  soiitht  iii  ili^iin  t 
liy  the  legislative  assemhly  in  IS,1;t  4;  Imt  heiiten  hy  I'riiii  at  the  cleihoii  Ia' 
the  people,  as  stated  iiliove.     \Vh«'n  Oregon  lieeaine  a  state  hi'  wis  il'''tid 


i 


1' 

nf 


go 
I'll! 


lulgo  nf  tho  1.M  judicial  district,  ami  leWectod  in  IS(M.  Ho  married  ."^  riili 
)oarl)orn  ill  Madnoii,  lailiaii.i.  Ho  1,'ft  the  dc;iioi'niti<;  party  to  tupii":!  ilm 
union  on  the  li.e, '.king-out  of  tlie  r-lnlhon.  \\.<  v.mi  an  atla'Ic,  \w.\"\  'If, 
un  1  pcipul.r  III  III.  II  1  dea.'i  occurred  ill  Dee.  ISttll,  Hir/i  iii'  Stuh'  ,1  'H'li'il, 
Dee.  •.'.»,   I.SIhl,  0.\  /.'pi,/ 1,  vol,  n.   I'.),'>  ',);    /),v;(///\  .Vi'.' i;i  /iuiL,  1!,   17. >. 


:     i      i 


HARD  TIMES. 


S87 


to  securing  the  500,000  acres  of  land,  which  on  the 
day  of  Oregon's  admission  as  a  state  would  be  hers, 
to  1)0  applied  to  internal  improvements,''  and  other 
^rraiits  which  might  reasonably  be  expected,  and 
which  niiglit  amount  to  millit)ns  of  acres  with  which 
to  hiiilil  railroa«ls  and  improve  navigation. 

Jiiilge  Pratt,  thinking  he  would  like  a  seat  in  the 
United  States  senate,  advocated  state  admission,  and 
to  assist  himself  started  in  Portland,  in  connection 
with  Alonzo  Leland,  a  political  sheet  called  the  Denio- 
ci'dtic  Stxndard,  which  served  to  provoke  the  ridicule 
of  the  SL'.ttc'sman;  while  the  Orcgouian  denounced  the 
editors  ivid  their  object  in  the  severest  terms.  The 
St((ti's)nan,  as  usual,  carried  'ts  points  so  far  as  electing 
its  candida^os,  except  in  a  i'W  instances,  against  the 
wliiys,  and  also  against  the  prohibitionists,  or  Maine- 
law  party.*"  But  the  majjrity  against  a  stiite  con- 
stitution was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty, a  majority 
80  small,  however,  as  to  f  how  that,  as  the  democrats 
had  intimated,  it  woui  i  be  reduced  to  nothing  by  a 
year  or  two  more  of  effort  in  that  direction. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  there  were  complaints  of 
hard  times  in  Oregon,  which  were  to  be  accounted  for 
|iaitly  by  the  Indian  disturbances,  but  chiefly  by 
rtasoii  of  neglect  of  the  farminjjf  interests  and  a  fall- 
iii^-nlf  in  the  yieltl  of  the  mines.  The  great  reaction 
was  at  hand  throughout  tiie  coast.  IJusiness  was 
|irost  rated  in  California,  and  Oregon  felt  it,  just  as 
(hi '^-oii  hail  felt  California's  first  flush  on  finding  gold. 
To  lounteract  the  evil,  agricultural  societies  began 
to  ho  formeil  in  the  older  counties."  The  lumbering 
iutorost  had  greatly  declined  also,  after  the  erection 

'*Sc(<  tlio  8th  ioction  of  an  act  of  congreni  in  relation  thereto,  ^msBOfl  in  IS4I. 

"'TIk>  Maine  law cauilitlatoi  fur  itatH  in  tlio  loKiaiatiiro  wore  Klisha  Strong 
Biiil  o  .liicolm  of  Marion;  S.  Nelson,  I*.  >I.  Hatch,  10.  I).  Sliattuck  of  Chwlta- 
iiiiih;  I).  \\.  Itikllard  of  Linn;  Lodd  and  Uilliain  of  rollt;  J.  II.  1).  Ikndurson 
ami  (I,  W.  nurnettof  Yamhill. 

"  rill'  <  oHHtitution  i)i  tho  Yamhill  Agricultural  Society,  F.  Martin,  nroai- 
(tint,  .\,  S.  Watt,  Bucrctary,  was  i)?blis)iad  July  20.  1S54,  iu  tho  Or,  State*' 


mun. 


UiDT.  On.,  Vol.  II.    aa 


338 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


I  '  ii 


of  mills  in  California,  and  lumber  and  flour  beinor  no 
longer  so  much  sought  after,  caused  a  sensible  lesson- 
ing of  the  income  of  Oregon.  But  the  people  of 
Oregon  well  knew  that  their  immense  agricultural 
resf)urces  would  bring  them  out  of  all  their  troubles 
if  thoy  would  only  apply  themselves  in  the  right  di- 
rection and  in  the  right  way. 

The  counties  which  led  in  this  industrial  revival 
were  Washington,  Yamhill,  Marion,  and  Polk.  The 
first  county  fair  held  was  in  Yamhill  on  the  7th  of 
October,  1854,  followed  by  Marion  on  the  11th,  and 
Polk  on  the  12th.  The  exhibit  of  horses,  cattle, 
and  Jruit  was  fairly  good,  of  sheep,  grain,  and  domes- 
tic iijanufactures  almost  nothing;"  but  it  was  a  begin- 
ning from  which  steadily  grew  a  stronger  competitive 
interest  in  farm  affairs,  until  in  1861  a  state  agricul- 
tural society  was  formed,  whose  annual  meeting  is  the 
principal  event  of  each  year  in  farming  districts.*' 

The  first  step  toward  manufacturing  woollen  fabrics 
was  also  taken  in  1854,  when  a  carding  machine  was 
erected  at  Albany  by  E.  L.  Perham  &  Co.  Fanners 
who  had  neglected  sheep-raising  now  purchased  sheep 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company."  Early  in  th'  s[)ring 
of  1855  Barber  and  Thorpe  of  Polk  countv  ereeted 
machinery  for  spinning,  weaving,  dying,  ana  dressiii<» 
woollen  cloths."  In  1850  a  company  was  organized 
at  Salem  to  erect  a  woollen-mill  at  that  pla(  e,  the  first 
important  woollen  manufactory  on  the  Pacific  coast. 
It  was  followed  by  the  large  establishment  at  OreLfoii 
City  and  several  smaller  ones  in  the  course  of  a  few- 
years. 


4« 


"  Or.  Statfiman,  Oct.  17,  18M.  Mr»  R,  C.  Geor  entorod  two  Bkiiim  "f 
yarn,  tho  first  oxhibitoU  and  probably  tho  firat  mode  in  Oregon.  Tlif  luldrfsn 
was  (U'livervd  to  tlio  Muriun  county  aocioty,  which  met  at  Salem.  Iiy  M>' 
WiMMltiiileB.  L.  F.  Grover,  in  hia  Pub.  L\fe  in  Or.,  JIS.,  aava  lie  tlclivtwl 
tlie  lirtit  Marion  county  addrcaa,  but  ho  is  niiatakon.     ^'o  fullowod  ii>  IH.V). 

"  Urown'a  .SVi/.m  JJirfHory,  1871,  37-77. 

*UPr.  Sint.,  Mny  '23  and  Oct.  10,  1804;  Tolmit'a  Puget  Sound,  MS..  2i. 

*^<)r.  Slatemnnn,  March  5M),  IfWfl.  R.  A.  0«aaner  recciTed  a  pniiiium in 
185A  from  tho  Marion  county  am^ioty  for  the  'beat  joMia.' 

••Crovcr,  Pub.  Hfr  in  Or.,  MH.,  68-0,  waaoneof  the  fint  din»otor»iu  tiia 
Salem  mill,    See  alao  Wall't  ^rtt  Thingi,  MS.,  8-10. 


PROPOSED  TELEGRAPH. 


Rnt  dlrootoi » ill  tin 


The  first  proposal  to  establish  a  telegraph  line  be- 
twooM  California  and  Oregon  was  made  in  October  of 
1854.  Hitherto,  no  more  rapid  means  of  communi- 
cation had  existed  than  that  afforded  by  express  cora- 
panios,  of  which  there  were  several.  The  practice  of 
pending  letters  by  express,  which  prevailed  all  over 
the  Pacific  coast  at  this  time,  and  for  many  years 
thereafter,  arose  from  the  absence  or  the  irregu- 
larity in  the  carriage  of  mails  by  the  government. 
As  soon  as  a  mining  camp  was  established,  an  express 
became  necessary;  and  though  the  service  was  at- 
tended with  many  hardships  and  no  small  amount  of 
danger,  there  were  always  to  be  found  men  who  were 
eager  to  engage  in  it  for  the  sake  of  the  gains,  which 
were  great.*^  The  business  of  the  country  did  not 
require  telegraphic  correspondence,  and  its  growth 
was  delayed  for  almost  another  decade.** 

"The  first  express  company  operating  in  Oregon  was  Todd  &  Co.,  fol- 
lowcil  very  soon  by  Gregory  &  Co.,  both  lieginning  lit  1851.  Todd  &  Co.  sold 
out  to  N'owell  &  Co.  in  185'^.  The  same  year  Diigan  &  Co.,  a  branch  of 
Aduins  &  (Jo.,  l)egan  running  in  Oregon;  also  T'Vault's  Oregon  and  tShasta 
cxpicss,  and  McClaine  ft  Co.  s  Oregon  and  Shasta  express.  In  the  latter  part 
(if  IS.VJ  Adams  &  Co.  began  business  in  Oregon;  but  about  the  l)uginniiig  of 
IH.'):).  witli  other  coinpanies^  retired  and  left  the  iicM  to  Wells,  Fargo  &,  Co., 
iinpniviMl  mail  communication  gradually  rendering  the  services  of  the  com* 
mnics,  except  for  the  carrying  of  treasure  and  other  packages,  superfluous. 
Thu  price  fell  from  fifty  cents  on  a  letter  in  a  Kra<liially  declining  scale  to  ten 
rents,  where  it  remained  for  many  years,  and  at  last  to  five  cents;  and  pack- 
a).TM  to  Hdinu  extent  in  proiKirtion.  Besides  tlie  regular  eoinpauios,  from  1849 
til  ls.'r2  tiicro  were  many  private  express  riders  wTio  picket!  up  considerable 
iiHinoy  in  the  mountain  camps. 

'"("Imrlus  l'\  Johnson,  an  agent  of  the  Alta  California  Telegraph  Company, 
(irxt  iij.'itatcd  tiio  subject  of  a  telegraph  lino  to  connect  Portland  with  the 
citit'H  (if  California,  and  so  far  succeeded  as  to  have  organized  a  company  to 
(iiiixtruct  such  a  line  from  I'ortland  to  Corvallis,  winch  was  to  be  extended 
ill  time  to  meet  one  from  MarysviUe,  California,  to  Yreka  on  the  lionier. 
TIki  Oregon  line  waa  to  run  to  Oregon  City,  l^fayettc,  Dayton,  Salem,  and 
(orvitlliH.  It  was  finished  to  Oregon  City  Nov.  15,  1855,  the  first  message 
Uiii^  Hi'Dt  over  the  wires  on  the  lOth,  and  the  line  reacho<l  Salem  by  8opt. 
IH,MI,  lint  it  was  of  so  little  use  that  it  waa  never  completed  nor  kept  in  re* 
luiir,  Neither  the  interests  of  the  |)eoplo  nor  tlirir  habits  made  it  re<)uisite. 
Ill  IHtVS  tiiu  California  company  hail  completed  their  line  to  Yreka,  for  which 
(luring  the  period  of  the  civil  war,  the  Oregonians  had  reason  to  lie  thankful, 
ami  liav  ing  taken  some  hmg  strides  iu  prourcss  during  the  half-dozen  years 
iH'tweeii  IS.')5  and  1801,  thev  eagerly  sulwcribofl  to  build  a  Hue  to  Yreka  from 
I'lirtliunl,  on  lieing  soliciteii  byJ.K.  Strong,  former  president  of  the  saina 
rniiipaiiv.  Of  the  Oregon  coh.|)any,  W.  S.  Ladd  waa  cleetod  president;  S. 
(i  Kicil,  secretary:  II.  W,  Corbett,  treaaurer;  .lohn  McCracken,  superin- 
tenikuti  W.  S.  Ladd,  D.  F.  Bradford,  A.  G.  Uiohardiou,  C.  N.  Torry.  and 


340 


LEGISLATION.  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


m'U\ 


1    4 


m,; 


f  % 


ii  ,  ■ 


Steam  navigation  increased  rapidly  in  prop(jrti()ii  to 
other  business,  the  principal  trade  being  coulined  to 
the  Willamette  River,  although  about  this  time  tlitro 
began  to  be  some  traffic  on  the  Columbia,  alxivc  as 
well  as  below  the  mouth  of  the  Willamette.*"     ()i  <  an 

A.  L.  Lovcjoy,  directors.  Strong,  contractor,  owned  consideralilu  sUnk  in 
it,  whicli  liu  sold  to  the  California  Stutc  Telegraph  C'oiiipiiiiy  in  Isd.'t,  tlio 
lino  being  cninplutcd  in  March.  In  1808  a  line  of  telegraph  was  extciiiliil  to 
The  Dulles,  and  eastward  to  Boia6  City,  by  the  Oregon  ^Steanl  Nuvinaliim 
Conijiany,  in  1809.  A  i>ew  lino  to  the  east  was  erected  in  I87<»,  \vh'':li  \wia 
extended  to  8.  F.,  and  a  line  to  Astoria  at  the  mouth  of  the  Coluinliia. 

'"'i'ho  (AiZ(;//f>  was  a  side-wheel  boat  built  for  the  upper  W  iliaiiictti' in 
18o3  by  the  company  which  constructed  the  buain  ami  lioisting  works  at 
the  falls,  and  l)egan  to  run  in  March  1854,  but  in  April  exploded  her  lioilur 
while  lying  at  her  wharf,  causing  the  most  serious  calamity  which  evci-uc- 
curred  on  Oregtm  waters.  She  had  on  Iwar.l  al)out  50  persons,  '2'2  of  wlimn 
were  killed  outright  and  many  others  injured,  some  of  whom  died  soon  iiitir. 
Among  the  victims  were  some  of  the  principal  persons  in  the  territory:  Dan- 
iel D.  Page,  sii|)erintemlent  of  the  comimny  owning  the  Oazille,  wimsi:  wifo 
and  daughter  were  killed  by  the  explosion  of  the  Jmny  l/md  in  San  Fniini^iLU 
Bay  April  II,  185;»;  Kev.  James  V.  Miller,  father  of  Mrs  Iv  M.  \Vil>nii  ,,f 
The  Dalles;  David  Woodhull,  and  Joseph  Hunt  of  Mivhigan;  .Indgi!  I'tinvli, 
David  Fuller,  C  Woodworth,  James  White,  Daniel  Lowe,  Joiin  ('himiis, 
J.  M.  Fudge,  Itlunchet,  Hill,  Morgan,  John  itliinicr,  John  Daly,  lolm  K. 
Miller,  Micliael  Hutch,  Michael  McGee,  CluirUa  Knaust,  David  M  j.iuic, 
I'iaut,  and  an  unknown  Spanish  youth.  Or.  Stalfiinaii,  April  IS,  IS.')4;  Arm- 
utroiii/'n  i>r.,  14;  lirown'tt  Salem  Directory,  1871,  35.  Among  tin;  wniinlid 
were  Mrs  .Miller,  Charles  (iardiner,  son  of  the  surveyor-general.  ilnlHi't 
I'entland,  Miss  I'ell,  C  Dobbins,  llol»ert  Shortesa,  IJ.  F.  Newiiy,  (  aptaia 
Hereford  of  the  (•'azrlli;  John  IJoytl,  mate,  and  James  I'artlow,  pilnt.  Tlio 
V  iiief  engineer,  Tonie,  who  was  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  t  heiuriilfiit, 
escaped  and  tletl  the  territory.  J'ortlaml  Ort'noni'u,  Jan.  "JK,  1S70.  Tlio 
<>i-fiinii,  another  of  the  comimny's  boiits,  was  sunk  and  lost  tiie  isaiiie  m  isoii. 
The  wreiik  of  the  Omelle.  was  run  over  the  fulls,  after  iK'ing  sold  to  Miiriay, 
Hoyt,  and  Wells,  who  retitted  her  iind  named  her  the  lii  I'mrilo,  nltir  wlncli 
she  was  employed  to  carry  troops,  horses,  and  army  storea  from  I'mtlan'l  to 
Vancouver  ami  the  Cascades.  In  18*57  the  niachin(>ry  of  this  boat  \\a.i|>iit 
into  the  new  steamer  HnnMalu",  while  the  Sfiluiiht  was  provideil  with  a  imiro 
powerful  engine,  and  commaudod  by  L.  Hoyt,  brotlua*  of  l{ichard  1  U.  In 
1854  the  pioneer  steamboat  men  ot  the  upper  Willamette,  cuptai  it  A.  I'. 
Hedges  and  Charles  lienuott,  sold  their  entire  interests  and  retired  iinm  the 
river. 

In  I8.')5  a  new  class  of  steamboats  was  put  umm  the  Willamette  iiIhm  tlio 
falls,  stern- wheels  being  introduced,  which  soon  (lisplaccd  the  siile-w  lici  I  \in:iU. 
This  change  was  etl'euted  by  Archil*uld  Jamicscm,  A.  S.  Murr;4y,  Animy  linl- 
brook,  ana  John  Torrenco,  who  formed  a  comimny  and  built  the  Kii'iiiiri-.n 
HuuiU  stoni-whecl  boat  connnanded  by  Jandeson.  This  boat  ran  for  .'<  ycata 
on  the  Willamette,  and  was  sold  during  the  mining  rush  of  1858,  takoii  uvur 
the  fulls  and  to  Fnuer  River  by  Thomas  Wright.  She  fmished  her  caKir  nr, 
the  Chohulis  llivor.  Her  tirst  capUin,  Jameison,  was  one  of  u  laiuilv  nf 
live  steamboat  men,  who  were  doomed  to  death  by  a  fatality  sad  iiii>.  v- 
markablo.  Arthur  Jandeson  was  in  comn\and  of  thu  steanu  r  I'liilifl, 
which  was  caiTied  over  the  falls  of  the  Willamette  in  Man  ii  IS57;  niiullicr 
brother  died  of  a  ijuick  consumption  from  a  cold  contracted  on  the  iiv>i,  uii- 
other  by  the  explosion  of  the  steamer  Ka/e  on  tho  Froser  Kivcr;  aii>l  liiinily 
ArchilMild  and  another  brother  by  the  blowing  up  of  the  Ctirt/'oo  at  \  Kimia. 

Auulher  uouiiNtny,  consisting  of  cupt^iius  Cocnriuie,  (iibsou,  uitd  CudimJ}) 


ENT. 


INLAND  NAVIGATION. 


341 


(report ion  to 
contiiKMl  to 
is  time  tlicro 
)ia,  ubovr  as 
:tu,*''     UcDuu 

lideralile  stoik  in 
ipuuy  in  l.s(i:t,  tho 

ill  WU8  CXtrllill  il  to 

Steum   iNiivinaiiuii 
11  1870,  \vii''.li  wui 
c  Coluinliiu. 
ncr  \N  illuiiu'tti^  in 
lii)istiii>{  wdiks  at 
xplotk'ii  hcv  lioilcr 
lity  wliicli  evil'  oc- 
rsons,  '2'2  «i  wliom 
oin  ili<i<l  Hooii  nlur. 
tho  territory:  haii- 
Gazilli',  wlmsi'  wifn 
ti(l  ill  Sun  Fniucisto 
•»  Iv   M.  Wil-ciii.f 
iynn;  .Indite  I'.iuvli, 
«e,  Jnliii  Clinnii'*, 
jliii  l>!il.v,  ''"liii  Iv. 
st,   Diiviil   M.  i.am', 
l.iillS,  l.s:)4;  .l-,/i- 
iii.ing  till!  \vn\ni  Icil 
yor-neiieral,    iinlni't 
!".    Newl)y,    (  aptain 
nitlow,  iiiiot.     Tlio 
,lity  of  tlieiuiiiliiit, 
iin.  •-".),   IS7l>.    'lliu 
ist  tlu'  Kiuiie  M'M>*wn. 
ng  Holil  to  Murray, 
I'liii-ilii,  iittir  wliK'h 
i  tVimi  I'ortlaii'l  to 
this  liimt  «ii>*  I'Ut 
oviileil  witli  ^i  iii'ii'i 
Kii^lmril  I    yt,     lii 
,te,  captui  ha  A.  1'. 
[ul  rutireil  Iruni  tlie 

|illiiinelte  allow  tlio 
lioHiiU-\\iieil  \"''A'^- 
lurruy,  Aiimry  linl- 
lit  till)  A'»'"Vin",ii 
loat  ran  for  .iuain 
lif  IM,'i.S,  taki'ii  MViT 
liuheil  \m  laivirun 
jono  of  »  fmiiily  lit 
Ltulity  rtii'l  »ii>'  Y 
[liti'Uintr  /'m'/ii"'. 
Ri-eii  l^'i";  ain>ili"-'r 
Idonllieri^ti;  »»• 
1  River;  aii'l  Immly 
Idri/'O-J  at  N  "  '"ii*' 
«uu,  Ulitl  I  a 'Mill)  I 


naviL,'ati(>n,  too,  was  increasing,  but  not  without  its 
(haw  liacks  and  losses.'*  In  the  midst  of  all,  the  young 
and  vigorous  community  grew  daily  stronger,  and  more 
abi''  to  bear  the  misfortunes  incident  to  rapid  progress. 
Ill  July  1854  there  was  a  raid  in  liogue  lliver 
Valley  by  the  Shastas;  unattended,  however,  by  seri- 

fiiiiiii.ll  in  18.50,  built  the  James  Clinton  and  Surprise,  two  fine  stern-wheel 
liiiats.  Ill  IH.'i7  tho  A7X;  was  built  for  the  Yamhill  River  trade  by  Switzler, 
MiHiii',  and  Marshull;  and  in  1858  the  first  owners  of  the  Enterprixe  built 
thf  UiKnii-tl,  the  largest  8tcaiiilx)ut  at  that  time  on  the  upjier  river. 

Ill  I N(iO  another  company  was  incorporated,  under  the  name  of  People's 
TrJiiisportation  Company,  composed  of  A..  A.  McCully,  S.  T.  Church,  K.  N. 
took,  1>.  W  .  I(urn.side,  and  captains  John  Cochrane,  George  A.  I'ease,  Joseph 
Krll"^-'.  aiid  I").  W.  lianghinan,  which  coutrfilled  the  Willamette  River  trade 
till  l>^i■|.  'J'liiseom|)anyouilt  tho  Z>ay<o«,  Rrl'ianw,  Echo,  E.  l>.  Baker,  Iriit, 
A  uHiiij.  Slino  Fly,  Euiiiiie  I'ullon,  and  Alice,  and  owned  the  It'nml,  Senator, 
All  it,  ami  Aei:ri'.  It  ran  its  boats  on  the  Columbia  as  well  as  the  Willamette 
iimil  iNhi.  wlieii  a  compromise  was  made  with  the  Oregon  Steam  Navig.-tiou 
( c.iiiliaiiy,  tiiiii  in  existence,  to  conline  its  trade  to  tlio  Willamette  Itiver 
al'iivi'  riiiihiiiil.  Ill  180.1  this  company  expended  §10(),0tK)  in  building  a  dam 
uikI  iia.siii  aliove  the  fulls,  which  enabled  thciii  to  do  away  with  a  portage, 
liy  simply  transferring  passengers  and  freight  from  one  boat  to  anotlier 
tiirmij^li  a  warehou.so  at  the  lower  end  of  the  basin.  The  I'.  T.  Co.  sold  imt 
i.i  i>7l  to  lii'ii  llulladay,  having  made  handsome  fortunes  in  1 1  years  for  all 
I'. .  |>iiii('i|ial  iiuMiiliers.  In  tho  next  two  years  the  canal  and  locks  were  built 
ii;i'iiml  the  west  side  of  the  falls  at  Oregon  City,  but  the  1'.  T.  Co.  under 
liuUailay's  management  refused  to  use  them,  and  contimied  to  rcship  at  Ure- 
(.01  City.  'I'liis  letl  to  tho  formation  of  the  Willamette  Locks  and  'Iranspor- 
Luinii  ('iinipany,  composed  of  Joseph  Teal,  K.  (loldsmitli,  Frank  T.  I>odge, 
iiuil  Htlit  IS,  w  III)  e'lnimenced  op|K)sitiou  in  187.'),  and  pressed  the  I*.  T.  Co.  so 
lianllliat  lloUailay  Hold  out  to  tho  Oregon  Nav.  Co.,  which  thus  was  enabled  to 
rtsiiiiii'  (i|niation.s  on  the  Willamette  abo»'e  I'ortland,  with  the  boats  pur- 
ilaiMil  and  otlieiH  which  wero  built,  and  became  a  powerful  competitor  for 
till' liailf.  The  1  .oeks  and  Transportation  Co.  built  the  W'illnmi  lie  Chief  i^x- 
iii'i's^ly  to  outrun  the  boats  of  tho  1*.  T.  Co.,  but  found  it  ruinous  work;  and 
111  h",liii  roiisoliilation  was  etFected,  under  the  name  of  Willamette  Trans- 
iMirtatiiMi  and  I.oi'ks  Company,  capital  $I,(HH),<MN).  Its  )ii'operty  consisted 
ot  till'  IimIvs  at  Oregon  City,  the  water  front  at  Astoria  belonging  formerly  to 
till'  0.  S,  \.  Co.,  and  tho  Farmers'  warehouse  at  that  place,  and  the  steam- 
iHMts  W'iliiimelle  Chief,  (/oi\  (Jrover,  Ileum r,  Annie  Skn-url,  Oeienf,  Oeei- 
ill  ',  «illi  tilt'  liaijies  AiiloenU,  ( 'olamhin,  and  <  'olunihin'n  <  'hief.  'J'his  seeiired 
iiiiii|ili'te  tiiniiopoly  by  <h)ing  away  with  competition  on  either  river,  frxeept 
(hiiii  imiipeinlent  lines.   iSideni   IVill.  Farmer,  Jan.   7,  l^lii;  Ailams'  or., 

:t;  s 

rin'  st('an\-tug  Fire-hhj  was  lost  by  springing  aleak  on  the  bar  In  Feb. 

lv"i|.  Tliuiuas  Hawks,  captain,  \,.  11.  Swaney,  \'aii  I'yke,  Wiseiitliral,  and 
utlai- iHTMiiiis  unknown  wero  drowned.  At  the  close  ul  the  year  the  steam- 
(i|ii|)  Snii:hi nier,  i'n\\i.  V.  A.  .Sampson,  was  wreiked  on  the  Washington 
i^a.tt.  Tim  Hieainer  Atneiiea,  bound  to  Oregon  and  Washington  ports,  was 
liiiriii'il  ill  till'  Iniilior  of  Crescent  City  tho  folloMin,'  summer. 

I'liii  siraii  ships  engaged  in  the  cari'yiiig  trade  to  Oregon  from  IS.V)  to 
1S.V>  well' till!  ''iirolina,  which  I  think  made  but  mie  lri|i,  the  ,S('(;/«//,  I'nii- 
Oimi,  Or<.;ii((,  (,il(l  linnler,  Coliimhin,  ijiiiekniep,  Cimral  W'uiren,  Frennnl, 
Aiii,,ir,i,  l\;ilnii'i\,  SunlH'  vmr,  and  Hepiihlic.  Tlilee  of  these  had  li'iU 
«rirUil.  till.  SkiiiiiII,  ameriil  11  i(r/'«»*,  ami  >Southi rncr,  iu  M  many  years. 
Otiitjis  aiir\  ived  imexjioutedly, 


m 


LEGISLATION.  MINIXO,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


I  ■  ill! 


I  ' 


ous  damage.  The  treaty  Indians  of  Rogue  River 
sickened  in  the  reservation,  and  the  agent  permitttj 
them  to  roam  a  little  in  search  of  health.  Some  uf 
them  being  shot  by  white  men,  their  chiefs  demanded 
that  the  murderers  be  brought  to  justice,  as  had  been 
promised  them,  but  it  was  not  done.  Few  of  such 
cases  ever  came  into  the  courts,"  and  it  was  as  rare 
an  occurrence  for  an  Indian  to  be  tried  by  process 
of  law.*' 

So  great  had  been  their  wrongs  during  the  past 
five  years,  so  unbearable  the  outrages  of  the  white 
race,  tijat  desperation  seized  the  savages  of  the 
Klamath,  Scott,  and  Shasta  valleys,  who  now  took 
the  war-path  toward  the  country  of  the  Modoes,  to 
join  with  them  in  a  general  butchery  of  immigrants 
and  settlers. 

In  the  absence  of  a  regular  military  force,  that  at 
Fort  Jones,  consisting  of  only  seventy  men,  wholly 
insufhcient  to  guard  two  hundred  miles  of  imniigiant 
road,  the  governor  was  requested  to  call  into  service 
volunteers,  which  was  done.  Governor  Davis  also 
wrote  to  General  Wool  for  troops.  Meanwhile  a 
company  was  sent  out  under  Jesse  Walker,  who  kept 
tlio  savages  at  bay,  and  on  its  return  received  tlio 
commendations  of  Governor  Curry,  Davis  having  in 
the  mean  time  resigned. 

This  expeditiju  was  used  by  the  dominant  party 
for  many  years  to  browbeat  the  influential  wliii^s  of 
southern  Oregon.  The  Statesman  facetiously  named 
it  the  "expedition  to  fight  the  emigrants;"  and  in 
plainer  language  denounced  the  quartermaster-!^'eii- 
eral  and  others  as  thieves,  because  the  expedition  cost 
forty-five  thousand  dollars."* 

'*  In  JuiIro  Dcatly's  court  tho  following  year  a  white  man  ^m  coin  i.  tr<l 
of  manslttuglitei'  uf  aii  Iiulinii,  and  was  aoutunced  to  two  years  in  tlu'  ]iviii- 
tentiury.  Or.  ShUfHmmi,  June  2,  ISTni. 

''  Tlio  Hluyui-B  of  Kdwartl  WilU  and  Kyle,  and  those  chaatised  Uy  Major 
Ko-iruey  in  18.')!,  are  tiiu  only  ludianii  ever  puniahcd  fur  crimo  liy  litlar  livil 
or  military  authorities  in  southern  (\regon.  U.  S.  11,  i/tac.  JJiK.  47,  •''S,  :totli 
cong.  2d  sesa. 

^(iniMhoppers  IumI  doatroyud  vegetation  almost  entirely  in  the  suutlicrn 
valleys  this  year,  which  led  to  a  great  uxiMJUse  fur  forage. 


■J.f 


INDIAN  DISTURBANCES. 


S43 


Lly  ill  tbo  guuthLTD 


Drew  in  his  report  seemed  to  apologize  for  the 
pri^at  cost,  and  pointed  out  that  the  prices  were  not 
yu  high  as  in  1853,  and  that  many  expenses  then  in- 
curred had  been  avoided;  but  he  could  not  prevent 
the  turning  into  political  capital  of  so  large  a  claim 
against  the  government,  though  it  was  the  merchants 
ot'  Vreka  and  not  of  Jacksonville  who  overcharged, 
ii  overcharging  there  was."  The  attacks  made  on 
the  whigs  of  southern  Oregon  led  to  the  accunmla- 
tioii  of  a  mass  of  evidence  as  to  prices,  and  to  years 
ot'  delay  in  the  settlement  of  accounts.  On  the  side 
of  tlie  democrats  in  this  struggle  was  General  Wool, 
then  in  command  of  the  division  of  the  Pacific,  who 
\vi<»to  to  Adjutant-general  Thomas  at  New  York 
that  the  governor  of  Oregon  had  mustered  into  ser- 
vice a  ooujpany  of  volunteers,  but  that  Captain  Smith 
was  of  opinion  that  they  were  not  needed,  and  that 
it  was  tlone  on  the  representations  of  speculators  who 
wtsro  expecting  to  be  benefited  by  furnishing  sup- 
jihes.*-' 

There  was  a  massacre  of  immigrants  near  Fort 
]>oise  in  August,  that  caused  much  excitement  on 
tile  Wilhimette.  The  party  was  known  as  Ward's 
train,  being  led  by  Alexander  Ward  of  Kentucky, 
and  consisting  of  twenty-one  persons,  most  of  whom 
Were  slain.*^  Not  only  was  the  outrage  one  that 
cnuld  not  be  ovei  looked,  or  adequately  punisheil  by 
civil  or  military  ct)urts,  but  it  was  cause  f )r  alarm 
mi-U  as  was  expressed  in  the  report  of  Quartermaster 
]  )rew,  that  a  general  Indian  war  was  about  to  be  pro- 
cipitatetl  upon  the  country,  an  aj)prehension  strength- 
ened by  reports  from  niany  sources. 

In  order  to  make  plain  all  that  followed  the  events 
recorded  in  this  chapter,  it  is  necessary  to  ixjvert  to 

'^' riic  iiicrehants  and  tradoni  of  Jackoonville,  who  were  iinublo  to  funiish 
till'  iiK  ('Maury  Buppliua,  wliiuli  witro  itniwii  from  Vrvka,  tt'stilicd  as  tu  priuos. 
I  .  S.  II.  Mis,:  itof.  47,  .'W-fi,  3.">th  itoiiB.  iM  hihs. 

'".Mi'NHuu'u  of  I'l-uHiiliMit  I'iercu,  witli  corruoiMjuilence  of  Gciiural  Wool,  ia 
V.  S.  S,  II.  Kx.  Dor.  IK,  33(1  cong.  '2i\  hchs. 

"I'ur  jturtioulurit  hcu  t'at{/'ontiu  Inter  I'ocula,  tliia  DuriuH,  ^MisKiia. 


■  .,  $; 


lit  LEGISLATION,  MIXING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 

statements  contained  in  tho  correspondence  of  the  war 
department.  That  which  most  concerned  this  par- 
ticular period  is  contained  in  a  document  transmitted 
to  the  senate,  at  the  request  of  that  body,  by  Presi- 
dent Pierce,  at  the  second  session  of  the  thirty-thiid 
congiess.  In  this  document  is  a  communication  of 
General  Wool  to  General  Cooper  at  Washington 
City,  in  which  is  mentioned  the  correspondence  of 
the  former  with  Major  Rains  of  tho  4th  infantry, 
in  command  of  Fort  Dalles,  and  of  Major  Alvoni, 
U.  S.  [)ay master  at  Vancouver,  who  had  each  written 
him  on  the  subject  of  Indian  relations.  As  the  le- 
port  of  Raitis  has  been  mentioned  in  another  place, 
it  is  not  necessary  to  repeat  it  here.  Colonel  Gcoigo 
Wiight  had  contributed  his  opinion  concerning  the 
"outrages  of  the  lawless  whites"  in  northern  Cali- 
fornia, and  to  strengthen  the  impression,  had  quoted 
from  the  report  of  Indian  Agent  Culver  concoriiing 
the  conduct  of  a  party  of  miners  on  Illinois  River,  who 
had,  as  he  averred,  wantonly  attacked  an  Indian  cn- 
canqiment  and  brutally  murdered  two  Indians  and 
woundci  other^^."  The  facts  were  presented  to  Wodl, 
and  by  Wool  to  headquarters  at  Washington.  Tho 
general  wrote,  that  to  ])revent  as  far  as  possible  tho 
recurrence  of  further  outrages  against  the  Indians, 
he  had  sent  a  detachment  of  about  fifty  men  to  re- 
enforce  Smith  at  Fort  Lane;  but  that  to  keep  tho 
peace  and  protect  the  Indians  against  the  white  people, 
the  force  in  California  and  Oregon  must  be  increased. 
This  letter  was  written  in  March  1854. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  Wool  again  wrote  General 
Scott,  at  New  York,  that  tho  difficulty  of  preser\  ill^' 

"  U.  S.  Sen.  Ex.  Doe.  10,  U-in,  .^.^l  cnng.  2il  boss.  Liout  J.  C.  noimy- 
CMtIo,  cniniiiiiniliiig  I'urt  Joiica,  in  I'nlating  tho  attack  on  koiiiu  uf  tho  Shuxlag 
vliiiiii  ho  woH  eii(h'iivoi'inu  to  protoct,  nnd  wliuin  Cuptaiii  (ioutlull  wiis  I'sini't- 
iiig  til  iScott'H  Viilhy  to  ))Tnco  ill  his  hands,  MiyH:  'nhmtof  tho  Iniliaii»  Iihv* 
iiig  c'siii|«il  into  tho  luljiictiit  chappitriil,  whora  thev  hiy  conccitled,  tho  whitrs 
Lc^'aii  iiKoarch  for  tia'iii,  (hn  lug  which  lui  Indian  from  Itoiiind  hia  hiisli  tor* 
tuniitcly  Hhiit  and  kiilvd  n  u  liito  man  nunicd  MuKancy.'  In  tho  Raino  npitt 
lio  ^ivi'H  tho  nanicH  of  thu  men  who  hnil  lirud  on  tho  Indiana,  tiiu  list  nut  ia- 
ciii<lin>;  thu  namo  of  MuKancy.  U.  S.  ><m.  Kx.  Doc.  10,  [>.  81,  'M\d  uun^'.  '.'J 
•uiM.;  6'.  .!>'.  II.  Hx,  2>oc.  1,  44iMiO,  vul.  i.  pt  i.,  33a  ouug.  2a  aesi. 


NT. 


ATTITUDE  OF  THE  ARMY. 


345 


3  of  the  war 
d  this  par- 
transmitted 
r,  by  Presj. 
thirty-third 
jnicatiou  of 
iVashiii<;ton 
)ondenco  of 
,h  infantry, 
jor  Alvord, 
ach  written 
As  the  i-o- 
ithcr  place, 
>nel  Gcorj^'o 
3crning  the 
thorn  Cali- 
had  quoted 
concern!  I  iLj 
River,  who 
Indian  en- 
ndians  and 
dtoWo..!, 
^ton.     The 
ossible  the 
e   Inchans, 
men  to  ii- 
keep  iho 
lite  people, 
increase!  1. 

po  General 
Ipreserv  iiii^ 

It  J.  C.  nminv 
Jof  tho!>llii>lii8 
lull  was  csriiri- 
Iiuliiiiia  liav- 
\ci\,  tlio  wliitis 
Ilia  IiunIi  t"i'- 
lio  8111110  rcpiii't 
lilt)  list  luit  ill 

I,  ;i;!il  colli;.  -^ 

lo88. 


p(  ace,  owing  to  the  increase  of  immigration  and  the 
eiicntachnients  of  the  white  people  upon  the  Indians, 
which  deprived  them  of  their  improvements,  was  con- 
tiiiually  increasing.  There  were,  he  said,  less  than  a 
tliDiisand  men  to  guard  California,  Oregon,  Washing- 
ton, and  Utah,  and  more  were  wanted.  The  request 
was  leferred  by  Scott  to  the  secretary  of  war,  and 
relnsed. 

In  May,  Wool  sent  Inspector-general  J.  K.  F. 
^lansfiold  to  make  a  tour  of  the  Pacific  department, 
and  see  if  the  posts  established  there  should  be  made 
permanent;  but  expressed  the  opinion  that  those  in 
noithern  California  could  be  dispensed  with,  not- 
withstanding that  the  commanders  of  forts  Reading 
and  .lones  were  every  few  weeks  sending  reports 
lilKd  with  accounts  of  collisions  between  the  white 
pepulation  and  the  Indians. 

At  this  [)oint  I  observe  certain  anomalies.  Congress 
had  invited  settlers  to  the  Pacific  coast  for  political 
n  a^iins.  These  settlers  had  been  promised  protection 
fioiii  tlie  savages.  That  protection  had  never  to 
any  piactieal  extent  been  rendered;  but  gradually 
the  usual  race  conflict  had  begun  and  strengthened 
until  it  assumed  alarming  proportions.  The  few 
(itlicers  of  the  military  department  of  the  govern- 
iiieiit.  siMit  here  ostensibly  to  protect  its  citizens,  had 
Idiind  it  ne(!essary  to  devote  themselves  to  protecting 
thr  Indians.  Over  and  over  they  asserted  that  the 
white  men  were  alone  to  blame  for  the  disturbances. 

Wiiting  to  tlie  head  of  the  department  at  New 
V«'ik,  (ieiieral  Wool  said  that  the  emigration  to  Cal- 
ilniiiia  and  Oregon  would  soon  render  unnecessary  a 
iiiiiiiher  of  posts  which  had  been  established  at  agreat 
expense,  and  that  if  it  were  left  to  his  discretion,  he 
sliiMild  abolish  forts  Reading  an<l  Miller  in  California, 
i\,.  !  <  >tal)lish  a  temporary  post  in  the  Pit  River  eoun- 
tr\  ;  also  break  up  one  or  two  posts  in  northern  (.'ali- 
I'niiii.i  and  Oregon,  which  could  only  mean  forts  Jones 
and   Lane,  and  establish  another  on  Puiret  Sound, 


m 


■';    '    I 


346 


LEGISLATION,  MINING,  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


and,  if  possible,  onain  the  Boisd  country;  though  bis 
prcforence  would  be  given  to  a  company  of  dragoons 
to  traverse  the  Snake  River  country  in  the  suuiniur 
and  return  to  The  Dalles  in  the  winter. 

Governor  Curry,  on  learning  that  the  "ixpedition 
under  Haller  had  accomplished  nothing,  and  that  tlio 
whole  command  numbered  only  sixty  men,  and  think- 
ing it  too  small  to  accomplish  anything  in  the  Snuko 
Hiver  country  should  the  Indians  combine  to  make 
war  on  the  immigration,  on  the  18th  of  Septeuiber 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  two  companies  of 
volunteers,  of  sixty  men  each,  to  serve  for  six  months, 
unless  sooner  discharged,  and  to  furnish  their  own 
horses,  equipments,  arms,  and  ammunition;  the  com- 
panies to  choose  their  own  officers,  and  report  to  Brij^- 
adier  General  Nesmith  on  the  25th,  one  company  to 
rendezvous  at  Salem  and  the  other  at  Oregon  City. 

Commissions  were  issued  to  George  K.  Shell,  as- 
sistant adjutant-general,  John  McCracken,  assistant 
quartermaster-general,  and  Victor  Trevitt,  commissary 
and  quartermaster.  A  request  was  despatched  to 
Vancouver,  to  Bonneville,  to  ask  from  the  United 
States  arms,  ammunition,  and  stores  with  which  to 
sup[)ly  the  volunteer  companies,  which  Bonneville  ic- 
fused,  saying  that  in  his  opinion  a  winter  caiii|i.iiL,'ii 
was  neither  necessary  nor  practicable.  Nesmith  Ix- 
ing  of  like  opinion,  the  governor  withdrew  his  call 
for  volunteers. 

When  the  legislative  assembly  convened,  the  gov- 
ernor placed  before  them  all  the  information  ho  pos- 
sessed on  Indian  affairs,  whereupon  a  joint  committee 
was  appointed  to  consider  the  question.  Lane  had 
already  been  informed  of  the  occurrences  in  the  liniso 
country,  but  a  resolution  was  adopted  instruct ini; 
the  governor  to  correspond  with  General  Wool  ant  I 
Colonel  Bonneville  in  relation  to  the  means  availalde 
for  an  expedition  against  the  Shoshones.  The  total 
force  then  in  the  Pacific  department  was  1,200,  dra- 
goons, artillery,  and  infantry;  of  which  nino  com[)a- 


WAR  FORCES. 


347 


the  suiiiiner 


:;r  cainpaiLi^ii 


iiies  of  infantry,  335  strong,  were  stationed  in  Ore- 
<f<n\  and  Washington,  and  others  were  under  orders 
for  the  Pacific. 

(Jovernor  Davis  had  written  Wool  of  anticipated 
ditiieulties  in  the  south;  whereupon  the  latter  in- 
structed Captain  Smith  to  reenforce  liis  squadnin 
V  ith  the  detachment  of  horse  lately  under  command 
ni"  C<)l«)nel  Wright,  and  with  them  to  proceed  to 
Kluinath  Lake  to  render  such  assistance  as  the  immi- 
gration should  require.  About  a  month  later  he  re- 
ported to  General  Thomas  that  he  had  called  Smith's 
utttntion  to  the  matter,  and  that  h.  was  informed  that 
all  necessary  measures  had  been  taken  to  prevent  dis- 
turbances on  the  emigrant  road. 

Ill  congress  the  passage  of  the  army  bill  failed  this 
year,  though  a  section  was  smuggled  into  the  appro- 
j)rlation  bill  adding  two  regiments  of  infantry  and 
two  of  cavalry  to  the  existing  force,  and  authorizing 
i\\o  president,  by  the  consent  of  the  senate,  to  appoint 
one  brigadier  general.  It  was  further  provided  that 
arms  should  be  distributed  to  the  militia  of  the  terri- 
tories, under  regulations  prescribed  by  the  president, 
according  to  the  act  of  1808  arminjf  the  miUtia  of 
the  states.  No  special  provision  was  made  for  the 
iiutection  of  the  north-west  coast,  and  Oregon  was 
eft  to  meet  the  impending  conflict  as  best  it  aught. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 

1854-1855. 

Resignatiov  of  Governor  Davih — Hia  SnccEssoR,  Ghorge  Law  CrRRV— 
Lkgihl.^tive  Proceedings— Waste  of  Congression/.l  Approi-iua- 
TION8 — State  House — Penitentiary — Relocation  of  the  Capital 
AND  Umversitv — Legislative  and  Congressional  Acts  Relat  vk 
TiiEREio— More  Counties  Made — Finances — Tkrritorial  Convkn- 
TioN — Newspapers — The  Slavery  Sentiment — Politics  of  tiik  I'k- 
BioD — WiiiGS,  Democrats,  and  Know-nothings— A  New  Party- 
Indian  Affairs — Treaties  East  of  tub  Cascade  Mountains. 

In  August  1854  Governor  Davis  resigned.  Thoro 
was  no  fault  to  be  found  with  him,  except  tliat  lie  was 
iinjK»rt"d  from  the  cast.  la  resigning,  he  gave  as  a 
reason  his  domestic  affairs.  He  was  tendered  a  part- 
ing (hnncr  at  Salem,  which  was  declined;  and  after  a 
residcn'-e  of  eight  months  in  tlie  territory  he  retunitd 
to  the;  states  with  a  half-declared  intention  ol"  makiii.;' 
Orejjfon  his  home,  hut  he  died  soon  after  roachiii<>  thi; 
east.  Although  a  good  man,  and  a  dcinoc'rat,  he  was 
advised  to  resign,  that  Curry  might  he  appointud 
governor,  which  was  done  in  November  foUowiiig.' 

Cuny  was  the  favorite  of  that  portion  of  the  (jrin- 
ocratic  party  known  as  the  Salem  cli(jue,  and  whose 
organ  was  the  States, nun.  He  followed  the  Sf<it<s- 
Qiuin's  lead,  and  it  defended  him  and  his  measures, 
which  weri!  really  its  own.  He  was  a  partisan  nmic 
throuixh  necessitv  tiuiii  ehoice,  and  in  his  intercom se 
with  the  [>eople  he  was  a  liberal  and  courteous  geiitlo- 

^  Ln lie's  Aiitrtliiiujrnpliy,  MS.,  59;  Or.  Slatmman,  Duo.   12,  IS.Vt;  Anur, 

Almaiuii,  18J5  U  18o7-S>. 

(348) 


If  I 


LEGISLATURE  1854-5. 


349 


man.  Considering  his  long  acquaintance  witli  Oregon 
utlaiis,  and  his  probity  of  character,  he  was  perhaps 
as  suitable  a  person  tor  the  position  as  could  have 
been  ibund  in  the  party  to  which  he  belonged.'  He 
po.sst'ssed  the  advantage  of  being  already,  through  his 
.sutretaryship,  well  acquainted  witli  the  duties  of  his 
((fiice,  in  v/hich  he  was  both  faithful  and  industrious. 
Such  was  the  man  who  was  chosen  to  be  governor  of 
()icL'()n  during  the  remaining  years  of  its  minority, 
and  the  most  trying  period  of  its  existence. 

The  legislature  met  as  usual  the  first  Monday  in 
Dircniber,*  with  James  K.  Kelly  president  of  the  coun- 
cil, and  L.   F.  Cartee,  speaker  of  the  lower  house. 

-'(li'orge  Law  Curry,  Ijom  in  Philadelphia,  July  2,  1820,  was  tlie  son  of 
(ro()i':i>:  (Jurry,  who  served  as  captain  of  tho  Wasiiington  Blues  in  the  engaj^e- 
luiiit  prccediiii;  the  capture  of  Washington  city  in  the  war  of  1812;  and 
gi,.:"N(iii  of  Christopher  Curry,  an  emigrant  from  England  who  settled  in 
riiilixL'lphia,  and  lies  in  the  Christ  Churcli  burial-ground  of  that  city.  He 
visiuil  till'  rcpuliliu  of  Colombia  when  a  child,  ami  returned  to  tlie  family 
liii.ii*  .stead  near  Ilarrisburg,  I'enn.  His  father  dying  at  the  age  of  II ,  he  went 
tu  JJcistijii,  where  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  jeweler,  tiuding  time  for  study  und 
liCL'iaiy  ]iur.suits,  uf  which  he  M'as  fond.  In  IS.'iS  lin  was  elected  and  served 
two  tcriiia  as  president  of  the  Mechanic  Apprentices'  Library,  upon  whose 
recunls  may  be  found  many  of  his  addresses  and  poems.  In  I84.'i  he  remuved 
to  St  Loui.s,  and  there  joined  with  Joseph  M.  Field  and  other  theati'ical  and 
liti-Tai-y  men  in  publishing  the  llevfiUe,  emigrating  to  Oregon  in  1S40,  after 
wliicli  tiiiii:  Xna  liistc.y  is  a  i)ai't  uf  the  history  of  tlie  territory.  His  private 
lit'o  was  w  itliout  reiroach,  and  his  habits  those  of  a  man  of  letters.  Ho  lived 
to  si'o  Oregon  pac"  safely  through  the  trials  of  her  proliationary  period  to  be 
u  tim\iii;,'  state,  and  died  July  28,  1878.  UiiMjrti/thi/  <>/ O'lunji'  L.  i'un-i/,  M.S., 
I  ;!;  H-n'ilh  Pacijic  Tiibunr,  July  31,  1878;  I'orthtiid  Stowlnnl,  July  l."?, 
l.'i7>S;  .*?.  F.  {'out  July  30,  1878;  AMhland  Ti<liii>js,  Aug.  9, 1878;  Salem  States- 
man,  Aug.  2,  IS»8;  t'urtland  Oreijoniaii,  July  2)),  1S78. 

''I'lu!  members  tlc'.'t  of  the  council  were:  J.  C.  Peebles  of  Marion;  J.  K. 
Ki'lly.  riackuinasand  Wasco;  Dr  Cleveland  of  Jackson;  L.  \V.  Phelps  of  Linn; 
Diiiror,  Washington  and  Columbia;  J.  M.  Fulkerson,  I'olk  anl  Tillamook; 
Jiilm  iticliurdaon,  Yamhill;  A.  L.  Humphrey.  Henton  and  Lani';  Levi  Scott, 
L'iiilM|ua.  The  lower  house  consistetl  of  (J.  W.  Colhubury,  of  Clatsop;  K.  S. 
Taiiiur,  David  Logan,  I).  H.  Belknap,  Washington;  A.  J.  Hi'mbree,  A.  (}. 
litmy,  Vamhill;  H.  N.  V.  Holmes,  Polk  and  Tillamook;  I.  F.  .M.  Butler, 
I'ulk;  li.  B.  Hinton,  Wayinan  St  Clair,  lienttm;  L.  F.  Cartce,  W.  A.  Stark- 
wiatlicv,  A.  L.  Lovcjoy,  Clackamas;  C.  P.  Crandall,  R.  C.  Oeer,  N.  Ford, 
Mariiiii;  Luther  Elkins,  Uelozon .Smith,  Hugh  Brown,  Linn;  A.  W.  Patterson, 
.lacul)  CiUespie,  Lane;  James  F.  Go/ley,  DoUjzlas;  Patrick  Dunn,  Alexander 
XKlniire,  Jackson;  O.  Humason,  Wasco;  HoTn-rt  J.  Ladd,  Uiiipiiiia;  J.  B. 
( (iiiildii,  Columbia;  J.  H.  B'oster,  Coos,  elected  but  not  present.  I'wo  other 
nanus,  Dunn  and  Walker,  appear  in  the  proceedings  und  report*,  but  no  clew 
ia  given  to  their  residence.  Or.  Jour.  Coiniril,  1854-5;  Or.  Stilir'nuiii,  Dec. 
I".',  I.s,")4.  The  clerks  of  tho  council  were  B.  (ienois,  J.  Costello,  and  M.  C. 
Lilw.irds.  Sergcant-at-anns,  J.  K.  Delaslimutt;  doorkeeper,  J.  L.  Gwinn. 
Tlie  clerks  of  tho  lower  house  were  Victor  Trevitt,  Jaincs  Klkins,  S.  M. 
llaiiiuiuud.     iSergcttut-at-arms,  G.  L.  Russell;  doorkeeper,  Blovius. 


l?!p 


I  ! 


li 


■;<, 


ll 


H  fin 

i 


350 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


The  session  was  begun  and  held  in  two  rooms  of  the 
state  house,  wliich  was  so  far  finished  as  to  be  usoit 
for  the  meetings  of  the  assembly.  The  principal  busi- 
ness, after  disposing  of  the  Indian  question,  was  con. 
cerning  the  public  buildings  and  their  location.  The 
money  for  the  state  house  was  all  expended,  and  the 
commissioners  were  in  debt,  while  the  building  was 
still  unfinished.  The  penitentiary  fund  was  also  nearly 
exhausted,  while  scarcely  six  cells  of  the  prison  wire 
finished,*  and  the  contractors  were  bringing  the  gov- 
ernment in  their  debt.  The  university  commissiornrs 
had  accepted  for  a  site  five  acres  of  land  tendered  Uy 
Joseph  P.  Friedley  at  Corvallis,  and  had  let  the  (!oii- 
tracts  for  building  materials,  but  had  so  far  only  ex- 
pended about  three  thousand  dollars;  while  the  coin- 
missioners  appointed  to  select,  protect,  sell,  and  control 
the  university  lands  had  mane  selections  amouiitin*^ 
to  18,000  acres,  or  less  than  one  township.  Of  tliis 
amount  between  3,000  and  4,000  acres  had  been  sold, 
for  which  over  $9,000  had  been  realized.  In  this  caso 
there  was  no  indebtedness.  No  action  had  yet  Ixin 
taken  concerning  the  Oregon  City  claim,  which  wiis 
a  part  of  the  university  land,  but  proceedings  would 
soon  be  begun  to  test  the  validity  of  titles."  To  meet 
the  ex[>ense  of  litigation,  an  act  was  passed  autlioiiz- 
ing  the  employment  of  counsel,  but  with  a  proviso 
that  in  the  event  of  congress  releasing  this  claim  to 

*The  torritorial  priaoners  wore  niacoti  in  charge  of  tho  penitentiary  <'<>in- 
miHRionora  ulHiiit  thu  boginning  of  18r)4.  There  wore  at  that  time  tliruiMnn- 
vii;t«,  six  others  lieiiig  luulud  during  the  yuar.  It  iH  sliown  by  a  momoriul  Iphu 
the  city  of  I'ortliind  that  tiie  territ«)rial  priiionerg  hod  Imhmi  confined  in  tliu 

city  prison,  which  they  had  set  on  (ire  and  sonui  escaped.     The  city  cliii I 

iniieniuity  in  tl'i,()0(>,  recovering  $tiO0.  A  temporary  building  wiih  tlicii 
ereutttd  liy  the  coiiiiiiis«iuners  for  the  confinement  of  those  who  conid  imt  l>u 
emiduycd  on  tiin  pt^nitentwry  buihling,  some  of  whom  were  hired  out  li>  tlio 
higliest  bidder.  It  was  dillicult  to  obtain  Itcepers  on  account  of  the  low  wil- 
ary.  It  was  raised  at  this  session  to f  1, 000  per  annum,  with  f(iO(n<ii  caili 
assistant.  (}.  D.  R.  Boyd,  the  first  keeper,  received  1710  for  7  niontliu' 
aerviue. 

'  A  memorial  had  l>een  adilrossed  to  congress  by  Anderson  of  tlie  li-jL-isla- 
ture  of  IHd'J  3,  prayinu  tliat  the  Oregon  City  claim  might  bo  released  (<>  M<> 
Loughlij),  and  a  townsFdp  of  land  granted  that  would  hot  be  subject  to  liti- 
gation. Whether  it  waa  forwarded  is  uuuertain;  but  if  ao,  it  produuid  uo 
•tfwit. 


THE  CAPITAL  QUESTION. 


SBl 


!McLoughlin,  the  money  obtained  from  the  sale  of 
lots  should  be  refunded  out  of  the  sale  of  the  second 
t(nvnship  granted  by  congress  for  university  purposes 
in  the  last  amendment  to  the  land  law  of  Oregon.' 
Sucli  was  the  condition  of  the  several  appropriations 
for  the  benefit  of  the  territory,  at  the  heginning  of 
the  session. 

And  now  began  bargaining.  Further  appropria- 
tions must  be  obtained  for  the  public  buildings.  Cor- 
valhs  desired  the  capital,  and  the  future  appropria- 
tions. At  the  sanu.  time  the  members  from  southern 
Oregon  folt  that  their  portion  of  the  state  was  entitled 
to  a  share  in  the  distribut  <)n  of  the  public  money. 
An  act  was  passed  relocating  the  seat  of  government 
at  Corvillis,  and  removing  the  university  to  Jackson- 
ville.^ It  was  not  even  pretended  that  the  money 
to  ho  spent  at  Jacksonville  would  benefit  those  it  was 
intended  to  educate,  but  only  that  it  would  benefit 
Jackson  county.* 

The  act  which  gave  Corvallis  the  capital  ordained 
that  "every  session  of  the  legislative  assembly,  either 
general  or  special,"  should  be  convened  at  that  place, 
and  appointed  a  new  board  of  commissioners  to  erect 
Kiiitahlo  [)ublic  buildings  at  the  new  seat  of  govern- 
nunt.'  Congress  made  a  further  a[>propriati()n  of 
?27,000  for  tiie  state  house,  and  $40,000  for  the  peni- 
tentiary, to  bo  expended  in  such  a  manner  as  to  in- 
8uri'  completion  without  furtiier  aid  from  tiio  United 
States.'"  Thon  it  began  to  be  understood  tliat  the  re- 
location act,  not  having  been  submitted  to  congress  as 
re(jnircd  ijy  the  organic  act,  was  not  operative,  and 

*Thii  ii  .w  alluiiou  to  a  inomorial  liiiiilar  to  Autlonou'i  jMkaaed  at  tlia 
provioiiN  Buuion. 

'  Or.  Lmm,  in  SttUetman,  Fob.  6  and  1.3,  laVt. 

Mil  tlm  liaruain  b«two«!n  Avory  and  tho  .Jiu;k«on  county  member,  laid  the 
StatfiiKiii,  tlio latter  remarked  that  he  'did  nut  vx|M)ut  it  Ftlio  univcraity]  to 
roiiiuiii  tlii're,  but  thorowouhl  Im  about  |rJ,(HM)  thoy  could  expend  iH^foro  it 
cniiM  Ihi  rouiovcd,  which  would  put  up  a  building  that  would  auawor  for  a 
court-liDimo,' 

*ll.  H.  Biddle,  J.  ,S.  Moltunoy.  and  Fred.  Waymire  conitituted  the  new 
Wr.l.  (h:  Stitiemmn,  Feb.  0,  ISTWi. 

'"C'uNtf.  Uio6e,  1804^,  app.  380,  33d  oong.  2d  i 


352 


GOVERNMENT  AND  oENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


that  the  seat  of  government  was  not  removed  from 
Salem  to  CorvalHs  by  that  act,  nor  would  it  be  until 
such  times  as  congress  should  take  action.  Nor  could 
the  governor  pay  out  any  part  of  the  appropiiatidii 
under  instructions  from  the  legislature,  except  under 
contracts  already  existing.  The  executive  office,  im no- 
over,  should  not  be  removed  from  Salem  before  con- 
gress should  have  approved  the  relocation  act."  So 
said  the  comptroller;  but  the  governor's  office  was 
already  removed  to  Corvallis  when  the  comptroller 
reached  this  decision.  The  Statesman,  too,  which  did 
the  public  printing,  had  obeyed  the  legislative  enact- 
ment, and  moved  its  office  to  the  new  seat  of  govern- 
ment." 

When  the  legislature  met  in  the  following  Decem- 
ber, Grover  introduced  a  bill  to  relocate  the  capital 
at  Salem,  which  became  a  law  on  the  r2th  of  De- 
cember, 1855.  But  this  action  was  modifietl  by  the 
passage  of  an  act  to  submit  the  question  to  the  peojde 
at  the  next  election.  Before  this  was  done,  and  per- 
haps in  order  that  it  might  be  done,  the  almost '  oti!- 
pleted  state  house,  with  the  library  and  furniture,  wms 
destroyed  by  fire,  on  the  night  of  the  30th  of  DectMu- 
ber,  which  was  the  work  of  an  incendiarv.  The 
whigs  charged  it  upon  the  democrats,  and  the  demo- 
crats charged  it  upon  "some  one  interested  in  iiavinijj 
the  ca|)ital  at  Corvallis.""  However  that  may  have 
been,  it  fixed  the  fate  of  Corvallis  in  this  reir-'inl,'* 
Further  than  this,  it  settled  definitely  tin;  location 
question  by  exhausting  the  patience  of  the  peojile. ' 

"Or.  Jour.  Council,  180.'V-«.  app.  12. 

'•('orvalliH  liiiil  at  this  tiint!  n  courthnuRe,  two  tftVcmR,  two  .loitiiiH,  iml 
several  lawyiTs'  oHicoN,  a  HirluMil-lioiiio,  th«  AVfi/fxMiaM  oiUrc,  a  Htcaiii  -^im  null, 
anil  two  I'liinrliuM.  Tlio  niittluMliiit  clnuoli  wan  ilutlicatc'il  iK'c.  Ill,  l^,Vl,  )i. 
liinun  oHioiating.  Or.  >Stalfnman,  Oct.  13  and  Deo.  8,  18M;  S/iffrli  of  '.'/oiir, 
In  Id.,  Die.  18.  1H.V). 

'•/MK/y'^  ll\*i.  Or.,  MS.,  2fl!  ffroivr'/t  Puh.  L{ft  in  Or.,  MS.,  .M  \.  <>r. 
StntfMiiut,,,  Juw.  20,  IS.'WI;  /./.,. Inly  2«  and  Sept.  .10,  IH.-rf»;  Or.  Ar;iii\  .l..u. 
8,  IHrMJ:  Or.  Jmir.  //oiii»;  IH.W  (I,  app.    I(l.'»  70i  Arnfttnnijt'^  <>r.,  17 

'•.\t  tlio  iliittion  in  .lunn  IH.VI.  tliii  votu§  for  tlieoapital  Iti-lwii-ii  tlif  |.iin. 
cipal  towim  ■tuuti,  Tortlanil,  l.l.Vli  Malum,  2,040;  Ck>tvalli«,  I.OUM;  l':ii.;<iic, 
2,310. 

"At  the  liual  eleotiou  betweeu  UieM  pUoM  the  people  rvfuwd  to  vott, 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


3S3 


Th<'  loi^islaturo  was  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  meet- 
iiiif  ill  hired  apartments  for  nearly  twenty  years  Vjefore 
tlic  state  was  able  to  erect  a  suitable  structure. 

The  $40,000  appropriated  to  complete  the  peniten- 
tiary was  expended  on  a  building  which  should  not 
have  cost  one  third  of  the  two  appropriations,  the 
state  a  dozen  years  later  erecting  another  and  better 
one  at  Salem. 


I 


LfuKvil  to  viite, 


To  return  to  the  legislative  proceedings  of  1854-5. 
Anotlur  jmrtisan  act  of  this  body  was  the  passage  of 
a  hill  in  which  voting  viva  voce  was  substituted  for 
votiiii,'  i)y  ballot — a  blow  aimed  at  anticipated  suc- 
cess of  the  new  party;  and  tliis  while  the  Statesman 
uiadc  war  on  the  anti-foreign  and  anti-catholic  prin- 
ciples of  the  know-nothings,  forgetting  how  zealously 
(ipposcd  to  foreigners  and  catholics  the  first  great 
(IciiKfcratic  leader  of  Oregon,  S.  R.  Thurston,  had 
krii.  Specious  reasons  were  presented  in  debate,  for 
the  adoption  of  the  now  rule,  while  the  Statesman 
ojuiilv  threatened  to  deprive  of  public  patronage  all 
who  by  the  viva  voce  system  were  discovered  to  be 
()|)|tos('d  to  democratic  principles.  In  view  of  tlie 
(•(tilling  election,  the  viva  voce  bill  possessed  muchsig- 
iiilicani'o.  It  compelled  evt-ry  man  to  annoiUH'c  by 
voice,  or  by  a  ticket  handed  to  the  judges,  his  choice, 
which  ill  either  case  was  cried  aloud.  This  surveillance 
was  a  severe  ordeal  for  some  who  were  not  ready 
(>|)eiily  to  part  company  with  the  deniocracy,  and 
(loiihtlcKs  had  the  eftect  to  deter  many.  As  a  coer- 
('iv(!  measure,  it  was  cunningly  conceive<l.  Every 
wliii;  ill  tlie  house  voted  against  it,  and  out)  third  «»f 
the  (leinocrats,  and  in  the  council  the  majority  was 
liut  two.  This  bill  also  jMjssessed  peculiar  signiti<'ance 
ill  view  of  the  passage  of  another  requiring  (lie  jietmlo 
to  vote  at  the  next  election  on  the  ciuestion  of  a 

lieinij,  US  thri  SMi-»man  Mid,  '  tiroci  of  thn  aubjoct. '    Avory,  who  wm  oleoted 
to  tile  l(  iiKJiitiiru  ill  IHAtf,  again  eDdeavontii  to  liring  tii*  tuhject  buforo  tlioin, 
Ultlio  lull  w(u  (lefMted. 
lliKT.  UR.,  Vol.  U.   !)S 


154 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOrMENT. 


!U 


st-iito  constitutional  convention,  for  which  tlie  rulinjr 
party,  foreseeing  that  appropriations  for  the  territory 
were  about  exhausted,  was  now  ripe.  The  three 
measures  here  mentioned  comprise  all  of  the  ijupor- 
tant  work  of  the  session." 

An  effort  was  made  in  the  election  of  1854  to  got 
some  temperance  men  elected  to  the  legislature,  in 
order  to  secure  a  prohibitorv  liquor  law;  and  for  this 
purpose  a  third  party,  called  the  Maine-law  party. 
had  its  candidates  in  the  field.  None  were  elected  on 
this  issue,  but  much  opposition  was  aroused." 

"  Multnomah  county  waa  creatcil  at  this  aession  out  of  {Mrtions  of  Wiwh- 
ingtoii  and  Cluokamas,  making  it  comprise  a  narrow  utrip  \ylnif  on  Ixith  nIiIc* 
of  tlio  Willamette,  inchnling  SauvtS  Island,  and  frontm,^  on  tlio  roluinliia 
River,  with  the  county-seat  at  Portlainl.  The  first  county  court  wiih  oi-^'an- 
izfd  .Fan.  17,  IS.").!;  the  board  consistin}^  of  (1.  W.  VauL'hn,  Aiiisiio  |{.  Sc itt, 
and  .lames  Hybee.  The  liomls  of  >Shubrick  Norris,  auditor,  of  Williuin  Mo. 
Millcn,  shuriir,  and  A.  I>.  Fitch,  treasurer,  were  present  d  and  appinvcil. 
ll(M>nm  were  rented  in  the  building  of  Coleman  Dnrrcll,  on  the  crorm  r  of  I'irst 
and  Salmon  streets,  for  a  court-house.  II.  H.  Wilson  was  apiM)int<  il  •oromr 
at  the  second  mectinjj;  of  tlic  board.  The  lirat  Inuird  cIcoIimI  at  tin*  \\i\\U 
WOH  <;oni|>o8ed  of  Daviil  Powell,  Ellis  Wnlkcr,  and  Samuel  Farnmii.  uhicli 
met  .luly  '2,  ISi'iS.  The  tirat  term  of  the  district  court  was  held  Apiil  llitli, 
OIncy  prosidinu.  The  Ih-st  urund  jury  drawn  consiHtcd  of  .1.  S.  Dit  kinsiin, 
Clark  liav,  KiHix  Hicklin,  K.  A.  Peterson,  Edward  Allbright,  'riionia.t  il 
Htullui'd,  William  L.  I'hittendcn,  (Seorgo  }Iumilt<m,  William  Vivt\  U<t\mt 
ThoniiiHon,  William  H.  Krush,  Samuel  Farnian,  William  Hall,  Willinn 
Sherlock,  W.  I*.  Hurke,  .locob  Kline,  .Inckson  Powell,  ,lohn  I'dwcII.  The 
first  cause  entered  on  tlio  ilocket  was  Thomas  V.  Smith  vs  Williuni  11.  Mor- 
ton, Pavid  I/>,';an,  and  Mr.rk  Cliinn. 

An  act  of  this  legislature  authorized  the  location  of  county  Rcatx  l>y  a  ma 
jority  of  voted  at  the  annual  elections.  The  county  seat  of  Unip<|iiit  wax  tliiis 
lixeil  at  KIkton,  on  the  land  claim  of  Jameo  K.  Luvens.  An  act  \mis  pasHiMJ 
for  the  support  of  indijront  insane  perHouM.  There  were  a  ninnlnr  of  .'i|j{ill('a 
tiouH  made  to  the  legirilaturu  to  have  doubtfid  iiiurriagrM  lei^uli/cil;  Imi  tin' 
judiciary  committee,  to  whom  they  were  referred,  refnited  to  eiiti  rlain  the 
petitiims,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  not  their  duty  to  shelter  pei-Hohs  innjiiiit' 
ting  erniies  agaiiiNt  the  laws  and  iiublic  sentiiiicnt.  Nt)t\>illiNtiiiiilJii),',  li 
apet'ial  act  wan  passed  in  the  case  of  John  ('arey,  <  <>  had  a  wife  and  ihililmi 
in  the  .States,  to  make  legitimate  tho  children  of  wcmian  whom  lie  nad  in- 
formally taken  to  wife  while  crossing  the  pluhis.  Or.  SttitcniiKiii,  .\|ii'il  .'<, 
'  I8.V1. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  antagonism  exhibited  ot  the  opening  of  the  HrHxion, 
the  Maino-lawbill  lieing  withdrawn,  .  act  waa  passed  of  the  nature  o*  a  Iih-aI 
option  law,  re(iuiriiig  retiiil  dealers,  01  those  who  wished  to  sell  liy  any  <|'>ui>' 
tity  h'sa  than  a  tpiart,  to  obtain  the  signatures  of  a  majority  of  tlie  li';;al  Mitcra 
in  tluMr  respective  precincts  to  fietitioiis  praying  that  licenses  mIiouIiI  lie  niiiiitiMi 
them;  if  in  a  city,  the  signatures  of  a  nuijority  of  the  legal  voteiH  m  the 
Wanl  where  it  was  desigiuxl  to  sell.  Ilefore  proceeding  to  obtain  tlii'xi^'iin 
tnrcM,  the  applicant  was  rt!ipiin>d  to  |)OHt  notices  for  ten  days  of  liin  intiiitiiiii 
to  apply  for  n  liiicnse,  in  order  to  alFord  an  opportunity  for  ronuiiiHtnincoii  to 
bi*  si;.'ned.  There  went  two  many  ways  of  evailing  a  law  of  tliix  natnm  to 
make  it  aarvu  the  purpose  of  prohibitiou,  even  iu  a  teniponuicu  uumiaiiuit}'; 


PMENT. 


DEMOCRATS  AND  WHIOS. 


355 


ch  the  ruling 
•  the  territory 
.  The  tliree 
of  the  impor- 

f  1854  to  got 
legislature,  in 
r;  and  for  this 
ine-law  party. 
iTorc  elected  on 
msed." 

of  jwrtions  of  Wiiah- 
n  lyinj^  on  l»<)t!i  siilct 
in;.?  oil  tlio  rdliiiiiliia 
iiity  court  wuH  mj^aii- 
jlin,  AinsU'r  U.  Si'  itf, 
liter,  of  William  Mr- 
lent  '«l  luiil  iiiipinvcil. 
on  tlio  conit  r  nf  I'irst 
^as  apiMiintt'il  loruiirr 
,  flwloil  at  tlio  |iiill» 
imtiol  Karmuii,  wliioli 
wuH  liL'M  Ajiril  Itltli, 
mI  of  J.  S.  IHiliiiiwm, 
Vllbright,  Thoiiiiis  II 
tVilliiini  CiTt-,  ilnlHit 
lliani    Hull.    Williim 
.lolin  I'ow.ll,    'IV 
V8  Williuiu  II.  Mor- 

county  KciitH  I'.v  a  ma- 

of  UinptiinkwuH  tliiu 

An  lU't  «ii'*  \'M*vi\ 

u,  imiiilur  <it  Hpiilicii 

;cs  lopilizfil;  lull  till' 

isctl  ti)  oiitcltaiii  the 

Iter  iiorsniix  niiiimit- 

Nolwillmtmi'liiii!.  '' 

il  uwilVuiKl.liil'iri'ii 

an  whom  lu'  ni"!  '"• 

SliiteHUMH,  April  ;i. 

cning  of  tlu"  Kcssion, 
[the  imturo"'  .il'i'ftl 
i  to  wll  I'.V  i>ii.v  H>""'- 
lityof  tlu'l<'K'il^"t''" 
IhcshIkiuIiI  Im'  raiitcil 
|i  It'jjal  vot('i><  Ml  till' 
to  olitiiin  til"  MpiH 
Itla.VH  of  lii'*  mil  ii'i"" 
Ifor  roiiioiiHtniiiii'n  t" 
Lw  of  tliix  11"""'"  '" 
Iporaiiuu  uuiiiiiiuuity; 


The  report  of  the  territorial  auditor  showed  that 
wliereas  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  fiscal  year 
lie  liiul  found  $4.28  in  the  treasury,  at  its  close,  after 
IxilaiK'ing  accounts,  there  were  $68,94  on  hand.  The 
ti'iritory  was  in  debt  between  $7,000  and  $8,000;  but 
the  ostinmted  revenue  for  the  next  year  would  be 
over  ^11,000,  which  would  not  only  discharge  the 
(lcl)t,  but  lessen  the  present  rate  of  taxation.  En- 
(joiirai^od  by  this  report,  the  legislature  made  appro- 
prialioiis  which  an)ounted  to  nearly  as  much  as  the 
niitici|>ated  revenue,  leaving  the  debt  of  the  territory 
but  little  diminished,  ai»d  the  rate  of  taxation  the 
saiiK' — a  course  for  which,  when  another  legislature 
liiid  been  elected,  they  received  the  reproaches  of  their 


own  or  Ains. 


18 


Tiierc  began  in  April  1855,  with  the  meeting  of 
tli(>  doiuocratic  territorial  convention  at  Salem,  a 
(Ictirminod  struggle  to  put  down  the  rising  influence 
ol'  whig  principles."  At  the  first  ballot  for  delegate 
to  conoress.  Lane  received  fifty-three  out  of  fifty-jiine 
voles,  the  six  ren)aining  being  <nist  by  Clackamas 
county  for  Pratt.  A  movement  had  been  made  in 
Liiui  county  to  put  forward  Delazon  Smith,  but  it 
\v;i,s  prudently  witiidrawn  on  the  tcmj)er  uftlie  major- 
ity heconiing  manifest.  Lane  county  had  also  in- 
structed its  delegates  to  vote  for  Judge  (Jeorgo  H. 
Williams  as  its  second  choice.  Ihit  the  great  per- 
sonal j)()pularity  of  Lane  threw  all  others  into  the 
back  ijf  round. 

On  tho  18th  of  April  the  whigs  held  a  convention 
at  Corvallis,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  a  delegate, 

ami  for  tliis  very  reason  it  wad  pomible  to  |)am  it  in  a  logiHlnturo  unfriendly 
t»|iri>liiliiti(>n. 

""/'.  Jour.  Counril,  IH.'M  rt,  opp.  21-7.  Tho  territorial  officers  elcct^itl 
Itytlic  iis^unibly  wero  Nat.  II.  Lono,  traasuror;  Jiuii>>a  A.  liuuuett,  auditor-, 
tiiil  Milton  Shannon,  lilirarian. 

"Siiid  t\\v  Statrjtmnn  of  April  I7th:  'Dciott>i  and  didjimco  to  knownntlt* 
in;;  wliij^jiciy  and  ranting  hypocrisy  was  a  jiton'e  which  went  ft»rth  troni 
Hot  lilt  (ting  'rhe  liundwriting  is  upon  tho  wall,  and  it  reotls,  ".lo  I^oim,  » 
di'iiKK'i'uuu  lugislaturc,  dvuucratiu  pruMcutort,  dumocnktiu  overytluag.'" 


II: 


Ml  GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 

and  made  choice  of  Ex -governor  Gaines,  aguiii.st  four 
other  aspirants.  The  majority  being  for  Gaines  on  tli.; 
first  ballot,  T.  J.  Dryer  and  A.  G.  Henry  witluliew, 
l«!avii)g  M.  A.  Chinn  and  A.  Ilolbrook.  Gaines  tlicii 
received  sixty-three  votes  and  Chinn  three.  The 
convention  a<lopted  as  its  platform,  "General  (iaiiies 
against  the  world,"  and  the  campaign  opened.*'  A 
movement  was  put  on  foot  by  the  religious  portion  df 
the  community  to  form  a  temperance  party,  and  t<» 
elect  members  to  the  legislature  on  that  issue;  ami  a 
meeting  was  held  for  that  purpose  April  IGth,  wliicli 
was  addressed  by  George  L.  Atkinson,  H.  K.  J  lines, 
and  W.  L.  Adams,  the  last  named  a  rising  politician, 
who  in  the  spring  of  1855  established  the  (hri/im 
An/us,  and  advocated  among  other  reforms  a  proliiltj- 
tory  liquor  law.  As  the  paper  was  indepOntUnt,  it 
tended  greatly  to  keep  in  check  the  overwccnin;,' 
assumption  of  the  Statemnun,  and  was  warmly  wel- 
comed by  the  new  party.'' 

'"As  tho  reader  haa  lioon  ao  long  familiar  with  the  namon  of  tlio  dimo- 
cmtic-  luuiiors,  it  will  Iw  urupor  liore  tu  incntiua  thuau  of  tlio  tt  rritoriai  \tlii,; 
<!i)iniiiittoe.  They  wero  E.  N.  (>x)ke,  .luines  1>.  McCunly,  Altx.  Mlifyiv, 
v.  A.  Heed,  ami  f.  J.  Dryer.  Onf{foiiinii,  April  14,  IH-W. 

"The  (h-fjoii  Ar'jiu  v/ixa  priiitvd  oil  the  preHH  and  with  the  luuti-i iulu  of 
the  old  Sjterlftloi;  which  cloned  its  career  in  March  IW.').  ThiMilitur  mul 
puhliHJior,  Mr  Adaiii^',  possewMid  the  <|ualilicuti()ii8  necessary  to  ciiiiihic't  uu 
iii(le]>endeut  jouruul,  having  mjlf-oKteeiii  united  witli  uruuiiieiit-itiM)  imwirs 
moreover,  he  had  u  coiiscionce.  In  politics,  he  leaned  to  tho  niilo  of  tliu 
whi)  H,  and  in  religion  was  a  canipl)ellito.  Thin  church  hud  a  rc.tiiii  t.ililo 
meniU-rsliip  in  Oregon.  Adams  Hometiiues  prtMiohcd  to  its  (Miii;{ri';;atiiiiis, 
and  wiui  knoun  prerty  guiiernlly  as  Paraoii  hilly.  The  inistukcH  lit-  inmlo  in 
conducting  IiIh  |>aper  were  thonu  likely  to  grow  out  of  those  coiiditioim.  IUmm;^ 
iiide|ioiident,  itwaaopen  to  evcryl>iHl\ ,  uiid  tlui  'fore  liuhlu  to  take  iu  (htu- 
sioinilly  {wrsoim  >>(  douhtfiil  vpriu.it).  Ileing  honi  at,  it  stmurtiincH  U'trayeil  % 
lack  "if  wiirldly  « isdom.  TUo  .stiitpninmi  called  it  the  'Airgnow';'  iH'Voitluli'-ii, 
'it  gie;itly  HMiiated  in  iormiiig  int^)  a  c(mHiHte>it  and  coheMivr  IxhIv  tli"  neat- 
tercd  iiiuterials  that  nfttirwanl  <'oni|>osi'd  i]w  vi'puliliciui  |uuty.'  The  . I (;/«.< 
coutiiiueil  to  he  iMilihslie<)  at  «>regon  <  ity  till  May  I^M)M,  l>.  W.  Crai;;  liriiijj 
axncHiateil  witli  Adutns  in  its  pul>h<«tii>tt.  Six  inoiilliH  after  its  n'liioval,  \ia\- 
ing  \inited  with  tlui  l{vfiubliran  ol  Kiigeiut  Cit)  the  two  journals  iiaMNcil  into 
the  liundH  of  A  eoni|>any  who  had  purcluMud  the  .'itmtritmaH,  the  ixilifical  Ktatiit 
of  tlie  latter  littviii;4  undergone  It  iiange.  Salfm  I'lrrrlmy,  KSTI.p.  >>l.  .Ailunii 
hud  in  tlie  meiui  tiii<u  lM>eii  up|><>inted  coilectni  of  cuMtomti  at  Astoria  liv  \m\- 
coin,  in  INUI,  and  lield  tliiti  iHwition  until  he  <*estgned  it  in  |K(MI.  In  !>•>') 
he  travelled  in  South  Aiiieruui,  and  liimlly  went  to  New  Kn.i;luiid,  \\  lirro  li« 
ilelivcrtMl  a  lectnre  <ui  Or»'j/o«  ittttl  Ihv  I'wtl'n-  <  '<  (tut,  at  Treinoiit  Tt  iii|ili',  Oit. 
14,  IS<I|),  which  wuM  published  in  |Miiiiptdi't  form  at  Ilosfon  tho  Haiin'  year. 
The  pamphlet  conbiius  many  intoi-estiug  fic  ts,  presonted  in  the  iii'  iMiveanil 
yat  often  humoroui'  stylo  which  clioractorizi  I  the  .author's  writings  an  u  juur- 


ENT. 


THE  KNOWNOTniNG  PARTY. 


357 


igainst  four 
■linos  ttu  till' 
1  witlulivw, 
jraincs  then 
lirco.     Tlic 
urul  (Jiiiiu's 
puiicd.*'     A 
8  portion  tit 
irty,  and  to 
88Uo;  ami  a 
IGtU,  Nvhi.-li 
:.  K.  J  linos, 
it  politician, 
the   (hiijoii 
)s  a  |)i'oliil)i- 
lopi5iuli'nl,  it 
L)vt'r\v*'i'nin'4 
yarmly  wcl- 


nOS    of    tlu'    (IcIllO- 

10  tt'iritoriiil  \\\\\i 

AltX.    M.  Illtyiv, 


The  Arrjvs,  however,  placed  the  name  of  Gaines  at 
tin-  !n  nd  of  its  editorial  columns  as  its  candidate  for 
(it!<':iato  to  congress.  The  Portland  Times"  was 
strongly  democratic,  and  sustained  the  nomination  of 
J.ani.  The  Portland  Democratic  Standard  labc*red 
of  course  for  its  proprietor,  Pratt,  till  the  almost 
unanimous  nomination  of  Lane  by  the  Salem  conven- 
tion took  away  its  proj)er  occupation,  and  it  turned  to 
<,'iH(ral  j)arty  uses.** 

Lino  arrived  in  Oregon  early  in  April,  and  soon 
after  the  convention  the  cam{)aign  began,  the  whigs 
an<l  know-nothings,  or  native  Americans,  uniting  on 
(iaiiios  and  against  the  democracy. 

Tlio  native  Americans,  it  may  bo  hero  said,  were 
l:ii;,'rly  drawn  from  the  missionary  and  anti-Hudson's 
l!ay  CoMipany  voters,  who  took  the  oj)portunity  fur- 
nislu'd  hy  tlio  rise  of  the  new  party  to  give  utteram^o 
to  tin  ir  long-cherished  antipathies  t(tward  the  foreign 
(Itnn  nt  in  the  settlement  of  Oregon.  Some  of  them 
wrrr  inon  who  had  made  themselves  odious  to  right- 
tliiiiking  [leoplo  of  all  parties  by  their  intcMuperato 
Zeal  a<'ainst  foreign-born  colonists  and  the  catholic 
rrji^ion,  basing   their   arguments    for  know-nothing 


naliit.  Ho  Htiidiod  inortioine  while  in  the  oiuit,  atnl  pnioti«otI  it  after  return- 
ing tn  Oicfjon.  Ill  tliu  ^\'fnt  .VAiK-c,  a  iiKiiitiily  litiiritiy  |uk|H'r  lM.'giui  at  I'ort- 
Liiil  III  Is7">  l>y  L.  Siiinnolfi,  am  liitiniilimj  SuIih  of  tlhhn  Tliins  liy  Ailuiiu'', 
ill  uMi'li  1111'  HDiiii)  Mtrikin^  |<*.'tiir(>H  nt  tliu  triitlo  iiiul  plt'.iniirL'H  nf  jtionuiT  lit'], 
IkkiiIi's  iiiuiiy  iitlicr  iirlioieii;  hut  liia  priuuiiMU  wurk  \u  hto  wiu  Uuiiu  an  ••ditur 
(it  tilt  |ii'|KT  lii'iiri^'iiiiituil. 

"oi  till)  twii  ]m|Mrn  Htarttnl  in  IH.V),  the  .SVrtr  wu«  r-movetl  to  I'ortliuid 
i:i  !s."i|,  wluiv  It  iH^i'iiimt  tlio  Tii»n,  oditol  lirst  l)y  Wati'i'iimn,  and  huIimo- 
i|iioiitly  liy  IIDiIhii,  t'lillnwcil  ly  KuhkcII  I>.  Aimtiii.  It  ran  until  lH.'iH  in 
till' iiUfiTdt  nf  the  'IfniiHTutic  iNirty.  M'c^/  Short,  .Inn.  IHTtl.  AuMtia  iiiur- 
riiil  Mi-H  .Miiiy  .*.  «  .illiiih  (if  itdlynki',    Miiwm.   Oriijoii   .inini,  Oct.  l.H,  IS.m. 

* t''jiiliiiiil  f:.t-ijtiiii(iii,  April  l.'>,  IS7(l,  Antitlur  |>iiiii  i  that  canio  into 
l"iiiv'  111  Km  waa  tlm  l'<n-iti>-  i'hriHlinn  AtliiM-ntf.  It  m.is  liint  I'allnl  tliu 
.\''i'H  I'o,  III,- l'l„t»it<tit  Itiriifil,  niitl  iiml  I'nr  |nilili(»lu'i'»  .\.  V.  Waller.  TIikh 
H  iVniiic,  I'  tj.  Hut'lmnaii.  .1  K'  Kolili.  ami  ('  S.  KiiiKxI'v ,  with  TIioh  II. 
r'luiu^  f.ii-  iiiaiiiit;!'!'.  Soo«'r.  S-  i,  sihih,  .Iimih  111,  IS.V».  It  mimiii  afti'i'wiirtl 
iiiim»T.|  iti*  ii.tiiiii  to  I'lirylic  i'hrniion  AiliiHotf,  jmlilinlii'il  hy  A.  V.  Wiilh  r, 
•I  L  riiniHh.  ,1.  0.  HiM.n,  ('  S  KiujjHhy,  and  U  K  IliiicH,  «ith  Tlmn  II. 
I'i'MiiH' riln.ir.  The  fiillowiiii/ \  I'jir  tlio  iiirtliodiHt  t:vi\'  il  »ciiiI<'|i'iut,  in  m'x- 
'''II  lit  liiiliiina|Hili!<,  rrKiilvt'd  lo  oMtaliliHli  a  ImmiIv  di  ixisitniy  and  piiMiili 
*  «n'kly  |Ki|it'r  III  ()rt!f{iiiii  And  'lint  tin- iMMik  ancnti*  iit  N'<'\v  Vmk  U'lilvi^'d 
'i  linn!i,iM-  tiK  /'.(./»■(•  Chrniioii  i'li'omf, ,  alivii.ly  tttaiticl,  iit  ^;t,.">lK»,  .tnil 
Vtoijjiioy  an  ovlitur  With  u  tixod  milury.  <»r.  wid  ita  iMtitulwM,  lOV-l*. 


388 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


principles  upon  the  alleged  participation  in  the  Whit- 
man uia88acrc  of  the  catholic  priesthood.'* 

Anything  like  cunt  entering  into  American  politics 
has  always  proven  a  failure;  and  the  democratic  party 
were  not  too  refined  to  give  utterance  to  an  hoin-st 
disj^ust  of  the  bigotry  which  attempted  it  in  Orc^^oii. 
The  election  resulted  in  the  complete  triumph  of 
(Kanocracy,  Lane's  majority  being  twenty-one  hiui- 
drod  and  forty-nine.*^  There  were  but  four  wliigs 
eleitcd  to  the  assembly,  two  in  each  house.  A  dcin- 
ocratic  prosecuting  attorney  was  elected  in  each  jiidi- 
oial  district.""  The  party  had  indeed  secured  every- 
thing it  aimed  at,  excepting  the  vote  for  a  state  con- 
stitution, and  that  measure  promised  to  be  soon  .se- 
cured, as  the  majority  against  it  had  lessened  nioro 
tlian  half  since  the  last  election. 


In  spite  of  and  perhaps  on  account  of  the  dom- 
inaiic«!  of  democratic  influence  in  Oregon,  tiicii'  was 
a  (Mwiviction  growing  in  the  minds  of  thinking  jnitplo 
not  governed  i)y  |>artisan  feeling,  which  was  in  tiuio 
to  revolutionise  politics,  and  bring  confusion  upon  the 
men  wiio  loided  it  so  valiantly  in  these  tinjes.  This 
was,  tlmt  the  struggle  for  the  extension  of  slave  ter- 
ritory wiiich  the  Houthern  states  wtjre  making,  aiil'  il 
and  abetted  by  the  national  democratic  party,  would 
be  renewed  when  the  state  coitstitution  canuj  to  l)0 
formed,  and  that  they  must  be  ready  to  meet  tlio 
eniergent'y. 

In  vii3W  of  the  danger  that  by  some  politieal  jiii,'- 
gh'iy  tht>  door  woidd  be  left  open  tor  the  ailini'^iMii 
of  slavery,  a  convention  of  free-soilers  was  callnl  ti* 
meet  at  Albany  on  the  27th  of  June,  IH.')J.  Little 
more  was  done  at  this  time  than  to  pass  resululions 

«*Or.  Am.  Emng.  Umonint,  Aug.  2,  1848. 

"OiKoiiil,  in  Or.  Sialr^mnn,  Jiiiio  :«),  IMH.  Tho  rrihinif  Jlnuninr  for 
iH.'iduixDH  Liiiiu'Hiiiujoi'ity  im '.j,2.'l.5.  Tliu  oiitiru  voto  eunt  wiw  10, 1'.'l  Tlit'ra 
WITH  lH-lirv(i<l  to  Itti  altiiut  ll.lUU  viittini  in  tliu  turritory. 

'"(ii'iii'^o  K.  Siiuil  ill  tliu  Imi  (liNtriut;  'riiuiiiiiH  .S.  Itiamlon  in  tli<  '.M;  K  K. 
iStn-.tiiiii  ill  till)  llil;  mill  W.  (J.  T'Vttult  im  ^iuikiiuii  uouuty,  Mlihii  u.ui  ul- 
luwud  tu  vuiiilituU)  u  uiHtriot. 


INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


309 


oxprossing  the  sentiments  and  purposes  of  the  nieni- 
lurs,  and  to  appoint  a  coniniittou  to  draft  a  platform 
ti.r  till!  anti-slavery  party,  to  be  reported  to  an  ad- 
ji.miivd  meeting  to  be  held  at  Corvallis  on  the  Olst 
of  ( )ttober."^^  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  move- 
iiiiiit  ill  which  the  Argus  played  an  important  part, 
iiiiil  wliii-h  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  republican 
jt.ir'y  of  Oregon.  It  was  the  voice  cryifg  in  the 
\vii(l(  rncss  which  prepared  the  way  for  the  victory  of 
live  piinciples  on  the  Northwest  Coast,  and  secured 
tn  jlie  oiiginal  founders  of  the  Oregon  colony  the 
iiitiit'  absence  of  the  shadow  and  blight  of  an  insti- 
tiilinii  which  when  they  left  their  himies  in  the 
St.itis  the  earliest  immigrations  determined  to  leave 
1h  hind  them  forever.  With  regard,  however,  to  the 
|»roir|(sH  of  the  new  party,  before  it  had  time  to  com- 
|)li  If  a  formal  organizjition,  events  had  occurred  in 
OivooM  <»f  so  absorbing  a  nature  as  to  divert  the 
piiMiu  liiiiid  from  its  contemplation. 

1  have  already  spoken  of  the  round  of  visits  widch 
iiidiaii  Superintendent  Palmer  mad<!  in  IH54,  about 
whith  time  he  ct)nckule«l  some  treaties — none  of  those 
iiiatlr  by  (iaines  t^ver  bavin''  been  ratiKed — with  the 
Indians  of  the  Willamette  Valley.**  It  was  n<»t  until 
Ortdber  that  he  was  able  to  go  to  the  Indians  of  south- 

•'Tlio  ronmiitti'c  were  Jolin  (^iiiiut,  11.  F.  Wliitwrn,  TlioinuH  S.  Kintliill, 
nii.rii 'riiniiiMdii,  iitiil  J.  I'.  'I'lilo.  Or.  .1  )•(///«,  July  7.  lh.V>.  'I'liu  iiii'IiiI<i'|'h  of 
till-'  liist  aiiti-Nlavfry  iiioutiii^  (if  Oi'ix'oii  wviu  Orij^on  TlKiiiiHon,  il.  H. 
Ilirkliii,  T.  S.  Kt'iiilall,  .liio.  It.  McClmv,  Wiit  T.  Ilnxttr,  WilHoii  lilaiii,  .liio. 
.M.Cnv,  Saimu'l  lly.le,  \V,  L.  C.m.ii,  \Vm  MaiLs,  \V.  ('.  Iliekliii,  II.  K. 
.Miiiillv.  Kaviil  liwiii,  .liiliii  Smitli,  Isiuio  I'cst,  .1,  W.  Stiwart,  ii.  W.  I«im- 
Imii,.I.'H,  r.iiHvtli,  .1.  M,  Mie'ail,  .loim  Couiur, 'I'litm  Caimuii,  H.  I'.  Wliit- 
KHii,  \\ .  ('.  .Iiiliiisiiii,  llt'/.ckiali  .liiliiiMiiii,  .1.  'I'.  I  niig,  l>.  ('.  Iluiikhy,  S.  11. 
.NM'Mliiii.l,  {{cilicrt  A.  ItiU'k,  t^niiiiu'l  llili,  J.  I*.  Tate,  V.  II.  l'>iiniiiii<<. 
.Altiv.l  Wliiil.i-.  Sumni'l  ("divor,  l».  II.  iJoilinii,  W.  ('.  (larw.iml,  |).  niacli, 
t  liiilit  litis,  ,1.  I*',  'riioinimiiii,  Milliin  It.  Starr.    Or,  A  riiiix,  ,]i\]y  ~,  |H.V). 

\  tirats  was  iiiailo  u'ltli  tlio  'riialiitiii  l>aii<l  of  ( 'alupiHiyaM  fur  tlnir  Iniiil 
Imiii;  III  WaHhiii^'toii  aiiil  Viiniliill  ('(iiintii'H,  fur  uliich  llu'y  ri'i.'i'i\i-(l!<.'t,;i(K(  in 
^'>>'"N,  iiiiiiit'y,  ami  farm  IimjIm;  altto  |ir(iviHiiiiiH  fur  >iiio  your,  ami  aiiiiuiiicH  of 

V U  111/  twenty  yi'UiH,  iHiHitlcn  u  tract  uf    10  turv^  U>  cai'li   family,  twu  of 

Willi  11  wrvr  to  Im'  |iioiigiii><l  ami  fenced,  ami  a  laliin  erected  ii|ioii  it.  'reach- 
es >'l  laruiin^',  miiiiiiKi  liliickHinitliiii!.;,  etc.,  were  to  Iid  fiirniHlied  with  iniiniiul- 
IiiImii  m  liiHilh  for  the  cliildreii.  The  luovi.^ionu of  ull  of  I'aluier'H  tiealic'8  wore 
itiiiiilar. 


11 


!tl 


)■> 


II     '■% 


*   iii 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


ern  Orcjj^on  with  the  assurance  that  congress  had  liit- 
ified  the  treaties  made  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1  «.)3, 
with  some  amendments  to  which  thoy  consented  sonio- 
what  unwiUingly,'®  but  were  pacified  on  receiving  thrir 
first  instalment  of  goods.  S.  H.  Culver  was  removed, 
and  George  H.  Ambrose  made  agent  on  the  H<jguo 
River  reservation.**  By  the  1st  of  February,  I  Boo,  .ill 
the  lands  between  the  Columbia  River  and  the  summit 
of  the  Calapooya  Mountains,  and  between  the  Coa>t 
and  Cascade  ranges,  had  been  purchased  for  the  United 
States,  the  Indians  agreeing  to  remove  to  such  local- 
ities as  should  be  selected  for  them,  it  being  tin;  in- 
tention to  place  them  east  of  the  Cascades.  Rut  the 
opposition  made  by  all  natives,  to  being  forced  upon 
the  territory  of  other  tribes,  or  to  having  other  tribes 
brought  into  contact  with  them,  on  their  own  lands, 
influenced  Palmer  to  select  a  reservation  on  the<'oast, 
extending  from  Cape  Lookout  on  the  north  to  a  poii'* 
half-way  between  the  Siuslaw  and  Umpqua  livirs, 
taking  in  the  whole  country  west  of  the  Coast  Ranifc, 
with  all  the  rivers  and  bays,  for  a  distance  of  ninety 
miles,  upon  which  the  Willamette  and  coast  tiilK-s 
were  to  be  placed  as  soon  as  the  means  should  be  at 
hand  to  remove  them. 

No  attempt  to  treat  with  the  Oregon  tribes  cast  of 
the  Cascade  Mountains  for  their  lands  had  ever  lu-eii 
made,  and  except  the  eftorts  of  the  missionaries,  and 
the  [)rovisional  govermnent,  for  which  White  may  be 
considered  as  acting,  nothing  had  been  done  to  luiii'' 
thmn  into  friendly  relations  with  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States.     The  Cayuse  war  had  left  that  tiil)o 


''•The  aincnilniunt  most  ohjcctoil  to  was  ono  which  allowed  otluT  trilifi  to 
1)0  ])hici'(l  oil  tlioir  rosorvutioi),  uml  which  coniolidated  all  tlio  l^Jguc^  lliur 
tribi'H. 

'*"  I'alniur  nppoani  to  have  1>ocn  rather  arbitrary,  Itiit  bning  liitpd  fiy  the 
authoriticH,  in  ulioOHing  iH^tweeii  iiiin  niid  uii  agent  whom  nu  diHlikcil,  tlicy 
(liHiniHsed  tho  agent  without  iiii|uii'y.  Siiltugent  I'hilip  F.  Thoiiipsnii  <if 
l'in|)i|iiu  liavingdicd,  K.  l*.  l>rcw  Hiicccedud  hitn.  Natiian  Ohicy  Hi)|i<'rsi'<lril 
I'aninh.  Tliero  remained  H.  11.  Tiiompson,  W.  W.  Raymond,  uml  W  ilium 
J.  M.'  rtin,  wiio  ruHigned  in  the  npring  of  IS.V),  »m\  woa  8uuceedi'il  liy  ii<'l"  it 
H.  Mt'ti'iiltc.  Tiie8c  frequent  changes  were  due,  accurdiug  to  I'ulmor,  t"  in- 
•uUicieut  suUirios. 


TREATIES  AND  PURCHASE  OF  LANDS. 


361 


iiiiMtteretl  toward  the  American  people.  Governor 
Sti  vrnH  of  Washington  Territoy,  when  exploring  for 
tliL'  I'jicific  railroad,  in  1853,  had  visited  and  conferred 
with  the  tribes  north  and  east  of  the  Columbia  con- 
ci'i  ning  tlie  sale  of  their  lands,  all  of  whom  professed 
a  williiij^Miess  to  dispose  of  them,  and  to  enter  into 
tiviity  relations  with  the  government.*'  Stevens  had 
n  poited  accordingly  to  congress,  which  appropriated 
niHiuy  to  defray  the  expense  of  these  negotiations, 
ami  appointed  Stevens  and  Palmer  commissioners  to 
iiiakf  tlie  treaties.  But  in  the  mean  time  a  vear  and 
a  liair  hud  elapsed,  and  the  Indians  had  been  given 
(iiiif  to  reconsider  their  hasty  expressions  of  friend- 
sliip,  and  to  indulge  in  many  melancholy  forebodings 
of  the  consequences  of  parting  with  the  sovereignty 
<tf  the  country.  Those  regrets  and  apprehensions  were 
iui^hteiied  by  a  knowledge  of  the  Indian  war  of  1853 
ill  Kuiriie  liiver  Valley,  the  expedition  against  the  Mo- 
docs  and  Piutes,  and  the  exj)edition  of  Major  J  Taller 
thill  ill  progress  for  the  punishment  of  the  murderers 
of  the  Ward  t'ompany.  They  had  also  been  informed 
hy  luiiior  that  the  OregoF>  superintendent  designed  to 
take  a  part  of  the  country  which  they  had  agreed  to 
siiririnler  for  a  reservation  for  the  diseased  and  de- 
j^iiKhd  trii)es  of  western  Oregon,  whose  presenc*;  or 
ii<i.,'h!K)rhood  they  as  little  desired  as  the  whit*,'  inhab- 
itants.    At  least,  that  is  what  the  Indians  said  of  them- 

Kl'lvt'S. 

Aware  to  some  extent  of  this  feeling,  Stevens  sent 
ill  .laiiuary  1855  one  of  his  most  trusted  ai«ls,  James 
Doty,  among  the  Indians  east  of  tlie  mountains,  to 
nscoilain  thtsir  views  l)efore  opening  negotiations  for 
til'  |»invhase  of  their  lands.  To  J^oty  the  Indiafis 
iiiado  the  same  professions  of  friendship  ami  willing- 
iH  ss  to  sell  tlieir  country  which  they  had  made  to 
ISi'Sciis  in  1853;  and  it  was  ngree<l  to  iiold  a  general 
loinicil  of  the  Yakimas,  Nez  Perces,  Cayuses,  Walla 

"  /.  /.  .SV.r»».,  in  Imt.  .iff.  Itrpt,  1854,  184,  248;  U.  S.  U.  Ex.  Doc.  55, 
2,  3:iil  cull};.  Ut  HOW. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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WCi'TIP.N  Y.  MSeO 
(716)  •72-4503 


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A 


362 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


Wallas,  and  their  allies,  to  be  convened  in  the  Wulla 
Walla  Valley  in  May.  The  place  of  meeting  wus 
chosen  by  Kamiakin,  head  chief  of  the  Yakiuias,  Ko- 
cause  it  was  an  ancient  council-ground  of  his  people, 
and  everything  seemed  to  promise  a  friendly  coiif'ur- 
ence. 

A  large  amount  of  money  was  expended  in  Indian 
goods  and  agricultural  implements,  the  custoniaiy 
presents  to  the  head  men  on  the  conclusion  of  trcutius. 
These  were  transported  above  The  Dalles  in  kcrl 
boats,*'  and  stored  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  then  in 
charge  of  James  Sinclair  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany. A  military  escort  for  the  commissioners  was 
obtained  at  Fort  Dalles,  consisting  of  forty  dragoons 
under  Lieutenant  Archibald  Gracie,^  the  company 
being  augmented  to  forty-seven  by  the  addition  ota 
detachment  under  a  corporal  in  pursuit  of  some  Indian 
murderers  whom  they  had  sought  for  a  week  without 
finding. 

On  the  20th  of  May  the  commissioners,  who  had 
hastened  forward,  arrived  at  Walla  Walla,  and  jjro- 
ceeded  to  the  ct)uncil-grounds  about  five  miles  frDUi 
Waiilatpu,''*  wiiere  the  encampment  was  made  bcloi-o 
the  vscort  arrived.'"'     The  Indians,  with  their  accus- 


i 


V  i 


.ivigation  abovo  Tlio  l>,illt'H. 
d  of  (jO  tons  freight,  uiui  .sikju 


'^  Stcvcna  speaks  of  this  as  thoopenii 
Tliuy  were  succeeded,  lie  suya,  by  sailing 
by  a  steamer.  J'ac.  Jl.  It.  llciit,  xii.  lOli-,. 

'^  Lieut  Lawrence  Kip,  of  the  3d  artillery,  who  accompanied  (!r:ii'ie  mi 
this  occasion  as  ii  guest  and  spectator,  afterward  published  an  account  nl'  iho 
expedition  and  transactions  of  the  eoninnssion,  under  title  of  Tin'  hi'lian 
('(iiikH  at  Walla  Walla,  San  [''rancisco,  IS.')."),  a  pleasantly  told  nanutivi',  in 
which  tliero  is  much  correct  information,  and  some  \inimportant  eri'dis  run. 
cernin;^  mission  matters  of  which  he  had  no  personal  knowledge.  Jlci^ivcs 
pretty  full  reports  of  the  speeches  of  the  chiefs  and  commissioners.  L'wwt 
Kip  also  wrote  a  little  book,  Arm;/  Life  on  the  Ihicijlc  Voant,  A  Journal I'l' ilie 
h'riiclithiid'jaiiint  llu:  Xorthern  Imliaiia  in  the  Smnmi'r  qf' ISoS,  New  ^l■^k, 
iS.Ilt,  in  which  the  author  seeks  to  defend  tho  army  oflicers  from  aspci sinus 
east  upon  them  in  tho  uewspajjcrs,  and  even  in  speeches  ou  tho  lloor  nt'  i.nii. 
gress,  as  '  tho  drones  of  society,  liviag  on  tho  govorumont,  yot  a  useless  cu. 
cund)rai)ce  and  expense.' 

"'Kip  speaks  of  visiting  some  gentlemen  residing  on  the  site  of  tlio  olil 
misnion,  who  were  'raising  stock  to  sell  to  emigrants  crossing  tho  plains,  or 
settlers  M'ho  will  soon  be  locating  themselves  through  these  valleys.'  Indian 
Council,  Mt, 

"•*  Kip  also  descrilK's  tho  council-ground  ns  a  beautiful  spot,  and  tells  iH 
that  uu  arbor  hud  been  erectcil  for  u  diniiigduiU  for  tho  commissiouors,  with 


ENT. 

the  Walla 
leeting  was 
akiiiias,  he- 
his  people, 
idly  conl'ur- 

d  in  Indian 
customary 
I  of  treaties. 
Ics  in  keel 
ila,,  then  in 
s  Bay  Coni- 
isioners  was 
ty  dragoons 
le  company 
.ddition  of  a 
some  Indian 
eek  without 

ra,  who  had 
a,  and  pro- 
uiiles  tVniu 
nado  bel'ore 
thoir  accus- 

bovo  The  I  >all('H. 
I'cijjht,  uiul  siiiiu 

piinioil  (iriu'ic  on 
111  iiccoiiiit  lit'  tlie 
(,f  TIf  Iwliitn 
ilil  imriiitivc,  iu 
taut  t'l'i'iii's  ion- 
<'(1l;o.  ][faiv('8 
ssioiicra.  Lii'Ut 
t  ,/oiinial  11/ ihe 
,S'J>S',  New  Vmli, 
fioiti  ii-spcrsioim 
till!  lliMir  of  coll- 
yet  a  iisclcst  t'U- 

It  sito  of  till'  olil 
ig  tlio  iiliiiii'<,  or 
valley s.'  Indian 

pot,  ami  ti  11^  lis 
imissiouors,  witli 


A  GRAND  POWWOW. 

tonied  dilatoriness,  did  not  begin  to  come  in  until  the 
24th,  when  Lawyer  and  Looking  Glass  of  the  Nez 
lY'rces  arrived  with  their  delegation,  and  encamped 
ui  no  gieat  distance  from  the  commissioners,  after 
having  passed  through  the  fantastic  evolutions,  in 
full  war  costume,  sometimes  practised  on  such  occa- 
sions,^* The  Cayuses  appeared  in  like  manner  two 
days  later,  and  on  the  28th  the  Yakimas,  who,  with 
others,  made  up  an  assemblage  of  between  four  and 
tive  thousand  Indians  of  both  sexes.  An  attempt 
was  made  on  the  day  following  to  organize  the  coun- 
cil, but  it  was  not  until  the  30th  that  business  was 
begun. 

IJefore  the  council  opened  it  became  evident  that  a 
luajority  of  the  Indians  were  not  in  favor  of  treating," 
it'  indeed  they  were  not  positively  hostile  to  the  peo- 
l)le  represented  by  the  commissioners;  the  Cayuses  in 
particular  regarding  the  troops  with  scowls  of  anger, 
which  they  made  no  attempt  to  conceal.  Day  after 
day,  until  the  11th  of  June,  the  slow  and  reluctant 
cDnference  went  on.  The  chiefs  made  speeches,  with 
that  mixture  of  business  shrewdness  and  savage  poetry 
which  renders  the   Indian's  eloquence  so  effective.'* 

a  table  of  split  logs,  with  tlio  flat  side  up.  The  troops,  too,  wore  sheltered  in 
arl)oi's,  and  hut  lor  the  showery  weather  the  comfort  of  the  oucaaioa  would 
liiiM'  fnualleil  its  picturosqut'iiosa. 

^'^f^m  Hist.  Or.,  i.  130-1,  this  series. 

'i  Kip'x  /uiliaii  Council,  '21. 

•'"Tlio  chief  of  the  Cayuses  thougiit  it  was  wrong  to  sell  the  grountl  given 
tlu'iii  liy  the  great  spirit  for  their  support.  '  I  wonder  if  the  ground  hii.iany- 
Ihiiii,'  to  say?  I  wonder  if  the  ground  is  listening  to  what  is  said. .  .1  hear 
what  tlio  grimud  say.s.  The  ground  siiys,  "  It  is  the  great  spirit  that  placed 
iiic  iierc.  The  great  spirit  tolls  nic  to  take  oaro  of  the  Indians,  to  foecf  them 
iin;,'lit.  'J'he  great  spirit  npiiointcd  the  roots  to  feed  the  Indians  on."  'i'lio 
walrr  says  the  same  tiling.  The  great  spirit  tlirects  me,  "  Food  llio  Indians 
Will,"  Tlio  grass  says  the  sumo  thing,  "Feed  the  liorsc^s  and  catlli'."  Tlio 
jjioiiiiil,  water,  und  grass  say,  "  The  great  spirit  lias  given  us  our  iiuiufs.  Wo 
liiivc  tlu'so  names  niid  hold  these  names.  Neither  tlio  Iiidiaiis  nor  the  \vliite.|j 
liavea,  riglit  to  eliuugo  those  names."  The  ground  says,  "The  greats;  irit  has 
plaiu  i|  1110  hero  to  iiroduco  all  that  grows  on  me,  trees  and  fruit."  The  saino 
"ay  tlio  ground  say,s,  "It  was  from  nie  man  was  made."  Tlio  great  spirit 
ill  plaeiiig  men  on  the  earth  desired  them  to  take  good  care  of  the  ground, 
mill  ill)  each  other  no  harm.  The  great  spirit  said,  ''V-iu  Indians  who  tako 
cue  (if  eertttin  portions  of  tho  country  should  not  trade  it  oil"  except  you  get 
a  fau'  jiriec."  '  A'//)'.'«  Indian  Conwil,  '_'2-(l.  In  this  argument  was  an  attempt 
tu  eiiuuciuto  a  philosophy  equal  to  tliu  white  man's.     It  ended,  us  all  savage 


364 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


fi' 


;|  r 


The  commissioners  exhausted  their  store  of  logic  in 
conviiicinir  their  savaj^e  liearers  that  they  needed  the 
benefits  of  the  culture  which  the  white  race  could  im- 
part to  them.  Over  and  over  again,  the  motives  (»f 
the  treaties  and  the  treaties  themselves  were  explained 
in  the  most  painstaking  manner.  The  fact  was  patent 
that  the  Indians  meant  to  resist  the  invasion  of  their 
lands  by  the  people  of  the  United  States.  The 
Cayuses  were  against  any  sale.  Owhi,  chief  of  the 
Umatillas,  and  brother-in-law  of  Kamiakin,  was  op- 
posed to  it.  Peupeumoxmox,  usually  so  crafty  and 
non-committal,  in  this  matter  was  decided;  Kamiakin 
wouki  have  nothing  to  do  with  it;  Joseph  and  Look- 
ing Glass  were  unfriendly;  and  only  Lawyer  con- 
tinued firm  in  keeping  his  word  already  j)ledged  to 
Stevens.^^  But  for  him,  and  the  numerical  strength 
of  the  Nez  Perces,  equal  to  that  of  all  the  other 
tribes  present,  no  treaty  could  have  been  concluded 
with  any  of  tlie  tribes.  His  adherence  to  his  deter- 
mination greatly  incensed  the  Cayuses  against  him, 
and  some  of  his  own  nation  almost  equally,  especially 
Joseph,  who  refused  to  sign  the  treaty  unless  it  se- 
cured to  him  the  valley  which  he  claimed  as  the  homo 
of  himself  and  his  people.***     Looking  Glass,  war  chief 

argumonta  do,  iu  showLug  the  deaire  of  gain,  and  the  suspicion  uf  being 
cheated. 

"" '  I  tliiuk  it  is  doubtful,'  says  Kip,  '  if  Lawyer  could  have  held  out  hut 
for  his  pridu  iu  his  small  sum  of  ))ook  lore,  whiuli  inclined  him  to  cling  to  his 
friendship  with  the  whites.  In  making  a  speech,  he  was  able  tu  rcf(^r  tn  tlio 
discovery  of  the  continent  by  the  Spaniards,  and  the  story  of  Colam1)us  niuk- 
iiig  tiie  (^gg  stand  on  end.  lie  related  how  the  red  men  had  receded  hilnio 
the  white  men  in  a  manner  that  was  iiardly  calculated  to  pour  oil  upon  liio 
troubled  waters;  yet  as  his  father  had  agreed  with  Lewis  and  Clarke  to  live 
ill  peace  with  the  whites,  he  was  in  favor  of  making  a  treaty!' 

^''Conccu'iiing  tlio  exact  locality  claimed  by  Josephat  tliis  time  as  his  limine, 
there  has  been  nnieh  argument  and  investigation.  At  the  l>eginning  ol'  this 
iustory,  Joseph  was  living  iiearLapwai,  but  it  is  said  he  was  only  tiierr  tor 
tile  purpose  of  atteuding  S]ialding's  school;  tiiat  his  father  was  a  Cnyu.se,  who 
had  two  wives,  one  a  Nez  I'erciS  the  mother  of  Joseph,  and  the  otiier  a  Cny- 
use,  the  mother  of  Five  Crows;  tiiat  Joseph  was  born  ini  Snake  River,  ni.ir 
tlie  mouth  of  tile  Grand  Kond  where  his  father  lived,  and  that  after  tho 
Lapwai  mission  was  aiianihined  ho  went  back  to  tho  moutii  of  the  (liiunl 
liond,  wliern  ho  ilied  in  1871.  Tiieso  facts  aro  gatheied  from  a  letter  i>t 
Indian  Agent  J  no.  H.   Monteith  to  H.  Clay  Wood,  and  is  contained  in  a 

Kimphh^t  imliiished  by  the  latter,  called  The  Sfatua  of  Voniiii  Johiji/i  iiml  Am 
and  (j/\S cz  I'trcd  Jiidiait^i  under  the  Trealkn,  etc.,  written  to  bottio  tho 


RETIRING  ABORIGINALS. 


365 


LCioil   of   being 


of  the  Nez  Percys,  showed  his  opposition  by  not  com- 
ing to  the  council  until  the  8th,  and  behaving  rudely 
when  he  did  come.*^  Up  to  almost  the  last  day, 
Puliiier,  who  had  endeavored  to  obtain  the  consent  of 
tlie  Indians  to  one  common  reservation,  finding  them 
determined  in  their  refusal,  finally  oifered  to  reserve 
lands  separately  in  their  own  country  for  those  who 
objected  to  going  upon  the  Nez  Perce  reservation, 
and  on  this  proposition,  harmony  was  apparently  re- 
stored, all  the  chiefs  except  Kamiakin  agreeing  to  it. 
The  haughty  Yakima  would  consent  to  nothing;  but 
when  appealed   to  by  Stevens  to  make  known  his 

question  of  Joseph's  right  to  the  Wallowa  Valley  in  Oregon,  his  claim  to 
wliicii  brought  on  the  war  of  1877  with  that  band  of  Nez  Perods.  Wood's 
paiiiplilct,  which  was  written  by  the  order  of  department  commander  Gen. 
O.  O.  Howard,  furnisiiea  much  valuable  information  upon  this  rather  obscure 
suliJL'ct.  Wood  concludes  from  all  the  evidence  that  Joseph  was  chief  of  the 
u))i»ii'  or  Salmon  River  branch  of  the  Nez  Pcrcds,  and  that  his  claim  to  the 
Wallowa  Valley  as  his  especial  home  was  not  founded  in  facts  as  they  existed 
at  tile  time  of  the  treaty  of  1855,  but  that  it  was  'possessed  in  common  by  the 
Ni'z  Tercels  as  a  summer  resort  to  fish.'  As  the  reservation  took  iu  both  sides 
of  tlio  Snake  River  as  far  up  as  fifteen  miles  belo*^  the  mouth  of  Powder 
Uivir,  mid  all  the  Salmon  River  country  to  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  and 
beyond  the  Clearwater  as  far  as  the  southern  branch  of  the  Palouse,  the  west- 
ern line  beginning  a  little  below  the  mouth  of  Alpowa  Creek,  it  itiuhuled  all 
tlio  lands  ever  claimed  by  the  Nez  Perces  since  the  ratification  of  the  treaty, 
mm  li  of  wiiich  was  little  known  to  white  men  in  1855,  and  just  which  portion 
of  it  was  rnserved  by  Joseph  is  a  matter  of  doubt,  though  Superintendent 
I'aiiniT  spoke  of  Jose[)li's  band  as  'the  Salmon  River  baud  of  the  Nez  Perces.' 
Wood'n  YoKiiff  Joseph  and  the  Treaties,  35. 

Joseph  havl  perhaps  other  reasons  for  objecting  to  Lawyer's  advice.  He 
elaiineil  to  bo  desuended  from  a  long  lino  of  chiefs,  and  to  bio  superior  in  rank 
to  Law  yer.  The  missionaries,  because  Joseph  was  a  war  chief,  r  id  because 
Lawyer  exhibited  greater  aptitude  in  learning  the  arts  of  peace,  endeavored 
to  Iniild  up  Lawyer's  influence.  When  White  tried  his  hand  at  managing 
Indians,  ho  appointed  over  the  Nez  Percys  a  head  chief,  a  practice  which  had 
been  discontinued  by  the  advice  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  On  the 
death  of  Kllis,  the  head  chief,  whose  superior  acquirements  had  greatly 
8tieni,'tliened  his  influence  with  the  Nez  Perces,  it  was  Lawyer  who  aspired 
to  till)  high  chieftainship,  on  the  ground  of  these  same  acquirements,  and 
who  had  gained  so  much  influence  as  to  bo  named  head  chief  when  the  com- 
missioners interrogated  the  Nez  Perc(5sas  to  whom  they  should  treat  with  for 
tiie  nation.  This  was  good  ground  for  jealousy  and  discord,  and  a  weighty 
reason  why  Joseph  should  not  readily  consent  to  the  advice  of  Lawyer,  even 
if  tlieie  were  no  other. 

"Cram  says  that  Lawyer  and  Looking  Glass  had  arranged  it  between 
tlieni  to  cajole  the  commissioners;  that  the  sudden  appearance  and  opposition 
of  the  latter  were  planned  to  give  oflbct  to  Lawyer's  apparent  fidelity;  and  at 
the  saino  time  by  throwing  obstacles  in  the  way,  to  '  prevent  a  clutch  upon 
their  hinds  from  being  realized.  In  these  respects  events  have  siiown  that 
Lawyia*  was  the  ablest  diplomatist  at  the  council;  for  the  friendship  of  his 
trilK's  has  remained,  and  no  hold  upon  their  lands  has  yet  inuceu  to  the 
whites,"  Top.  Mem.,  84. 


366 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1      : 


wishes,  only  aroused  from  his  sullen  silence  to  ejacu- 
late, "  What  have  I  to  say?"  This  was  the  mood  of 
the  Indians  on  Saturday,  the  9th;  but  on  Monday,  the 
1 1th,  every  chief  signed  the  treaties,  including  Kaniia- 
kin,  who  said  it  was  for  the  sake  of  his  people  that  lie 
consented.  Having  done  this,  they  all  expressed  sat- 
isfaction, even  joy  and  thankfulness,  at  this  termina- 
tion of  the  conference.*'^ 

The  Nez  Percds  agreed  to  take  for  their  lands 
outside  the  reservation,  which  was  ample,  $200,000 
in  annuities,  and  were  to  be  supplied  besides  with 
mills,  schools,  millers,  teachers,  mechanics,  and  evtry 
reasonable  aid  to  their  so-called  improvement.  The 
Cay  uses,  Walla  Wallas,  and  U  mat  i  lias  were  united 
on  one  reservation  in  the  beautiful  Umatilla  country, 
where  claims  were  already  beginning  to  be  taken  up/^ 

They  were  to  receive  the  same  benefits  as  the  Nez 
Percos,  and  $150,000  in  annuities,  running  throuL;ii 
twenty  years.  The  Yakimas  agreed  to  take  $200,000, 
and  were  granted  two  schools,  three  teachers,  a  num- 
ber of  mechanics,  a  farmer,  a  physician,  millers,  and 
mills.**  By  an  express  provision  of  the  treaties,  rlio 
country  embraced  in  the  cessions,  and  not  included  in 
the  reservation,  was  open  to  settlement,  except  tliat 
the  Indians  were  to  remain  in  possession  of  their  im- 
provements until  removed  to  the  reservations,  when 
they  were  to  be  paid  for  them  whatever  they  were 
worth.  When  tho  treaties  were  published,  particular 
attention  was  called  to  these  provisions  protecting  the 
Indians  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  homes  so  long  as 
they  were  not  removed  by  authority  to  the  reserves. 


"  Kip'tt  Army  Life,  92;  Stevens,  in  U.  8.  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  66,  24,  34tli  cong. 
lit  Bosa. 

*^  Ono  Whitney  was  living  about  a  mile  from  the  crossing  of  the  Uinatillii 
River  with  AVillium  McKay,  on  a  claim  ho  was  cultivating,  belonging  to  lliu 
latter.  Kip's  Indian  Council,  29.  This  William  McKay  was  grumlsoii  of  Al- 
exanilur  MuKiiy  of  Astor's  company.  Ho  resided  in  eoatem  Oregon  iiliiinst 
continually  since  taking  this  claim  on  the  Umatilla. 

** Palmer's  W<i(jon  Trains,  MS.,  51;  Or.  SlateMtnnn,  June  ."^Oand  July  Jl, 
1855;  Pwjet  Sound  Herald,  May  0,  1859;  Worni's  Young  Joseph  and  the  Tna- 
ties,  10-12;  Prndl>-ton  Tribune,  March  11,  1874;  S.  F.  Alta,  July  10,  1 «.).'); 
Sac.  Union,  July  10,  185a. 


GOOD  BARGAINS. 


307 


he  reserves. 

«,  24,  34tli  coii,'^. 


And  attention  was  also  called  to  the  fact  that  the  Ind- 
ians were  not  required  to  move  upon  their  reserves 
hrforc  the  expiration  of  one  year  after  the  ratification 
of  the  treaties  by  congress;  the  intention  being  to 
give  time  for  them  to  accustom  themselves  to  the  idea 
of  the  change  of  location. 

As  soon  as  these  apparently  amicable  stipulations 
wore  concluded,  the  goods  brought  as  presents  dis- 
tributed, and  agents  appointed  for  the  different  reser- 
vations,*^ the  troops  returned  to  The  Dalles.  That 
night  the  Indians  held  a  great  scalp-dance,  in  which 
ir)0  of  the  women  took  part.  The  following  day  they 
broke  up  their  encampments  and  returned  to  their  sev- 
eral liabitations,  the  commissioners  believing  that  the 
feelings  of  hostility  with  which  several  of  the  chiefs  had 
conic  to  the  council  had  been  assuaged.  On  the  16th 
Stevens  proceeded  north-eastward,  toward  the  Black- 
foot  country,being  directed  by  the  government  to  make 
treaties  with  this  warlike  people  and  several  other 
tribes  in  that  quarter. 

Palmer  in  the  mean  time  returned  toward  The 
Dalles,  treating  with  the  John  Day,  Des  Chutes,  and 
Waseopan  Indians,  and  purchasing  all  the  lands  lying 
bc'twucn  the  summit  of  the  Cascade  Range  and  the 
waters  of  Powder  River,  and  between  the  44th  paral- 
lel and  the  Columbia  River,  on  terms  similar  to  those 
of  the  treaties  made  at  Walla  Walla.  A  reservation 
was  sot  apart  for  these  tribes  at  the  base  of  the  Cas- 
cades, directly  east  of  Mount  Jefferson,  in  a  well 
watered  and  delightful  location,**  including  the  Tyghe 
Valley  and  some  warm  springs  from  which  the  reserve 
has  been  named. 

Having  accomplished  these  important  objects,  the 
superintendent  returned  home  well  pleased  with  the 
results  of  his  labor,  and  believing  that  he  had  secured 
the  peace  of  the  country  in  that  portion  of  Oregon. 

'Ml.  R.  Tliompson  was  appointed  to  the  Umatilla  reservation,  and  W.  H. 
Tajipiin  for  the  Nez  I'erctSs. 

^"Iiid.  Aff.  Ilept,  1857,  370;  Letter  of  Palmer,  in  Or.  StcUetman,  July  21, 
185.");  Pitii<t  Sound  lltrald,  May  0.  1859. 


368 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


The  Nez  Percys  afterward  declared  that  during  the 
council  a  scheme  had  been  on  foot,  originating  with 
the  Cayuses,  to  massacre  all  the  white  persons  present, 
including  the  troops,  the  plan  only  failing  through  the 
refusal  of  Lawyer's  party  to  join  in  it,  which  statement 
may  be  taken  for  what  it  is  worth.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  has  been  asserted  that  the  treaties  were  forced  f 
that  they  were  rashly  undertaken,  and  the  Indians  not 
listened  to ;  that  by  calling  a  general  council  an  oppor- 
tunity was  furnished  for  plotting;  that  there  were  too 
few  troops  and  too  little  parade.**  However  this  may 
be,  war  followed,  the  history  of  which  belongs  both  to 
Oregon  and  Washington.  But  since  the  Indians  in- 
volved in  it  were  chiefly  those  attached  to  the  soil  and 
superintendency  of  the  latter,  I  shall  present  the  nar- 
rative in  my  volume  on  Washington. 

"  Wood's  Young  Joseph  and  the.  Treaties. 

"Tolmie'a  Hist.  Puget  Sound,  MS.,  37;  BoberUf  BecoUectiona,  MS.,  95. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 

1855-1856. 

LsDiAH  Affairs  in  Socthebn  Oregon — The  Rooue  River  People — Ex- 
termination Advocatfj) — Militia  Companies — Surprises  and  Skir* 

MISIIKS— RkSERVATION   AND   FRIENDLY   INDIANS   PROTECTED  BY  THE   U. 

s.  goveunment  aoainst  miners  and  settlers — more  flghtino 

Volunteers  and  Reoclars — Battle  op  Grave  Creek — Formation 
OF  iHE  Northern  and  Southern  Battalions — Affair  at  thk 
JIeadows— Ranging  by  the  Voluntebrs — The  Ben  Wright  Mas- 
sacre. 


Before  midsummer,  1855,  war  was  again  brewing 
in  southern  Oregon,  the  Applegate  Creek  and  Illi- 
nois Valley  branches  of  the  Rogue  River  nation  be- 
in<f  the  immediate  cause.  On  one  pretence  or  an- 
other, the  former  spent  much  of  their  time  off  the 
reservation,  and  in  June  made  a  descent  on  a  mining 
oanij),  killing  several  men  and  capturing  considerable 
projjerty;  while  the  murder  of  a  white  man  on  Ind- 
ian Creek  was  charged  to  the  latter,  of  whom  a  party 
of  volunteers  went  in  pursuit. 

On  the  17th  of  June  a  company  styling  themselves 
the  Independent  Rangers,  H.  B.  Hayes,  captain, 
organized  at  Wait's  mills  in  Jackson  county,  report- 
ing to  Colonel  Ross  for  his  recognition,'  this  being 

'The  original  copy  of  the  application  is  contained  in  the  first  volume  of 
Dmeill'K  Omjon  Indtan  Wars,  MS.,  1-3.  This  is  a  valuable  compilation  of 
original  (lociiments  and  letters  pertaining  to  the  wars  of  1855-6  in  southern 
Oregon,  nnd  furnishes  conclusive  proof  of  the  invidious  course  of  the  Salem 
cliiiue  toward  that  portion  of  the  territory.  Dowell  has  taken  much  paina 
to  seeui'L'  nnd  preserve  these  fragments  of  history,  and  in  doing  so  has  vindi- 
cated Uii  Ncction,  from  which  otherwise  the  blame  of  certain  alleged  illegal 
acts  might  never  have  been  removed.  Tbeu  there  are  hia  Jmian  Warn; 
Uiix.  Oa.,  Vol.  II.    H  (36») 


370 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


i  ili 


the  first  movement  toward  the  reorganization  of  mil- 
itary companies  since  the  treaties  of  September  1853.* 
Knowledge  of  these  things  coming  to  Ambrose,  in 
charge  of  the  reservation  Indians,  Smith  of  Fort 
Lane  started  off  with  a  company  of  dragoons,  and 
collecting  most  of  the  strolling  Indians,  hurried  i\\m\ 
upon  the  reservation.  Those  not  brought  in  wure 
pursued  into  the  mountains  by  the  volunteers,  and 
one  killed.  The  band  then  turned  upon  their  pursu- 
ers, and  wounding  several  horses,  killed  one  man 
named  Philpot.  Skirmishing  was  continued  for  a 
week  with  further  fatal  results  on  both  sides.^ 

A  party  of  California  volunteers  under  William 
Martin,  in  pursuit  of  hostile  Indians,  traced  certain  of 
them  to  the  Rogue  River  reservation,  and  made  a  do- 
mand  for  their  surrender,  to  which  Commander  Smith, 
of  Fort  Lane,  very  properly  refused  compliance.  Let 
the  proper  authorities  ask  the  surrender  of  Indians 
on  a  criminal  charge,  and  they  should  be  forthcom- 
ing, but  they  could  not  be  delivered  to  a  mere  volun- 
tary assemblage  of  men.  Afterward  a  requisition  was 
made  from  Siskiyou  county,  and  in  November  two 


Scrap-Book;  Letters;  Biographies,  and  various  pamphlets  which  contain  al- 
most a  complete  journal  of  the  events  to  which  this  cliaptor  is  devoted. 

Benjauiin  Franklin  Dowell  emigrated  from  New  Franklin,  Mo.,  in  18.50, 
taking  tlio  California  road,  but  arriving  in  the  Willamette  Valley  in  Nov. 
He  had  studied  law,  but  now  taught  a  school  in  Polk  county  in  the  Biinimcr 
of  IS.')!,  and  afterward  in  the  Waldo  hills.  It  was  slow  work  for  an  .iinhi- 
tious  man;  so  borrowing  some  money  and  buying  a  pack-train,  he  lugnn 
trrding  to  the  mines  in  southern  Oregon  and  northern  California,  following 
it  successfully  for  four  years.  He  purchased  flour  of  J.  W.  Nesniith  at  liis 
milis  in  Polk  county  at  10  cents  per  lb.,  and  sold  it  in  the  mines  nt  §1  ami 
91.25.  He  bought  butter  at  50  cents  per  lb.,  and  sold  it  at  $l.<')0;  salt  at  1j 
cents  per  lb.,  and  sold  it  at  $2  and  $3  per  lb.,  and  other  articles  in  pii>i)or- 
tion.  When  Scottsburg  became  the  base  of  supplies,  instead  of  the  Willa- 
mette Valley,  he  traded  between  that  place  and  tlie  mines.  When  war  lnoke 
out,  Dowell  was  'the  first  in  and  the  last  out'  of  the  fight.  After  that  he 
settled  in  Jacksonville,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  and  nowspai)(;r 
management. 

'Or.  Argus,  June  16,  1855;  Sac.  Union,  June  12,  1856;  S.  F.  Chronicle, 
June  15,  1855;  S.  F.  Alta,  June  18,  1855. 

'  A  bottle  of  whiskey  sold  by  a  white  man  to  an  Indian  on  the  20th  of 
July  caused  the  deaths,  besides  several  Indians,  of  John  Pollock,  Willmm 
Hennessey,  Peter  Heinrich,  Thomas  Gray,  John  L.  Fickas,  Edward  I'airish, 
F.  D.  Mattice,  T.  D.  Mattice,  Raymond,  and  Pedro.  DowHVx  Or.  Iml.  Wart, 
MS.,  39;  Or.  Argus,  Aug.  1855,  18;  S.  F.  Alta,  Aug.  13  and  31,  1855. 


EOGUE  RIVER  TROUBLES. 


m 


sation  of  mil- 
tciuoer  185:1* 
Ambrose,  in 
[lith   of  Fort 
Iragoons,  and 
hurried  them 
iio-ht  in  WL're 
>lunteers,  and 
1  their  pursu- 
led   one   man 
ntinued  for  a 
sides.' 

inder  William 
aced  certain  of 
md  made  a  de- 
mandcr  Smith, 
ipUance.  hvi 
ler  of  Indians 
[  be  forthcom- 
a  mere  volun- 
requisition  was 
"ovember  two 


Its  which  contain  al- 
itor is  devoted. 
mklin,  Mo.,  in  ISrA 
lette  Valley  in  ^ov. 
^unty  in  the  Bunimcr 
iv  work  for  an  ami)i- 
jack-train,  lie  hogim 
California,  follownig 
,  W.  Nesmith  ut  liia 
ihe  mines  at  §1  ai>'l 
,at§l.r)0;  salt  at  1j 
■r  articles  in  piopor- 
instead  of  the  WiUa- 
When  war  lnoke 
ight.     Aft.ir  tlKit  he 
law  and  newspaper 

IsSS;  S.  F.  Chronicle, 

^dianon  the  2Gthof 
ih„  rdlock,  William 
laa,  Edward  IVrish, 
lwAl'-<  Or.  hid.  Wart, 
f  and  31,  1855. 


Indians  were  arrested  for  murder  on  the  reservation, 
and  dehvered  up.* 

On  the  26th  of  August,  a  Rogue  River  Indian  shot 
and  wounded  James  Buford,  at  the  mouth  of  Rogue 
Piivcr  in  the  Port  Orford  district,  then  in  charge  of 
Ben  Wright,  who  arrested  the  savage  and  dehvered 
him  to  the  sheriff  of  Coos  county.  Having  no  place 
in  which  to  secure  his  prisoner,  the  sheriff  delivered 
him  to  a  squad  of  soldiers  to  be  taken  to  Port  Orford ; 
but  while  the  canoe  in  which  the  Indian  was  seated 
with  his  guard  was  passing  up  the  river  to  a  place  of 
encampment,  it  was  followed  by  Buford,  his  partner, 
Hawkins,  and  O'Brien,  a  trader,  who  fired  at  and 
killed  the  prisoner  and  another  Indian.  The  fire  w^aa 
returned  by  the  soldiers,  who  killed  two  of  the  men, 
and  mortally  wounded  the  third.® 

The  excitement  over  this  affair  was  very  great. 
Threats  by  the  miners  of  giving  battle  to  the  troops 
were  loud  and  vindictive,  but  the  more  conservative 
prevailed,  and  no  attack  was  made.  The  savages 
were  aroused,  and  matters  grew  daily  worse." 

Agent  Ambrose  wrote  several  letters  which  ap- 
peared in  the  Statesman,  over  the  signature  of  'A 
Miner,'  in  one  of  which,  dated  October  13th,  he  de- 
clared that  no  fears  were  to  be  entertained  of  an  out- 
break of  the  Rogue  River  Indians,  affirming  that 
they  were    peaceably    disposed,   and    had    been    so 

*  These  particulars  are  found  in  a  letter  written  bv  William  Martin  to  C. 
S.  Drew,  and  is  contained  in  Dowcll's  collection  of  original  documents  of 
the  Or.  I  lid.  WnvK,  MS.,  vol.  ii.,  3--'-9. 

^ Letter  of  Arago,  in  Or.  SlatMni'in,  Sept.  22,  1855;  Sac.  Union,  Sept.  12, 
18,'),ii  CooH  Bail  Mail,  in  Portland  Standard,  Feb.  20, 1880;  Id.,  in  S.  F.  Bui- 
Itliii,  Feb.  C,  1880. 

^'!ii:(i  XiiihoW  liogne  River  War,  MS.,  14-15.  On  the  2d  of  September, 
Oraiivillo  Kecne,  from  Tenn.,  was  killed  on  the  reservation  while  assisting 
Fred.  Alberding,  J.  Q.  Taber,  and  a  fourth  man  to  reclaim  some  stolen 
horses.  Two  others  were  wounded  and  obliged  to  retreat.  About  the  last 
of  tlio  mouth,  Calvin  Fields  of  Iowa,  and  Johu  Cuningliam  of  Sauv6  Island, 
Oi'CKoii,  were  killed,  and  Harrison  Oatman  and  Daniel  Britton  wounded, 
while  crossing  the  Siskiyou  Mountains  with  loaded  wagons  drawn  by  eigh- 
teen oxen,  which  were  also  killed.  An  express  being  sent  to  Fort  Lane,  Cap- 
tain Smith  ordered  ont  a  detachment  of  dragoons,  but  no  arrests  were  made. 
Of  the  Indians  killed  in  the  mean  time  no  mention  is  made. 


178 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


^«:^1 


H '  M- 


throughout  the  summer.  "  God  knows,"  he  said,  "  I 
would  not  care  how  soon  they  were  all  dead,  and  I 
believe  the  country  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  it; 
but  I  am  tired  of  this  senseless  railing  against  Cap- 
tain Smith  and  the  Indian  agent  for  doing  their  duty, 
obeying  the  laws,  and  preserving  our  valley  from  the 
horrors  of  a  war  with  a  tribe  of  Indians  who  do  not 
desire  it,  but  wish  for  peace,  and  by  their  conduct 
have  shown  it." 

To  prevent  the  reservation  xudians  from  being  sus- 
pected and  punished  for  the  acts  of  others.  Superin- 
tendent Palmer  issued  an  order  October  13th  that 
the  Indians  with  whom  treaties  had  been  made,  and 
who  had  reservations  set  apart  for  them,  should  be 
arrested  if  found  off  the  reservations  without  a  per- 
mit from  the  agent.  Every  male  over  twelve  years 
of  age  must  answer  daily  to  the  roll-call.  Early  in 
October  it  became  known  that  a  party  of  wander! nij 
Indians  were  encamped  near  Thompson's  Ferry,  on 
Rogue  River,  and  that  among  them  were  some  sus- 
pected of  annoying  the  settlers.  A  volunteer  com- 
pany of  about  thirty,  under  J.  A.  Lupton,  proceeded 
at  a  very  early  hour  of  the  morning  of  October  8th  to 
the  Indian  camp  at  the  mouth  of  Butte  Creek,  and 
opened  fire,  killing  twenty-three  and  wounding  many. 
The  Indians  returned  it  as  well  as  they  were  able, 
and  succeeded  in  killing  Lupton,  and  in  wounding 
eleven  others.^  When  d?  /light  came  it  was  found 
by  the  mangled  bodies  that  they  were  mostly  old 
men,  women,  and  children,  whom  these  brave  men 
had  been  butchering!  The  survivors  took  refuge  at 
the  fort,  where  they  exhibited  their  wounds  and 
made  their  lamentations  to  Captain  Smith,  who  sent 
his  troops  to  look  at  the  battle-field  and  count  the 
slain.  It  was  a  pitiful  sight,  and  excited  great  in- 
dignation among  the  better  class  of  white  men.^ 

'  Among  them  Shepard,  Miller,  Pelton,  Hereford,  Gates,  and  Williams. 
Letter  of  C.  S.  Drew,  in  DoweWa  Or.  Ind.  Wars,  MS.,  29;  NoUart»,  iu  Or, 
SUUexman,  Oct.  27,  1855;  NichoUf  Ind.  Affairs,  MS.,  20. 

*Cram'$  Top.  Mem.,  44;  Letter  qf  Palmer  to  General  Wool,  in  U.  S.  J  I. 


SOUTHERN  OREGON  ABLAZE. 


373 


On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  October  the  Indians 
appeared  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Rogue  River  Val- 
ley in  considerable  numbers.  They  were  first  seen  at 
Jewett's  ferry,  where  during  the  night  they  killed  two 
imri  in  charge  of  a  train  and  wounded  another. 
Alter  firing  upon  Jewett's  house,  they  proceeded  to 
Evans'  ferry  about  daybreak,  where  they  mortally 
wounded  Isaac  Shelton  of  the  Willamette  Valley  on 
his  way  to  Yreka.  Pursuing  their  way  down  the  val- 
ley to  the  house  of  J.  K.  Jones,  they  killed  him, 
wounded  his  wife  so  that  she  died  next  day,  and 
burned  the  house  after  pillaging  it.  From  there  they 
went  to  Wagoner's  place,  killing  four  men  upon  the 
way.  Wagoner  had  a  short  time  before  left  home 
to  escort  Miss  Pellet,  a  temperance  lecturer  tiom 
Buffalo,  New  York,^  to  Sailor  Diggings,  where  she  was 
to  lecture  that  evening.  Mrs  Wagoner  was  alone 
with  lier  child  four  years  of  age,  and  both  were  '  arned 
in  the  house.  They  next  proceeded  to  the  house  of 
George  W.  liurris,  who  seeing  their  approach,  and 
judgifir  that  they  meant  mischief,  ran  into  the  house, 
seized  Jiis  gun,  and  fired  two  shots,  killing  one  and 
wounding  another,  when  he  received  a  fatal  shot. 
His  wife  and  little  daughter  defended  themselves  with 
great  heroism  for  twenty-four  hours,  when  they  were 
rescued  by  Major  Fitzgerald.  And  there  were  many 
other  heroic  women,  whose  brave  deeds  during  these 
savage  wars  of  southern  Oregon  must  forever  remain 
unrecorded.^" 

As  soon  as  the  news  reached  Jacksonville  that  the 
Rogue  River  settlements  were  attacked,  a  company 
of  some  twenty  men  hastened  to  take  the  trail  of  the 
Indians  down  the  river.    An  express  was  despatched 

Ex.  Dor-.  03,  112,  34th  cong.  lat  seas.;  Sober  Seme,  in  Or.  Stntei^man,  Oct.  27, 
Ibu.");  Letter  of  Wool,  in  U.  S.  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  CO,  59;  84th  coug.  1st  sess. 

'O/-.  Arrjiix,  Sept.  29,  1855. 

'"St'u  California  Inter  Pocula,  this  aeries,  passim.  'It  was  stated  tliut 
Mrs  Iliirris,  when  relieved,  was  so  marked  with  powder  and  iilood  as  to  l)e 
lumlly  H'ci.gnizaidc.'  Or.  Slatenman,  March  3,  ISiMi.  Mrs  Harris  afterward 
maninl  Aaron  Chambers,  wlio  canio  to  Oregon  iu  1852,  was  much  respected, 
anddiud  in  1S09.   JacLiomiUe  Or.  Seidiiid,  iSept.  18,  1S09. 


!;  M 


374 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


■11  ■  ;  '<■ 


U\ 


Ifli 


I 


iliil 


to  Fort  Lane,  to  Captain  Smith,  who  sent  a  dctach- 
iiient  of  fift'-five  mounted  men,  under  Major  Fitzger- 
ald, in  pursuit  of  the  savages.^* 

The  volunteer  and  regular  forces  soon  combined  to 
foll(3\v,  and  if  possible  to  have  battle  with  the  Indi.iiis. 
Passing  the  bodies  of  the  slain  all  along  tlioir  rt»ute, 
they  came  to  Wagoner's  place,  where  thirty  of  the 
savages  were  still  engaged  in  plundering  the  preniises. 
On  the  appearance  of  the  volunteers,  the  Indians, 
yelling  and  dancing,  invited  them  to  fight,'^  but  wliuu 
the  dragoons  came  in  sight  they  fled  precipitately  to 
the  mountains.  After  pursuing  for  about  two  milLs, 
the  troops,  whose  horses  were  jaded  from  a  niglit 
march  of  twenty-five  miles,  being  unable  to  overtake 
them,  returned  to  the  road,  which  they  patrolled  for 
some  hours,  marching  as  far  as  Grave  Creek,  alter 
which  they  retired  to  Fort  Lane,  having  found  no  Ind- 
ians in  that  direction."  The  volunteers  also  returned 
home  to  effect  more  complete  organization  before  un- 
dertaking such  arduous  warfare  against  an  implaoablo 
foe  who  they  now  were  assured  was  before  them. 
There  were  other  parts  of  the  country  which  likewise 
required  their  attention. 

About  the  lOtli  of  October,  Lieutenant  Kaut7.  Lft 
Port  Orford  with  a  small  party  of  citizens  and  s(J- 
diors  to  examine  a  proposed  route  from  that  plaeo  to 
Jacksonville.  On  arriving  at  the  bij;  bend  of  lloguo 
Kiver,  about  thirty  miles  east  from  Port  Orford,  ho 
found  a  party  of  settlers  much  alarmed  at  a  threatened 

"  At  tlint  very  moment  an  express  was  on  its  wny  from  Vancouver  to  I'urt 
Lnnc.  tiilliny  fur  Major  Fit/.guralil  to  rconforoo  Major  llallcr  in  tln^  \',iLiin,i. 
couiiti'v  Or.  Iif(tl<-Kmaii,  Oct.  'JO,  KSij,").  I'eupeiinioxniox  was  tliri';:tiiiin',' 
tli(!  Walla  Walla  Valley,  ami  the  Indians  on  I'uget  Sountl  pn'iiariu!,'  Inf  tlio 
Mow  w  liich  tliey  were  to  strike  at  the  white  sottlcments  two  wicks  l:iti  r.  a 
coincidence  of  events  nignilicant  of  comhination  among  the  Indians.  Ihnnll  t 
Litters,  MS.,  35;  Grovi'r'ii  Pub.  Lh'r,  M.S.,  74;  Antuhio:/.  i>J'  II.  <'.  Ihisfnii,  in 
liri'irii's  Or.  Misc.,  MS.,  48;  JJoinirnOr.  Jiul.  War,  MS.,  .•i;J  1);  Or.  Jr;"". 
Oct.  "7;  Kvniin'  Fourth  xj'July  .tildns-i,  in  Ann  Taroina  Lcdijvr,  Jr'y  i>,  IVSO. 

''^  J/ni/<x'  fiiil.  iSrruhs,  v.  14.");   YreLa  Union,  Oct.  IS.V). 

'•''  'I'lirce  men  were  killed  on  (irave  Creek,  I'J  miles  below  the  road,  ou  tlio 
nigiil  of  the  Uth.  J.  W.  Drew,  ia  Or,  tllatemia.i,  Out,  'JO,  ISoo, 


NOTABLE  SAVAGES. 


876 


sent  a  dctach- 
^ajor  Fitzgcr- 

1  combined  to 
:h  the  Indians. 
g  tlioir  n.ute, 
thirty  of  the 
f  the  premises. 

the  Indians, 
ht,'^  but  when 
recipitately  to 
)ut  two  miles, 
from  a  nig] it 
lo  to  overtake 
r  patrolled  for 
3  Creek,  alter 
found  no  Ind- 

also  retuined 
ion  before  un- 
an  ini  placable 

before  them. 
vhich  hkewiso 


nt  Kautz  left 
zons  and  sol- 
that  i)laco  to 
end  of  Rogue 
)rt  Orfonl,  ho 
a  threatened 


Vftiicouver  to  Fnrt 
lUor  ill  the  ^^lkillul 
X  was  tlii'cid'iiiiii,' 
I  pvi'iiariiii;  lnr  tliu 
two  wi'ck.s  l.itrr,  a 
u  Indiuns.  /hunll'i 
if  II.  < '.  Ilnxloii,  ill 
,  .•;;}!);  <h:  Ar-jn^, 
nlijer,Jvh'U,  J.VSO. 


attack  from  Applegate  Creek.  Kautz  returned  to  the 
fdit  for  a  better  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition,  in- 
teniling  to  resist  the  advance  of  the  hostile  party, 
shouhl  he  fall  in  with  it.  A  few  days  after  resuming 
his  march  he  was  attacked  by  a  portion  of  the  band, 
losing  five  of  his  men,  two  soldiers  and  three  citizens. 
The  Indians  were  only  prevented  from  securing  a 
ct)nsiderable  amount  of  ammunition  by  the  precaution 
of  Kautz  in  unloading  the  pack-mules  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  battle.  He  was  able  to  secure  an  orderly 
retreat  with  the  remainder  of  his  party."  The  only 
Indians  in  the  whole  country,  from  Yreka  to  the 
Unipqua  canon,  who  could  be  regarded  other  than 
enemies  were  those  under  Rogue  River  Sam,  who 
since  the  treaty  of  1853  had  kept  faith  with  the 
white  peo[)le;  the  Shastas,  the  natives  of  Scott  Val- 
ley, and  many  of  the  people  about  Grave  and  Cow 
creeks,  and  the  Umpquas  being  concerned  in  the  war, 
in  which  the  Shastas  were  principals,  under  the  lead- 
ershi[)  of  Chief  John.  The  Klamaths  were  also  hos- 
tile.^' 

To  meet  a  savage  enemy,  well  armed  and  prepared 
fnr  war,  knowing  every  mountain  fastness,  atid  having 
always  the  advantage  of  chosen  positions,  was  not 
practicable  with  anything  like  equal  imnibers.  Esti- 
mating the  fighting  men  of  the  enemy  at  no  more  tliaii 
400,  it  would  require  three  or  four  times  that  number 
to  engage  them,  because  of  their  ability  to  ap[)ear  un- 
expectedly at  several  [)oints;  at  the  same  time  to  dis- 
appear as  raj)i(lly ;  and  to  wear  out  the  horses  and  men 
ol'  the  white  forces  in  I'ollowing  them.  The  armed 
Uien  that  were  mustered  in  Rogue  River  ValK'V  be- 
tween  tlui  Dth  and  1  Lth  of  October  amounted  to  only 
ahiiut  IjO,  not  ironi  any  want  of  coni'age,  but  fi-oin 
want  of  arms.*"     No  attempt  at  permanent  organiza- 

" //(h/v/'n  AV/((f  7^'wr  War  Speech,  14. 

'■'  Liitti'V  of  iV'inliroao  to  I'llincr,  iii  U.  .S'.  11.  Ex.  Doc.  03,  02-C3,  34tli  coiig. 

IhI,  SriJ.S. 

'"Siiys  Ainlirosc:  'As  in  tho  war  of  1S,"»,'{,  tlio  Indians  have  all  tlio  giin«  in 
tlir  niiiiiti'v.  Tliiwo  liidianM  liuvo  c'ucli  u  good  lillo  uud  rovolver,  and  aro 
skiltui  in  tlio  u»o  ut'  tlimn.' 


376 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


lit    JELjUJi' 


»■»■ 


1    *     ;i^fi' 


tion  was  made  by  the  territorial  militia  before 
12th,  the  armed  companies  being  governed  by 
apparent  necessities  of  the  case.^'^ 


the 
tho 


On  the  12th  of  October  Colonel  Ross  began  the  or- 
ganization of  a  volunteer  force  under  the  laws  of  the 
territory  *^  by  ordering  James  H.  Russel,  major  of  the 
9th  regiment,  to  report  to  him  immediately.  Some  ot' 
the  captains  of  the  mihtia  were  already  in  the  fiild; 
other  companies  were  headed  by  any  one  who  hud  the 
spirit  of  a  leader.  These  on  application  of  the  eitizuii.s 
of  their  neighborhoods  were  duly  commissioned." 

"A  company  under  Rinearson  waa  divided  into  dctaclimonts,  mid  sent,  on 
the  eviMiiny  of  the  10th,  ten  to  the  mouth  of  tlie  Umpi|iia  cuuoii,  livo  throe 
miles  south  to  Leving's  house,  five  to  Turner's  seven  miles  fiirtlier  .smitii,  six 
to  the  (iriive  Creek  house.  On  the  next  day  thirty  men  made  a  scout  ilciwu 
Grave  Criiek,  and  down  Rogue  River  to  the  mouth  of  (iaiicc  C'reik,  tlir  mI- 
tlei'8  placing  at  their  disposal  whatever  supplies  of  hlankcts,  provisinu^,  ur 
arms  they  were  able  to  furnisii;  yet  twelve  of  Uinearson's  contpany  luul  no 
other  weapons  than  pistols.  A.  U.  //ciiri/,  in  Or.  'S/afeHinnn,  (Jot.  I'O,  is.u. 
The  troops  in  southern  Oregon  at  this  time  were  two  full  compauies  of  dra- 
goons at  Fort  Lane  under  Smith  and  Fitzgerald,  and  sixty-four  infantry  at 
WinchoHter,  in  the  Umpqua  Valley,  under  Lieut  tjibson,  wiio  had  tici  ii  is- 
eortiiin  Williamson  on  his  survey  of  a  railroad  route  from  the  Sacramento  to 
tiio  Willamette  Valley,  and  who  now  retraced  his  steps  to  Fort  Lani'.  'I'ln' 
small  garrison  at  Foi't  Orfonl  was  not  available,  and  Fitzgerald's  coiiiiiiiiiy 
was  during  tiic  month  ordered  to  reenforco  Major  Rains  at  The  DalKs;  lunie 
one  company  of  dragoons  and  one  of  infantry  constituted  tiio  regular  lorcc 
whicii  could  bo  employed  in  tho  defence  of  the  south  country  during  the  com- 
ing winter. 

'"The  original  orders  are  to  bo  found  in  DowelVs  Or.  Iiid.  War/:,  MS,, 
vol.  i.  A't,  47,  oS. 

'".M.  0.  IJarkwell  wrote  Ambrose  that  at  his  request  R.  L.  Wi'liains 
would  rai«e  a  company  for  the  protection  of  that  locality.  The  scttloi  s  almut 
Althouse,  on  Illinois  liiver,  petitioned  to  have  Theorou  Crook  cnipowcriil  ti) 
rai.se  a  company  to  range  tiio  iiiountaina  thereabout;  signed  l)y  llii'aiii  Kii  c, 
.1.  J.  Uotc,  Trederick  Kiioda,  Lucius  D.  Hart,  S.  Matthews,  (,;hurlos  1'.  W  il- 
Kon,  Elias  Winklcback,  S.  1*.  jiuggan,  Jolin  Morrow,  .\llcn  iviiaiip.  W.  ii. 
]{.  Douglas,  Wm  Lane,  .J.  T.  Maun,  (tco.  Ji.  Grayson,  R.  T.  JJricklcy,  .!.  Ii. 
IIui<ton.  L.  CoH'oy,  II.  Kastoii,  .lolin  Murpliy,  15.  \\.  ilnickwny,  A.  L.  S.ott, 
Geo.  W.  (Joinegys,  James  C.  CastU'man,  0.  1>.  Drake,  .Joiin  11.  Hale,  Iv  II. 
Crane,  Allien  \Vhitnoy,  Joshua  ilar'an,  S.  II.  Harper,  JI,  l*.  Howard,  I!.  .S. 
A.  CoUvcll,  (icorgo  Lake,  Thomas  Lake,  George  Koblencc,  Jacob  Raiitilui-li, 
I'eter  Colcan,  U.  S.  IJarr,  William  Lance,  Itoliert  Rose,  N.  D.  I'alincr,  .I.,iihh 
Hole,  K.  D.  Cohen,  Sigmund  Ileilner,  Win  Chapman,  John  K.  Tost,  Joliii  W ■ 
Merideth,  A.  More,  Tlios  Ford,  and  Gilharts.  DowcWh  Or.  Iml.  Il'((r.s  .M.S., 
Vol.  i,  ;!■'!-.">. 

The  white  men  of  I'ha'uix  mills,  Hliuoia  Valley,  of  Door  Creek,  and  tlalico 
Crei'k  also  i)etitioned  for  pt'rniissiou  to  raise;  comiianies  for  defcme,  and  llm 
outlying  settlements  prayed  lor  i.ruiod  guards  to  lie  Hcnttlicni.  The  pciitioii 
from  I'  ..cnix  mills  was  Higneil  by  H.  M.  Waitc,  S.  Colver,  .Joseiili  Tra.v, 
Julius  r.  Keiineily,  M.  M.  Widiams,  and  .1.  T.  (Jias;  tliatfioni  IhIuoi.h  \  ..I- 
ley  and  Deer  Creek  by  John  D.  I'ost,  William  Chapman,  (j.  E.  liriggs,  .1,  S, 


GENERAL  UPRISING. 


377 


Where  the  people  in  remote  or  isolated  situations 
askod  for  armed  guards,  a  few  men  were  despatched 
to  those  localities  as  soon  as  they  could  be  armed.*' 
Two  younix  women,  Miss  Hudson  and  Miss  Wilson, 
luiv  iinjf  been  murdered^^  while  travelling  on  the  Cres- 
cent City  road,  October  10th,  A.  S.  Welton  was  as- 
sii^nicd  the  duty  of  keeping  open  a  portion  of  that 
highway,  over  which  was  carried  most  of  the  goods 
wliich  entered  the  Illinois  and  Rogue  River  valleys 
at  this  time;  guards  being  also  afforded  to  pack-trains 
oil  the  various  routes  to  prevent  their  capture  by  the 
Indians.  Considering  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome, 
ami  the  nature  of  the  service,  the  organization  of  the 
Dili  regiment  was  remarkably  expeditious  and  com- 
plete, and  its  operations  were  well  conducted. 

The  first  engagement  between  the  volunteers  and 
Indians  was  on  Rogue  River,  where  W.  B.  Lewis  of 
company  E  was  encamped  on  Skull  bar,  a  short  dis- 
tanct;  behjw  the  mouth  of  Galice  Creek.  Scouts  re- 
ported the  enemy  near,  and  evidently  j)reparing  an 
attack.  In  camp  were  all  the  miners  from  the  dig- 
^iii'is  in  the  vicinity,  including  nine  Chinamen,  who 
had  been  robbed  and  driven  from  their  claims,  and 
s('\(i':d  Indian  women  and  boys  who  had  been  cap- 
tured. 

The  bar  Is  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  with  a 
hi'^'l'.  mountain  in  the  background,  covered  with  a 
(hiise  growth  of  hazel  and  young  firs.  Around  the 
camp  for  some  distance  the  thickets  were  cut  away, 
so  as  to  afford  no  harbor  for  lurking  savages,  and  a 

Kiii;;lit,  A.  J,  Mi'iulcraon,  Williiun  H.  Iluy,  L.  Ri>nvcs,  Joseph  Kirlty,  K.  T. 
(Hi;.,  >;\iiiiiil  \Vliito,  Williiiin  K.  It^mdofpli.  I'VcliTick  Jiluxlii.  L.  I).  Hurt, 
AK  \,i,Miuf  M(/l5ii(lo,  C.  C.  l.uther,  S.  Scott,  O.  K.  liilry,  ,1.  T.  L.  .Mills,  luid 
''ii!;iii,  11.  Oil  tlio  "Jtitli  a  coiiinaiiy  wasoig.iiiizcil  in  Illinois  ViilKy.  (Ji'iiii  T. 
ItoKt  WHS  iliuseii  caiitiiin,  iiiut  Kent  to  .lai'knoiivillu  tor  liiB  uoiniuission.  In 
this  \\,iy  iiio.st  of  tlio  I'oiiipanifs  woro  foniiud. 

•'Oil  tliu  atli  of  Nov.  Ross  onlcrcd  (iunliior  with  10  men  to  protect 
Tliniii|,si.ii"s  jiliico  on  Api)legato  Creek.  F.  R.  Jlill  waa  orderetl  to  raise  a 
i'uin|.,iiiy  t(ir  (Irave  Cn'ek,  etc. 

•'  lu'riiii^  I'rutfvlion  to  liiimvirnvt'i,  .'>9.  Tins  is  ft  compilation  of  docu- 
ihciits  nil  the  snhjt'ct  of  the  proti'clion  atronlcd  liy  Walkers  company  in 
l^'l.  with  Kliiiisties  of  Indian  ontiageit.  The  Bumu  mutter  iti  in  U,  S.  Sen. 
Lj:.  J)ijr,  4ti,  ;joth  cong.  lid  lcsb. 


378 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


iVill  is: 


breast-work  of  logs  thrown  up  on  the  side  most  ex- 
posed to  attack. 

Oil  the  17th  of  October  the  bushes  were  found  to 
be  aUve  with  savages.  J.  W.  Pickett  made  a  charge 
with  six  men,  wlio  were  so  warmly  received  that  they 
were  glad  to  retreat,  Pickett  being  killed.  Lieuten- 
ant Moore  then  took  a  position  under  a  bank,  on  the 
side  attack  was  expected,  which  he  held  four  liours, 
exposed  to  a  heavy  fire;  he  and  nearly  half  of  his 
men  were  wounded,  when  they  were  compelled  to  re- 
treat. One  of  the  men,  being  mortally  shot,  fell  be- 
fore reaching  the  shelter  of  the  camp,  and  a  comrade, 
Allan  Evans,  in  the  effort  to  bring  him  in,  was  severely 
wounded.     Captain  Lewis  was  three  times  struck. 

The  Indians,  discovering  that  the  weak  point  of 
the  volunteer  force  was  on  the  left,  made  a  bold 
attack,  in  which  they  lost  one  of  their  most  noted 
Shasta  warriors.  Finding  they  could  not  dislodge 
the  volunteers  with  balls,  they  shot  lighted  arrows 
into  their  camp.  All  day  the  firing  was  kept  up, 
and  (hiring  the  battle  every  house  in  the  mining  town 
of  Galice  Creek  was  burned  except  the  one  oecu- 
j)ied  as  the  company's  headquarters.  By  night  one 
third  of  the  company  of  thirty-five  were  killed  and 
wounded."  Thereupon  the  enemy  retired,  their  loss 
not  ascertained. 

"I  am  jmmd  to  say,"  wrote  Lewis  to  his  colonel, 
"that  we  fouixht  the  hardest  battle  ever  fought  this 
side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  More  than  2,f)0() 
shots  from  the  enemy,  but  every  man  stood  his 
ground,  and  fought  tho  battle  of  a  lover  of  his  coun- 
try." 

On  tho  day  of  tho  battlo  Ross  wrote  Sniilh,  at 
Fort  Lane,  that  Chief  John  of  Scott  Valley  h.id 
gone  u])  7\.i)|)legato  Creek  with  eighty  warriors;  und 
that  WiUiams  was  in  that  vicinity  with  a  liniind 

''''Killed,  J.  W.  I'ickott,  Siimud  Suundersi  mortnlly  wouiuled,  litiijiniiii 
Taft,  IsiJicl  I).  Admns;  sevortly  woundt'd,  l.iout  Win  A.  J.  Mimic,  Ailaii 
KvaiiB,  Milton  Uliicklndgc,  .Jose|)li  L'luiiij'iii,  John  Kricson,  «uid  Ciijitiiiii  \\, 
IJ.  Lewis.     Report  of  Caiit  Lewis,  in  Jjoivitl'n  Or.  liiiL  War.,  MS,,  ii.  is. 


STRUGGLES  AGAINST  DESTINY. 


S79 


force  ;^  also  that  J.  B.  Wagoner"  and  John  Hillmaa 
Lad  on  the  19th  been  despatched  to  Galice  Creek. 

It  was  all  of  no  use.  Let  them  kill  and  steal  and 
burn  never  so  bravely,  the  fate  of  the  savages  was 
fixed  beforehand;  and  that  not  by  volunteers,  white 
or  black,  but  by  almighty  providence,  ages  before 
their  appearing,  just  as  we  of  the  present  dominant 
race  must  fade  before  a  stronger,  whenever  such  a 
otic  is  sent. 

The  red  men  continued  their  ravages,  and  the  white 
men  theirs,  sending  their  bands  of  volunteers  and  reg- 
ulars hither  and  thither  all  over  the  country  in  con- 
stantly increasing  numbers;  and  to  the  credit  (tf  gov- 
cMiment  officers  and  agents,  be  it  said  that  while  the 
miiiei-s  and  settlers  were  seeking  the  shortest  road  to 
end  the  difficulties,  they  interposed  their  strength  and 
inlluence  to  protect  innocent  red  men  while  defending 
the  white. 

Meantime,  those  who  had  in  charge  the  duties  of 
providing  subsistence  and  transportation  for  the  vol- 
unteers were  not  without  serious  cares.  Assistant 
quartermasters  and  commissaries  were  appointed  in 
dlrt'erent  sections,  but  owing  to  their  inexperience 
or  inability,  the  service  was  very  unsatisf;let(>r3^ 
Fit'tcen  companies^"  were  in  tlie  lield  by  the  20tli 
of  October,  but  the  Indians  kept  them  all  eni[)loyed. 

'"  Doiirir.^  Or.  Ind.  Wars,  MS.,  i.  57. 

^'.1.  1>.  \V;i;;oiHM'  was  employe d  as  express  rider  from  Oct.  Htli,  five  days 
after  tlio  iiairdcr  of  liis  wife  and  cliild,  as  loiij,'  as  first  volunti'cr  service 
lastiMJ —a  service  full  of  danjjcr  and  hardship.  See  instructions  in  DoweWa 
Or.  /ml.  \Vnr-<,  MS.,  i.  03. 

'Ill  port  of  Capt.  Rinearson,  in  IJnurll'sOr.  Ind,  War,  MS.,  i.  77.  I  can 
imine  IJ  of  them.  Co.  A,  T.  S.  Harris  capt.;  Co,  H,  James  linice  capt.j 
Ci.  C,  J.  S.  Itincnr.son  capt.,  lients  W.  1*.  Winj,',  I.  N.  Meiitiy,  R.  \V.  UtMiry; 
Co.  I',  ]{.  L.  Williams  capt,  K.  \\.  Stouo  Ist  lieiit,  .sergeant  K.  K.  Klliott; 
I'o.      ,  11.  J^ewis,  capt.,  lients  W.    A.   J.    Moore,   W'liite;  nv.vgt   I.  D. 

.AiliiiiiMj  Co.  V,  A.  S.  \Velton  c.i))t. ;  Co.  (J,  Miles  T.  Alcorn  ciipt.,  lieutJ. 
M.  tishorne;  Co.  II,  W.  A.  Wilkni.son  capt;  Co.  I,  T.  Smilii  capt.;  Co.  K, 
S.  A.  I'Vye  capt.;  Co.  L,  Abel  George  cupt.;  Co.  Al,  R  R.  Hill  capt.  The 
ii.niies  of  T,  J.  (iMidncr,  Orriii  Root  M.  M.  Williams,  lla.\ea,  and  M.  I'. 
lliiujoil  appear  in  thooflicial  correspondence  as  captains;  Oaniel  Richardson, 
iMiiiiison,  and  II.  V  Conroy  as  lieutenants;  and  W.  M.  I'lvans  as  orileriy 
miVL'MiiL.  (,',  S.  Drew  was  appointeil  adjutant;  C.  Weslfcldt  quarterniiuter 
uud  cunnniamry;  and  C.  U.  iJrooks  surgeon. 


I: 


3S0 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


i| 


'■^i 


Not  a  paclv-train  could  move  from  point  to  point  with- 
out a  (^uard;  not  a  settlement  but  was  tlireatoneil. 
The  stock  of  the  farmers  was  being  slanghteieil 
nightly  in  some  part  of  the  valley;  private  dwellings 
were  fortified,  and  no  one  could  pass  along  the  roady 
except  at  the  peril  of  life.  I  might  fill  a  voluino 
with  tlie  movements  of  the  white  men  during  this 
war;  the  red  men  left  no  record  of  theirs. 


MACK'S  AttCH 


•J A  C  K 1  s-^  a  N 

(lDNvi'L'LE>'l     ^Jt,,  •         \>/^^ 


lloOUE  RiVEK  AND  UMPQUA  VaIXKYS. 

Wiiilo  both  regulars  and  volunteers  were  exploring 
the  country  in  every  direction,  the  Indians,  faiuili.ir 
with  trails  unknown  to  the  white  men,  easily  eviuUd 
them,  anil  passed  from  point  to  point  without  daiigii'. 
At  the  very  time  when  Judah  of  the  regulars,  aiiJ 


FITZGERALD  AT  GRAVE  CREEK. 


381 


Bruce  and  Harris  of  the  volunteers,  harl  returned 
(ixhausted  from  a  long  and  fruitless  pursuit,  and  when 
Eoss  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  was  still  in  the  vicinity  of  The  Meadows, 
and  below  Galice  Creek  on  Rogue  River,  the  Indians 
suddenly  appeared  October  23d  in  the  Cow  Creek  val- 
ley, and  began  their  depredations.  Their  first  act  of 
hostility  in  this  quarter  was  to  fire  upon  a  party  of 
wagor,;,rs  and  hog-drovers  at  the  crossing  of  Cow 
Creek,  instantly  killing  H.  Bailey  of  Lane  county, 
and  wounding  Z.  Bailey  and  three  others.  The  re- 
uiuining  men  retreated  as  rapidly  as  possible,  pursued 
by  the  savages,  who  followed  and  harassed  them  for 
two  or  three  hours.  The  same  day  they  attacked 
the  settlements  on  Cow  Creek,  burning  the  houses  of 
Turner,  Bray,  Redfield,  Fortune,  and  others. 

On  the  28th  of  October  Fitzgerald  being  in  the 
vicinity  of  Grave  Creek  discovered  Indians  encamped 
a  few  miles  south  of  Cow  Creek  in  the  Grave  Creek 
liills,^"  and  determined  to  attack  them.  Ross,  on  re- 
coivhig  a  despatch  from  Fitzgerald,  set  out  on  the  29th 
for  the  rendezvous,  having  sent  to  captains  Harris, 
Wolton,  George,  Williams,  and  Lewis.  Bruce  and  Ri- 
noarson,  who  had  but  just  come  in,  were  directed  to 
join  the  combined  forces  at  Grave  Creek,  where  were 
concentrated  on  the  30th  about  250  volunteers^^  and 
105  regulars,  only  a  portion  of  Fitzgerald's  troop  being 
available  on  account  of  the  illness  of  its  commander. 
Two  companies  of  a  battalion  called  out  by  Governor 
Curry  were  lying  at  a  place  about  a  day's  march  south 
of  Unipqua  canon,  under  the  command  of  captains  Jo- 
sej)h  Bailey  and  Samuel  Gordon. 

When  Ross  reached  the  rendezvous  late  at  night, 
he  found  the  eaptain  of  the  1st  dragoons  awaiting 
him,  impatient  for  an  attack.-"*     Spies  from  his  own 

^°  'I'hia  band  liad  attacked  Kautz  and  his  surveying  party  a  few  days  pre* 
viuUM,  killing  two  soldiers  and  three  settlers. 

"  Letter  of  L.  C.  Hawley  in  Or.  Stnteiiman,  Nov.  24,  1855.  Another  gives 
the  number  at  387.    DowdVit  Or.  Ind.  Wars. 

'« Letter  of  John  E.  lloss  to  C.  S.  Drew  in  Dowell'a  Or.  Ind.  Wars,  MS., 
I.  !)3. 


I  fill  Hi  H  I  ; 


;pii:i 


M 


I 


3S2 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


and  Captain  Bruce's  company  had  reconnoitred  tlie 
enemy's  position,  which  was  found  to  be  on  a  hill,  well 
fortified,  and  extremely  difficult  of  approach.  A  innp 
of  the  country  was  prepared,  and  a  forced  march  de- 
termined upon.  Orders  were  issued  to  be  ready  to 
march  at  eleven  o'clock,  though  it  was  already  hall- 
past  ten.  The  plan  of  attack  was  to  plant  howitzers 
upon  an  eminence  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  that  on 
which  the  Indians  were  encamped,  and  after  having 
divided  the  companies  into  three  colunms,  so  stationed 
as  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  Indians,  to  open  ujion 
the  enemy  with  shell  and  grape-shot.  It  was  hoped 
by  this  night  march,  which  was  continued  till  inoiii- 
ing  with  occasional  halts,  to  surprise  the  enemy,  l)ut 
some  one  having  set  fire  to  a  tree,  that  idea  was 
abandoned.  On  arrivinor  at  the  edije  of  a  ravine  in 
front  of  their  pc^jition,  instead  of  planting  the  howitzers 
and  shelling  the  Indians  as  was  intended,  a  chaiiL^e 
was  made,  in  which  Rinearson  and  Wclton  led  with 
their  companies,  augmented  by  portions  of  several 
others,  and  a  part  of  the  regulars  rushing  in  disonK^ 
down  into  the  ravine,  through  the  thick  bushes,  and 
up  ;  he  ascent  on  the  other  side,  volunteers  and  re^^u- 
lars  all  eager  for  the  first  shot.  The  Indians  occupied 
a  mountain,  bald  on  the  side  by  which  the  troops 
were  approaching,  and  covered  with  heavy  forest  on 
the  opposite  or  north  side.  Ross  had  directed  Bailey 
and  Gordon  to  flank  on  the  north,  that  when  the  men 
in  front  should  drive  the  Indians  to  this  cover,  they 
might  be  met  by  them  and  engaged  until  the  main 
force  could  come  up.  The  attempt  was  made,  but  tluy 
found  it  impossible  to  pierce  the  tangled  undergrowth 
which  covered  the  steep  acclivity,  with  the  Indians 
fortified  above  them,'"  and  after  having  had  several 
men  wounded,  returned  to  the  point  of  attack.  Brnco 
and  Harris  lay  concealed  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the 
south  of  the  attacking  party,  to  be  in  readiness  to  in- 

"  Lieut  Withers  saya  the  Indiana  had  cut  down  treea  to  form  an  obstruc- 
tion to  any  attaclc  on  that  side.  U.  S.  Sen.  Ex.  Doc,  26,  34th  cong.  1st  seas. 


BATTLE  AND  RETREAT. 


38? 


tcrccpt  the  enemy  in  that  quarter;  but  finding  that 
no  enemy  came  their  way,  they  too  joined  the  army 
in  front.  In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  had  retreated, 
as  was  anticipated,  to  the  cover  of  the  woods,  and 
could  not  be  approached  without  great  peril  from  the 
open  ground.  The  day  wore  on  with  vain  endeavors 
to  iTct  at  them:  and  at  3  p.  m.  Smith  made  a  cliarjje 
with  a  small  force  of  dragoons,  who  after  firing  sev- 
eral rounds  with  musketoons,  utterly  useless  against 
the  rifles  of  the  Indians,  and  having  several  killed  and 
wounded,  fell  back  to  their  first  position. 

When  darkness  ended  the  finng,  the  troops  were 
encamped  a  short  distance  from  the  battle-ground,  at 
a  place  called  by  them  Bloody  Spring,  where  the 
wounded  were  cared  for.  At  sunrise  next  morning 
the  camp  was  attacked  from  all  sides,  the  Indians 
engaging  the  troops  until  about  the  middle  of  the 
forenoon,  when  being  repulsed  they  withdrew,  and 
the  troops  took  up  their  march  for  Grave  Creek  and 
Yort  Bailey,  carrying  their  wounded  on  litters.  As 
to  the  results  of  the  battle,  the  white  men  had  little 
cause  for  congratulation.  The  volunteers  iiad  twenty- 
six  killed,  wounded,  and  missing;  and  the  regulars 
four  killed,  and  seven  wounded,  including  Lieutenant 
Giljson,  who  was  hit  in  the  attack  on  the  camp  on 
the  morning  of  the  1st  of  November.*'  The  number 
of  Indians  killed  was  variously  estimated  at  from 
eight  to  twenty.  The  number  of  Indians  engaged 
in  the  battle  was  also  conjectured  to  be  from  100  to 


'"Capt.  Rinearson's  co.,  killed,  Henry  Pearl,  Jacob  W.  Miller;  missing 
and  bc'liovcd  to  be  killed,  James  Pcarsy;  wounded,  Knoch  Miller,  W.  IL 
Crouili,  and  Epliraim  Yager,  Capt.  Gordon's  co. ,  woundc<l,  Haw  kins  Slndton, 
James  M.  Fordyce,  William  Wilson,  Capt.  Bailey's  co.,  killed,  .loliu  tJillcs- 
pie;  wounded,  John  Waldcn,  John  C  Richardson,  James  Lapliar,  Thmiiaa  J, 
Auhrey,  Jolm  Pankey.  Capt,  Harris' co.,  wounded,  Jonathan  A.  I'etigrew, 
moitdly,  Ira  Maytield,  L,  F.  Allen,  William  Pumell,  William  JIaus,  John 
(ioldsl)y,  Thomas  Gill.  Capt.  Bruco's  co.,  wounded  mortally,  Charles 
fJodwin.  Capt.  Welton'a  co.,  wounded  mortally,  John  Kennedy.  Capt. 
William's  co.,  killed,  John  Winters;  wounded,  John  Stauner,  Thomas 
Rvan.  Of  the  regular  troops  three  were  kilhd  in  action  on  the  tielil,  and 
oiiu  Ity  accidentally  shooting  himself;  among  the  seven  woum'cd  was  Lieut 
Gdtsijii.  Report  of  A.  G,  Henry  in  Dowft'M  (>i-.  Iml.  HVirf,  M.S.,  i.,  ltii)-71; 
Or.  Statenman,  Nov,  17,  1855;  AMand  Tldin-M,  Nov.  2, 1877, 


384 


FURTHKR  INDIAN  WARS. 


til 

I.  it 


300.  Such  was  the  unfortunate  termination  of  a 
coinhinod  effort  on  the  part  of  tlie  regular  and  volun- 
teer troops  to  check  the  war  in  its  incij)iency,  and 
signified  that  time,  money,  and  blood  must  be  .spent 
in  bringing  it  to  a  close.  "God  only  knows,"  writes 
a  correspondent  of  the  Statesman,  "when  or  where 
this  war  may  end . . .  These  mountains  are  worse  than 
the  swamps  of  Florida." 

Injinediately  upon  information  reaching  the  Unip- 
qua  of  the  onslaught  of  the  9th  of  October,  185"),  at 
llogue  Itiver,  a  petition  was  forwarded  to  Governor 
Curry, asking  for  five  hundred  volunteers  for  defenee. 
The  messenger,  S.  B.  Hadley,  giving  notice  en  route, 
among  other  places  at  Eugene  City,  a  request  was 
sent  the  gt)vernor  to  permit  Lane  county  to  organize 
a  company  for  the  war.  The  effect  of  such  petitions, 
and  of  the  letters  received  from  Rogue  River,  was  to 
cause  a  proclamation  by  the  governor,  October  15th, 
calling  for  five  companies  of  mounted  volunteers  to 
constitute  a  Northern  battalion,  and  four  companies 
of  mounted  volunteers  to  constitute  a  Southern  bat- 
talion, to  remain  in  force  until  discharged;  each  coni- 
])any  to  consist  of  sixty  men,  with  the  usual  comple- 
ment of  officers,  making  a  total  of  seventy-one,  rank 
and  file;  each  volunteer  to  furnish  his  own  horse, 
arms,  and  equipments,  and  each  company  to  elect  its 
own  officers,  and  thereafter  to  proceed  without  delay 
to  the  seat  of  war. 

The  proclamation  declared  that  Jackson  county 
would  be  expected  to  furnish  the  number  of  men 
required  for  the  southern  battalion,  who  would  rendez- 
vous at  Jacksonville,  elect  a  major  to  command,  and 
report  to  headquarters.  The  northern  battalion  was 
to  consist  of  two  companies  from  Lane,  and  one  each 
from  Linn,  Douglas,  and  Umpqua  counties,  to  rendez- 
vous at  Roseburg.  At  the  same  time  an  order  was 
issued  from  the  office  of  E.  M.  Barnum,  adjuttuit- 
general,  leaving  the  movements  of  the  two  battalions 
to  the  discretion  of  their  respective  commanders,  but 


A  DEMOCRATIC  WAR. 


38S 


din  (ting  that  all  Indians  should  bo  treated  aa  enemies 
who  <H(i  not  show  unmistakable  signs  of  friendship. 
Xo  other  instruction  was  given  but  to  advise  a  con- 
cert of  action  with  the  United  States  forces  wliich 
iui;^^lit  be  engaged  in  that  section  of  the  territory.^^ 

.Meanwhile,  communications  from  democrats  at 
R();j;iio  River  had  reached  the  capital,  and  imme- 
(liiiti'Iy  the  war  became  a  party  measure.  It  was 
ascertained  that  Ross  in  calling  out  the  militia  had 
made  several  whig  appointments  contrary  to  the  will 
of  the  ruling  party,  which  had  attacked  the  governor 
for  appointing  whig  surgeons  in  the  northern  bat- 
talion; so  paramount  were  politics  in  ministering  to 
the;  wants  of  wounded  menl  The  governor,  unfor- 
tunately for  his  otherwise  stainless  record,  was  un- 
able to  stem  the  tide,  and  allowed  himself  to  become 
an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  a  clique  who  de- 
niantlod  a  course  of  action  disgraceful  to  all  concerned. 
Five  days  after  issuing  the  proclamation,  the  gov- 
ernor ordered  disbanded  all  companies  not  duly  en- 
rnlli'd  by  virtue  of  said  proclamation,  information 
having  been  received  that  armed  parties  had  taken 
the  Held  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  waging  a  war 
of  extermination  against  the  Indians  without  re- 
spect to  age  or  sex,  and  had  slaughtered  a  band  of 
friendly  natives  upon  their  reservation,  despite  the 
authority  of  the  agent  and  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  United  States  troops  stationed  there.^  The 
immediate  effect  of  the  proclamation  was  to  suspend 
volunteering  in  Douglas  county,  to  which  Ross  had 
written  to  have  another  company  raised,'*'  and  to 
throw  discredit  on  those  already  in  the  field. 

"  Sue  proclamation  and  general  order,  in  Or.  Statesman,  Oct.  20,  1855;  Or. 
Aniii.<,  Oct.  20,  1855. 

^■Grovcr  in  the  legislature  of  1856-7  found  it  neccssaiy  to  explain  the 
course  of  Governor  Curry  by  saying  that  'news  was  brought  to  him  of  the 
slauglitur  of  Indians  by  a  rabble  from  the  neighborhood  of  Yreka;  which  iu- 
fornuitioii  proved  incorrect,  some  of  the  best  citizens  being  engaged  in  the 
atrair  out  of  self-defence.'  Or.  Statesman,  Jan.  27,  1857.  This  explanation 
referrtd  to  Lupton'a  attack  on  the  Indians.  Cram's  Top,  Mem.,  44;  DoweU'$ 
Or.  luil.  Wars,  MS.,  i.  117. 

"tteo  Idler  of  Capt.  F.  R.  Hill,  in  DowdVa  Or.  Ind.  Wars,  177-8,  voL  1. 
Uui.  oil.,  Vol.  II.    aS 


386 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


f  ( n  Vf 


i§  Vf 


(J 


The  first  companies  enrolled  under  the  governor's 
proclamation  were  the  two  called  for  from  Lane 
county,**  one  of  which,  under  Captain  Bailey,  was 
present  at  the  action  of  October  31st  and  Novem- 
ber 1st,  as  already  stated.  The  next  companies  to 
respond  to  the  governor's  call  were  those  from  Linn, 
Douglas,  and  Umpqua  counties.^  These  constitutecl 
the  northern  battalion.  The  companies  contained 
from  87  to  111  men  each, and  were  quickly  organized, 
William  J.  Martin  being  chosen  major. 

On  the  7th  of  November  Colonel  Ross  ordered  the 
assembling  of  the  9th  regiment  at  Fort  Vannoy,  in 
order  that  all  who  desired  should  be  mustered  into 
the  territorial  service  as  members  of  the  southern 
battalion.  On  the  10th  captains  James  Bruce,  li.  L. 
Williams,  William  A.  Wilkinson,  and  Miles  ¥.  Ahorn 
offered  and  were  accepted,  in  the  order  named,  and 
an  election  for  major  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Bnue.^" 
Complaint  reaching  the  governor  that  by  disbandins^ 

MS.,  where  he  says:  'I  was  just  on  the  eve  of  getting  a  company  to  make 
a  Btart,  when  the  word  was  out  that  it  was  not  legal,  and  tlie  goveinoi's 
pruclaiiiation  did  not  call  for  but  one  company  from  Douglas  and  oiiu  fiuin 
Umpqua.' 

*'tJo.  A,  North  Battalion  0.  M.  Vols,  Lane  county,  enrolled  Oct.  23(1: 
capt.,  Joseph  Bailey;  Istlieut.,  Daniel  VV.  Keith;  2d  lieut,  Cyrenus  Miilkoy, 
resigned  Dec.  30th;  Charles  W.  McClure  elected  in  Ijis  place.  Cd.  15,  L.aiio 
county,  enrolled  Oct.  23d:  capt.,  Laban  Buoy;  1st  lieut,  A.  W.  rattcison, 
resigned  and  transferred  to  medical  department,  L.  Poindexter  being  clottcil 
in  his  place;  2d  lieut,  P.  C.  Noland.  Or.  four.  Houw,  185.^-G,  ap.  14."). 

''Co.  C,  Linn  county,  enrolled  Oct.  24th:  capt.,  Jonathan  Kienty;  1st 
lieut,  A.  W.  Stannard;  2d  lieut,  Joseph  Yates.  Co.  D,  Douglas  county, 
enrolled  Oct.  25th:  capt,  Samuel  Gordon;  1st  lieut,  S.  B.  Hadluy;  -d  Heiit, 
T.  I'rater.  Co.  E,  Umpqua  county,  enrolled  Nov.  8th:  capt.,  W.  W.  Cliap- 
mun;  1st  lieut,  Z.  Dimmick;  2d  lieut,  J.  M.  Merrick.  Or.  Jour.  Council, 
185.5-6,  ap.  146. 

""Co.  A:  capt.,  James  Bruce;  1st  lieut,  E.  A.  Rice,  who  was  elected 
capt.  after  the  promotior  of  Bruce;  2d  lieut,  John  S.  Miller;  2d  lieut,  J.  F. 
Anderson.  Co.  B:  capt.,  R.  L.Williams;  Istlieut,  Hugh  O'Neal;  I'd  licnt, 
M.  Bushey.  Co.  C:  capt.,  Wm  A.  Wilkinson;  1st  lieut,  C.  F.  lUake;  '.M 
lieut,  Edwin  Hew.  Co.  D:  capt..  Miles  1"  Alcorn;  1st  lieut,  James  M. 
Matncy;  2d  lieu  John  Osborn.  Or.  Jmir.  House,  185')-6,  ap.  1 46-7.  Tlie 
militiii  organizati  t  as  it  now  stood  comprised  the  following  ofiiccrs:  A.  1'. 
Deiinison  and  Bt ;  Stark,  aids  de  camp  to  the  gov.;  John  V.  Miller,  <niartei- 
master  gen.;  A.  iber  and  S.  S.  Slater,  asst  quartermaster  general;  M.  M. 
McCarver,  comm.  i,ry  gen.;  B.  F.  Goodwin  and  J.  S.  Ruckle,  asst  com. 
gen.;  Wm  J.  Mai  \  maj.  north  bat.;  J.  W.  Drew  and  R.  E.  Stratton,  adj. 
north  bat. ;  Wm  G  iill  and  I.  N.  Smith,  aids  to  major  north  bat. ;  .lames 
Bruce,  niaj.  of  sou  l)at.;  O.  D.  Hoxie,  adj.  south  bat.;  J.  K.  Lanieiick, 
mustering  oiScer  f   •  southcra  Oregon.  Or.  Jour.  House,  1855-C,  ap.  143-7. 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION. 


387 


tilt'  9th  regiment  several  sections  were  without  defence, 
Curry,  with  Adjutant  G'^noral  Barnum,  answered  in 
person,  arriving  on  the  field  about  the  last  of  Novem- 
ber. The  only  change  made,  however,  by  the  gov- 
ernor's visit  was  the  consolidation  of  the  northern  and 
southern  battalions  into  one  regiment,  to  be  crlled 
the  2d  Regiment  of  Oregon  Mounted  Volunteers. 
This  change  necessitated  an  election  for  regimental 
officers,  and  R.  L.  Williams  was  chosen  colonel,  while 
;M;u  tin  was  obliged  to  content  himself  as  second  in 
counuand. 


Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Grave  Creek  hills, 
!M;ij()r  Fitzgerald  proceeded  to  Fort  Vancouver  and 
thence  to  The  Dalles,  and  his  troops  remained  in  gar- 
rison during  the  winter.  ^Iiis  reduced  the  regular 
force  on  Rogne  River  to  Smith's  command.  An 
agreement  was  entered  into  between  the  regular  and 
vohinteer  commanders  to  meet  at  the  Grave  Creek 
house  about  the  9th  of  November,  prepared  to  pur- 
sue and  attack  the  Indians.  In  the  mean  time  a  scout- 
ing' l>arty  of  Bailey's  company  was  to  find  the  Indians, 
^vllo  had  disappeared,  according  to  custom,  from  their 
last  battle-ground.^ 

On  the  I7th  of  November  Bruce,  learning  that  a 
number  of  houses  on  Jump  Off  Joe  Creek  had  been 
burned,  sent  a  request  to  Martin  to  join  him  there. 
Communications  were  also  sent  to  the  commanders 
at  Fort  Lane  and  Fort  Jones,  and  Judah  with  a 
small  force  joined  in  pursuit  of  the  savages.  Shortly 
alter,  Williams  fell  in  with  a  small  band  at  the  mouth 
of  Jump  Off  Joe  Creek  and  killed  eight.^ 

"  'Just  before  they  took  their  departure  they  went  on  the  reserve,  burned 
all  tlie  boards  and  shingles  there,  and  every  article  of  value  belonging  to 
cliiuf  Sam '8  people;  a  temporary  house  I  had  erected  for  the  accommodation 
of  persons  laboring  on  the  reserve,  shared  the  same  fate;  they  also  killed  or 
drij\e  away  seven  of  the  cattle  belonging  to  the  agency.'  Agent  Ambrose  to 
Siipt.  Pahner,  Nov.  30,  1855,  in  U.  S.  H.  Ex.  Doc,  93,  p.  119,  34th  cong. 
1st  scss. 

^^Or.  Statesman,  Dec.  1, 1855;  Rept  of  Major  Martin,  Dec.  10, 1855,  in  Or, 
Jour.  Jlouae,  1855-6,  ap.  122. 


i'^ 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


M 


M 


The  21st  saw  the  white  men  in  full  force  en  route 
down  Rogue  River,  some  on  one  side  and  some  on  tli(3 
other.  After  four  days,  and  encountering  many  dit- 
ficulties,  they  came  upon  the  enemy  at  The  Meadows 
and  found  them  well  fortified.  While  preparini^  to 
attack,  on  the  26th,  the  Indians  opened  fire  from  a 
dense  covert  of  timber  bordering  the  river,  wliich 
caused  them  to  fall  back.  Being  short  of  food  and 
clothing  for  a  winter  campaign,  they  determined  for 
the  present  to  abandon  the  enterprise. 

Whil^  the  southern  army  was  returning  to  head- 
quarters, roving  bands  of  Indians  were  coniniittiiig' 
depredations  in  the  Umpqua  Valley.  On  the  3d  of 
December  a  small  party  of  the  Cow  Creek  Indians 
attacked  the  settlements  on  the  west  side  of  the  scmth 
Um  {ua,  destroying  fifteen  houses  and  much  otlitr 
property,  compelling  the  settlers  to  shut  themselves 
up  in  forts.  On  the  24th  Captain  Alcorn  found  and 
attacked  a  camp  of  Indians  on  the  north  brancli  .if 
Little  Butte  Creek,  killing  eight  warriors  and  <  a[)tur- 
ing  some  animals.  About  the  same  time  Ca])taiii 
Rice,  hearing  of  another  camp  on  the  north  bunk  of 
Rogue  River,  probably  driven  out  of  the  mountains 
by  the  weather,  which  was  exceedingly  severe  that 
winter,  proceeded  with  thirty  men  to  attack  tlieni, 
and  after  a  battle  lasting  for  six  hours  killed  the  most 
of  them  and  took  captive  the  remainder.^" 

About  the  1st  of  January,  185G,  it  was  ascertained 
that  a  party  of  Indians  had  taken  possession  of  some 
deserted  cabins  on  Applegate  Creek,  and  fortified  tlnin. 
Major  Bruce  immediately  ordered  Captain  Riee  to 
proceed  to  that  place  and  attack  them.  Others  joined. 
About  two  miles  from  Jacksonville  they  were  fired  nn 

'•  '  These  two  fights  have  blotted  out  Jake's  band.'  Corr.  Or.  Sfn'r^mnn, 
Jim.  If),  1850.  General  Wool,  in  his  official  report  of  May  ,30,  IS.VI,  .alls 
Jake  ' a  friendly  old  chief,'  and  aaya  that  his  band  comprising  .'10  or  -10  limits 
was  destroyed  by  the  volunteers,  with  all  tlieir  huts  and  iHovinioiis.  '( \|"i«- 
ing  tiie  women  and  children  to  the  cold  of  December,  who  in  making'  tin  ir 
way  to  Fort  Lane  for  protection,  arrived  there  with  their  limbs  tiuix-ii.' 
See  Cram\.  Top.  Mem,,  45. 


FIGHTS  ON  APPLEGATE  CREEK. 


380 


and  ore  man  killed.*"  On  arriving  at  the  cabins,  three 
ot'wliich  were  occupied  by  the  Indians,  late  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  4th,  the  howitzer  was  planted  and  a  shell 
(lr<ij)pod  through  the  roof  of  one,  killing  two  of  the 
iiiiiiatos.  The  white  men  had  one  killed  and  five 
woiiiulod.  There  matters  rested  till  next  morning, 
wlu  u  the  cabins  were  found  to  be  empty,  the  Indians 
of  (Murse  having  found  means  to  escape.  These  suv- 
ives  made  good  shots  at  400  yards. 

Toward  the  middle  of  the  month  Bruce's  command 
liad  a  tight  with  one  hundred  natives  on  a  branch  of 
Aiiplogato  Creek,  the  latter  retreating  with  four  killed. 
And  thus  the  winter  wore  away,  a  dozen  bands  each 
of  wliite  men  and  red,  roaming  up  and  down  the 
country,  each  robbing  and  burning,  and  killing  as  best 
tliov  were  able,  and  all  together  accomplishing  no 
great  results,  except  seriously  to  interfere  with  traffic 
and  travel.  Exasperated  by  a  condition  so  ruinous, 
the  dosiro  to  exterminate  the  savages  grew  with  the 
inability  to  achieve  it.  Such  was  the  nature  of  tho 
conflict  in  which,  so  far,  there  had  been  neither  glory 
nor  success,  either  to  the  arms  of  the  regular  or  vol- 
unteer service;  nor  any  prospect  of  an  end  for  years 
to  conic,  the  savages  being  apparently  omnipresent, 
with  the  gift  of  invisibility.  They  refused  to  hold 
any  conununication  with  the  troops,  who  sought  some- 
times an  opportunity  to  reason  with  them. 


Tho  men  composing  the  northern  battalion  having 
no  I'urther  interest  in  the  war  than  at  first  to  gratify 
an  (vanc'^cont  sy  upathy,  or  a  love  of  adventure,  wore 
iMcoming  impatient  of  so  arduous  and  unprofitable  a 
Htivieo,  and  so  demanded  and  received  their  dis- 
cliaii^o.  General  Wool  was  then  petitiotied  for  aid, 
mill  he  innnediately  despatched  two  coni[»unies  undiT 
Colontl  ]3uchanan.  In  the  mean  time  the  legislative 
U8,senil»ly  had  elected  J.  K.  Lauierick  briga<lier-gen- 

*"  l>o,rell'i>  Or.  Iiid.  Wnm,  MS.,  ii.  10;  Lane's  Autoh'w<jnqihy,  MS.,  107) 
Iiruwii'.i  Aulobiwjmiihy,  MS.,  40-1. 


390 


FUETHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


' 


eral  of  Oregon  territory;  and  in  conformity  witli  a 
proclamation  of  the  executive,  he  issued  a  call  for 
four  companies  of  mounted  volunteers  to  supply  the 
place  of  the  northern  battalion,"  who  were  ordored 
to  report  to  Lieutenant-colonel  Martin  at  Roseburg. 
These  companies  were  enrolled  more  rapidly  than 
might  have  been  anticipated,  after  the  tedious  and 
fruitless  nature  of  the  war  had  become  krovvn," 

Captain  Buoy's  company  remained  in  the  field  un- 
der the  command  of  its  former  2d  lieutenant,  P.  C. 
Noland,  now  its  captain.  The  southern  companies 
were  recruited,  and  kept  the  field;  so  that  alter  a 
month  of  suspense,  during  which  many  of  the  inhab- 
itants who  up  to  this  time  had  remained  at  their 
liomesteads  unwilling  to  abandon  all  their  property, 
left  their  claims  and  removed  to  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley, or  shut  themselves  up  in  fortified  houses  to  await 
a  turn  in  events.  That  turn  it  was  hoped  General 
Lanierick,  being  a  good  democrat  and  an  experienced 
Indian-fighter,  would  be  able  to  give,  when  spring 
made  it  possible  to  pursue  the  Indians  into  the 
mountains.  It  has  been  said  that  Williams  was  in- 
competent; but  Lamerick  was  not  guiltless  of  a  blun- 
der in  ordering  all  the  new  companies  concentrated 
in  the  Umpqua  Valley ;  and  the  headquarters  of  the 
southern  companies  changed  from  Vannoy  Ferry  to 
Forest  Dale,  a  place  not  in  the  line  of  the  hostile 
incursions.  Taking  advantage  of  this  disposition  of 
the  forces,  Limpy,  one  of  the  hostile  chiefs,  with  a 

()arty  of  thirty  warriors,  made  a  visit  to  Fort  Lane, 
>earing  a  flag  of  truce;  the  object  of  the  visit  biiiig 
to  negotiate  for  the  releu.'^e  of  some  of  the  women 
held  as  prisoners  at  the  fort. 

*'  Tho  enrolling  ofBcera  appointed  by  Lamerick  were  VVm  11.  Latsliiiw, 
A.  W.  Patterson,  Nut.  II.  Lane,  Daniel  Barnes,  Juinoa  A.  Porter,  for  khm- 
panics  to  l)o  drawn  from  Louo,  Uentou,  Douglas,  oud  Linn  oountiu:^.  Ur. 
Slatexmaii,  I'eb.  1*2,  1850. 

'' Wni  H.  Latshaw  was  elected  capt.  of  the  Lane  county  co.;  Joliii  Kul- 
•ey  of  the  Henton  county  co.;  and  Doiiiel  Ikrncs  of  the  Driuglus  county  co. 
Or.  SUUeMtnaii,  Feb.  ll>,  IH'M  Of  the  co.  of  60  raised  ut  Deer  Creuk  (Kiw- 
burg)  in  February,  Edward  >Sliolliold  waa  elected  capt.;  S.  U.  Uluutuu  lat 
lieut;  Elius  Capruu  2d  liuut.  Id, 


THE  COAST  TRIBES. 


891 


Following  the  outbreak  in  October,  the  agents  on 
the  coast,  at  Port  Orford,  the  mouth  of  Rogue  River, 
and  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua,  used  many  precau- 
tions to  prevent  the  Indians  in  their  charge  from  be- 
coming infected  with  the  hostile  spirit  of  their  breth- 
ren of  the  interior.  The  superintendent  sent  his 
agents  a  circular  containing  regulations  and  precau- 
tions, among  which  was  the  collecting  of  the  Indians 
on  th(j  several  temporary  reserves,  and  compelling 
them  to  answer  to  roll-call. 

The  agent  in  charge  of  the  Indians  below  Coos  Bay 
was  Ben  Wright,  a  man  admired  and  feared  by  them. 
Learning  that  overtures  had  been  made  to  the  Co- 
quilles  and  other  coast  tribes  to  join  the  hostile  bands, 
Wright  hastened  to  visit  those  under  his  charge,  who 
lived  up  about  the  head  waters  of  the  several  small 
rivers  emptying  into  the  ocean  between  the  mouth  of 
the  lloguo  and  the  Coquille  rivers.  Ho  found,  as  he 
expected,  emissaries  of  the  hostile  bands  among  these 
on  the  lower  Ilogue  River,  who,  though  insolent,  took 
their  departure  when  threatened  with  arrest;  and  ho 
was  able,  as  he  supposed,  to  put  a  stop  to  further  ne- 
gotiations with  the  enemy,  the  Indians  promising  to 
I'ollow  his  advice. 

On  returning  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  he  found  the 
people  alarmed  by  rumors  of  anticipated  trouble  with 
the  Coquillcs,  and  again  hastened  to  arrest  any  mis- 
chief that  might  be  brewing  in  that  quarter.  He  found 
tliese  Indians  quiet,  and  expressing  great  friendship, 
hut  nmch  in  fear  of  an  attack  from  the  settlers  of  the 
I  iiip(|ua  Valley,  who  they  had  been  told  were  coming 
to  kill  them  all.  Their  uneasiness  appeared  to  bo  in- 
creased by  discovering  in  their  neighborhood  a  large 
camp  of  the  families,  women  and  children,  of  the  hos- 
tile bands,  with  a  few  men  to  guard  them,  knowing 
that  such  a  circumstance  would  be  liable  to  be  con- 
strued against  them.  They  were  promised  an  agent 
to  remain  with  tliem  and  ward  oif  trouble  until  tlio 
t'xeiteiiient  should  have  abated. 


I 


392 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


I 


Returning  to  the  coast,  Wright  fell  in  with  a  party 
of  armed  men  from  Coos  Bay  going  toward  the  Ind- 
ian camp  with  the  determination  to  destroy  it.  To 
these  men  he  represented  that  the  Coquilles  were 
friendly,  and  returned  with  them  to  their  camp,  where 
he  succeeded  in  convincing  each  that  neither  had  any 
occasion  to  fear  the  other;  and  appointing  one  of  tlicir 
number  sub-agent  on  the  spot,  again  returned  to  the 
coast  with  the  others.  At  Randolph  he  found  the 
settlers  greatly  excited  by  the  news  from  the  interior. 
Having  concealed  their  portable  property,  they  were 
removing  to  Port  Orford  for  safety.  At  the  mouth 
of  Rogue  River  defences  had  been  built,  and  in  their 
wrath  the  white  men  were  threatening  to  kill  or  dis- 
arm all  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity.  A  few  cool  and 
rcriecting  minds  were  able,  however,  to  maintain  a 
more  prudent  as  well  as  humane  policy,  the  excite- 
ment on  both  sides  seemed  gradually  to  abate,'''  and 
Wright  believed  that  with  the  assistance  of  the  troops 
at  Port  Orford  he  should  be  able  to  preserve  the  i)eaeo 
and  secure  the  public  good. 

About  the  middle  of  November  Agent  E.  P.  Drew, 
who  had  in  charge  the  Coos  Bay  and  Umpqua  Ind- 
ians, became  convinced  that  the  former  were  in  coni- 
nmnication  with  those  at  war,  and  hastily  collect  iii;^ 
the  Umpquas  on  the  reservation  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  and  placing  over  them  a  local  agent,  went  to 
Coos  Bay.  At  En  pire  City  he  found  congregated 
the  settlers  from  the  upper  Coquillo  and  Coos  rivers, 
in  anticipation  of  an  outbreak.  A  company  was 
formed  and  the  savages  attacked  at  Drolley's,  on  the 
lower  branch  of  the  Coquillo,  four  being  killed,  and 
four  ca[)tured  and  hanged.  There  were  lew  troops  at 
Port  Orford  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  these  wouM 
have  been  removed  to  the  north  on  the  call  of  Major 

"Colloctor  Dunbar  nt  Port  Orford  wrote  to  Palmer  that  there  wiis  no 
<loultt  that  Wright  couhl  iimiutain  pcaco  in  hisdiatriut.  'IJen  is  on  tht;  iiiiii|i 
diiy  iind  ni>,'ht.  1  never  saw  in  my  life  a  more  enoruetio  agent  of  the  piili  w. 
His  iiliinsiire  ull  good,  tliere  can  bo  uo  duubt  of  it.  U.  S.  11.  Ex.  Dor.,  li't, 
127-1),  3-ith  cung.  l«it  boss. 


MASSACRE  AT  WHALESHEAD. 


393 


Raines  bad  not  Wright  represented  so  powerfully  to 
|i[,ij(>r  Reynolds,  who  came  to  take  them  away,  the 
(leti'iiceless  condition  of  the  settlements  in  that  event, 
thnt  Reynolds  was  induced  to  remain.  Still  feeling 
their  insecurity,  the  white  inhabitants  of  Whaleshead, 
near  the  mouth  of  Rogue  River,  as  I  have  mentioned, 
erected  a  rude  fort  upon  an  elevated  prairie  on  the 
north  bank  of  that  stream.  A  company  of  volun- 
teers was  also  organized,  which  had  its  encampment 
at  the  big  bend  of  Rogue  River  during  the  winter; 
hut  on  the  proclamation  of  the  governor  in  February, 
calling  for  new  companies  to  reorganize,  the  1st  regi- 
ment of  Oregon  Mounted  Volunteers  had  moved  down 
near  the  settlement  in  order  to  fill  up  its  ranks  to  the 
standard  fixed  by  the  proclamation,  of  sixty  privates 
and  eleven  officers. 

The  conduct  of  the  Indians  under  Wright  had  been 
so  good  since  the  punishment  of  the  Coquilles  in  the 
early  part  of  the  winter  that  no  apprehensions  were 
felt  beyond  the  dread  that  the  fighting  bands  might 
some  time  make  a  descent  upon  them;  and  for  this 
the  volunteers  had  been  duly  watchful.  But  what 
so  subtle  as  savaije  hate?  On  the  nijjht  of  the  22d 
of  I'ebruary  a  dancing- party  was  given  at  Whales- 
head  in  honor  of  the  day,  and  part  of  the  volunteer 
company  was  in  attendance,  leaving  but  a  few  men 
to  guard  the  camp.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
23d,  before  the  dancers  had  returned,  the  guard  was 
attacked  by  a  large  body  of  Indians,  who  fell  upon 
them  with  such  suddenness  and  fury  that  but  two 
out  of  fifteen  escaped.  One,  Charles  Foster,  con- 
cealed himself  in  the  woods,  where  he  remained  an 
undiseovered  witness  of  much  that  transpired,  and 
was  able  to  identify  the  Indians  engaged  in  the  mas- 
sacre, who  wore  thus  found  to  be  those  that  lived 
ahiiut  the  settlement  and  were  professedly  friendly. 

While  the  slaughter  was  going  on  at  the  volunteer 
oamp  some  Indians  from  the  native  village  on  the 
BuuLh  side  of  the  river  crossed  over,  and  going  to  the 


394 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WAES. 


'i  v! 


house  of  J.  McGuire,  where  Wright  had  his  lodgings, 
reported  to  him  that  a  certain  half-breed  naiued 
Enos,**  notoriously  a  bad  man,  was  at  the  village,  and 
they  wished  the  agent  to  arrest  him,  as  he  was  makino' 
trouble  with  the  Tootoo'onies.  Without  the  sliglit- 
est  suspicion  of  treachcxy,  Wright,  with  Captain  Po- 
land of  the  volunteers,  crossed  the  river  to  look  into 
the  matter,  when  both  were  seized  and  killed.*'  The 
bodies  were  then  so  mutilated  that  they  could  not  be 
recognized. 

The  death  of  Wright  is  a  sad  commentary  on  these 
sad  times.  He  was  a  genial  gentleman,  honest,  frank, 
brave,  the  friend  and  protector  of  those  who  .slew 
him.  It  is  a  sad  commentary  on  the  ingratitude  of 
man,  who  in  his  earlier  and  lower  estate  seems  fitted 
to  be  ruled  by  fear  rather  than  by  love.  During  those 
troublous  times  in  southern  Oregon,  I  am  satisfied 
that  the  United  States  government  endeavored  to  do 
its  best  in  pursuing  a  moderate  and  humane  policy; 
and  it  was  singularly  fortunate  about  1'  is  time  in 
having  as  a  rule  conscientious  and  humane  men  in 
this  quarter,  determined  at  the  peril  of  tlieir  lives  to 
defend  their  charge  from  the  fury  of  the  settlers  and 
miners,  who  were  exasperated  beyond  endurance  hy 
having  their  houses  burned  and  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren captured  or  slain.  And  to  none  is  the  tribute 
of  praise  more  justly  due  than  to  Panjamin  Wright, 
who  died  at  his  post  doing  his  duty. 


Uv-|:, 


**Thia  half-breed  Enoa  was  formerly  one  of  Fremont's  guides,  ami  is 
Bpokoii  of  by  Fremont  us  a  very  brave  iind  daring  Indian.  Corr.  Or.  Sta/r.inKin, 
March  11,  1850; //(t/ia/»  ^/  h'ept.,  1850,  p.  20l-'2;  C're»cent  City  Herald  E. dm, 
Feb.  2o,  18.")G.  Ho  was  hanged  at  Fort  C  !ord  in  1857,  for  his  pait  ui  tlio 
nias8a.;ro.  Or,  Statesman,  March  31,  1857;  Tichenor'a  Hidorical  C'orre.-<{ioial- 
eiicf,  MS. 

"Parrish,  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS.,  81-3,  says  that  Wright  was  at  adanoe  in  » 
log  cabin  on  Rogue  River,  about  Christmas  1854!  and  that  with  otlui's  lio 
was  killed  for  liis  treatment  of  the  women.  Dunbar  and  Nash  state  tliat  tlio 
agent  kept  a  native  woman,  Ohetcoe  Jennie,  who  acted  as  interpreter,  ami 
drew  from  the  government  $500  a  year  for  that  service,  and  wlio  bt:t rayed 
him  to  his  death,  and  afterward  ate  a  piece  of  his  heart.  DoweWn  Or.  Iu'l. 
ir«r«,  MS.,  ii.  27;  Ind.  Aff.  Rent.,  1850,201-2;  Or.  SttUcsman,  Maivh  11, 
185(1;  Crcsrent  City  Herald,  Feb.  20,  1850;  U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc,  3a,  p.  47-8, 
35th  cong.  Ist  sess. 


.--  1^ 


EFFORTS  FOR  RELIEF. 


Nor  did  this  horrible  and  dastardly  work  end  here. 
Every  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Whaleshead  was  killed, 
every  house  burned  but  one,  and  every  kind  of  prop- 
erty destroyed.  The  more  distant  who  escaped  the 
massacre,  to  the  number  of  130,  fled  to  the  fort,  but 
being  poorly  armed,  might  still  have  fallen  a  prey  to 
tlie  savages,  had  they  not  with  their  customary  want 
of  persistence,  drawn  off  after  the  first  day's  bloody 
woik.  At  nightfall  on  the  23d a  boat  was  despatched 
to  Port  Orford  to  inform  Major  Reynolds  of  the  fate 
of  the  settlement.  But  Reynolds  could  not  go  to  the 
relief  of  Whaleshead  without  leaving  exposed  Port 
Orford,  that  place  containing  at  this  period  but  fifty 
tickilt  male  citizens  and  thirty  soldiers.  A  whale-boat 
was,  however,  despatched  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
oiH'ii  communication  with  the  besieged;  but  in  attempt- 
ing to  land,  the  boat  was  swamped  in  the  surf,  and  the 
men  in  it,  six  in  number,  were  drowned,  their  bodies 
lieing  seized  by  the  savages  and  cut  in  pieces.  Cap- 
tain Tichenor  with  his  schooner  Nelly  went  to  bring 
off  the  people  of  Whaleshead,  but  was  prevented  by 
contrary  winds  from  approaching  the  shore.  On  the 
moining  of  the  24th  the  schooner  Gold  Beach  left 
Crescent  City  with  a  volunteer  company,  whose  design 
was  to  attack  the  Indians.  They,  too,  were  prevented 
from  landing,  and  except  at  the  fort  the  silence  of 
death  covered  the  whole  country. 

Wlien  the  facts  of  the  outbreak  came  to  light,  it 
M  as  ascertained  that  the  Indians  attacked  no  less  than 
seven  different  points  within  ten  or  twelve  hours,  and 
within  a  distance  of  ten  miles  down  the  coast  on  the 
tsoiith  side  of  Rogue  River,  and  also  that  a  general 
fresh  uprising  occurred  at  the  same  time  in  other 
localities.*' 

*"Tlio  persons  killed  in  the  first  attack  were  Benjamin  Wright,  John 
roliml,  Jolin  Idles,  Ilenry  Lawrence,  Patrick  McCullougli,  Georgo  McClusky, 
Hainiy  Ciwtle,  Guy  C.  Ilolcoinb,  Joseph  Wilkinson,  Joseph  Wagner,  E.  \V. 
IIiiwo,  J.  H.  Braun,  Martin  Reed,  Georgo  Reed,  Lorouzo  Warner,  Samuel 
lIi'iKliick,  Nelson  Seumun,  W.  R.  Tulles,  Joseph  Seroo  and  two  sons,  Jnhn 
(ii'isill  and  four  children,  Mrs  Geisell  and  three  daughters  being  taken  juia. 
uatiii;  and  aubsoqueutly  to  tho  tirat  attack,  lleury  BuUcu,  L.  W.  Oliver, 


SOS 


FURTHER  INDIAN  WARS. 


Those  who  took  refuge  in  the  fort  were  kept 
besieged  for  thirty -one  days,  when  they  were  rescued 
by  the  two  companies  under  Colonel  Buchanan  sent 
by  General  Wool,  as  before  mentioned.  A  few  days 
after  the  arrival  of  the  troops  a  schooner  from  Port 
Orford  effected  a  landing,  and  the  women  and  chil- 
dren at  the  fort  were  sent  to  that  place,  while 
Buchanan  commenced  operations  against  the  Indians, 
as  I  shall  presently  relate  more  in  detail. 

Daniel  Richardson,  George  Trickey  and  Adolf  Schmoldt — ^in  all  thirty-one. 
Warner  was  from  Livonia,  N.  Y.,  Seaman  from  Cedarville,  N.  Y.  Tlio 
drowned  were  H.  C.  Gerow,  a  merchant  of  Port  Orford,  and  formerly  of  \. 
Y. ;  John  O'Brien,  miner;  Sylvester  Long,  farmer;  William  Thompson  anl 
Richard  Gay,  boatmen;  and  Felix  McCue.  Letter  of  James  C.  Franklin,  in 
Or.  StcUeaman,  March  18,  1856;  Crescent  City  Herald,  Feb.  25  and  May  •Jl, 
1856;  Corr.  Cooa  Day  Mail;  DowcIVk  Or.  Ina.  Want,  MS.,  ii.  27;  Or.  An/i's, 
March  8,  1856;  Or.  Statesman,  April  29,  May  13  and  20,  1856;  .S'.  /'.  Attn, 
March  4,  1850;  5.  F.  Bulletin,  March  12,  1856;  Gong.  Globe,  1855-6,  pt  i.,  7M), 
34th  cong.  Istsess.;  Sac.  Union,  March  1,  1856. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


EXTERMINATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 

1856-1857. 

Grand  Rond  Military  Post  and  Resesvation — Drivino  in  and  Cao- 
INO  THE  Wild  Men — More  Soldiers  Reqctired— Other  Battal- 
ions—Down UPON  the  Red  Men — The  Spring  Campaign — Affairs 
ALONG  the  River — Hdmanity  of  the  United  States  Officers  and 
Agents— Stubborn  Bravery  of  Chief  John — Coitncils  and  Surren- 
ders— Battle  of  the  Meadows— Smith's  Tactics — Continued  Skir- 

MISBINO — OlVINO-CP  and  GOHINO-IN  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


When  Superintendent  Palmer  determined  to  re- 
move from  the  Rogue  River  and  Umpqua  reserva- 
tions the  Indians  who  had  observed  the  treaties,  to  an 
encampment  in  the  small  and  beautiful  valley  on  the 
western  border  of  Yamhill  and  Polk  counties,  known 
as  the  Grand  Rond,  so  great  was  the  anger  and  op- 
position of  the  white  people  of  the  Willamette  in 
thus  having  these  savages  brought  to  their  door,  so 
loud  their  threats  against  both  Indians  and  agents, 
that  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  ask  General  Wool  for 
an  escort  and  guard.  Palmer  wrote  Wool  that  ho 
believed  the  war  was  to  be  attributed  wholly  to  the 
acts  of  the  white  population,  and  that  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  adopt  such  measures  as  would  insure  the 
safety  of  the  Indians,  and  enable  him  to  maintain 
treaty  stipulations,^  recommending  the  establishment 

'  'The  future  will  prove,'  said  Palmer,  'that  thia  war  has  been  forced  upon 
tliosc  Indiana  against  their  will,  and  that,  too,  by  a  set  of  reckless  vagabonds, 
tor  pecuniary  and  political  objects,  and  sanctioned  by  a  numerous  population 
wlio  regard  the  treasury  of  the  United  States  a  legitimate  subject  of  plun- 
der.' U.  S.  If.  Ex.  Doc,  93,  24,  34th  cong.  Ist  sess.  See  also  DoweU's  Let- 
hrx,  MS.,  42.    Dowell  takes  a  different  view. 


398 


EXTERMIXATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


of  a  milltar}'^  post,  and  asking  that  a  competent  officer 
be  directed  to  assist  him  in  locating  the  proposed  en- 
campment, and  making  the  improvements  desio-ned 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians.  Having  once  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  removing  the  Indians  from  the 
southern  reservations,  Palmer  was  not  to  be  deterred 
either  by  the  protests  of  the  people  or  the  disappro- 
bation of  the  legislative  assembly.* 

About  the  last  of  January  300  Umpquas  and  200 
Calapooyas  were  brought  from  the  south  and  [jlaccd 
upon  the  Grand  Rond  reservation.  As  these  bands 
had  not  been  engaged  in  the  recent  hostilities,  the 
feeling  of  alarm  was  somewhat  softened,  and  much 
as  their  presence  in  the  valley  was  deprecated,  tliey 
were  suffered  to  go  upon  the  reserve  without  moles- 
tation, although  no  troops  were  present  to  intimidate 
the  people.'  At  the  same  time  Paln.er  gave  notice 
that  he  intended  to  carry  out  his  first  design  of  ic- 
moving  all  the  other  tribes  whenever  the  necessary 
preparations  had  been  made  for  their  reception;*  a 

*  During  the  debate  over  Palmer's  course  in  the  legislature.  Way  mire  ac- 
cused I'almcr  of  being  the  cause  of  the  war,  and  willing  to  bring  about  a 
collision  between  the  United  8tates  troops  and  the  citi>;en3  of  the  Wi^I.iinette 
valley.  'Not  only  that, . .  .but  he  actually  proposes  to  bring  4,O0J  Sii\;i;,'e3, 
red  from  the  war,  and  plant  them  in  one  of  the  counties  of  this  vulluy,  with 
a  8ava;;e  and  barbarous  foe  already  upon  its  borders.  "I  will  do  it,"  sai;l  lie, 
"and  if  you  resist  me,  I  will  call  upon  General  Wool  for  soldiers  to  .sliuot 
down  the  citizens."'  Or.  Statesman ,  Jan.  15,  I80G.  And  on  the  hesitation  uf 
Colonel  Wright,  who  was  first  applied  to  to  furnish  it  without  tiio  smiciiun 
of  General  Wool,  then  in  California,  Palmer  thus  wrote  Commissioner  Jbin- 
nypenny:  '  To  bo  denied  the  aid  of  troops  at  a  critical  moment,  upon  (liiiisy 
pretences  or  technical  objections,  is  to  encourage  a  spirit  of  resistaiico  to  au- 
thority and  good  order,  and  eflfectively  neutralize  all  efforts  to  rc(lui;e  the 
Indians  and  lawless  whites  to  a  state  01  subordination.'  U.  S,  II.  Ex.  Doc, 
93,  131-2,  34th  cong.  1st  sess. 

'The  Indians  were  moved  in  a  heavy  storm  of  rain  and  snow,  Capt. 
Bowie  of  the  northern  battalion  with  20  men  being  ordered  to  escort  ^Metcalfe 
and  his  charge.  At  Elk  Creek  the  Indians  were  seized  with  a  puiio  on 
account  of  rumors  of  the  removal  of  Palmer  from  the  superintendoncy,  ami 
refused  to  go  farther.  Palmer  called  ui)on  Colonel  Wright  for  troops,  and 
was  referred,  as  I  have  said,  to  General  Wool,  when,  without  waiting,  ^lelcall'e 
proceeded  alone  to  the  reservation,  having  quieted  the  fears  of  the  inJiaus. 

*The  opposition  of  the  white  population  was  not  all  that  was  to  bo  over- 
come, ns  Palmer  had  been  warned  by  his  agents.  In  order  to  ind.ioo  the 
Umpquas  to  leave  their  homes,  it  was  agreed  by  treaty  that  each  Imlian 
■boulu  be  given  as  much  land  as  he  had  occupied  in  the  Umpqua  Valley,  with 
a  house  as  good  or  better  than  the  one  he  left,  with  pay  for  all  the  piojerty 
abandoned,  and  clothing  and  rations  for  himself  and  family  until  all  were 


MORE  TROOPS  CALLED  FOR. 


;ent  officer 

DpOScd  01 1- 

3  designed 

once  con- 

from  the 

le  deterred 

3  disappro- 

s  and  200 
and  [Jaccd 
hose  bands 
tilities,  the 

and  niueh 
cated, they 
lOut  moles- 
I  intiniidutc 
oravc  notice 
ssiijn  (»t  re- 
3  necessary 

ceptioii;*  a 

re,  Wayiuire  ac- 

;o  bring  about  a 

I  tlio  WiiLuiicttc 

[g  4,000  saviigcs, 

.his  vuKuy,  with 

Ihloit,"  sai.l  ho, 

loldiers  to  shoot 

jho  liesitiition  of 

lut  tho  siiucUon 

iniaaioncr  Miin- 

int,  ui)on  flimsy 

•esistauco  to  au- 

a  to  rciluco  the 

II.  Ex.  J  for., 

kd  snow,  Capt. 
fescort  ^ll;tcalfe 
htU  a  p.uiic  on 
intendoncy,  ami 
[for  troops,  iiiid 
laiting,  Mctcull'e 
lof  the  liiJiaus. 
T>vas  to  bo  iivor- 
to  inJ.ioo  the 
|at  each  lii<Han 
lua  Valley,  with 
all  tho  i)i-0i'erty 
'  until  all  were 


promise  which  was  partly  carried  out  in  March  by 
the  removal  of  the  Rogue  River  Indians  from  Fort 
Lane  to  the  Grand  Rond,  none  of  that  resistance 
being  offered  which  had  been  feared.  Preparations 
were  then  made  for  bringing  all  the  tribes  from  Coos 
Bay  south  to  the  California  line  upon  the  coast  reser- 
vation selected  in  1854.  The  legislature  had  asked 
for  the  removal  of  the  superintendent  on  this  ground ;' 
though  in  reality  it  was  a  political  dodge;  and  his 
removal  was  accomplished  before  he  had  fairly  fin- 
ished the  work  in  hand.* 

Immediately  after  the  massacre  of  Whaleshead 
Governor  Curry  issued  still  another  proclamation, 
calling  for  another  battalion  for  service  in  the  south/ 
Tho  governor  also  sought  to  modify  his  error  in  disband- 
ing all  unauthorized  companies,  by  advising  the  organ- 
ization in  all  exposed  localities  of  new  companies  of 
minute-men,  the  captains  of  which  were  ordered  to  re- 
port to  the  adjutant-general,  and  recognizing  those  al- 
ready formed  as  belonging  to  this  branch  of  the  service. 

settled  in  their  new  homes;  nor  were  any  of  these  things  to  be  deducted 
from  tlieir  annuities.  Grande  Rondo  reservation  contained  about  6,000  acres, 
anil  was  purchased  of  the  original  claimants  for  $35,000.  Letter  of  citizens 
of  Yamhill  county,  in  Or.  Statesman,  April  29,  18o6. 

' '  We  tho  undersigned,  democratic  members,'  etc.  Then  followed  charges 
that  Joel  Palmer  had  been  instrumental  in  provoking  the  Indian  war;  and 
what  was  more  to  the  point,  '  while  representing  himself  as  a  sound  national 
democrat,  he  had  perfidiously  joined  the  know-nothings,  binding  himself  with 
oaths  to  that  dark  and  hellish  secret  political  order.  They  asked  for  these 
reasons  that  Pahner  be  removed  and  Edward  R.  Geary  appointed  in  his  place. 
Signed  by  the  siieaker  of  the  house  and  34  members  of  the  house  and  coun* 
oil.  U.  S.  If.  Ex.  Doc.,  03,  133-5,  34th  cong.  1st  sess. 

^  E.  R.  Geary  was  not  his  successor,  but  A.  F.  Hedges,  an  immigrant  of 
184.1 

'  There  wts  at  this  time  a  regiment  in  the  Walla  Walla  Valley,  and  one 
in  southern  Oregon,  besides  several  companies  of  minute-men  for  defence. 
Tho  proclamation  called  for  three  new  companies,  one  from  Marion  and  Polk 
counties,  one  from  Benton  and  Lane,  and  one  from  Linn.  The  enrolling  offi- 
cers appointed  for  the  first  named  were  A.  M.  Fellows  and  Fred.  Waymire; 
for  tho  other  two  E.  L.  Massey  and  H.  L.  Brown.  Waymire  wrote  the  gov- 
ernor that  Polk  CO.  had  sent  over  100  men  to  the  Walla  Walla  Valley,  70  to 
Rogue  River,  22  to  fill  up  a  Washington  regiment;  that  Polk  co.  was  willing  to 
go  and  fight,  but  since  the  importation  of  southern  Indians  to  their  border 
they  felt  too  insecure  at  home  to  leave,  and  solicited  permission  from  the 
executive  to  raise  a  compaiiy  for  defence  against  tho  Indians  brought  to  their 
doors.  Or.  Slateamar.,  April  1,  18o6. 


:l 


«  '. 


ii 


4 


m 


EXTERMINATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


Under  the  new  call  two  companies  were  raised;  some 
who  had  served  in  the  first  northern  battalion,  after 
remaining  at  home  long  enough  to  put  in  a  few  acies 
of  grain,  reenlisted.*  These  were  still  at  Eugene  City 
waiting  for  arms  when  April  was  half  gone. 

The  intermission  of  aggressive  operations  greatly- 
emboldened  the  Indians.  The  2d  regiment  was  scat- 
tered, guarding  isolated  settlements.*  Colonel  Will- 
iams had  resigned  on  account  of  the  strictures  passed 
upon  his  official  management,^"  and  Lieutenant-colonel 
Martin  had  resigned  for  a  different  reason."  By  elec- 
tion on  the  19th  of  March,  1856,  Kelsey  was  made  colo- 
nel, Chapman  lieutenant-colonel,  and  Bruce  and  Lat- 
shaw  majors  of  their '  ^spective  battalions.  The  south- 
ern companies  were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Vannoy 
Ferry,  and  the  northern  at  Grave  Creek,  to  be  in  readi- 
ness to  advance  on  The  Meadows,  the  stronghold  of 
the  enemy,  and  toward  which  all  the  trails  seemed  to 
lead.  At  length,  on  the  16th  of  April,  Chapman  and 
Bruce  moved  with  the  entire  southern  battalion  down 
the  south  side  of  Rogue  River  toward  the  supposed 
camp  of  the  enemy,  the  northern  battalion  on  the 
17th  passing  down  the  north  side  under  Lamerick, 
each  division  with  supplies  for  twenty-five  days. 
Three  detachments  were  sent  out  to  drive  the  Indians 
to  their  retreat,  and  Lamerick  announced  his  inten- 
tion to  the  governor  to  stay  with  the  enemy  until 
they  were  subdued  or  starved  out. 

*H.  C.  Huston's  autobiography,  in  Brown^a  Miscellany,  MS.,  48-9.  Linn 
county  raised  one  company  of  6.)  men  commanded  by  James  Blakcly;  Lane 
and  Benton,  one  of  70  men,  D.  W.  Keith  captain. 

•In  the  latter  part  of  Feb.  they  reappeared  in  the  Illinois  valley,  killing 
two  men  and  wounding  three  others.  Soon  after  they  killed  one  (iurs3 
while  ploughing  Smitlrs  farm,  on  Deer  Creek.  Guess  left  a  wife  and  two 
children.  The  volunteers  under  C'Xeil  pursued  the  Indians  and  resciu'l  the 
family,  of  which  there  is  a  circumstf'U'^Jal  account  in  a  series  rf  papers  liy  J. 
M.  Sutton,  called  Scraps  of  Ktuthern  Oiegon  Jlixtori/,  many  of  which  are  ilra- 
matically  interesting,  and  extend  through  several  numbers  of  the  Aihland 
IHdings  for  1877-8. 

"R.  L.  Williams  was  a  Scotchman,  impetuous,  brave,  and  determined. 
It  was  said  that  when  he  joined  in  the  yells  which  the  volunteers  set  up  iu 
answer  to  those  of  the  savages,  the  latter  hung  their  heads  abashed,  su  suc- 
cessful was  he  in  his  efforts  to  outsavage  the  savages. 

''  Martin  was  appointed  receiver  ol  the  new  uuid  office  at  Winchester. 
Or.  Statesriian,  March  11,  1856. 


WOOL'S  C  MPAIGN. 


401 


at  Winchester. 


At  the  same  time  there  was  on  foot  a  movement  on 
the  [)art  of  the  regular  forces  to  close  the  war  by  a 
course  independent  of  that  of  the  volunteer  generals, 
and  directed  by  General  Wool,  who  by  the  aid  of 
iiiajis  and  topographical  reports  had  arranged  his  pro- 
posed campaign."  The  secretary  of  war  had  deemed 
it  necessary  to  administer  a  somewhat  caustic  reproof, 
since  which  Wool  had  three  several  times  visited  Van- 
couver, though  he  had  not  made  a  personal  inspection 
of  the  other  forts.  He  came  in  November  1855,  and 
returned  without  making  his  visit  known  to  the  gov- 
ernor of  Oregon.  He  came  again  in  midwinter  to 
look  into  the  conduct  of  some  of  his  officers  in  the 
Yakima  war,  and  to  censure  and  insult,  as  they  thought, 
both  them  and  the  governors  of  Oregon  and  Wash- 
iuLrton.  And  in  March  he  once  more  returned;  this 
time  bringing  with  him  the  troops  which  were  at 
once  to  answer  the  petition  of  Jackson  county,  and 
to  show  volunteers  how  to  fight.  On  the  8th  of 
March,  wh.le  on  the  way  to  Vancouver,  he  left  at 
Crescent  Cl^v  Lieutenant-colonel  Buchanan,  with 
officers  and  men  amounting  to  96  rank  and  file,  the 
same  who  relieved  the  besieged  settlers  at  the  mouth 
of  Rogue  River.  On  arriving  at  Vancouver  he  or- 
dered to  Port  Orford  Captain  Augur,  4th  infantry,  to 
retinforce  Major  Reynolds,  3d  artillery,  who  was  di- 
rected to  protect  the  friendly  Indians  and  the  public 
stores  at  that  place.  Captain  Floyd  Jones,  4th  infan- 
try, of  Fort  Humboldt,  was  instructed  to  repair  to 
Crescent  City  to  guard  supplies  and  protect  friendly 
Indians  at  that  place,  in  compliance  with  the  request 
of  the  superintendent.  Captain  Smith  of  Fort  Lane 
was  directed  to  repair  to  Port  Orford  with  80  dra- 
goons, to  make  a  junction  with  Buchanan;*'  and  a 

"  *I  have  good  reason  to  believe,'  wrote  Lamerick  to  the  governor,  'that 
General  Wool  has  issued  orders  to  the  United  States  troops  not  to  act  in  con- 
cert with  the  volunteers.  But  the  officers  at  Fort  Lane  told  me  that  they 
would,  whenever  they  met  me,  most  cordially  codperate  with  any  volunteoni 
under  my  command.'  Or.  Statesman,  April  22,  1856. 

'''Our  company,' says  one  of  Smith's  men,  'was  obliged  to  take  to  the 
mouutains  on  foot,  as  we  had  to  climb  most  of  the  way  where  our  horse* 
Hi*..  Ob.,  Vox..  U.    ao 


402 


EXTERMINATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


general  rendezvous  was  ordered  at  the  mouth  of  tho 
IlHnois  River,  where  P-rlmer  was  to  meet  in  council 
the  Indians  who  wore  being  pursued  by  the  vohin- 
tecrs,  and  lead  them  to  the  reservation  on  the  coast 
west  of  the  Willamette  Valley.  Smith  moved  from 
Fort  Lane  about  the  13th  of  April,  a  few  days  earlier 
than  the  volunteer  army  began  its  march  on  The 
Meadows. 


On  the  27th  the  two  battalions  were  ready  to  attack. 
A  reconnoissance  by  General  Lamerick  in  person  had 
discovered  their  camp  on  a  bar  of  Rogue  River,  whore 
the  mountains  rise  on  either  side  high  and  crui^jry, 
and  densely  timbered  with  manzanita,  live-oak,  ehin- 
quapin,  and  chaparral,  with  occasional  bald,  grassy 
hill-sides  relieving  the  sombre  aspect  of  the  scone.  A 
narrow  strip  of  bottom-land  at  the  foot  of  the  heights, 
covered  with  rank  grass  and  brambly  shrubs,  consti- 
tuted The  Meadows,  where  all  winter  the  Indians  liad 
kept  an  ample  supply  of  cattle  in  good  condition  for 
beef  Upon  a  bar  of  the  river  overgrown  with  wil- 
lows the  Indians  were  domesticated,  having  their  huts 
and  personal  property. 

Tho  morning  was  foggy,  and  favorable  for  conceal- 
ing the  approach  of  the  volunteers.  Colonel  Kolsiy 
with  150  men  reached  the  north  bank  of  tho  river 
opposite  and  a  little  below  the  encampment  without 
being  discovered,  while  the  southern  battalion  took 
position  on  the  south  bank,  a  short  distance  above  the 
encampment.  When  the  fog  lifted  a  deadly  \o]\ry 
from  both  sides  was  poured  into  the  camp  from  a  dis- 
tance of  no  more  than  fifty  yards,  killing  fifteen  or 
twenty  before  they  could  run  to  cover,  which  they 
did  very   rapidly,  carrying   their   dead   with   them. 

coultl  not  go.  Wo  oroasod  Rognu  River  on  a  raft  last  Eaater  Monday,  Umfsht 
tho  Indians,  drove  them  from  tlioir  village,  and  burned  it. , .  Wo  sutfiMul  K'mit 
hardships  on  tho  march;  tliero  was  a  tliick  fog  on  the  mountains,  and  tliu 
guido  uouhl  not  make  out  the  trail.  We  wore  seven  davs  struyiiiu'  alioiit, 
wliilo  it  rained  tlio  whole  time.  Our  provisions  ran  out  before  tiio  wi utlicr 
oleiiic'd  and  wo  arrived  at  Port  Orford.  This  was  the  kind  of  work  tlic  vol- 
untoDia  had  bean  at  all  winter,  with  little  sympatiiy  from  the  rogulura. 


FIGHTS  AT  THE  MEADOWS. 


403 


"\Vlicn  they  had  had  time  to  recover  from  the  first 
r(<;i)il,  the  battle  fell  into  the  usual  exchange  of  shots 
jVom  behind  the  rocks  and  trees.  It  was  prolonged 
till  late  in  the  afternoon,  with  considerable  additional 
loss  to  the  Indians,  and  two  white  men  wounded.^* 

Next  day  Lamerick  attempted  to  send  across 
twontv-four  men  in  two  canvas  boats,  but  was  pre- 
vented by  the  shots  of  the  enemy.  And  the  day  fol- 
Idwiug  the  Indians  could  be  seen  through  the  falling 
siiow  wending  their  way  over  the  mountains  with 
tluir  effects,  while  a  few  warriors  held  the  white  men 
at  bay;  so  that  when  on  the  29th  Lamerick's  army 
finally  entered  their  camp,  it  was  found  deserted.  All 
tliat  remained  was  the  offal  of  slaughtered  oxen,  and 
two  scalps  of  white  men  suspended  to  a  limb  of  a  tree.** 
Foitifications  were  then  erected  at  Big  Meadows, 
eiijflit  miles  below,  and  called  Fort  Lamerick,  where 
jiait  of  the  force  remained,  while  the  rest  returned  to 
liradquarters,  two  companies  disbanding.  A  montli 
later  Major  Latshaw  led  113  men  on  the  trail  of  the 
Indians,  and  on  the  28th  of  May  a  few  were  (►ver- 
t  ilan  and  killed  by  a  detachment  under  Lieutenant 
Ifawloy;  wliile  Captain  Blakely  in  a  running  fight  of 
four  miles  down  the  river  killed  half  a  dozen,  and 
took  fifteen  prisoner8,two  Rogue  River  chiefs,  George 
iind  Limpy,  narrowly  escaping.'*  Skirmishing  coi' 
tinucd,  but  I  have  not  space  for  the  multiplicity  of 
detail. 

The  Indians  lost  in  the  spring  campaign  fifty  war- 
riors killed  and  as  many  more  wounded,  besides  being 


'*  Klins  D.  Moroor,  mortally.  Mo  wna  a  native  of  Va.,  and  reaided  In  Cow 
Cnrk  vulloy;  was  '29  years  of  a«ta,  An<(  unniarriod;  a  iiiuuilmr  of  WilkiiiBou'H 
cuiiipiiny;  a  bravo  and  worthy  young  man.  Or.  Slutesmtiii,  May  13,  18.">(J.  On 
till'  (lay  Id'foro  the  battle  MuDoiiald  llartncsa,  of  Oravo  Creek,  and  Wagoner 
vi'i'iM'itliiig  cxprea.4  from  Fort  Leland  to  Lamoriok',i  camp,  when  they  were 
xliut  III  by  Indians  in  ambush.  Wugonor  eseaiHJil,  l)ut  IlitrtnoHS  was  killed, 
rut  in  piccog,  and  his  heart  removed!  He  was  from  Uliii),  but  had  lived  on 
Ciavu  Crock  about  a  year,  and  was  a  man  of  excellent  uharuotor.  Volunteer, 
ill  Or.  Statfstnan,  May  i20,  IS.'SO;  Fortiaiid  Ihri/onian,  May  17,  1856;  S-  Jr. 
IMMin,  Mo'-  19,  1836;  Or.  and  Wank.  Scram,  .31. 

'Ml.  '     ,     iton,  in  liroum't  UuetUany,  MS.,  40. 

"  liept  ot  Lamerick,  ia  Or.  Statuman,  Juds  24,  1856. 


S     .     M 


404 


EXTERMINATION  OP  THE  INDIANS. 


!;( 


.sirn 


.f  : 


J  ., 


greatly  crippled  in  their  resources  of  provisions,  am- 
munition, and  gold-dust  by  the  destruction  of  their 
caches.  Many  of  them  were  tired  of  being  driven 
back  and  forth  through  the  mountains,  and  would 
have  sued  for  peace  but  for  [\e  indomitable  will  of 
their  leader,  John.  That  warrior  was  as  far  as  ever 
from  being  conquered,  and  still  able  to  cope  with 
either  volunteer  or  regular  armies." 

Let  us  turn  to  the  operations  of  General  Wool's 
army.  Buchanan  had  been  more  than  a  month  ab 
the  mouth  of  Rogue  River  endeavoring  to  induce  the 
Indians  to  go  quietly  on  a  reservation,  but  without 
success.     After  some  manoeuvring,  during  whicli  the 

"  About  thia  time  a  person  named  John  Beoson,  a  foreigner  by  birtli,  hut 
a  naturalized  citizen  of  the  U.  S.,  who  liad  emigrated  from  111.  to  Uogiie 
River  in  1853,  WTote  letters  to  the  papers,  in  which  ho  affirmed  that  the  liil 
iana  were  a  friendly,  hospitable,  and  generous  race,  who  had  been  opprcs^od 
until  forbearance  was  no  virtue,  and  that  the  war  of  1853  and  the  pruscnt 
war  were  justifiable  on  the  part  of  the  Indiana  and  atrocious  on  the  (lart 
of  the  whites.  He  supported  his  views  by  quotations  from  military  othciia 
and  John  McLoughlin,  and  made  some  good  hits  at  party  politics,  lie  ^nvo 
a  truthful  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  democratic  party;  but  \v;ih  hs 
unjust  to  the  people  of  southern  Oregon  as  he  was  censorious  toward  tlic 
^'overnor  and  his  advisers,  and  excited  much  indignation  on  cither  hainl. 
Hi!  then  began  writing  for  the  S.  F.  Herald,  and  tlio  fact  becoming  kiinwii 
that  ho  was  aiding  in  the  spread  of  the  prejudice  already  created  ii^'uiii^t 
the  people  of  Oregon  by  the  military  reports,  public  meotiuga  were  hdil 
to  express  indignation.  Invited  to  one  of  these,  without  notilleatinii  nf 
purpose,  Beeson  had  the  mortification  of  having  read  one  of  hia  letters  in 
the  Herald,  which  had  been  intercepted  for  the  purpose,  together  with  :m 
article  in  the  N.  Y.  Tribune  supposed  to  emanate  from  him,  and  of  listening 
to  a  series  of  resolutions  not  at  all  flattering.  'Fearing  violence,' he  nasw, 
'I  fled  to  the  fort  for  protection,  and  was  escorted  by  the  U.  S.  troojis  be- 
yond the  scene  of  excitement.'  Beeson  published  a  book  of  143  pa^'s  in 
1858,  called  A  Plea /or  the  Indiana,  in  which  ho  boasts  of  the  pniteetidii 
given  him  by  the  troops,  who  seemed  to  regard  the  volunteers  with  eon- 
tempt.  He  seemed  to  have  found  his  subioct  popular,  for  he  followed  up  tlio 
I'lea  with  A  Sequel,  containing  an  Appeal  m  hehalfofthe  Indians;  Corr(:--p'<iiil- 
ence  with  the  British  AboriginM  Aid  AsHocianon;  Letters  to  liev.  II.  W.  JIikIki; 
ill  lohich  oMections  art  answered;  Uevicw  of  a  Speech  delivered  by  lie  It'"'. 
Theodore  Parker;  A  Petition  in  behal/  <\f  the  Cilizena  of  Oregon  and  W'ifh- 
itigton  Territories  for  Imlemnity  on  account  qf  Losses  through  Indiin  ll'i/rs 
An  Address  to  the  Women  of  America,  etc.  In  addition,  Beeson  delivernl 
lectures  on  the  'Indians  of  Oregon' in  Boston,  whore  he  advocated  his  ]u- 
euliar  views.  At  one  of  these  lectures  ho  was  confronted  by  a  citi/en  nf 
Washington  territory,  Saywnrd's  Pioneer  Reminiscences,  MS.,  8-10;  ami  at  a 
meeting  at  Cooper  Institute,  Now  York,  by  Captain  Fellows  of  Ore^'on.  "n 
Stateam<iH,  Deo.  28,  1858.  It  was  said  that  in  IbGO  ho  was  about  ta  Nt.irt 
a  paper  in  New  York,  to  be  called  tho  Calumet.  liosni's  iiouvruir^.  lii 
1803  Itccson  endeavored  vO  get  an  appointment  in  the  Indian  department, 
but  being  opposed  by  the  Orogon  senatoni,  failed.  O.  Argus,  June  8,  \M'i, 


ORD'S  EXPEDITION. 


405 


Visions,  am- 
;ion  of  their 
eing  driven 

and  would 
table  will  of 

far  as  ever 
J  cope  with 


neral  Wool's 
a  month  ab 
;o  induce  tlie 
but  without 
»g  which  the 

gner  by  birth,  l)ut 
■om  111.   to  Uo,mio 
fined  that  tlio  hv\- 
lad  Ijeen  oppressed 
3  and  tho  present 
3cious  oil  tlio  p:ut 
iin  military  otlieers 
polities.     He  ^'uve 
iparty;  but  \v:n  us 
lorioua  towurd  tlie 
m  on  cither  lnui'l. 
becoming  Uimwii 
.y  created  iigaiiist 
footings  were  held 
)ut  notiiiciition  nf 
JO  of  his  letters  to 
I,  together  with  iiii 
n,  and  of  listeiiins,' 
violoncc,'  he  ^iiys, 
Iho  U.  S.  trocijis  111'- 
Ik  of  14;J  pa^i'  s  in 
of  tho  pruteetion 
(luntccrs  with  eon- 
lie  followed  up  tlio 
klians;  Corrc-<p"i"l- 
Vv.  n.  II'.  Jlrirlirr, 
[imrfd  by  thf  It'''- 
Jreijon  and  II"'''- 
\u<ik  Iiidiitii  ll'i"'S' 
,  Bceson  deliveivd 
advocated  his  pe- 
id  by  a  citi/en  "i 
iS.,  &-I0;  mid  :it  ■* 
B  of  Oregon,  "r. 
08  about  to  .Ht:irt 
\Vs  Souvctiiii     '" 
idian  dcpurtim'i't, 
iiw,  JuuoS,  1!«03. 


troops  stood  on  the  defensive,  Ord  was  sent  with  112 
null,  on  the  26th  of  April,  to  destroy  a  village  of 
^lackanootenais,  eleven  miles  from  Whaleshead,  as  a 
means  of  inducing  therxi  to  come  to  terms,  which  was 
accoiiiplished  after  some  fighting,  with  the  loss  of  one 
mail.  On  the  29th  Crd  moved  from  his  encampment 
to  escort  a  large  government  train  from  Crescent 
City  to  the  mouth  of  Rogue  River.  His  command 
of  sixty  men  was  attacked  at  the  Chetcoe  River  by 
about  the  same  number  of  Indians.  In  the  skirmish 
ho  lt).st  one  man  killed  and  two  or  three  wounded, 
and  slew  five  or  six  of  the  enemy,  the  attacking  party 
heinj^  driven  from  the  field.^^  And  there  were  a 
few  other  like  adventures. 

Ill  the  mean  time  the  volunteer  companies  on  the 
( oast  were  not  idle.  The  Coos  county  organization 
uiujcr  captains  W.  H.  Harris  and  Creighton,  and 
Port  Orford  company  under  R.  Bledsoe,  harassed  the 
Indians  continually,  with  the  design  of  forcing  thorn 
into  the  hands  of  the  regulars.  The  Coquilles  at 
one  time  surrendered  themselves,  and  agreed  to  go 
on  tho  reservation,  but  finally  feared  to  trust  tho 
whito  man's  word.  Lieutenant  Abbott  surprised  two 
canoes  containing  twelve  warriors  and  three  women, 
and  killed  all  but  ono  warrior  and  two  women. 

ALfain  the  Indians  gave  signs  of  yielding,  and  many 
of  tlio  Coquilles  who  had  been  gathered  on  tho  mili- 
tary reyer^ation  at  Port  Orford  by  the  Indian  agents, 
hut  V  'o  had  run  away,  returned  and  gave  themselves 
UP  ri)«'  'i  declared  that  Enos  and  Jolin  had  deceived 
n;  '  iu>iO*tod  them.  They  had  boon  told  that  tho 
MU'io  p'  )plc  i'l  the  Interior  wero  all  slain,  and  that  if 
they  ^vou^'I  kiU  those  on  tho  coast  none  would  bo  hd't. 

Karly  in  May  Buchanan  moved  his  force  to  tho 
moutli  of  tho  Illinois  River.  With  him  were  several 
Indians  who  had  surrendered,  to  bo  used  as  mossen- 
to   tho    hostile    bands.     These,  chielly  women, 


yvrs 


"  '.  ('.  r.,  in  Or.  Stnlesmnn,  Juno  10,  18r)0;  Cram'H  Top.  Mem.,  50;  Cre»- 
(f      "iiij  Ihrald,  Juno  4,  1850. 


406 


EXTERMINATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


were  »ent  out  to  gather  the  chiefs  in  council  at  Oak 
Flat  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ill'nois  River,  not  far 
above  the  mouth.  In  this  mission  the  messengers 
were  successful,  all  the  principal  war-chiefs  being  in 
attendance,  including  John,*'  Rogue  River  Georire, 
Limpy,  and  the  chiefs  of  the  Cow  Creek  and  Galice 
Creek  bands.  The  council  was  set  for  the  21st  of 
May.  On  that  day  the  chiefs  came  to  the  appointed 
place  as  agreed,  and  all,  with  the  exception  of  John, 
consented  to  give  up  their  arms  on  the  26th,  at  The 
Meadows,  and  allow  Smith  to  escort  a  part  of  them 
to  the  coast  reservation  by  the  way  of  Fort  Lane. 
Others  were  to  be  escorted  by  diiferent  officers  to 
Port  O^i'^rd,  and  taken  thence  to  the  reservation  by 
steamer.  a,  however,  still  held  out,  and  declared 

his  intenti'  ot  to  go  on  the  reservation.  To  Colo- 
nel Buchanan  he  said:  "You  are  a  great  chief;  so 
am  I.  This  is  my  country;  I  was  in  it  when  these 
large  trees  were  very  small,  not  higher  than  my  head. 
My  heart  is  sick  with  fighting,  buf.  I  want  to  live  in 
my  country.  If  the  white  people  are  willing,  I  will 
go  back  to  Deer  Creek  and  live  among  them  as  I  used 
to  do;  they  can  visit  my  camp,  and  I  will  visit  theirs; 
but  I  will  not  lay  down  my  arms  and  go  with  yon  on 
the  reserve.  I  will  fight.  Good-by."  And  stridiii?,' 
out  of  camp,  he  loft  the  council  without  hinderame/" 
On  the  day  agreed  upon  for  the  surrender,  Smith 
was  at  the  rendezvous  with  his  eighty  men  to  reeeive 
the  Indians  and  their  arms.  That  they  did  not  a|>- 
pear  gave  him  little  anxiety,  the  day  being  rainy  ami 
tho  trails  slippery.    During  the  evening,  however,  two 

'•  1  have  beforo  mo  a  photocmph  of  John  and  his  son.  John  hna  iin  in- 
tpUigcut  fuec,  is  droascil  in  civilized  costnino,  with  tiio  hair  cut  in  tiin  t'aHhinn 
of  liiij  oonnucfors,  and  lias  much  tho  looli  of  on  earnest,  determined  ciitlniM 
aat.  His  features  are  not  lilio  those  of  Kamiakin,  vindictive  and  cmk  1,  Imt 
linn,  and  marked  with  that  expression  of  grief  winch  is  often  seen  mi  tlw 
countenances  of  savage  men  in  tlio  latter  part  of  their  lives.  In  .IoIiu'h  iumo 
it  was  undoubtedly  intensified  by  disiinpointmonb  at  his  plans  for  tlii^  v\W\-- 
mination  of  tho  white  race.  His  son  noa  a  heavy  and  lumpish  couute'iauco, 
indiuutivo  of  dull,  stolid  intelligence. 

•"Or.  Slatrsnvin,  July  15,   IHoO;  Ind.  Af-  ttrpt,  1856,  214;  S.  t\  AUa, 
June  i:i,  II),  '11,  16oU;  6'.  /'.  UiMi'Uii,  Juno  14,  '28,  185(1. 


SMITH  AND  CHIEF  JOHN. 


407 


mcil  at  Oak 
Liver,  not  far 
3  messengers 
iefs  being  in 
iver  George, 
ik  and  Galice 
the  21st  of 
ihe  appointed 
tion  of  John, 
26th,  at  The 
part  of  theiu 
f  Fort  Lane. 
nt  officers  to 
eservation  by 
,  and  declared 
m.     To  Colo- 
reat  chief;  «o 
it  when  these 
than  my  head. 
rant  to  live  in 
Iwilling,  I  will 
hem  as  I  used 
11  visit  theirs; 

0  with  you  on 
And  stridiii:^ 

hinderaure.'" 
■ender,  Smith 
lien  to  receive 
did  not  ai>- 
insj  rainy  iU'd 

1  however,  two 

John  has  mi  in- 
Ir  cut  in  thn  f;i-*lnon 
Jotcrmined  oiitlni-i 
Btive  nml  cim  I,  '"'t 
often  set'U  on  tin) 
ten.  In  .loliii'rt  i"i«u 
yans  for  tlioiAti'i- 
liiiplsli  couuU^'.iau'^«i 

L  214;  S.  t\  Ma, 


Indian  women  made  him  a  visit  and  a  revelation,  which 
caused  him  immediately  to  move  his  camp  from  the 
bottom-land  to  a  position  on  higher  ground,  which  he 
imagined  more  secure,  and  to  despatch  next  morning 
a  messenger  to  Buchanan,  saying  he  expected  an  at- 
t;u  Ic  irom  John,  while  he  retained  the  Indian  women 
in  custody.  Smith  also  asked  for  rednforcements,  and 
Augur  was  sent  to  his  relief. 

The  position  chosen  by  Smith  to  fight  John  was 
an  oblong  elevation  250  by  50  yards,  between  two 
small  streams  entering  the  river  from  the  north-west. 
Detween  this  knoll  and  the  river  was  a  narrow  piece 
of  low  land  constituting  The  Meadows.  The  south 
sidi'  of  the  mound  was  abrupt  and  difficult  of  ascent, 
till'  north  side  stii!  more  inaccessible,  the  west  barely 
aiiproachable,  whila  ihe  east  was  a  gentle  slope.  On 
the  suuunit  was  a  plateau  barely  large  enough  to 
atlbrd  room  for  his  camp.  Directly  north  of  this 
mound  was  a  similar  one,  covered  with  a  clump  of 
trees,  and  within  rifle-range  of  tho  first. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  the  men  having  been 
u|i  most  of  tho  night  and  much  fatigued,  numerous 
jiaities  of  Indians  were  observed  to  gather  upon  and 
occupy  tho  north  mound.  Soon  a  body  of  forty 
warriors  ailvanced  up  the  eastern  slope  of  Smith's 
l>o  itlon,  and  signified  their  wish  to  deliver  their  arms 
to  that  officer  in  person.  Had  their  plan  succeeded, 
Smith  would  have  been  seized  on  the  spot;  but  being 
oil  his  guard,  he  directed  them  to  deposit  their  arms 
at  a  ceitain  pla(!e  outside  the  camp.  Thus  foileil,  tho 
warrioi's  retired,  frowning  upon  the  howitzer  which 
had  been  so  planted  as  to  swee[)  the  ascent  from  this 
side.  Lieutenant  Svveitzer  was  stationed  with  the 
iiil'antry  to  defend  tho  crest  of  the  western  acclivity; 
tlh'  di'agoons  were  expected  to  take  care  of  tho  front 
and  rear,  aided  by  the  abrupt  nature  of  the  elevation 
on  those  sides. 

Seeing  that  the  troops  were  prepared  to  fight,  and 
thai   they  would  not  be  permitted  to  enter  Smith's 


408 


EXTERMINATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


''V:  i! 


!   . 


camp  under  an}'^  pretence  with  arras  in  their  hands, 
about  ten  o'clock  the  Indians  opened  fire,  charging 
up  the  east  and  west  slopes  at  once.  The  howitzer 
and  the  rifles  of  the  infantry  repelled  them,  and  thiy 
fell  back  to  cover.  Then  was  heard  the  stentorian 
voice  of  John  issuing  his  orders  so  loud  and  clear  that 
they  were  understood  in  Smith's  camp  and  interpreted 
to  him.  Frequently  during  the  day  he  ordered  charL;es 
to  be  made,  and  was  obeyed.  Some  of  his  warriors  at- 
tempted to  approach  nearer  by  climbing  up  the  steep 
and  craggy  sides  of  the  mound,  only  to  be  shot  by 
the  dragoons  and  roll  to  the  bottom.  Nevertheless, 
these  continued  attempts  at  escalade  kept  every  man 
sharply  at  his  work.  In  the  matter  of  arms,  the 
Indians  had  greatly  the  advantage,  the  musketoons 
of  the  dragoons  being  of  service  only  when  the  enemy 
were  within  short  range;  while  the  Indians,  beino-  all 
provided  with  good  rifles,  could  throw  their  balls  into 
camp  from  the  north  mound  without  being  discovered. 
Thup  the  long  day  wore  on,  and  night  came  witliout 
relief.  The  darkness  only  allowed  the  troops  tiun;  to 
dig  rifle-pits  and  erect  such  breastworks  as  they  could 
without  proper  implements. 

On  the  28th  the  Indians  renewed  the  battle,  and 
to  the  other  sufferings  of  the  men,  both  wounded  and 
unwoundod,  was  added  that  of  thirst,  no  water  heill^' 
in  camp  the/  day,  a  fact  well  known  to  the  Indians, 
who  frequently  taunted  the  soldiers  with  their  sull'er- 
Another  taunt  was  that  they  had  ropes  io 


nigs 


31 


hang  every  trooper,  not  considering  them  worth  am- 
munition."* 

Up  to  this  timo  Augur  had  not  come.  At  four 
o'clock  of  the  second  day,  when  a  third  of  Smith's 
command  were  dead  or  wounded,  and  the  destrueliou 


"  Tlicy  taunteil  them  with  tlio  often  repeated  qnestion,  *Mika  hias  tioka 
chuck?'  You  very  much  want  water?  'Ticka  chuck?*  Want  water?  Mlalo 
chuik,  lUwton!'     No  water,  whitomiml   Cor.,  Or.  Slate/nnan,  Juno  17,  l>"'ii. 

'"  (.'roorr'.i  Pahlii^  L{f<;  MS.,  49;  Or.  and  Wash.  Scrapn,  2H;  .John  Wallni, 
in  XirholH' Ind.  /I/,  MS.,  20;  Crnm'i  Top.  Mfni., .''.;};  Volunteer,  in  Or.  .sVd'.jc 
ma/i,  Juno  17,  1850;  CrcMent  City  Nirnll,  June  II,  18j0. 


AUGUR  RELIEVES  SMITH. 


409 


of  the  whole  appeared  but  a  matter  of  time,  just  as 
tho  Indians  had  prepared  for  a  charge  up  the  east  and 
west  approaches  with  a  view  to  take  the  camp,  Smith 
b(lield  the  advance  of  Captain  Augur's  company, 
which  the  savages  in  their  eagerness  to  make  the  final 
C()ii[)  had  failed  to  observe.  When  they  were  half- 
way up  the  slope  at  both  ends,  he  ordered  a  charge, 
the  first  ho  had  ventured,  and  while  he  met  the  enemy 
ill  front,  Augur  came  upon  them  in  the  rear.  The 
cdiiHict  was  sharp  and  short,  the  Indians  fleeing  to  the 
hills  across  the  river,  where  they  were  not  pursued, 
and  Smith  was  rescued  from  his  perilous  situation." 
Augur  lost  two  men  killed  and  three  wounded,  making 
the  total  loss  of  troops  twenty-nine.^*  The  number  of 
Indians  were  variously  stated  at  from  200  to  400. 
No  inontion  is  made  by  any  of  the  writers  on  the  sub- 
ject of  any  loss  to  the  enemy. 

This  exploit  of  John's  was  the  last  worthy  of  men- 
tion in  the  war.  With  all  his  barbaric  stronjjcth  and 
courage,  and  the  valor  and  treachery  of  his  associates, 
his  career  was  drawing  to  a  close.  His  resources 
were  about  exhausted,  and  his  people  tired  of  pur- 
suing and  being  pursued.  They  had  impoverished 
the  white  settlers,  but  they  had  not  disabled  or  ex- 
teiminated  them.  The  only  alternative  left  was  to 
go  upon  a  reservation  in  an  unknown  region  or  fight 
until  they  died.  John  preferred  the  latter,  but  the 
iiiajoiity  were  against  him.  Superintendent  Palmer 
pii  sently  came,  and  to  him  the  two  chiefs  George 
and  Limpy  yielded,  presenting  themselves  at  camp 

•''  ( "nun  is  hardly  justified  in  calling  this,  as  ho  does,  a  victory  for  the 
tro()|is.  Jlrachvtl'H  U.  S,  Ciivalry,  171.  Smith  was  a  bravooiliucr,  Imt  he  was 
iii>  m.iii'h  lor  Indian  cunniiii;  when  \w  took  tlie  position  John  intendoil,  wliero 
ill'  r  iiiM  1)0  surroundud,  and  witiiin  rille-rango  of  another  oniineneu,  while  ho 
li:ul  Init  thirty  rifles.  This  flgiitiiiK  in  an  open  plaee,  standing  up  to  bo  HJiot 
at,  ;it,  rillo-range,  was  wiiat  ania/ed,  and  at  last  amused,  tho  Indians.  Tho 
wtlUuiiceived  plan  of  tho  crafty  chief  failed;  hut  it  would  have  failed  still 
iiiuii!  Hi^iially  if  Smith  had  scut  for  roiuiforconicuta  on  lirst  receiving  John's 
uliulK  iigo,  and  had  stationed  himsolf  whero  he  could  run  away  if  ho  wished. 

''*  <  ''nm\i  Top.  Mem.;  Rent  of  Major  Latshaw,  ia  Or.  Statetiman,  June  24, 
1S,)(};  llopt  of  I'almcr,  in  Iiul.  ^If.  Iiti>t,  1800,  215. 


410 


EXTERMINATION  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


li 


on  the  30th  with  their  people  and  delivering  up  tlieir 
arms. 

During  June  a  mild  species  of  skirmishing  con- 
tinued, with  a  little  killing  and  capturing,  some  of 
the  Indians  surrendering  themselves.  Smith's  forces 
on  their  march  down  the  river  destroyed  some  vil- 
lages, and  killed  and  drove  to  their  death  in  the  river 
some  forty  men,  women,  and  children.  Even  such  a 
fate  the  savage  preferred  to  the  terrors  of  a  reserva- 
tion. By  the  12th  over  400  had  been  forced  into 
the  regular  camp,  which  was  slowly  moving  toward 
Fort  Orford.  As  the  soldiers  proceeded  they  gath- 
ered up  nearly  all  the  native  population  in  their  lino 
of  march.  Similar  policy  was  pursued  in  regard  to 
the  Chetcoe  and  Pistol  River  Indians,  and  with  like 
results. 

Deserted  by  other  bands,  and  importuned  by  liis 
own  followers  to  submit,  John  finally,  on  the  20th  of 
June,  surrendered,  and  on  the  2d  of  July  arrived  with 
his  people  at  Fort  Orford.  He  did  not,  however,  .sur- 
render unconditionally.  Before  agreeing  to  come  in,  he 
exacted  a  promise  that  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  band 
should  be  in  any  wise  punished  for  acts  they  had  coni- 
uiitted,  nor  compelled  to  surrender  the  property  taken 
in  war.  On  the  9th,  with  the  remnant  of  his  band, 
he  was  started  off  for  the  southern  end  of  the  coast 
reservation.  Under  the  same  escort  went  the  Pistol 
Piiver  and  Chetcoe  Indians,  or  such  of  them  as  had 
not  escaped,  to  be  located  on  the  same  part  of  the 
coast,  it  being  deemed  desirable  to  keep  the  most  war- 
like bands  separated  from  the  others.  George  and 
Limpy  with  the  lower  Rogue  River  people  were  car- 
ried by  steamer  to  Portland,  ana  thence  to  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  coast  reserve. 

To  prevent  the  Indians  from  fleeing  back  to  their 
old  homes,  R^iynolds  was  ordered  to  the  mouth  of  tlie 
Siuslaw,  and  shortly  afterward  a  post  was  erected  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  Umptjua,  about  four  miles  bcIow 
Gardiner.     Captain  Smith  stationed  his  company  at 


II 


END  OP  THE  WAR. 


411 


tlio  pass  in  the  Coast  Range  west  and  a  little  north  of 
the  town  of  Corvallis,  which  post  was  named  Fort 
Hoskins.  Throughout  these  troubles  considerable 
jc.'ilousy  between  the  volunteers  and  the  regulars  was 
manifested,  each  claiming  the  credit  of  successes,  and 
in  reverses  throwing  the  blame  upon  the  other. 

The  war  was  now  considered  as  ended  in  southern 
Oregon,  although  there  was  still  that  portion  of  the 
Clietcoe  and  Pistol  River  bands  which  escaped  with 
some  others  to  the  number  of  about  200,  and  about 
100  on  Rogue  River,  who  infested  the  highways  for 
another  year,  compelling  the  settlers  agnin  to  form 
companies  to  hunt  them  down.  This  created  much 
(lis^iatisfaction  with  the  Indian  superintendent,  with- 
out any  better  reason  apparently  than  that  the  pa- 
tience of  the  people  was  exhausted. 

With  regard  to  Palmer's  course,  which  was  not  with- 
out some  errors,  I  cannot  regard  it  in  the  main  as 
other  than  humane  and  just.  His  faults  were  those 
of  an  over-sanguine  man,  driven  somewhat  by  public 
clamor,  and  eager  to  accomplish  his  work  in  the  short- 
est time.  He  had  vanity  also,  which  was  offended  on 
one  side  by  the  reproof  of  the  legislature,  and  flat- 
tered on  the  other  by  being  associated  in  his  duties 
with  an  arbitrary  power  which  aftccted  to  despise  the 
leu^islature  and  the  tjovernor  of  Oreufon.  Ho  sue- 
ceeiled  in  his  undertaking  of  removing  to  the  border 
of  the  Willamette  Valley  about  four  thousand  Ind- 
ians, the  care  and  improvement  of  whom  devolved 
uiion  his  successors.  For  his  honostv  and  eminent 
services,  he  is  entitled  to  the  respect  and  gratitude  of 
all  iifood  men.''^ 

Early   in   May  1865   most  of  the   Rogue   River 

"Deady  says:  'Few  men  in  this  or  any  other  country  have  hibored  harder 
or  iiimo  disinterestedly  for  the  public  goo<l  than  <  Jeneral  I'almcr.  A  man  of 
ni'dciit  toinperament,  strong  friendships,  and  lull  of  hope  iuid  contidcnco  in 
liii  I'lllow-men,  ho  has  unreservedly  given  the  flower  of  liia  life  to  tlio  best  in- 
tdists)  of  Oregon.'  Tran'*.  Or.  J'ionetr  Amtor.,  lS7"i,  H'-H.  Palmer  rau  for 
govrnior  of  (hcgon  in  1870,  but  was  defeated  by  Ciover.  He  died  iu  1879 
at  liid  homo  iu  IJuyton. 


412 


EXTERMINATION  OP  THE  INDIANS. 


Ms 


people  and  Shastas  who  had  been  temporarily  plac«Hl 
upon  the  Grand  Rond  reserve  wore  ninovcd  to 
Siletz,  Sam  and  his  band  only  being  permitted  to 
remain  as  a  mark  of  favor. 

I  will  not  here  discuss  further  the  reservation  sys- 
tem. It  was  bad  enough,  but  was  probably  the  best 
the  government  could  devise,  the  settlers  being  dotci- 
mined  to  have  their  lands.  In  theory,  the  sava-j^fs 
thus  became  the  wards  of  the  United  States,  to  be 
civilized,  christianized,  educated,  fed,  and  clotlied. 
In  reality,  they  were  driven  from  their  homes,  huddled 
within  corftparatively  narrow  limits,  and  after  a  brief 
period  of  misery  they  were  swept  from  the  earth  by 
the  white  man's  diseases.^" 

In  March  1857  congress  united  the  superintend en- 
cies  of  Oregon  and  Washington,  and  called  for  an 
estimate  of  the  unpaid  claims,  which  were  found  to 
aggregate  half  a  million  dollars,  and  which  were 
finally  allowed  and  paid.**^  On  the  Siletz  reservation 
many  Indians  had  farms  of  their  own,  which  tliey 
worked,  and  many  were  taught  the  mechanic  arts,  tur 
which  they  exhibited  much  aptitude;  the  women 
learning  housekeeping  and  the  children  going  to 
school  by  the  advice  of  their  parents;  considerable 
progress  having  been  made  in  the  period  between 
1878  and  1887.  It  is  also  stated  that  their  numbers 
increased  instead  of  diminished,  as  formerly. 

**It  was  the  unpopular  side  to  defend  or  protect  the  Indians  during  tliis 
•war.  Tliere  were  many  among  the  officers  and  servants  of  the  United  States 
brave  and  manly  enough  to  do  this.  On  the  other  liand,  the  govcrnnicnt  lias 
made  many  bad  selections  of  men  to  look  after  the  Indians.  Out  of  an  ap- 
propriation by  congress  of  $500,000,  if  the  Indians  received  $80,000  or  §100,- 
000  they  were  fortunate, 

*' See  letter  of  Nesmith,  in  Or.  Statesman,  Oct.  20,  1857.  The  estiiimteil 
expense  of  the  Indian  service  for  Oregon  for  the  year  ending  June  LSM  was 
$4'J4,000,  and  for  Wasliington  82-29,000.  U.  S.  H.  Ex.  Doc,  37,  1-27,  l-".>- 
40,  34th  coug.  3d  sesa.,  and  Id.,  70,  vol.  i.x.  12,  22,  28;  LI.,  9.'<,  vol.  xi.  l-tO. 
54-73,  84-90.  A  special  commissioner,  C.  H.  Mott,  was  sent  to  examine  intD 
the  accounts,  who  could  find  nothing  wrong,  and  they  were  allowed,  aud 
paid  in  1859. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATK 

1856-1859. 

Lectsutitre  of  1855-6 — Measures  and  Meuorials — Leoislatcre  of  1856- 
7— No  Slavery  in  Free  Territory — Republican  Convention — Elec- 
tion Results — Discussions  concerning  Admission — Deleciatb  to 
C<  INGRESS— Campaign  Journalism — Constitutional  Convention — The 
Grkat  Question  of  Slavery — No  Black  Men,  Bond  or  Free — Adop- 
tion of  a  State  Constitution — Legislature  of  1857-8 — State  and 
Terkitorial  Bodies — Passenger  Service — Legislatures  of  1858-9 — 
Admission  into  the  Union. 


During  these  days  Oregon  was  somewhat  soured 
over  the  Indian  question,  and  toward  the  United  States 
generally.  The  savages  should  have  been  more  quickly 
and  cheaply  killed;  the  regulars  could  not  fight 
Indians;  the  postal  service  was  a  swindle  and  a  dis- 
grace; land  matters  they  could  manage  more  to  their 
.satisfaction  themselves;  better  beconje  a  state  and  be 
independent.  There  was  even  some  feeling  between 
nertliern  and  southern  Oregon ;  the  former  had  labored 
and  the  latter  had  suffered,  and  both  were  a  little  sore 
over  it. 

About  all  the  legislature  of  185 5-6 Mid  was  to  move 

'  The  councilmen  elect  were,  for  Multnomah,  A.  P.  Dennison ;  Clackamas 
and  Wasco,  J.  K.  Kelly;  Yamhill  and  Clatsop,  John  Richardson;  I'olk  and 
Tillain<x)k,  J.  M.  Fulkerson;  Marion,  J.  C.  Peebles;  Liun,  Charles  Drain; 
L'iiip(|ua,  Douglas,  and  Coos,  H.  D.  O'Bryant,  democrats;  and  A.  A.  Smith 
of  Line  and  Iknton,  and  E.  H.  Cleaveland  of  Jackson,  whigs.  Assembly- 
men, for  Clatsop,  Philo  Callender;  Wasco,  N.  H.  Gates;  Columbia,  John 
Karris;  Multnomah,  G.  W.  Brown;  Washington,  H.  Jackson;  Clackamas,  O. 
Kisley,  H.  A.  Straight,  James  Officer;  Marion,  L.  F.  Grover,  William  Har- 
polc,  J.  M.  Hanison;  Yamhill,  A.  R.  Burbauk,  Andrew  Shuck;  Polk,  Fretl. 
Waymire,  R.  P.  Bois^;  Linn,  Delazon  Smith,  H.  L.  Brown,  B.  P.  Grant; 
Uentou,  John  Robinsou,  H.  C.  Buckingham;  Lane,  Isaac  R.  Moorea,  A. 

(413) 


I     Mi: 


;  3 


t:  :^y,a. 


414 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


the  capital  from  Corvallis  to  Salem,  ask  congress  to 
discharge  General  Wool  and  Superintendent  Palmer, 
and  send  up  a  growl  against  Surveyor-general  Gar- 
diner and  Postal-agent  Avery.' 

To  prevent  any  benefit  to  southern  Oregon  from 
the  appropriations,  as  well  as  to  silence  the  quest  i(ni 
of  the  relocation  acts,  it  was  proposed  to  ask  congress 
to  allow  what  remained  of  the  university  fund  to  l)o 
diverted  to  common-school  purposes;  but  the  matter 
was  finally  adjusted  by  repealing  all  the  former  a(  ts 
concerning  the  university,  and  making  a  temporary 
disposition  of  the  fund. 

With  regard  to  the  volunteer  service  in  the  Indian 
wars,  Grover  introduced  a  bill  providing  for  the  eai- 
ployment  if  necessary  of  the  full  military  force  of  tlie 
territory,  not  exceeding  three  full  regiments,  to  seivo 
for  six  months  or  until  the  end  of  the  war,  uiili  ss 
sooner  discharged;  the  volunteers  to  furnish  as  lar 
as  practicable  their  own  arms  and  equipments,  and  to 
be  entitled  to  two  dollars  a  day  for  their  services,  aa  I 
two  dollars  a  day  for  the  use  and  risk  of  their  hor  •  s; 
all  commissioned  officers  to  receive  the  same  pay  as 
oflficers  of  the  same  rank  in  the  regular  service,  ' 
sides  pay  for  the  use  and  risk  of  their  horses;  the 
to  apply  to  all  who  had  been  in  the  service  from  two 
beginning,  including  the  9th  regiment  of  Ore-nu 
militia.     The  bill  became  a  law,  and  the  legislal;;ro 


ti 


memoralized  congress  to  assume  the  expense,'  wliicli 

McAlexander;  Umpqua,  John  Cozad;  Douglas,  William  flutson;  Coos, 
William  Tichenor;  Jackson,  M.  C.  BarkwelT,  J.  A.  Lupton,  Thos  Sini.li, 
democrats;  and  H.  V.  V.  Johnson  of  Washington  and  Briggs  of  Jacli^oii, 
whigs.  A  vacancy  was  caused  in  the  house  by  the  death  ol  J.  A.  Lu|i;iiii; 
and  subsequently  in  the  council  by  the  resignation  of  E.  JI.  Clcavih:ml. 
The  first  place  was  filled  by  Hale,  democrat,  and  the  latter  by  John  E.  Itn^, 
whiff.  Clerks  of  the  council,  Thomas  W.  lieale,  A.  Sulger,  and  L.  W. 
Phelps;  sergeant-at-arms,  M.  B.  Burke;  door-keeper,  James  L  Earle.  Cldki) 
of  the  lower  house,  James  Elkinsand  D.  Mansfield;  sergeant-at-anns,  \.  i. 
Welch;  door-keeper,  Albert  Boisd.  Or.  Statesman,  Jiuio  30  and  Dec.  8,  I  'ij. 

*  The  trouble  was,  with  these  men,  they  were  on  the  wrong  side  in  [>■  >Ii- 
ticB,  that  they  were  wlii<^  and  know-nothings,  and  everything  vile. 

•  This  legislature  was  not  over-modest  in  its  memorials,  Jt  asked  f  v  t  lie 
recall  of  Wool  from  the  department  of  the  Pacific;  that  Empire  Cicy  be  lau  le 
a  i>ort  of  entry;  that  land  titles  in  Oregon  be  confirmed;  that  additional  iiail- 
routes  be  established;  that  two  townships  of  land  be  grafted  in  lieu  uf  tho 


THE  LEGISLATURE. 


415 


after  much  investigation  and  delay  was  done,  as  we 
havo  seen.  The  last  of  the  political  divisions  of  west- 
etn  Oregon  were  made  at  this  session,  when  Curry 
uiid  Josephine  counties  were  established.*  The  ques- 
tion of  a  state  constitution  was  not  discussed  at  length, 
an  act  being  passed  to  take  the  vote  of  the  people 
upon  it  again  at  a  subsequent  election.  On  the  21st 
of  January  the  legislature  adjourned.' 

Ongon  City  claim;  that  the  expenses  of  the  Indian  war  be  paid;  that  the 
Iiiiiian  superintendent  be  stayed  from  locating  Indians  in  the  Willamette 
Vulliy;  tliat  the  federal  government  assume  the  expenses  of  the  provisional 
g(>\'crtiinciit;  that  congress  provide  for  the  issuance  of  a  patent  to  land  claims; 
tliat  a  innil-route  be  established  from  San  Francisco  to  Olympia;  mail  service 
e;ist  of  tlie  Cascade  mountains;  a  military  road  from  Oregon  City  to  The 
Dulk's;  that  the  expenses  of  the  Snake  River  expedition  be  paid;  that  the 
riu'lit  of  pensions  be  extended  to  disabled  volunteers;  that  the  spoliation 
claims  of  18o3  be  liquidated;  that  congress  pay  for  the  services  and  ex- 
penses of  the  Rugue  River  war  of  1854;  that  a  military  road  be  established 
I'loiii  Olympia  via  the  mouth  of  the  Cowlitz  to  intersect  the  military  roail 
leading  from  Scottsburg  to  Myrtle  creek;  a  military  .'oad  from  Port  Orford 
to  .hiLksouville;  money  for  a  territorial  library;  and  that  congress  reeog- 
ni/cc  tiic  oiBce  of  commissioner  to  audit  the  war  claims.  Indeed,  Philo  Col- 
laiulcr  uf  Clatsop  county  was  so  appointed,  but  congress  r'^.id  not  recognize 
liiiii.  Tlie  Statesman  complained  in  September  that  Lane  had  obtained 
?;{U0,000  for  the  Indian  department,  and  nothing  more  for  any  puipose  except 
tice  regular  appropriation  for  territorial  expenses,  which  would  have  been 
made  without  him.  A  little  later  it  was  ascertained  that  ,n")00  had  been  ob- 
tained for  the  territorial  library,  which  money  was  expcmled  by  Gov.  Curry 
wlieii  he  went  to  Washington  in  1806  to  defend  himself  from  tlie  attacks  of 
Wool. 

'  It  was  proposed  to  name  the  former  Tichenor,  but  that  member  declined, 
saying  tliut  his  constitutents  had  instructed  him  to  call  the  county  after  the 
g(i\enior.  The  second  was  named  after  Josephine  Rollins,  whose  father  first 
disctivered  gold  on  Josephine  Creek.  The  county  seat,  Kirbysville,  was 
uanicd  after  Joel  A.  Kirby,  who  took  a  land  claim  on  the  site  of  that  town. 
Untdif^  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  77;  Prim's  Judicial  Affairs,  MS.,  2-3;  U.  S.  II.  Ex. 
Dor.,  i.  .348,  375,  419,  431,  34th  cong.  1st  sess. 

'"  Several  charters  Avere  granted  to  societies,  towns,  and  schools.  Astoria 
and  Kola  in  Polk  county  were  chartered.  To-day  Eola  is  a  decayed  hamlet 
and  Astoria  a  thriving  city  by  the  sea.  The  Portland  Insurance  Company 
alsr.  took  ji  start  at  this  time.  Masonic  lodges,  Warren  No.  10,  Temple  No.  7, 
Jennings  No.  9,  Tuality  No.  6,  Harmony  No.  12,  received  their  charters  at 
this  session.  There  b  a  list  of  the  officers  of  Harmony  Lodge  from  1836  to 
187.T  ill  ]iy  Laws,  etc.,  Portland,  1873.  Multnomah  Lodge  No.  1  was  in- 
corporated January  19,  1854;  Willamette  Lodge  No.  2,  February  Ist;  Lafay- 
ette Lodge  No.  3,  January  28;  and  Salem  Lodge  No.  4,  in  February  1854. 
It  is  said  the  General  George  B.  McClelian  received  the  first  three  degi'ees  in 
mnsoniy  in  Willamette  Lodge  No.  2,  at  Portland.  O.  F.  Orand  Lodijeo/Or., 
IS.iii  7(i.  Acta  incorporating  the  Willamette  Falls  Railroad  Company,  the 
llockvillc  Canal  Company,  the  Tualatin  River  Transportation  and  Naviga- 
tion ( 'onipany,  and  no  less  than  14  road  acts  were  passed.  The  assembly 
appointed  A.  Bush,  printer;  B.  F.  Bouliam,  auditor;  J.  D.  Boon,  treasurer; 
K.  S.  lloyt,  librarian;  E.  Ellsworth,  university  commissioner.  Something 
here  said  of  John  Daniel  Boon,  who  for  manv  years  was  territorial 
Deady  calls  him  a  good,  plain,  unlearned  man,  and  a  fervent 


Bliould  be 
treujurer. 


419 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


?: 


M 11 


The  democratic  party,  which  had  so  long  dominated 
Oregon,  and  to  which  whigsand  know-nothings  oft'eioJ 
but  a  feeble  opposition,  had  so  conducted  afl'airs  dur- 
ing the  Indian  war  of  18o5-G  as  to  alienate  sonio  df 
its  original  supporters.  It  had,  however,  a  strong 
hold  on  the  people  in  the  war  debt,  which  it  was 
believed  Lane,  through  his  influence  with  the  adniiu- 
istration,  would  be  able  to  have  discharged.  So  long 
as  this  appeared  probable,  or  could  be  reasonahly 
hoped  for,  niucli  that  was  disagreeable  or  op|irossive 
at  home  could  be  tolerated,  and  no  steps  were  taktni, 
at  first,  to  follow  the  movement  in  the  Atlantic  Status 
which  was  dividing  the  nation  into  two  great  parties, 
for  and  against  slavery.  Southern  Oregon,  which 
was  never  much  in  sympathy  with  the  Willamette 
Valley,  the  scat  of  democratic  rule,  was  the  first  to 
move  toward  the  formation  of  a  republican  party.  A 
meeting  wos  h«'ld  at  the  Lindley  school-house,  EJeii 
precinct,  in  Jackson  county,  in  May  1856,  for  the  pur- 
])ose  of  choosing  candidates  to  be  voted  for  at  the 
June  election." 

The  meeting  declared  against  slavery  in  the  new 
states.  The  democrnta  miglit  have  said  the  same,  hut 
at  this  juncture  they  did  not;  it  remained  for  the  tirst 
republican  meeting  first  to  promulgate  the  sentiment 
in  the  territory.  It  was  a  spontaneous  expression  of 
incipient  republicanism  in  the  far  north-west,  not  even 
the  Philadelphia  convention  having  yet  pronounced. 
The  election  came;  none  of  the  candidates  of  Eden 
district  were  chosen  to  the  legislature,  though  one 
know-nothing  from  the  county  was  elected,  and  the 

mothodist  preaclter.  Scrnp'hook,  87.  Ho  was  Ijom  at  AthoiiH,  Ohio,  Jim.  8, 
1817,  ami  caino  to  Oro^ou  in  1845.  IIo  d:'>il  ut  tSaloin,  Miiero  ho  kept  ii  sinall 
■tore,  ill  Juno  1804.  Uiilrm  Mercury,  imw  27,  1804.  On  the  l.'tth  of  I'li'. 
1877  «HlhI  Martha  J.  lioon,  hia  wife,  ngcil  04  years.  Their  chilihiii  muc  4 
sons  and  eoveral  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  in  Oregon,  except  Jdliii,  who 
niudo  hiii  homo  in  Man  Francjaco.   San  Joh^  Pioneer,  Deo.  20,  1877. 

*TI>u  r"8olution8  adopted  wore:  that  freodom  waa  national  and  Hiavery 
■octioiiul;  that  cougrcsa  had  no  power  ovi-r  rlavery  in  tho  atatca  win  ii  it 
already  existed;  but  that  outaido  of  f  tale  jurisdiction  tho  p^worof  thufoli  lul 

foTomnivnt  should  bo  cxer',ed  to  prevent  ita  introduction,  etc.  (Jr.  Anjut, 
uuo  7,  1800. 


POUTICS. 


417 


latter  party  did  not  differ,  except  in  its  native  Amer- 
icanism, from  the  republicans.  As  time  passed,  how- 
tver,  the  republican  sentiment  grew,  and  on  the  llth 
of  ()( tober  a  meeting  was  held  at  Silverton  in  Marion 
cdunty,  when  all  opposed  to  slavery  in  free  territory 
^vcl•u  invited  to  forget  past  differences  and  make  com- 
inoii  cause  against  that  influence,  to  escape  which 
many  through  toil  and  sufllcring  had  crossed  a  conti- 
nent to  make  a  home  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  J 
Other  assemblages  soon  followed  in  almost  every 
county. 

When  the  legislature  met  in  December,  it  was  as  it 
lia<l  always  been  a  democratic  body,  but  there  wero 
cni)UL;h  opposition  members  to  indicate  life  in  the  new 
nil  (veniont.*  Few  bills  of  a  general  nature  were  passed, 
hut  the  drift  of  the  discussions  on  bills  introduced  to 
aHi)\v  half-breeds  to  vote,  to  exclude  free  negroes  from 
the  territory ,"  to  repeal  the  viva  voce  bill,  and  kin- 
thvil  subjects  plainly  indicated  a  contest  before  tho 
istati!  constitution  could  bo  formed.     An  act  was  onco 


pns,  Ohio,  .Fim.  S, 

•0  lio  kopt  a  siimll 

Itho  i;Uh  of  l»i^'. 

chililri'ii  "lie  4 


Btatos  wlui'r  it 

^or  of  tliu  fcilifiil 

etc.  (Jr.  Ai'jM, 


'  I'iiiil  Ciandiill,  O.  Jacobs,  T.  W.  Davenport,  Rico  Dunlmr,  aiui  K.  N. 
Cof)lio  wii'o  the  iimvora  in  this  first iitteiiipb  iit  orij;iini»ition in  tho  Willninctte 
Viilli  V.  'i'li(!  last  tlireo  were  apiwiiitinl  to  coiTcsiiond  witli  uthor  rupuljliouna 
fur  till'  fui'thcrancc  of  tiio  principlos  of  fivo  govcrnniont. 

'^  Mriiili('t>«uf  thocounoil:  John  M.  Uohm,  of  .ra(;i{soii  county;  ITnKhP.  O'Bry- 
iiiit.  I'iii|>i|iia,  I)c)U|{liis,anil  (^oos;  A.  .'v.  Smith,  li:'.niMkncl  Mcnton;  Charles  Drain, 
l.iuii;  N.'ithanii'l  FortI,  I'olk  anil  Til'aniook;  J.  11.  liaylcy,  Yamhill  and  (jlat> 
8(>|i;J,('.  I'c(!lilca,  Marion;  if.  K.  Killy,  ClackanmH  ttinl  Wasco;  Tlioa  Ji, 
Ccinirlius,  Wasiiin;:ton,  Colnniliia,  and  Aliiltnoniah.  llouao:  .lohnS.  Mdlcr, 
TlKaii.is  Sniitli,  .lackson;  A.  M.  Hcrry,  \V.  .1.  Matthcwn,  .lo.scphinc;  Afiron 
IJiKi',  hoimlas;  A.  K.  Jiogors,  Coosiniil  (^irry;  D.  C  Unilcrwood,  Unipipiit; 
.laiiuH  Mduroo,  Jl.  l\.  Cochran,  I^mc;  .1.  V.  Avery,  .1.  A.  Honi.elt,  rxiiton} 
|)il;i/nii  Niuitii,  II.  L.  KroMi),  Wiliiiini  Ivoy,  Linn;  Wni  M.  Walker,  I'olk  ami 
lillaiiiiink;  A.  .1.  Welch,  I'olk;  L.  F.  (irover,  William  llarpolc,  Jacob  ('on- 
mr,  M.Miou;  William  Allen,  A.  J.  Shuck,  Yamhill;  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  W.  A. 
Nu;ilv«(.ither,  K.  A.  Collard,  Clackamas;  (}.  W.  Hrown,  Mnltn(jniali;  'I'.  J. 
Ihycr,  Miiltuonuih  and  Washington;  II.  V.  V.  Johnnon,  Washington;  Harr, 
lolumMa;  J.  W.  MotUt,  Clatsop;  N.  II.  (Sates.  Wasco.  Or.  L(iu»,  IS.Vl-?, 
p.  N.  .lames  K.  Kolly,  prcst  eouneil;  L.  F.  Orover,  speaker  of  tlu!  hoimo, 
(l.iksnf  tho  council,  A.  S.  Watt,  John  CostoUo,  and  T.  F.  McF.  IV.tton; 
ser^vaiilat-arms,  (J,  W.  Holmes;  lioor-kcepcr,  J.  Mct-'lain.  Clerks  of  the 
liiw.r  hdiise,  D.  C  Dado,  K.  M.  llowman,  .1.  Looney;  Horgtmntat-arms,  J. 
S,  lii>li\ ;  (jiior-keepcr,  J.   Henry  Hrown.    Or.  Stnfi.immi,  Doc.  1),  lH.i<l. 

'  W  hen  tho  cummissionor  in  lfl.">3-4  made  n  list  of  tho  former  laws  of  Oro- 
gou  whjjli  uero  to  bo  adopted  into  tho  c(hIo,  that  onu  which  n-lated  to  the 
txchi.sidu  <if  free  negrooa  was  inadvertently  left  out,  and  wim  thus  unintoti- 
ftlly  M  p(  aled.  It  wua  nut  revived  at  this  Boasiou,  uwiug  tu  the  op^Kwuiuu  ol 
tk  ripuljlicnn  and  some  other  members. 
Uitt.  Us.,  Vol.  a.    •» 


41S 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


i 


more  passed  at  this  session  to  take  the  sense  of  the 
people  on  the  holding  of  a  constitutional  convention, 
and  to  elect  delegates  to  frame  a  constitution  in  case 
a  majority  of  the  people  should  vote  in  favor  of  it. 

In  order  to  met  the  coming  crisis,  republican  clubs 
continued  to  be  formed;  and  on  the  11th  of  Fchru- 
ary,  1857,  a  convention  was  held  at  Albany  to  pcrfVct 
a  more  complete  organization,"^  when  the  name  Free 
State  Republican  Party  of  Oregon  was  adopted  and 
its  principles  announced.  These  were  the  perpetuity 
of  the  American  Union;  resistance  to  the  extension  ot' 
slavery  in  free  territory;  the  prohibition  of  polygamy ; 
the  admission  of  Oregon  into  the  Union  only  as  a  free 
state;  the  immediate  construction  of  a  Pacific  railway; 
the  improvement  of  rivers  and  harbors;  the  applica- 
tion of  the  bounty  land  law  to  the  volunteers  in  the 
Indian  war  of  1855-G;  and  the  necessity  for  all  hon- 
est men,  irrespective  of  party,  to  unite  to  secure  the 
adoption  of  a  free  state  conscitution  in  Oregon."  At 
Grand  Prairie,  a  free  state  club  was  formed  January 
17th,  whose  single  object  was  to  elect  delegates  to 
the  constitutional  convention  pledged  to  exclude  from 
the  state  negroes,  slaves  or  freemen. 


The  Oregon  delegate  to  congress,  Joseph  Lan(\  lind 
no  objection  to  slavery,  though  he  dared  not  (tponly 
advocate  it.  In  conforn\ity  to  instructions  of  the  !(;.(■ 
islature,  he  had  brought  a  bill  for  admission,  \vhi<  li 
was   before  congress  in  the  session  of   185G.     The 

'"Dclcgatos:  From  Multnomah,  Stephen  CoflTin,  Chnrloa  M.  Cnrtcr,  L. 
Limorick ;  Claokmas,  W.  T.  Matlock,  \\.  L.  Adams,  L.  llilnu's;  Wiisliiii^rtnii, 
II.  II.  llicklin;  Yamhill,  John  K.  MoHiido,  S.  M.  fiilmorf,  W.  15.  l»;iiii.l<, 
llrookn,  ami  Uik-ll;  Linn,  T.  H.  Kondiill,  ,1.  ('onnor,  J.  P.  Tate,  .lohiiSinifli, 
JaiM.'S  (iruy,  William  Marks,  David  liamlicrtj  I'olk,  John  B.  Hell;  l!i  iiimi, 
William  Miller,  J.  Young;  Umpoua,  K  L.  Apnlegato.  Co!,nniitti"  tupn' 
fv  10  iia  luldress,  Thos  rope.  W.  L.  Adams,  unci  Stephen  Collui.  ilMcuiiv 
committ«o,  J.  1$.  Condon,  T.  S.  Kendall,  K.  h.  Appleijato,  and  Thus  I'opi'. 
Or.  Ar<iui,Vch.  21,  1870.     Seo  address  in  .4  rf;i«,  Apiifll,  18.')7, 

"  .\mong  tho  first  to  promulgato  republican  doctrines  worn  K.  T>  SImt 
tuck,  Ijuwronoo  Hull,  Levi  Anderson,  li.  C.  Ii.aymond,  John  II  lOMun.  1. 
M.  Holando,  H.  C.  Adams.  S.  >L  (iilmoro,  G.  W.  Burnett,  G.  L.  Wn.nln.W 
T.  Matloc'k,  IL  Johnson,  L.  W.  Hejuolds,  Goo.  P.  Newell,  J.  C.  luii. aiwiri, 
F.  Johnmm,  H.  J.  Davia,  John Terwilliger,  Matthew  Patton.U.  W.  Uiuaoa, 
•od  W.  Carey  Johiuon. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  REPUBLICANISM. 


419 


sense  of  the 
I  convention, 
iition  in  case 
favor  of  it. 
(ublican  clubs 
.th  of  Febru- 
any  to  perfect 
e  name  Free 
i  adopted  and 
ihe  perpetuity 
le  extension  of 
of  polygamy; 
I  only  as  a  iVec 
*acifio  railway; 
5;  the  applica- 
unteers  in  tlio 
ty  for  all  lion- 
to  secure  the 
Oregon."     At 
irracd  January 
b  delegates  to 
0  exclude  from 


cph  Lane,  bad 

ed  not  opt'idy 

ons  of  tlu^  b'u;- 

nission,  wbiih 

f    185G.     Th.' 


only  objection  offered  was  the  lack  of  population  to 
entitle  the  state  to  the  representation  asked  for  in  the 
bill.  Its  failure,  together  with  the  failure  of  the 
Indian  war  debt  bill,  was  injurious  to  the  popularity 
of  the  delegate  with  his  party.  But  during  the  fol- 
lowing session  a  bill  authorizing  the  people  of  Oregon 
to  form  a  constitution  and  state  government  passed 
the  lower  house,  and  was  taken  up  and  amended  in 
tht;  senate,  but  not  passed.  It  remained  where  it 
oll'cred  a  substantial  motive  for  the  reelection  of  the 
s;iine  delegate  to  complete  his  work. 

Such  was  the  position  of  affairs  in  the  spring  of 
IS;")?.  The  territory  was  half  admitted  as  a  state,  a 
.institutional  convention  was  to  be  held,  a  delegate 
to  bo  elected,  and  a  new  political  party  was  organizing 
\vhi(di  would  contend  for  a  share  in  the  management 
of  the  public  interests.  It  was  not  expected  by  the 
most  enthusiastic  republicans  that  they  could  elect  a 
(li  h  L,'ate  to  congress,  their  aim  being  different.  The 
drniocrats  for  the  first  time  were  divided  on  nomina- 
tinns;''  but  after  a  little  agitation  the  convention  set- 
tled down  to  a  solid  vote  for  Lane,  who  thus  became 
f  r  the  fourth  time  the  congressional  nominee  of  his 
party.  This  done,  the  convention  proceeded  to  puss 
;:  [.solution  binding  their  county  <lelegatcs  to  execute 
iIm'  will  of  the  party  "according  todemocratie  usages," 
ii  pudiating  the  idea  that  a  delegate  could,  iti  pursu- 
:ini  0  of  the  interests  or  wishes  of  his  district,  refu.se 
t"  support  the  nominations  of  his  party,  and  still 
I  lintiiin  a  standing  in  that  party."  Then  came  the 
i.iinouncement,  "That  wo  deny  the  right  of  any  state 
to  interfere  with  Euch  domestic  institutions  of  other 

"OtliPr  poBsiblo  cnndiilatoa  woro  Dcmly,  Vosmith,  Orovcr,  Boistf,  Pdazon 
SiMith,  (iciii^u  II.  Williams,  nnd  .livinoa  K.  Kelly.  Cliickainaa  and  Clatsop 
I'  iiiiiiaic'l  Kelly,  but  lio  doulinc.l,  knowing  that  no  could  not  l)o  elected  be- 
'  iii^o  ho  wa.s  not  ft  democrat  of  that '  viKoroua  nnyitico'  which  tho  SttUcjiman 
i"|iirtd;  that  junrnalaftorwnrd  reproacliiiig  hini  with  losing  thisopportnuity 
tiiHi  '\;ii  t(H)  i,uK'h  iiiciopeudcuco  of  {tarty  govurumout.  Sue  letter  or  Kelly,  iu 
'"■.  Shilenmnn,  I'cb,  17,  1837. 

'^8u  well  wliippeil  in  wore  tho  dolcf^ten  to  the  convention  that  only  the 
<  i  uh'iniaa  memben  and  J.  L.  Mook  of  Woahiagton  county  voted  ogainit 
Ihu  ruBoluiioi. 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


states  as  are  recognized  by  the  constitution;"  that 
in  choosing  delegates  to  the  constitutional  cunvon- 
tion  no  discrimination  should  bo  made  between  dcino- 
crats  in  favor  of  or  opposed  to  slavery,  beciiuso  that 
question  should  be  left  to  be  settled  by  a  direct  vote 
of  the  people. 

To  this  parade  of  the  ruling  party  the  infant  ropul)- 
lican  organization  could  offer  no  opposition  that  had  in 
it  any  promise  of  success.  A  few  of  the  older  coun- 
ties chose  delegates  to  the  constitutional  conventinu; 
others  had  no  republican  representation.  But  tliero 
was  a  visible  defection  in  the  democratic  ranks  from 
the  bold  position  taken  by  the  leaders,  that  it  was 
treachery  to  question  their  mandates,  even  when  they 
conflicted  with  the  interests  and  wishes  of  tho  sec- 
tions of  country  represented — a  doctrine  directly  oj)- 
posed  in  sentiment  to  that  of  state  rights,  which  tho 
party  was  commanded  to  indorse.  This  was  a  s|)ccios 
of  subordination  against  which  many  intelligent  (Icmim- 
crats  protested  as  strongly  as  the  republicans  pioUst. d 
against  negro  slavery.  One  newspaper,  the  Portlunl 
Democratic  Standard,  revolted,  and  was  dccUticd  to 
be  out  of  the  party." 

The  June  election  came  on.  The  republicati  jiarty 
had  no  candidate  for  delega^.e,  but  was  ])repar(Mt  to 
vote  for  G.  W.  Lawson,  a  free  soil  democrat,  who 
announced  himself  as  an  independent  candidate  t'nr 
congress.  Lane  arrived  toward  the  last  of  A|)iih  and 
the  canvass  began.  Hitherto  in  an  election  the  i|iiis- 
tions  considered  had  been  chiefly  personal  and  liial; 
or  at  the  most,  they  involved  nothmg  more  inipoitant 
than  a  desired  appropriation  or  a  change  in  the  laud 
law.  But  now  tho  people  were  called  upon  to  lay 
tho  foundation  of  a  state;  to  decide  upon  matters 
affecting  tho  interests  of  the  commonwealtli  lor  all 
time.     The  returns  showed  that  while  the  principles 

"Thoro  were  few  persons  in  Orejiton  not  deeply  interested  in  ])olitks  at 
this  time.  A  uorrospuudunt  of  a  GUifornia  paper  writes:  'Tlui  On  ;.<iiiaii!i 
huvo  two  wuuiMtiouH,  n^riuulturo  uud  politics.'  See  ronmric.s  on  tli«  r:iii!i<'s<>f 
disiMuaiou  iu  tiio  dumuuiatio  party,  iu  Or.  iltataiinan,  April  14  auJ  Jl,  ISO'. 


A  PROSPECTIVE  CHANGE. 


421 


jtion;"  that 
mal  convcM- 
twcen  deiuo- 
bcca,use  1,1  uit 
%  direct  vote 

nfant  rcpnl)- 
i  that  had  in 
s  older  cduii- 

conventiou; 
But  there 

ranks  from 

that  it  was 
m  when  they 
3  of  the  sec- 

dircctly  np- 
bs,  which  tha 
^vas  a  spt'cies 
llij^eiit  (Kuio- 
aus  protested 
the  Portland 

declared  to 

iblicaii  |iarty 

])repar(il  to 
mocrat,  who 
andidatc  lor 
)t'  Ai)ril,  and 

)ii  the  ipies- 
il  and  local; 
re  important 

in  the  land 
upon  to  lay 
pon  nialtei'H 
caltli  for  all 

10  princi[)los 

ted  In  piilitics  at 

'TIU!  Oir4  .uiiUH 
S  oil  the  i;lllSfSi>f 

I  liuuJ-M,  IbJT. 


of  democracy  still  retained  their  hold  on  the  people, 
a  I'ar  greater  number  than  ever  before  voted  an  oppo- 
sition ticket,  and  that  of  the  delegates  chosen  to  the 
i•on^titutional  convention  more  than  one  third  were 
cither  republicans  or  were  elected  on  the  opposition 
ticket;  that  the  legislature,  instead  of  being  almost 
wholly  democratic  as  for  several  preceding  years, 
would  at  the  next  session  have  a  democratic  major- 
ity of  but  one  in  the  council;  and  that  there  woidd 
ho  ten  republicans  among  the  thirty  members  of  the 
house.  *^ 

During  this  important  epoch  the  course  of  the 
St(ifc!^in(m  was  cautious  and  prudent,  while  seeming 
to  he  frank  and  fearless.  It  published  with  equal 
and  impartial  tolerance  the  opinions  of  all  who  chose 
to  expound  the  principles  of  freedom  or  the  evils  or 
blessings  of  slavery.  The  other  leading  party  jour- 
nals were  not,  and  could  not  afford  to  bo,  so  calm  and 
apparently  indifferent  to  the  issue;  for  while  they 
wei'e  striving  to  mould  public  sentiment,  the  Statcs- 
hidit  hud  one  settled  policy,  which  was  to  go  which- 
soever way  the  desvinies  of  the  democratic  party  led 
it.  More  than  one  new  campaign  journal  was  cstab- 
lishe(l,'^  and  influences  were  brought  to  bear,  hitherto 

'■''Tlio  nirioiiil  rptnrna  for  dolotrato  to  conj^rpsa  pavo  Lano  .1,002  votes,  and 
Liws'iii  ,'t,47l.  Tlio  constitutional  convention  vote  \v;is  7,*n7  for  ;inil  I,*i7'.> 
ii.iiin-t.  Till!  counties  that  pjivo  a  rcpiililioau  majority  wero  Yai.JiiU.  Wanli- 
iii.'tuii,  Miiltnoinali,  Colunil)iM,  and  Clatsop.  Benton  eanio  within  -.">  votes  of 
iiiikiii'^' a  tie.  In  tho  other  counties  of  tho  Wilhiun'tto  tliero  was  a  lar^'o 
(liiiinri  itie  majority.    Or.   Arijiin,  Juno    l.'J,    lSo7;   Or.   Stateitnuin,  July  7, 

IS.'iT;    Ti-ihiiiie  Ahtflirti',  \HM,  i'l'X 

'"Tlure  was  I'/tc.  FroiifiiT  Scntinc!,  published  at  Corvallis,  whoso  pur()OHC 
was  to  ).'iv(!  'an  anient  and  unwaverinji  support  in  favor  of  tho  introilueliou 
(if  slavery  into  Ore,i;on.'  Tho  pul»lish(!r  was  Ji.  1*.  Hall  from  California,  and 
till'  iiiatei  lid  was  from  tho  otlico  of  tlio  H.r/ioxifiir,  another  democratic  journal, 
wlmsr  iiM'fiil  less  had  expired,  and  whoso  typo  was  ahout  worn  out.  Or.  A  /•,'/"■>', 
.Imirjil  ih."iV.  Tlio  Orrhlriitd  MvxKfiiijir,  ])ui)lislii'd  at  Corvallis,  lulvocnted 
till  (lu  trine  that  tliero  eouM  Innio  Biieli  thiiij;  IIS  a  freo  state  deinocrat.  Hr. 
S'fiti'.iiiini,  All','.  "J."),  iS,')7.  'The  editor  of  that  paper  eanio  to  thegon  soiiie- 
tliiiifj  less  tliiiii  six  months  a^'o,  and  issueil  n  prospectus  for  a  weekly  news- 
|:.|ii'i'.  N'ooiio  li  new  where  lie  came  from,  who  Rent  him,  or  how  niiieli  .\very 
I'll  i  I' ir  liiin.  Tn  his  prospei^tiis  ho  avowr-d  himself  in  favor  of  the  present 
ii'iiiiiiial  ailiiiinistralion,  in  favor  of  tho  prliieijiles  eiiunuiafi^d  liy  llui  Cim  in- 
iiiiti  national  democratio  'jonvention,  ami  in  favor  of  tlio  infroductiMU  of 
slavery  into  Ore^'on.'  From  tlio  remarks  of  tho  .la-k-tonvillo  //i  mil,  it 
iilipoara  that  tho  Si.iUiud  aud  tho  Mismiijcr  woro  ouo  paper,  editcil  by  Hall. 


Mi;    V: 


489 


OREGJON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


I      :'■!  !| 


unknown,  to  awaken  in  the  minds  of  the  people,  the 
cliief  part  of  whom  were  descendants  of  slave-holdLis, 
a  desire  for  unpaid  servitude.  To  meet  this  appar- 
ently well  organized  effort  of  the  southern  denioLiatii 
of  the  United  States  senate  and  of  California,  thu 
rei)ublicans  and  free-state  democrats  of  Oregon  nerved 
themselves  afresh.  All  the  newspapers  of  whatever 
politics  or  religion  were  filled  with  discussions  (»f 
the  topic  now  more  than  any  other  absorbing  the 
public  mind.  George  H.  Williams  made  a  strou;,' 
a[»pcal  in  an  article  in  the  Statesman  of  July  2Sth, 
showing  that  Oregon  was  not  adaped  to  slave  labdr. 
On  the  other  hand,  F.  B.  Martin  urged  the  advuntumj 
and  even  the  necessity  of  slave  labor,  both  sides  pre- 
senting lengthy  arguments  convincing  to  themselves.'' 
With  more  ardor  than  discretion,  Martin  said  that 
slavery  would  be  a  benefit  to  the  negro  himself;  lur 
if  proved  unproHtablo,  it  would  die  out,  and  the  blacks 
beeome  free  in  a  fine  country.  Now  there  was  no 
HU(  h  hater  of  the  free  negro  as  the  advocate  of  slave 
labor;  and  unless  the  black  man  could  be  sure  always 
to  remain  a  chattel,  they  would  oppose  his  entranec 

Or.  S/ritfsmaii,  Nov.  17,  18.".  It  was  in  this  year  that  the  Jwknoiii-iiU 
I/ii(tlil  was  lirat  publishccl,  which  Ii'uiieil  tnwurd  slavury.  It  M'as  ussfi'tiil 
hy  thii  California  jimriuils  tiiat  the  iji-o-shivery  i)arty  of  tliat  Ktatc  li;i'l  i(4 
(•mi.Hsarit'S  in  Oregon,  ami  tliat  it  was  ilesigneil  to  send  iiito  tlio  tt'iiitmy 
v<itiiH  enough  to  give  a  majority  in  fa\ur  of  slavery.  S.  F.  Chroiiir/c,  .Aiij. 
1."),  11557.  Ex-governor  Footo  of  Mississippi,  tlien  in  California,  visileil  On'- 
gnu  in  August,  which  movement  the  n.'putilioans  thought  siguilicant.  J/  /'//<• 
r/'c  llcntid  and  S.  F.  Chroiiir/i',  in  Or.  Stall  snian,  iSept.  H,  1S.")7.  ("liiis  H. 
I'ieki'tt,  formerly  v(  Oregon,  retm-iied  there  from  California,  and  coiitriliulcl 
siiiMi'  arguments  in  favor  uf  slavei'y  to  the  cohinins  of  tho  Htutcitmaii.  <ii: 
AniiiK,  Oct.  10,  18.')7;  Or.  Slnhmi'iii,  Oct.  (5,  18."i7. 

"Sco  letter  of  .1.  W.  Mack  in  favor  of  slave  labor,  in  Or.  .'^lairsniiii, 
Aug.  18,  18.'i7;  and  of  Thomas  Norria  against,  iu  tho  Slatvsnuia  uf  .Vug.  I, 
I8."i7;  Or.  Arnit't,  Jan.  10,  Sept.  o,  Oct.  10,  IS,"i7.  Tho  J'ttriji,-  ('/msfin,,  I-/- 
Vi'Ciiti-,  nietlioili.st,  edited  hy  Thoinas  I'earne,  shirked  tho  rcspo'i.siliil;!y  "f 
an  opinion  hy  iiretending  to  ignore  tho  existence  of  any  slavery  agit:ition,  m 
that  any  prominent  ))oIitieians  were  cngageil  in  jjromoting  it.  .Vdaius  n- 
torted:  'We  should  like  to  ask  tho  /l(/r'>fv«<(' whether  Jo  Lane,  dcligati'  to 
congress;  Judge  Deady  of  tho  supi'eino  court;  T'Vault,  editor  of  tln^  (»/•.;/'»» 
Siiiiiiiil;  Avery,  a  prominent  member  of  tho  legislature;  Kelsa., .  an  iulliuii- 
tial  mendier  of  tho  constitutional  convention;  Juilgo  Dickiy  Miller,  a  1' I'i- 
ing  man  in  Marion  county;  Mr  ,Soap  and  .Mr  Crisp,  leading  men  in  Vaiiiliill; 
Judge  Holmes  and  Mr  OiKcer  of  (!laekamus,  and  lifty  others  wo  mii^lit  iii<  11 
tion,  who  uro  all  rabid  "nigger"  muu — uru  uut  "promiuont  politiciau8,"' 
Or.  Arjiu,  Sept.  5,  1857. 


THE  NEGRO  IN  POUTICS. 


423 


info  Oregon  to  their  utmost.  That  it  was  a  dread 
of  the  free  negro,  quite  as  much  as  a  sentiment 
auaiiist  .slavery,  which  governed  the  makers  of  tlie 
constitution  and  voters  upon  it,  is  made  apparent  by 
tlio  first  form  of  that  instrument  and  the  votes  which 
dceicled  its  final  form. 


The  constitutional  convention  assembled  at  the 
SuIlui  court-house  on  the  17th  of  August,  and  made 
A.  L.  Lovejoy  president  pro  tern."  On  the  follow- 
ing^ diiy  M.  P.  Deady  was  chosen  president  of  the 
t'uiivontion,  with  N.  C.  Terry  and  M.  C.  Bark  well  as 
s((  ivtaries.^'*  The  first  resolution  offered  was  by 
A|i|iK','ate,  that  the  discussion  of  slavery  would  be 
uiit  of  place;  not  adopted.     The  convention  remained 

'"  M('iiil)ers:  Marion  county,  Oeo.  H.  Williams,  L.  F.  Orover,  J.  C.  PceblcH, 
,I(i>i|ili  ('(i\,  Nicholas  JSIirum,  Uavia  >Slianuon,  Uieliard  Miller;  J.iiiu,  iK'liuon 
Siiiiili,  .1.  T.  Ilrooks,  LiUlitT  KlkiiiM,  .J.  H.  linittuiii,  Jas  Shields,  ,Jr,  R.  S. 
(uyk-,  Lane,  K.  lloult,  W.  W.  IJristow,  Jesse  Cox,  A.  J.  Caiii|)l)ell,  tl.  K. 
M. Mires,  I  Paul  Hrattaiii;  IJcnton,  John  Kelsjiy,  'JI.  C.  Lewis,  *i[.  ]i.  Xich- 
ols.  'William  Matzyer;  I'olk  and  Tillanuxjk,  A.  I).  Babeoek;  Polk,  11.  1*. 
]\.n<i',  l\  Wayniirc,  IJenj.  F.  Itiirch;  Yamhill,  *W.  Olds,  "R.  V.  Short,  *R. 
C.  Kirimy,  *j.  R.  MclJrido;  Claekamus,  J.  K.  Kelly,  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  :J;\V'.  A. 
Stark  wiatlier,  JL  Camphell,  Nathaniel  Rohltins;  Washington  and  Alultmimah, 
*T1jos  J.  Dryer;  Multnomah,  S.  J,  McCorniiuk,  William  II.  Farrar,  *l>avi(i 
Li'.'aii;  Washington,  *K.  D.  Sluiltuck,  •John  S.  White,  •Levi  Anderson; 
W.isiii,  ('.  l{.  Meigs;  Clatsop,  tCyrusOlney;  Cohunliia,  •,Tolm  W.  Watts; 
.i'i.i|ihine,  S.  Ilendershott,  *\\'.  II.  Watkins;  Jaekson,  li.  J.  C.  Duncan, 
.1.  II.  lii'cil,  Daniel  Neweoml),  §1*.  I'.  I'rim;  Cihis,  *T.  (j1.  Lockhart;  Ciiiry, 
\\  illiaiu  H.  I'aekwood;  Umpnua,  *Jesso  Applegate,  *Levi  .Suott;  Douglas, 
M.  I'.  Deady,  S.  F.  Cliadwick,  Solomon  Fitzhngli,  Thomas  Whitted.  Tlioso 
iiiuked  (*|  were  opposition;  f,  elected  on  opposition  ticket,  hut  claiming  to 
lie  ilrMiocrats,  and  undeiatood  to  approve  of  the  platform  of  the  last  teirito- 
n.il  iliiiiuiiatie  convention;  i",  electcil  on  the  democratic  liiket,  hutsaid  to  l)o 
ojipMSfd  to  tile  democratic  organization;  JS,  position  not  known.  Lockhai't'a 
I'iiclion  was  contested  by  I*,  li.  Marple,  wiio  obtained  his  seat  in  the  conven- 
tion. 

The  nativity  of  the  niendiera  is  aa  follows:  Applogate,  Anderson,  Bristow, 
Coyle,  i'il/lHigli,  Kelsay,  Moores,  Sliii'lds,  S,  Kentucky;  Brattain  of  Liim, 
I'inn.  .siiriiin,  White,  Whitted,  ."»,  Teiuiessre;  Brattain  of  Lane,  Lou'an,  '_', 
N'lth  t'.iroliiia;  llabcock,  Dryer,  Lcnvis,  Olney,  Smith,  Williams,  \\aiUins, 
T.  .Vi'W  Vork;  ISoise,  Campliell  of  Clackamas,  Lovejoy,  Olils,  4,  Massarhii- 
Bi'tt.-*;  IJnrcli,  Cox  of  Lane,  .Mdiride,  Watts,  4,  Missouri;  Cox  of  .Maiioii, 
Wayniire.  •_',  Ohio;  Crooks,  Holt,  Marple,  Newcomb,  Rol;' ins,  ">,  Viri.'inia; 
CaiiipluU  of  Ijime,  .Shannon,  '2,  Indiana;  Cliadwick,  Meij,s,  Starkweather, 
Niiliols,  4,  ('onnectieut;  Deaily,  Mdlcr,  '2,  Maryland;  Duncan,  1,  (Je  irgia; 
K.kins,  Kelly,  IVeliles,  Reed,  Short,  r>,  I'enn.sylvania;  Farrar,  1,  New  Hainp- 
Kliire;  drover,  I,  Maine;  ilendershott,  Kinney,  I'ackwood,  Scott,  4,  Illinois; 
Mat/.'ir,  1,  Cerinany;  McConnick,  I,  Ireland;  Shattuck,  1,  Vermont. 

''^Joliii  Bidier,  sergeant-at-ariUH;  another  .lohn  Baker,  duor-kceper,  tha 
latter  ilcl'eatini^  u  cuudidutu  whusu  uamo  was  Baker. 


424 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


in  session  four  weeks,  and  frequent  references  to  tlie 
all-iuiportant  topic  were  made  without  disturhiiiL,^  tlio 
general  harmony  of  the  proceedings.  The  dehatts  un 
all  subjects  were  conducted  with  fairness  and  di  lilj- 
eration.  In  order  to  avoid  agitation,  it  was  agreed  to 
leave  to  the  vote  of  the  people  the  question  of  negntts, 
free  or  enslaved,  a  special  provision  being  made  t'lr 
the  addition  of  certain  sections,  to  be  inserted  or 
rejected  according  to  the  vote  upon  them.*' 

The  influence  of  the  republican  element  on  the  work 
of  the  convention  was  small,  except  as  recusants.  ' 
Most  of  the  provisions  were  wise;  most  of  tlioin 
were  politic  if  not  all  liberal.  Its  bill  of  rights,  while 
it  gave  to  white  foreigners  who  might  become  ivnI- 
dents  the  same  privileges  as  native-born  citizens,  gav(> 
the  legislature  the  power  to  restrain  and  reguiatL-  the 
inmiigration  to  the  state  of  persons  not  quulilied  to 
become  citizens  of  the  United  States;  thus  reserving 
to  the  future  state  the  power,  should  there  not  br  a 
majority  in  favor  of  excluding  free  negroes  altogethn-, 
of  restricting  their  numbers.  The  article  on  sutlV.i^e 
declared  that  no  negro.  Chinaman,  nor  mulatto  sin. ul.l 
have  the  right  to  vote.  Another  section,  somewhat 
tinged  with  prejudice,  declared  that  no  Chinaman  w 


lO 


■•''' Tho  sections  roservcit  for  a  separate  vote  read  as  follows:  'Section  — . 
Persons  lawfully  held  as  slaves  in  any  state,  territory,  or  distiict  "f  t!io 
United  States,  under  the  laws  thereof,  may  bo  brouglit  into  this  state,  aiid 
8ueh  nlavea  und  their  descendants  may  lio  lield  as  slaves  within  tliiMtitate.  ainl 
simll  not  ln'  emancipated  without  tlio  consent  of  their  owners.'  'Section  — . 
There  shall  ho  neither  slavery  uor  involuntary  servitndo  in  this  stiite,  othir- 
■wise  than  as  a  punishment  for  crime,  wiiereof  tiio  party  sliall  iiave  l>ciii  dt^ly 
convicted.'  'Section  — .  No  free  negro  or  mulatto,  not  re.sidin.;  in  this  si.ite 
nt  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  shall  ever  cduic,  resid.'.  m-  ho 
within  this  state,  or  hold  any  real  estate,  or  mako  any  contract,  or  niiiiitaiii 
any  suit  tiiercin;  and  the  legislative  assembly  shall  jjrovido  by  ju-nal  l.a\  ^  I  if 
the  removal  by  public  ollicers  t)f  all  such  free  negroes  or  niulattoes,  and  f'pr 
tiieir  ellVctiial  exclusion  from  the  state,  niul  for  the  nunisiinient  of  pirsoiu 
mIio  shall  bring  tiiein  into  the  state  or  employ,  or  harbor  tiiem  therein.'  Or, 
Sinlrsmaii,  Sept.  -Jli,  IS'):;  U.  S.  Home.  MUc.  Doc.,  .18,  vol.  i.  p.  -JO-I,  :t.")tii  ci.ii','. 
Jst  sc^s. ;  U.  S.  Sen.  Mine.  />«'•. ,  •_''_'(5,  vol,  iii.,  .3oth  coug.  Ist  sess.;  DiwIifH 
Luir.^  Or.,  l_'4-."i;  r^r.  Law.t,  lS."»7-8.  II-IO. 

'•"(irover,  Piib'k  Life  in  Or.,  .MS.,  70-7,  says  that  among  others  .Ti'"<o 
Applegate,  one  of  tlio  most  talented  men  in  the  country,  was  snul'li'  I  at 
every  turn,  until,  when  th)  draft  of  a  constitution  which  he  had  pn'ihiii'l  iit 
liomo  was  peremptorily  rejected,  ho  dclihcrutely  took  up  his  hut  and  w.iliicl 
out  of  tlie  court-nousc. 


CHINESE  AND  EC0N03knr, 


425 


ices  to  tlie 
turhlliijf  tile 
I  (le'iuitts  .,11 
and  (liTil). 
LS  a«xi"ct'(l  to 
of  iiegrt  us, 
r  iiiadt'  for 
inst-rtc'd  nr 

>n  the  work 
recusants.-'' 
st  of  tln'iu 
iglits,  while 
jcoiiie  r('->i- 
tizens,  i^ave 
emulate  the 
:jualitifd  to 
iS  reserviii:^' 
e  not  Im-  ;i 
alto<'ethtr, 
on  sutlVai^fe 
attoshuiiM 
somewhat 
aniau  w  ho 


Section  — . 
listiiot  <il  the 

lis  Rtiitc,  :>:A 
tills t*t;itt'.  ii;i'l 
Scrtimi  -. 
s  statt',  otll'T- 

ivt!  Iii'iii  il  ly 
11  t'lis  >'.do 
,  ri'siil''.  or  '"> 

,  nr  lii:iiiit^iiil 
|)cil:il  1.1"  <  1  'I" 
tint's,  Jill. I  I  'T 

lit  of    lills.llS 

tlll'R'iu.'   "'■. 

-I,:t:)tlunn.'. 
BOSS.;   J)niilii-i 


others  ,h—'« 
as  Kiiiilili'  I    it 

ll  [lI'llKlll  .1    it 

it  ami  w.il.u  .1 


slionld  immigrate  to  the  state  after  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution  should  ever  hold  real  estate  or  a  min- 
ing- rlaim,  or  work  any  mining  claim  therein,  and  that 
thr  legislature  should  enact  laws  for  carrying  out  this 
restriction.  These  prescriptive  clauses,  however  they 
iiiav  appear  in  later  times,  were  in  accordance  with 
tlie  popular  sentiment  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  through- 
out a  l.irgc  portion  of  the  United  States;  and  it  may 
he  <loiibtcd  whether  the  highest  interests  of  any  nation 
are  not  subserved  by  reserving  to  itself  the  right  to 
r(  jict  an  admixture  with  its  i>opulation  of  any  other 
])(  nple  who  are  distasteful  to  it.  However  that  may 
he,  the  founders  of  state  government  in  Oregon  were 
fully  determined  to  indulge  themselves  in  their  pre- 
judices against  color,  and  the  i|ua]ities  which  accom- 
pany the  black  and  yellow  skinned  races. 

Another  peculiarity  of  the  proposed  constitution 
was  the  manner  in  which  it  defended  the  state  against 
speculation  and  extravagance.  The  same  [)arty  whieh 
felt  no  compunctions  at  wasting  the  money  of  the 
federal  government  was  careful  to  fix  low  salaries  for 
state  ollices,**  to  prevent  banks  being  established  under 
a  state  charter,  to  forbid  the  state  to  subscribe  to  any 
stock  company  or  corporation,  or  to  incur  a  debt  in 
any  manner  to  exceed  fifty  thousand  dollars,  except  in 
case  of  war  or  to  repel  invasion;  or  any  county  to 
hirome  liable  for  a  sum  greater  than  live  thousand 
dollars. 

These  limitations  may  at  a  later  period  have  1  in- 
dered  the  progress  of  internal  improvements,  but  at  the 
time  when  they  were  enacted,  were  in  consonan.re 
Mith  the  sentiment  of  the  people,  who  were  not  by 
lialiit  of  a  speculative  disposition,  and  who  were  at 
that  moment  suft'ering  from  the  un[niiil  expenses  of  a 
costly  war,  as  well  as  from  a  long  neglect  of  the  ))rin- 
cipd  resources  of  the  country,  which  was  a  natural 
C(Hise(pience  of  the  war. 

■  Tim  siiliirios  of  tlie  governor  ami  secretary  wore  ?l,r>00  rnrh;  of  tlio 
trc.iMiiir,  sstHI;  of  the  siijnvmi' jiulj,'t;»,  S"J,(MI0.  Tlio  (wiliiiicn  of  ulliur  ulliuura 
of  tuu  cuiti't  ucru  luft  tu  bu  tixuil  by  luw.  Dtddy'n  Laict  Or.,  120. 


mmmmmm 


426 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


A  clause  of  the  constitution  affecting  the  rij^lifs  of 
married  women,  though  it  njayhave  had  its  inception 
in  the  desire  to  place  one  half  of  the  donation  thiim 
of  each  land  owner  beyond  the  reach  of  creditors,  Imd 
all  the  air  of  being  progressive  in  sentiment,  and 
probably  aided  in  the  growth  of  that  independciKo 
among  women  which  is  characteristic  of  the  countiv.-^ 
The  boundaries  of  the  state  were  fixed  as  at  present, 
except  that  they  were  made  to  include  the  Walla  Walla 
Valley;  providing,  however,  that  congress  might  oii 
the  admission  make  the  northern  boundary  contuiiu 
to  the  act  creating  Washington  Territory,  which  w  as 
done,  to  the  disappointment  of  many  who  cov(  tiJ 
that  fair  portion  of  the  country.  The  question  of  tliu 
seat  of  government  was  disposed  of  by  declarini,^  that 
the  legislature  should  not  have  power  to  establish  it; 
but  at  the  first  regular  session  after  the  ado[)tioii  of 
the  constitution  the  legislative  assembly  should  cuiact 
a  law  for  submitting  the  matter  to  the  choice  of  tlio 
people  at  the  next  general  election;  and  no  tax  should 
be  levied  or  money  of  the  state  expended  f(»r  the 
erection  of  a  state  house  before  18G5;  nor  should  the 
seat  of  government  when  established  be  removed  lor 
the  term  of  twenty  years,  nor  in  any  other  iiiaiintT 
than  by  the  vote  of  the  j)eople;  and  all  state  institu- 
tions should  be  located  at  the  capital.^* 

^'Tlic  clause  referred  to  is  this:  *  The  property  and  peruniary  riijtits  of 
every  inarfied  woman,  at  the  time  of  marriage  or  afterwards,  ai'(iuiii  1  liy 
gift,  devise,  or  inlieritancc,  sliall  not  bo  siihjeet  to  the  debts  or  miili  uN  of 
the  liusband;  and  laws  shall  J)e  I)as^t'd  jiroviiling  for  the  regisUMlinn  .  f  i!io 
■wife's  separate  property.'  This  feature  of  the  constitution  made  tlie  u  ih'  iib- 
soliito  owner  of  3'JO  acres  or  less,  as  tlio  case  might  be,  and  saved  tht'  family 
of  many  an  improvident  man  from  ruin.  The  wife  had,  besides,  tuichi  iho 
laws,  an  equal  shuro  with  tho  children  in  the  husband's  estate.  Thr  |>i  i  i  i- 
pal  advocate  of  tlio  property  rights  of  married  women  was  Free]  \''iijiiii'i', 
the  'old  apostle  of  democracy,' who  stonily  maintained  tiiat  tho  wi  e  l,;iil 
earned  in  Oregon  an  equal  right  to  property  with  her  husband.  See  "/•. 
Sliifi'sni'in,  Sept.  '22,  lSo7. 

"With  regard  to  tho  school  lands  which  had  been  or  should  bo  ftruiti  1  to 
tho  state,  excepting  tho  hinds  granted  to  aid  in  establishing  a  univiivits,  tlio 
proceeds,  with  all  the  money  and  clear  proceeds  of  all  property  thid  mi  lit 
accrue  to  tiio  stuto  by  escheat  or  forfeiture,  all  numey  paid  as  exeniptinii  linu 
military  <luty,  the  prweeds  of  all  gifts,  devises,  and  be<iue8ls  m:ulr  1  >  iHV 
person  t(5  the  state  for  common-school  puriiosos,  tiie  jmweeds  of  all  |in'|«  i  tv 
graatcd  to  tho  state,  the  purposes  of  which  grant  liad  not  bceu  ut^ited,  M 


A  POPULAR  ELECTION. 


427 


ic  rii^lits  of 
ts  inc'c[»ti(in 
latioii  thiiin 
editors,  had 
timont,  jiiid 
idopeiideiice 
le  couuti'v.-' 
i  at  [)rus(:iit, 
Alalia  Walla 
IS  might  (111 
ary  coiiturm 
,  which  was 
/ho  cuvi'tt'd 
bastion  ol"  tli(j 
iclarini^  that 
establi.-sh  it; 
ado[)ti()ii  <"f 
jhould  enact 
hoicc  of  till! 
o  tax  should 
dcd  tor  tlio 
'  should  the 
removed  tor 
her  niaiiiHT 
tato  iiiftlitu- 


nuni.iry  ri^;ht.s  of 

■(Is,  [K'(iiiir<  '1  liy 

or  idiitrai'tH  of 

istnitiou  <'f  Mio 

lulu  till!  wit'iJiib- 

iiivoil  the  family 

sides,  luitlii  tiie 

tc.     'J'lio  piiiid- 

Fivd  \'';iymin', 

t  tlu!  wi.i!  liinl 

sbiiiul.     ^^I'c  Or. 

lid  1)0  f'ranti'd  to 

uiiivi'r>ity.  tlie 

icrty  tlu.t  iiii  ,'lit 

I'Xi'iniitimi  li'iin 

Hl8  iiiiidf  l'.\  any 

sof  uU  imf'Y 

bccu  Btutcil,  all 


It  was  ordered  by  the  convention  that,  should  the 
constitution  be  ratified  by  the  people,  an  election 
should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  June  1858  for 
choosing  the  first  state  assembly,  a  representative  in 
coTigress,  and  state  and  county  officers;  and  that  the 
legislative  assembly  should  convene  at  the  capital  on 
the  first  Monday  of  July  following,  and  proceed  to 
elect  two  senators  in  congress,  making  also  such 
further  provision  as  should  be  necessary  to  complete 
the  organization  of  a  state  government.  INIean while, 
the  former  order  of  things  was  not  to  be  disturbed 
until  in  due  course  of  time  and  opportunity  the  new 
conditions  were  established. 

The  9th  of  November  was  fixed  upon  as  the  day 

tliu  piocccds  of  the  500,000  acres  to  which  the  state  would  be  entitled  by  the 
)iripvisiiiii3  of  the  act  of  congress  of  September  4,  IS-ll,  and  fivo  per  cent  of 
til'  iii.'t  proceeds  of  the  sjiles  of  the  public  lands  to  which  the  state  would  bo 
riiiillfd— shouM  congress  not  object  to  such  appropriation  of  tlio  two  last- 
iiM  iitioned  grants — should  be  set  apart,  with  the  interest  accruing,  as  a  sejia- 
iiiU'.  iiiiil  irreducible  fund,  for  the  support  of  common  schools  in  each  school 
(h-tiict,  and  the  purchase  of  suitable  libraries  and  apparatus.  Zabi-i.<kir's  Lmitl 
Luit\  Go7-U,  li.VJ-GS,  004-7.  The  gaveruor  for  the  first  five  years  was  de- 
tlart'<l  superintendent  of  public  instruction;  but  after  five  years  the  Icgisla- 
tuiu  might  provide  by  law  for  the  election  of  a  sUite  superintendent.  The 
governor,  secretary  of  state,  and  state  treasurer  were  made  to  constitute  a 
lioaid  of  commissioners  for  the  sale  of  school  and  university  lands,  and  for 
tlir  investment  of  the  funds  arising  therefrom,  with  powers  and  duties  to  be 
|ii(seril)ed  by  law.  The  university  funds  with  the  interest  arising  from  their 
iiiM'stnieiit  should  rcmaiu  uuexpeueled  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  unless  con- 
^;!e>s  should  assent  to  their  being  diverted  to  common-school  purposes,  as  had 
iieeu  ri'(juosted.  The  act  of  congress  admitting  Oregon  allowetl  tiie  state  to 
aiKrt  lauds  in  place  of  these  10th  and  30th  sections  granted  in  previous  acts, 
fir  school  purposes,  but  which  had  in  many  cases  been  settled  upon  previous 
to  ilie  passable  of  the  act  making  the  grant.  It  also  set  a^iart  72  sections  for 
the  use  and  support  of  a  state  university,  to  be  scleetdl  by  the  governor  and 
approved  by  the  commissioner  of  the  general  lanil  otlice,  to  be  appropriated 
anil  ap[ilied  as  the  legislature  of  the  state  might  i)rescribe,  for  that  purpose, 
hat  for  no  other  purpose.  Tiie  act  of  admission  by  the  grant  of  twelve  wilt 
hpriiigs,  with  six  sections  of  land  adjoining  or  contiguous  to  each,  furnished 
aunther  and  important  addition  to  the  common-school  funil,  as  under  the 
"■oiistitution  all  gifts  to  the  state  whc  !e  purpose  was  not  named  were  contri- 
hutions  to  that  fund.  Drculy'it  Lawn  Or.,  110-17.  Congress  did  not  listen  to  the 
jiiayerof  the  legislative  assembly  to  take  back  the  gift  of  the  Oregon  City 
tl.iiiii  and  give  them  two  townships  somewhere  else  in  place  of  it.  Neither 
could  they  iind  any  talent  willing  to  undertake  the  legal  contest  with  Mc- 
l.oiiglilin,  who  held  possession  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  .Septeml)er  18.)7, 
himI  his  heirs  after  him.  Finally,  to  l>o  no  more  troubled  with  the  unlucky 
donation,  the  legislative  assembly  of  180'2  reconveyed  it  to  McLoughlin's 
liiii  s,  on  condition  that  they  shouhl  pay  into  the  university  fund  the  sum  ol 
$^l,UUO,  and  interest  thercou  at  tou  per  oeut  per  annum  forever. 


4a6 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


wlion  tlio  people  shouM  deckle  at  the  poll  s  upon  the 
coiibtitution  and  the  questions  accompany iiijf  it.  Tin; 
interval  was  tilled  with  animated  discu.-sions  u|iim 
slavery,  on  the  rostrum  and  in  the  pul)lic  prints;  tlu' 
pro-slavery  papers  being  much  more  bitter  aj^aiiist 
the  constitution  for  not  making  Oregon  a  slave  state 
than  the  opposition  papers  for  neglecting  to  mak»'  it 
a  free  state.  The  latter  gave  the  constitution  little 
support;  because,  in  the  tirst  place,  it  was  well  under- 
stood that  the  party  which  formed  it  was  bent  on  jkI- 
mission,  in  order  to  retain  in  its  own  grasp  the  power 
which  a  change  of  administration  might  })lace  in  the 
hands  of  the  free-soil  party,  under  the  territoii.d 
organization,  as  well  as  because  they  did  not  wholly 
ap[»rove  tho  instrument.  There  was,  as  could  only 
be  expected,  the  usual  partisan  acrimony  in  the  argu- 
ments on  either  side.  Fortunately  the  time  was  short 
in  which  to  cai-ry  on  the  contest.  Short  as  it  was, 
however,  it  developed  more  fully  a  stylo  of  political 
journalism  which  was  not  argument,  but  invective — a 
method  not  complimentary  to  the  masses  to  he  in- 
fluenced, and  really  not  furnishing  a  fair  standard  l)y 
which  to  judge  the  intelligence  of  tho  people. 

The  vote  on  the  constitution  resulted  in  a  njajoritv 
of  3,980  in  favor  of  its  adoption.  There  was  a  ma- 
jority against  slavery  of  5,082;  and  against  free  ne- 
groes of  7,559.  The  counties  which  gave  the  largist 
vote  in  favor  of  slavery  were  Lane  and  Jackson. 
Douglas  gave  a  majority  of  29  for  slavery,  while  only 
23  votes  were  recorded  in  the  county  for  free  negroes. 
Indeed,  the  result  of  the  election  demonstrated  the 
fact  that  the  southern  sentiment  concerning  the  hhuk 
race  had  emigated  to  Oregon  along  with  her  stu'dv 
pioneers.  Enslaved,  the  negro  might  be  endured; 
free,  they  would  have  none  of  him.  The  wlmle 
number  of  votes  polled  was  only  about  10,400;  7,700 
voted  against  slavery;  8,000  against  free  negroes; 
the  remaining   1,000  or   1,100  were  probably  imht- 


LEGISLATIVE  ASSEMBLY. 


429 


fereiit,  but  being  conscientious  republicans,  allowed 
tlio  tree  negro  to  come  or  go  like  any  other  free  man.^ 

The  adoption  of  the  constitution  was  a  triumph  for 
th  '  regular  democratic  party,  which  expected  to  con- 
tiol  the  state.  Whether  or  not  congress  would  ad- 
mit Oregon  at  the  first  session  of  1857-8  was  doubt- 
ful; another  year  might  pass  before  the  matter  was 
dctcrininod.  The  affairs  of  the  territory  in  the  mean 
tiiiio  must  go  on  as  usual,  though  they  should  be 
shaped  as  much  as  possible  to  meet  the  anticipated 
change. 

The  legislative  assembly^  met  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember, and  on  notifying  the  governor,  received  a 
nu  ssaije  containing  a  historical  review  from  the  beijin- 
niiig.  The  governor  approved  the  constitution,  and 
congratulated  the  assembly  on  the  flourishing  condi- 
tion of  the  country. 

The  legislature  of  1857-8  labored  under  this  disad- 
vantage, not  altogether  new,  of  not  knowing  how  to 
Lontoru)  its  proceedings  to  the  will  of  the  general  gov- 
eriunent.    Although  not  yet  admitted  to  the  uuion,  a 


^H! rover's  Puh.  /^jYf,  MS.,  53-5;  Or.  Latos,  1857-8,  p.  41;  Or.  Statesman, 
Doc.  22,  KSrtT;  Or.  Amu",  Dec.  5,  1^57. 

-".Members  of  the  council:  A.  M.  Berry,  Jackson  and  Josephine;  Huj,'h 
I).  O'lliyant,  Uinpqua,  Coos,  Curry,  and  Douglas;  *A.  A.  >Sinitii,  Lane  and 
l'>t'iituii;'Cliarles Drain,  Linn;  *Natlianiel  Fonl,  I'olkand  Tillamook;  'Thomaa 
Siiitt,  Vanillin  and  Clatsop;  Kdward  Slieil,  Marion;  A.  E.  Wait,  Clackaniaa 
ami  Wasco;  •Thomas  li.  Cornelius,  Washington,  Multnomah,  and  Columbia. 
I'lvsiiluiit  of  council,  H.  D.  O'lJryant;  clerk,  Thomjis  H.  Micou;  assistant 
cli'ik,  William  White;  enrolling  clerk,  George  A.  Eades;  aergeant-at-arma, 
Robert  Shortess;  d(K)r-keei;er,  William  A.  Wright. 

Mfuibcrs  of  the  house  of  representatives:  George  Able,  E.  C.  Coolcy,  J. 
Wuinlsiilus,  Marion;  Anderson  Cox,  X.  H.  Cnuior,  H.  M.  Brown,  Linn;  Ira 
F.  .M.  Butler,  I'olk;  Benjamin  Hayden,  Polk  and  Tillamook;  "Heuben  C  Hill, 
Manus  H.  Slater,  Benton;  'A.  .1.  Shuck,  'William  Allen,  Yamhill;  "H.  V. 
v.  .Johnstm,  Washington;  •Thomas  J.  Dryer,  Washington  and  Multnomah; 
•Williimi  M.  King,  Multnomah;  *Joseph  JefFries,  Clatsop;  'F.  M.  Warren, 
(nhuiibia;  N.  H.  Gates,  Wasco;  S.  P.  Gilliland,  F.  A.  Collard,  George  liees, 
Clarkiimas;  J.  W.  Mack,  John  Whitaker,  Lane;  *Jame8  Cole,  Ump<iua;  A. 
A.  .Miitthows,  Douglas;  Kirkpatrick,  Coos  and  Cuitv;  H.  H.  Brown,  Will- 
iam H.  Hughes,  Jackson;  R.  S.  Belknap,  Jackson  and  Josephine;  J.  G. 
Spiar,  Josephine.  Speaker  of  the  house,  Ira  F.  M.  Butler;  clerk,  Charles 
B  H.md;  assistant  clerk,  N.  T.  Caton;  enrolling  clerk,  George  L.  Russell; 
scrguaut-atarms,  J.  B.  Sykes;  door-keeper,  J.  Henry  Brown.  Or.  Laws, 
lool-H,  p.  9-10.     •  Opposition. 


430 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


portion  of  the  members  were  in  favor  of  regardinor 
their  assembly  as  a  state  body,  and  framing  their  juts 
accordingly.  Others  thought  that  endless  discnssidiis 
would  arise  as  to  the  authority  of  the  eonstitutinti 
before  its  approval  by  congress,  and  were  for  makiii.f 
only  such  local  laws  as  were  required.  Great  efforts 
were  made  to  keep  the  subject  of  slavery  in  tln> 
background,  lest  by  the  divisions  of  the  democratic 
party  on  that  issue,  the  democratic  majority  at  tlio 
first  state  election  should  be  lessened  or  endanirnvd. 
After  some  miscellaneous  business,  and  the  oloctii.ii 
of  territorial  officers,"^  the  assembly  adjourned  Decem- 
ber 19th  to  meet  again  on  the  5th  of  January.  On 
the  day  of  the  adjournment  the  democratic  cen  nil 
committee  held  a  meeting  to  arrange  for  a  state  ((in- 
vention, at  which  to  nominate  for  the  June  election  in 
1858. 


At  the  election  of  1858  there  were  three  partiis 
in  the  Held,  Oregon  democrats,  national  democrats," 
and  republicans. **  The  national  faction  could  not  ;.;*  t 
beyond  a  protest  against  tyraimy.  It  nominatt'd  .1. 
K.  Kelly  for  representative  in  congress,  and  K.  M. 
Barnuin  for  governor.*'  The  republicans  liominaliil 
an  entire  ticket,  with  John  R.  McBrido  for  congress 
man  and  John  Denny  for  governor. 


Feeling 


that 


•'Most  of  the  old  officers  were  continual;  Joseph  Sloan  was  elected  stiprr- 
Irtcndt'iit  of  the  ncnitcutiiiry.  Or.  SffU'umaii,  Deo.  22,  5S57. 

-'The  nationtilH  were  the  few  too  indupt>ndoat  to  submit  to  Icadcrn  instcnl 
of  the  people.  Their  principal  men  were  William  M.  King,  Nathuiiicl  1 1  i  '. 
Thomas  Scott,  Felix  A.  Collurd,  Andrew  Shuck.  Ueoit'o  Kci";,  Janus  II. 
Slater,  William  Allen,  and  S.  I'.  (Jilliland. 

■"* The  platform  of  the  republican  party  distimtlv  avowpd  its  oppfmition 
to  slavery,  which  it  rei^arded  us  a  merely  local  institution,  one  which  tlio  louinl' 
ors  of  the  republic  deprecated,  and  for  the  ab.l'tion  of  wliich  tlu^y  iiiaJu 
provisions  in  the  constitution.  It  declared  tho  K-  iivi:^  tioublcH  to  be  c  u.hiiI 
by  a  (iCjMirtnre  from  tho  organic  act  of  1787,  for  the  j/overnnient  of  all  tin; 
territory  then  ItelonuiuK  to  tho  republic,  and  which  liud  been  aillicrnl  t>i 
until  IS.H,  since  which  a  domocratio  ailministration  had  endeavored  to  fon  o 
upon  the  people  of  Kansas  a  constitution  abhorrent  to  their  feetin^N,  uimI  to 
sustain  in  )>ower  a  usurping  an<' tyrannical  minority — an  outrage  not  to  liu 
borne  by  a  free  people,  it  called  the  Dred  Scott  decision  a  disgrace,  iiiul 
denounced  the  democratic  party  generally.  Or.  Ar{iui,  April  10,  iSOH, 

'"The  remainder  of  the  ticket  was  K.  A.  Rice  for  secretary;  J.  L.  liroia- 
ley,  treasurer;  James  O'Meara,  state  printer. 


DEMOCRATIC  VICTORY. 


431 


tlio  youth  and  inexperience  of  their  candidate  for 
coii'j^ross  could  not  hope  to  win  against  the  two  demo- 
cratic candidates,  the  republicans,  with  the  consent  of 
;Mc' Bride,  voted  for  Kelly,  whom  they  liked,  and 
whom  they  hoped  not  only  to  elect,  but  to  bring  over 
to  their  party." 

]\roanwhile,  though  Kelly  ran  well,  the  thorough 
ori,mnization  of  the  democratic  party  secured  it  the 
usual  victory;  Grover  was  elected  state  representa- 
tive to  congress;  John  Whiteaker,  governor;  Lucien 
Heath,  secretary  J.  D.  Boon,  treasurer;  Asahel  Bush, 
state  pointer;  Deady,  Stratton,  Boisd,  and  Wait, 
udtjfcs  of  the  supreme  court ;  A.  C.  (ribbs,  H.  Jackson, 
).  W.  Douthitt,  and  P.  Hayden,  i  ttorneys  for  the 
1st,  3d,  4th,  and  5th  districts.  The  only  republican 
elected  for  a  state  office  was  Mitchell,  candidate  for 
prosecuting  attorney  in  the  2d  dif  trict.**     The  state 


i 


"The  remainder  of  the  republican  tic':"*  w«  ,  Leander  Holmes,  secretary; 
E.  L.  Applcgato,  treasurer;  D.  W.  Craig,  pt  x>  printer;  C.  Barrett,  judge  of 
tlio  It  (li.strict,  Joiiu  Kelsay  of  the  '2il,  J  it.  Condon  of  tluj  3d,  and  Aiiiory 
Ijoll  mk  of  the  4th;  prosecuting  attorneys,  in  the  same  ordei,  beginning  with 
tin- 'Jil  district,  M.  W.  Mitchell,  George  L.  Woods,  W.  H.  Lanijford,  anl  Urcn- 
iiiiM.  It  was  advocated  in  secret  caucus  to  send  to  California  for  K.  D. 
ISiikiT  to  conduct  tlio  canvass,  and  s|>cak  against  the  array  of  <Icmocratio 
tali'ht.  The  plan  was  not  carried  out,  but  home  talent  was  put  to  use.  In 
this  cumpaign  K.  L.  Applcgate,  son  of  Lindxcy  and  nephew  of  Jesse  Apple* 
gate,  (Irst  uiado  known  his  oratorical  abilities.  His  uncle  used  to  say  of  liiin 
tliiit  III)  ^'ot  his  education  by  reading  the  stray  leaves  of  b(K)k8  torn  up  and 
tli;M\Mi  away  on  tho  road  to  Oregon.  Ho  was  however  provided  with  that 
pi'iii  ral  knowledf^c  which  in  ordiniirv  lifo  passes  unchallenged  for  education, 
iiinl  \.  hich,  sp'-ead  over  the  surface  of  a  campaign  speech,  is  often  as  eifectivo 
nn  ri'i'atcr  !!ru>Ution.  Another  who  began  his  public  sneaking  with  the  forma- 
tion 111  the  republican  party  in  Oregon  was  ({eorge  L.  WwmIs.  HIm  subsecjui'nt 
giKi'i'Ms  ill  public  lifu  is  the  best  eviileiicu  of  hio  abdities.  He  was  cousin  to  J  ohn 
1!.  Mrliiido,  the  candi'lato  for  congress.  lk)tli  were  fricmls  and  neighbors  <>f 
\V.  L.  A(lami4,  and  tlio  three,  witli  their  immediate  circle  of  relatives  and 
fiimdM,  cairi'jd  considerable  weight  into  the  republican  ranks.  Woods  was 
liinii  ill  H(M)ne  co..  Mo.,  July  .'10.  18:12,  and  cnme  to  Cregou  with  bis  fiitluT, 
t'aKlt  WochIs,  in  1847.  The  family  settletl  in  Yamhill  co.  In  ISoS  ho  mar- 
rir.l  Jiis  cousin  Louisa  A.  MoHride;  their  children  Iwing  two  sons.  Woods 
\«as  self-educated;  reading  law  between  the  lalMira  o^  the  farm  and  carpen- 
trv's  bench.  Hit  oaroer  as  a  politician  will  appear  in  the  course  of  this 
liistdi  y. 

'  i'lin  ofBco  of  state  printer,  so  long  held  by  Hush,  was  only  gained  by 
4<H»  iiiMJority— tho  lowest  of  any.  It  was  not  Craig,  however,  who  divided 
the  \  iit'H  with  him  so  succossfully,  but  James  O'Moara,  tho  candidate  of  tho 
iiiitniiiil  democrats,  who  come  from  California  to  Orrgon  in  IM7.  In  tho 
»j'i  iiiu'  of  I8ii8  O'Moark  sucueodod  Alonzo  Lckud  oa  editor  of  tho  hemocratio 
iSVa/ii/an/. 


Ill 


111 


ill 'III 


Ht  OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 

leji^islaturc  consisted  of  twenty-nine  democrats  and  fivo 
republicans  in  the  lower  house^  and  twelve  dein()(riit.s 
and  four  republicans  in  the  senate.^*  AccordiniL;  to 
the  constitution,  the  first  state  legislature  was  ro(jiiind 
to  meet  on  the  first  Monday  in  July  1858,  and  juo- 
ceed  to  elect  two  senators  to  congress,  and  make  .sudi 
other  provision  as  was  necessary  to  complete  the  or- 
ganization of  a  state  government.  In  complianoo  with 
this  requirement,  the  newly  elected  legislature  iiit't 
on  the  5th  of  July,  and  chose  Joseph  Lane  and  J  )e- 
lazon  Smith  United  States  senators.**  On  the  sth 
the  inauguration  of  Governor  Whiteaker  took  place, 
Judge  Boise  administering  the  oath.**  Little  husinosH 
waii  transacted  of  a  legislative  nature.     A  tax  of  two 

"Senate:  Marion  county,  J.  W.  Grim,  E.  P.  Colby;  Yamhill,  J.  l.am- 
■on;  (Jlackamuii  ond  Waaro,  J.  S.  Rncklo;  Pulk,  F.  Wayniirc;  J.inn,  l.iitliir 
Eil'ino,  C'Imrl'.s  Drain;  Lane,  W.  W.  Uristow,  A.  B.  Florenco;  L'iii|i'|iiii, 
Coos,  and  Curry,  1).  H.  WelU;  Jackson,  A.  M.  Berry;  .Fosophiiu',  S  |{, 
Scott;  WiiHliiii^'toii,  Columbia,  Clatsop,  and  Tillamook,  'T.  It.  ('oim  liiis; 
Multnuuiali,  'J.  A.  Willianuii;  Iknton,  "John  S.  Mclteent-y;  I>ciuf,'la«,  M.  !■'. 
(iazlcy.  House:  Clatsop  and  Tillamook,  K.  W.  Morrison;  (Joliinilii^i  aii<l 
Wanhinyton,  N'tlmtn  lloyt;  Multuoniah,  A.  I),  tshclby,  *T.  J.  Dryer;  (  lurk- 
am:is,  A.  F.  ITed^os,  B.  .lonaings,  D.  B.  Hannah;  Wasco,  Victor  'I'lcitt; 
I'olk,  \i.  F.  Burch,  .1.  K.  Wait;  Marion,  B.  F.  Harding,  B.  F.  lionham,  .1. 
H.  Stivinx,  J.  H.  I^ujsiiicr;  l^iun,  X.  II.  (-'runor,  E.  K.  Mcliiiiu  li,  'I'  T. 
Thoniiui,  John  'I',  (.'nxjks;  Laue,  U.  B.  Cochran,  A.  S.  l'atterH4)n,  A,  J.  Cni- 
zun;  Umixiua,  J.  M.  Cozad;  Douglas,  Thomas  Norris,  'A.  .1.  AJuWcc;  (ckw 
and  Turry,  William  Tichcnor;  Jackson,  Daniel  Neweomb.  W.  \i.  T A'.iult, 
•.I.  W.  Cully;  Josephine,  D.  H.  Holton;  Washington,  'Wilson  i5..ulliyj 
Vumhill,  *.\.  Shuck,  J.  C.  Nelson  (resigned);  Ikntcii,  J.  H.  Slater,  II.  jt. 
Nichols.  LuthiT  KIkins  was  chosen  president  of  the  senate  and  \\ .  il. 
T'Vault  M|Mtiikcr  of  the  house.     *  llepublicans. 

"Line  wrote  from  Washington,  May  IM,  IHjH,  solicituig  the  noiiiiiiatloii, 
and  promir'ing  to  do  nuieh  it  eUxrted;  (Uicl:iring,  iiowcvcr,  thiit  he  dui  imt 
wish  a  scat  in  the  ncnate  at  the  expense  of  harmony  in  the  democratic  party. 
Ho  adiled  a  |K>stMcript  to  clinch  tho  nail.  *  Dear  Bush —The  Itill  I'or  tiie  ail- 
ndssion  of  Oregon  has  thismon  <"nt  ^uissed  the  senate,  ■'i<'>  to  17.  All  ri^'lit  ia 
tho  house.  Your  friend,  Uiue.'  Or.  .SV(l^ »/«««,  June  *J0,  IH.'>8.  Nit  with 
standing  the  prondscs  contained  in  this  letter,  and  tlie  bait  held  out  iiy  ail> 
deuduui,  l.ane  made  no  effort  to  get  the  bill  through  tho  house  at  that,  son- 
Bton.  He  wished  to  socuru  thu  senatorship,  but  ho  was  not  auxinuH  t4> 
havu  Oregon  ailmitt.t!d  until  tho  time  was  i  ipu  for  thu  furtherance  of  asi  liciiio 
of  the  dcim  ratic  (Mirty,  into  which  thu  democrats  of  Oregon  were  nut  yet 
admitted. 

•*.lohn  Whiti-aker  was  l)orn  in  r)parl><>m  oo.,  Ind.,  In  1820.  Ho  c^ome  t  tits 
I'aciflo  c<Nut  in  IH40,  luid  to  ()re/;on  in  1H5-J.  SanJosi  Pioneir,  Dee.  ■.>!,  \  -lH. 
His  early  life  was  siient  on  a  farm  in  his  nativo  st«t«.  At  the  age  oi  j.)  lis 
married  .Miss  \.  J.  Hargn>VD,  of  III.,  and  on  tho  discovery  of  goM  in  <'il. 
came  hither,  n.'turnin^  to  HI.  in  18.'il  and  bringing  Ids  family  toOregnn.  Ilu 
settled  iu  Uinc  ■  ountv  in  IH,VJ,  where  ho  woselecteil  county  judge,  lie  uu 
a  UMUibui'  of  thu  Ivjgislatt'.ftt  of  1657>    Itt^n^Hkilivt  Mtn  y  OrtyvHt  17ii> 


» 


EFFORTS  FOR  ADMISSION. 


4S3 


\  and  fivo 
etnocnits 
•riluiij;  to 
rcMjuind 
and  pio- 
aku  such 
o  tlu:  nr- 
unco  Willi 
turo  nit.'t 
!  and  1  )t> 
i  tho  Xi\\ 
)ok  plaei), 
3  busiiios-s 
;ax  of  two 


ihill,  .1.  Lain- 
J.iiin.  l.iiiliiT 

icii;    l'nii"|Uii, 

icphiiu',  I^  li- 
U.   Collirlius; 

IH)U>;lils,  M.   1'. 

(.'ollimlii:i  "ll'l 
Uryor;  (  la.k- 

'^ictor  'I'li'itt; 

,     IllllllllUII,  -I. 

Iiiim  li,  T    '1". 
.11,  A.  .1.  •'ill- 

'.  »i.  T'V.uilt, 
ilsdii  Uoull.y; 
Itjlaur,  II.  II. 
uud   W.   ti. 

|iu  iiDiiiinatioii, 

lilt     lit!     'll'l    II"' 

KM'ratii'  iiiiiiy. 
lill  fur  till'  ail- 
All  nu'.i'  i» 
l-,8.  N..i«itli 
]lii  out  liy  inl- 

lit  tliat.  s.'.<- 
[)t  auvi'KH  t«> 

»COl)f  llHclnlllO 

woru  nut  yt't 

lloiuiini't   tli6 

DcH'.  'Jl.l  •:?*• 

li  uyt'  "I  -•'•  ''• 

If  m .1.1  ill  '''>l. 

(Igf.     Ill-'  «M 
tjjon,  ITS. 


mills  en  I  dollar  was  levied  to  defray  current  expenses; 
and  ail  act  passed  to  regulate  the  practice  of  the 
courts;  and  an  act  appointing  times  for  holding 
courts  for  the  year  1858.**  These  laws  were  not 
to  take  effect  until  the  state  was  admitted  into  the 
Union. 

Four  weeks  of  suspense  passed  by,  and  it  became 
certain  that  Oregon  had  not  been  admitted.  The  war 
(It! it  had  made  no  advancement  toward  being  paid. 
T'»"  reconis  of  congress  showed  no  effort  on  the  part 
oi  i^ane  to  urge  either  of  these  measures,  neither  did 
ho  otl'ur  any  explanation;  and  it  began  to  be  said  that 
lie  was  purposely  delaying  the  admission  of  Oregon 
until  the  next  session  in  order  to  draw  mileage  as 
hotli  delegate  and  senator.  It  was  also  predicted 
that  there  would  be  difficulty  in  procuring  the  ad- 
mission at  the  next  session,  as  congress  wouhl  then 
ho  disposed  to  insist  on  the  rule  recently  established 
rc(|uiriiig  a  population  of  1)3,000  to  give  the  state 
a  r(|irosL'ntative;  but  it  was  hinted  that  if  tho  senators 
and  representative  elect  should  be  on  the  grourul  at 
the  convening  of  congress,  there  would  still  be  hope. 

'''Tliis  was  ill  rcfuronco  to  a  law  of  coiigrcM  paasvd  in  Aug.  18,')6,  that 
till'  jiiil^i'X  i.t'  tliu  Hunrciiiu  court  iu  oacli  of  tho  tunitorius  rIiouM  fix  the 
tiiiii'iiiHl  pliu-cN  of  luiiiliiiu  courta  in  their  resiwetivu  tlistriuts,  and  thu  ilura- 
tjiin  tliiTcot;  |>rovitlin(;,  aW,  that  thn  courtJi  rIiouI.I  not  Ixihclil  in  ninru  than 
tliici'  |.liii'i-H  in  any  one  territory,  ami  that  they  shoulil  adjourn  whenever  in 
the  i.|>iiiiiin  of  the  judues  tlioir  further  uoiitinuunio  was  unnucoa*ary.  Thia 
wim  iiiiayiiig  Oiei^iin  for  lier  coura**  toward  the  fu.lenil  judges,  and  wan  hold 
til  WHi'k  a  h;trd8lii|)  ill  several  waya.  I<ane  wiia  censured  for  allowing  tho  auk 
ti)  i>aitK  without  a  challenge.  However,  to  adjust  nmttcra  to  tho  now  rule, 
the  Ir^'islatiire  of  IS.'iG-7  |>aHsed  an  act  rearranging  thu  practice  of  thocourta, 
ami  a  |ilaiiitiir  might  bring  an  action  in  any  court  most  convenient;  witnosses 
nut  to  Ik'  Huiuinoncd  to  tho  diatrict  courts  except  in  admirultv,  dirorce,  and 
I'liun.i  ly,  or  h:)ecial  ciiaea  arising  und.  r  laws  of  the  U.  S. ;  but  the  dixtrict 
.'iiurtH  hlii.nld  liave  cogniauinco  of  offences  against  the  laws  of  tho  territory  in 
liailiibi.  I'aaes;  and  should  constitute  cmirts  of  apjMial  — the  npcnition  <if  tho 
litw  Ixiiij^  to  iilace  tho  priiici[>al  judicial  buHincss  of  tho  territory  in  thu  county 
muiu,  o,-.  h,iir.i,  |(VM]-7,  p.  17-2.1.  Another  act  waa  passed  ru«}uiring  a 
*m)(li' t  rill  of  the  Hiiproino  court  to  be  held  iit  Sulcin  on  thu  0th  of  Aug., 
IVtT,  nml  on  tho  first  Monday  In  Aug.  nnnnally  thentafter;  and  re|)ealing 
all  f'.niii  r  act*  luipoiiitiiig  ternia  of  the  supn  ■ -e  iMiurt.  Thu  obiect  of  thia 
act  was  to  put  off  tho  mooting  of  tho  ju.lgca  at  tho  capital  until  after  the  ad- 
miiHii.ii  of  Oregon,  thua  rendering  inoperativo  thu  law  of  congress  as  Smith 
cxplaincl  to  tho  legialatura  at  the  timo  of  ita  iiaaaaga.  But  it  happ«>ned  that 
Oi'('K">ii  was  not  aiiinitted  in  IS57.  whi.  i  failure  luTt  the  IJ,  S.  oourta  iji  tut* 
r«uiH!  as  to  how  totirooeedt  henoe  thu  aotion  of  thia  l«gialatur« 
Uiir.  Oa..  Vob.  U.    M 


i  I 


■mB  OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 

Acting  upon  this  suggestion,  Grover  and  Smith  set 
out  for  the  national  capital  about  the  last  of  Seittoni- 
ber,  to  hasten,  if  possible,  the  desired  event.'"  At 
this  trying  juncture  of  affairs,  Lane  gave  advito, 
which  the  Statesman  had  the  good  sense  to  discounte- 
nance, that  the  state,  having  been  organized,  should 
go  on  as  a  state,  without  waiting  for  the  authority  of 
congress.  He  was  afterward  accused  of  having  done 
this  with  a  sinister  motive,  to  bring  Oregon  into  the 
position  of  a  state  out  of  the  union. 

It  was  determined  not  to  hold  the  Septentber  term 
of  the  state  legislature,  which  might  bring  nothiii!,' 
but  debt.  A  few  of  the  members  went  to  Salem  at 
the  time  appointed,  but  they  adjourned  after  an  in- 
formal meeting.  It  now  became  certain  that  there 
must  be  a  session  of  the  territorial  assembly  at  the 
usual  time  in  December  and  Jaimary,  as  the  territo- 
rial government  must  go  on  during  the  suspension  of 
the  state  government.  Accordingly,  on  the  (Jth  of 
December,  the  members  of  the  territorial  legishiturf;, 
who  had  been  elected  at  the  same  time  with  the  state 
legislature  to  provide  against  the  present  contingeney, 
assembled  at  Salem  and  proceeded  to  the  usuoi  husi- 
ness.** 


*^Oroivr'»  Pub.  Life,  MS.,  71. 

•'Council:  Juckanu  and  Josephine,  A.  M.  Berry;  Umpqiia,  Coos,  Curry, 
ftn<l  Douffliw,  Hugh  I).  O'Ikyaiit;  Lano  and  Benton,  Janicg  W.  Mack:  Linn, 
Cliarlea  Urnin;  I'olk  and  Tiflaniook,  *N.  Ford;  Yamhill  and  (Mat8(i|).  (l<i>r;{(> 
Jl.  Stowanl;  Mariiiu,  Samuel  I'lukor;  Clackaniafl  and  Waswi,  A.   K.  Wait; 

Washington,  Multomah,  and  Columbia,  'I'hos  K.  Cornelius,     lloutu  :  Marl 

h.  !■'.  lioniiam,  J.  II.  Stevens,  J.  11.  Laasater;  Linn,  N.  H.  Craiior,  Iv  K. 
Melninch,  Joiui  T.  CrookH;  I'olk,  Isaac  Smith;  Pulk  and  TiUamixik,  \l.  \. 
V.  Holmes;  Benton,  •.lamos  H.  Shiter,  •H.  B.  Nichols;  Yandiill.  A.  Zp  l«r, 
J.  II.  .Smitii;  Wosliinuton,  'Wilson  Bowlby;  Washingtim  and  Mnltirmiali, 
•K.  I).  Siiattuok;  Multnomah,  'T,  J.  Dryer;  tJlatsop,  "W.  W.  I'lirkir;  < .,. 
lumltia,  W.  K.  Strong;  Wasco,  N  H.  Oatoa;  ClackaniM,  A.  V.  Hi'iI;.'ih.  I>. 
Jt.  liuunah,  B.  Jcimmgs;  I^ne,  W.  W.  Cha))mau,  W.  H.  Jones;  l'iiiii<|>ia, 
'James  Colo;  Douglas,  'A.  E.  McOeo;  ('(m>8  and  Cuiry,  William  'liiluiior; 
Jackson.  VV,  (t.  T' Vault,  8.  Watson;  Jackson  and  Josephine,  D.  Ni'wcoiiili; 
Josephine,  I).  K.  Holton.  Ollicors  of  council;  Charles  Drain,  proHiilcnf;  \. 
Hiilier,  clerk;  W.  L.  White,  a.tsistaut  clerk ;  H.  H.  Howard,  enrolling;  <li'ik; 
D.  S.  Herren,  sergoant-at-arms;  James  L.  .Stewanl,  door-kconer.  Ollicirs  «i 
the  house  of  rvprasentAtives:  N.  H.  (iates,  speaker;  James  M.  I'>'l<'.  < Itik; 
II.  W.  Allen,  assistant  clerk;  J.  D.  Porter,  enrolling  clerk;  K.  C,  NM'luix', 
■ergeant-ttt-arnis;  Juw.'pk  U.  Uruwu,  door-keopvr.  Or,  Law»,  18o!i-U,  7-U> 
*ltopubUoa«. 


GOVERNORS  MESSAGE. 


435 


Smith  set 
if  Sojitoin- 
ent."'  At 
ve  advite, 
discouiito- 
5ed,  should 
iithority  of 
aving  (Idiic 
)n  into  the 

miber  term 
iijjf  notliiii!' 
0  Salom  at 
fter  an  iii- 
tliat  there 
iblv  at  the 
the  terntd- 
isponsioii  of 
the  Gtli  «.t' 
legishitm-' , 
th  the  state 
antiiigeiicy, 
usuoi  husi- 


ift,  CwH,  Ciirry, 
V.  Miuk;  l-inii, 

'liltS()|1,  liii]r;it! 

,   A.    K.   Wait; 

Housr:  Marinii, 
(.'raiiiiv,  K.   I;. 

Ilamook,  II  N. 
hill,  A.  /kI'T, 
\,\  Multii'miuli, 

V.  I'ltrkiT;  •'"• 
V.  U.'.l-<«.  !>• 
mcs;  riiiiii|im, 
lliain  Tirluii'"'; 
I).  Nrwi'iiiiili; 
pri'HiiUiit;  N. 
unrolling;  rlfik; 
)er.  Ollioin "' 
I.  I'y!.',  t'K'i'k; 
■:  C.  M.CInii.', 
w,  l»58-«,  7-0. 


(rovcrnor  Curry's  message  indicated  the  Lane  in- 
fliK  nee.  It  contained  some  remarks  on  what  the  States- 
oiKti)  called  the  anomaly  of  a  territorial  government, 
and  urged  that  the  territorial  system  was  uncon- 
stitutional, wrong  in  principle,  and  not  in  harmony 
with  the  spirit  of  American  institutions.  He  declared 
tlure  was  no  provision  of  the  constitution  which  con- 
fiirod  the  right  to  acquire  territory,  to  be  retained  as 
territory  and  governed  by  congress  with  absolute 
authority;  nor  could  the  people  of  the  United  States 
who  chose  to  go  out  and  reside  upon  the  vacant  ter- 
tory  of  the  nation,  be  made  to  yield  a  ready  obedience 
to  whatever  laws  congress  might  deem  best  for  their 
j^foveriiinent,  or  to  pay  implicit  deference  to  the  author- 
ity of  such  officers  as  were  sent  out  to  rule  over  them. 
\(»  such  power,  according  to  Governor  Curry's  view, 
had  ever  been  delegated  to  the  government  by  the 
sovereign  people  of  the  sovereign  states,  who  alone 
enuld  confer  it;  and  the  only  authority  of  congress 
ovei-  the  territories  was  that  derived  from  a  clause  in 
th(^  coii:*^itution  intended  simply  to  transfer  to  the 
new  government  the  property  held  in  common  by  the 
oriiiinal  thirteen  states,  together  with  the  power  to 
ap]>ly  it  to  objects  mutually  agreed  upon  by  the  states 
htiore  their  league  was  dissolved.  The  power  of  en- 
larijiiig  the  liniits  of  the  United  States  was  by  ad- 
mitting new  states,  and  by  that  means  only.  It  was 
(•(•iiteiided  that  California,  which  had  no  territorial 
existence,  came  into  the  union  more  legitimately  than 
Oregon  would  do,  because  Oregon  had  submitted  it- 
self to  the  authority  of  the  general  government. 
This  and  more  was  declared,  in  a  clear  and  argument- 
ative style,  very  attractive  if  not  convincing.  The 
Statesman  recommended  it  to  the  perusal  of  its  read- 
ers, at  the  same  time  declining  to  discuss  the  ques- 
tion. This  woH  only  another  indication  of  the  ten- 
dencies of  the  den\ocratic  party  in  Oregon,  as  else- 
wiiere.  Curry's  whole  argument  was  an  attack  on 
the  validity  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  to  which  the 


436 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


founders  of  the  provisio'  il  government  had  tenaeiou'^ly 
clunj^,  and  a  contradiction  of  the  spirit  of  all  tiio  pe- 
titions and  memorials  of  their  If^gislatures  from  tiie 
beginning  to  the  then  present  time.  He  lost  sight  (if 
the  fact  that  the  states  were  not  such  in  the  old- 
world  sense  of  the  term,  but  parts  of  a  C()ni[)()uii<l 
state  or  national  confederacy;  and  as  such  subject  in 
some  general  regulations  which  they  were  bound  to 
obey.  The  doctrine  that  a  body  of  the  people  cuiild 
go  out  and  seize  upon  any  portion  of  the  territory  he- 
longing  to  the  '/hole  union,  and  establish  such  a  gov- 
ernment as  pleased  them  without  the  consent  of  tlio 
nation,  was  not  in  accordance  with  any  known  system 
of  national  polity.  The  object  of  introducing  this 
subject  in  an  executive  message  under  the  existing 
peculiar  political  condition  of  Oregon,  and  at  a  timo 
when  his  connection  with  territorial  affairs  was  nuivly 
incidental,  mu.st  ever  remain  open  to  suspicion.  It 
was  fortunate,  with  leading  officials  capable  of  smh 
reasoning,  that  the  people  had  already  voted  upon  and 
decided  for  themselves  the  question  which  lay  at  tin! 
bottom  of  the  matter,  not  upon  constitutional  grounds, 
but  upon  the  ground  of  e.xpediency. 

Little  was  done  at  this  session  of  the  legislative 
assembly  beyond  amendinn^  a  few  previous  acts,  and 
passing  a  number  of  specirJ  laws  incorporating  mining 
improvements  in  the  southern  counties,  and  other 
conipanies  for  various  purposes  in  all  parts  of  Oregon, 
Less  than  the  usual  number  of  memorials  wow  ad- 
dressed to  congress.  An  appropriation  of  $30,000  was 
asked  to  build  a  military  road  from  some  point  of  intt  r- 
section  on  the  Scottsburg  road,  to  Fort  Boist5 ;  it  heing 
represented  that  such  a  highway  would  be  of  great 
value  in  moving  troops  between  forts  Umpqua  and 
Boisd,  and  of  great  importance  to  the  whole  southern 
and  western  portion  of  Oregon.  A  tri-weekly  mail,  hy 
stages  between  Portland  and  Yroka,  was  i)utitioned 


PETITIONS  TO  CONGRESS. 


437 


for/"  and  tlie  Oregon  delegate  was  instructed  to  ask 
loi  huul  offices  to  be  opened  at  Jacksonville  and  The 
Dalles,  for  the  survey  of  a  portion  of  eastern  Orei^on, 
and  for  the  establishment  of  an  Indian  agency  and 

■"'  Tlip  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company  procured  tlie  removal  of  the  ilis- 
tril»itiiit'  ollice  for  Oregon  from  Astoria  to  San  Francisco  about  1853,  as  I  liave 
Ik  lore  iNintione'l,  causing  confusion  and  delay  in  tlie  receipt  of  mails,  the 
clc'iks  ill  S;m  Francisco  lieinj;  ignorant  of  the  geocrapliy  of  Oregon,  and  the 
8vsic'iii  licing  obnoxious  for  other  reasons.  A  mailarrivcd  after  the  ordinary 
delay  "t  Oiigon  City,  Dec.  21st,  and  lay  there  until  Jan.  Ist,  with  no  one  to 
attcr  il  to  forwartling  the  mail-bags  to  their  proper  destinations  U[t  the  v.-dley. 
Si:i' .  was  the  state  of  things  in  1850.  The  legislature  petitioned  and  rnnon- 
st rated.  In  1857,  when  Lane  was  in  Oregon  and  was  re-elected  to  congress,  he 
j.'a\  i^  ui  a  reason  for  not  having  secured  a  letter  mail  service  that  tiie  republi- 
(aii-<  li  ><l  a  majority  in  congress,  when  tiiis  same  republican  congress  lia<l  ap- 
proj)!  iiitnl  6.'>00,000  for  an  overland  mail  to  California,  which  was  intended  to 
oiierato  as  an  opening  wedge  to  the  Pacific  railroad;  but  the  democrats,  by  way 
of  favcpi  ill:;  the  south,  succeeded  in  establishing  the  overland  mail  route  by  tlio 
wayi'I  111  I'aso  in  Mexico.  A  contract  wa.i  concluded  alK)ut  the  same  time 
with  tin;  P.  M.  S.  S.  Co.  for  carrying  mails  between  Panamd  and  Awtori;i, 
fir  .'i!-'l><,-'iO  jier  annum,  and  the  service  by  sea  was  somewhat  improved,  al- 
tliipMi,'li  still  very  imperfect.  In  the  mean  time  the  overland  mail  to  Califor- 
nia was  i.stalilisheil,  the  lirst  coach  leaving  St  Louis  Feb.  Iti,  1858.  It  was 
Kdiiii!  iiiniitlis  before  it  was  established,  the  second  arriving  at  San  Francisio 
ia  (d  tdljcr,  and  the  lirst  from  San  Francisco  arriving  at  Jellcrson,  Missouri, 
(I't.  '.Itli,  with  six  i^issengcrs,  in  23  days  4  hours.  This  was  (piicker  tiiiiti 
tiiaii  the  steainei's  made,  and  being  more  freciuently  repeated  was  a  great  gain 
ill  ciiiiiiiiuiiiiMtion  with  the  east  for  Calitornia,  and  indirectly  benciited 
(liv^'Mii,  tliiiii).'h  Oregon  could  still  only  get  letters  twice  a  month. 

bt  fill  0  1857  there  was  no  line  of  passenger  coaches  anywhere  in  Oregon, 
Oiii;  (  iiiu'ord  coach  owned  by  (,'haries  JCae  was  the  only  stage  in  the  Willa- 
iiirtte  fiiiiu  1853  to  1855.  A  stage  line  from  Portlaml  to  Salem  was  put  on 
tlio  mad  ill  1857.  making  the  journey,  50  miles,  iit  one  day.  In  lis5i),  a  mail 
iiM'l  Iia.t.siiigcr  coach  ran  once  a  week  from  Salem  to  Kugene,  anil  from  Fu- 
piic  to  .lacksonville.  Weekly  and  semi-weiikly  nmils  had  been  carried  to  the 
towns  (111  the  west  side  of  tho  valley,  HillslMiro,  Lafayette,  Dallas,  and  Cor- 
v:ilii>;  liiit  the  poHt-otlieo  de|iartinent  in  I8t}()  ordered  thi.'j  service  to  be  le- 
iliu'dl  to  a  bi-monthly  one,  and  that  tho  mail  should  be  carried  but  once  a 
uci k  to  .lai'ksonvillo  and  thu  towns  On  tho  way.  'If  Lane  keeps  on  liel|iiug 
11",'  Kiid  tlio  AiiiiiK,  'we  shall  soon  have  a  monthly  mail  eariied  on  foot  or  in 
n  caiiiM'.'  Oil  tho  other  hand,  the  people  were  clamoring  for  u  (hiily  mail  troiii 
I'liitl.iii.l  ti.bicksoiiville,  with  little  prospect  of  getting  it  until  tho  Califoi- 
iii:iSta>;e  ( 'oiiitiiiny  ititerposoil  with  a  proposition  to  the  postal  department  to 
cin-y  till' mail  daily  overlantl  to  Oregon.  This  company,  formed  in  1853  by  the 
iiiiHdii  latinii  of  tho  various  stage  lines  in  (.'alifornia,  had  a  capital  stock  of 
?I,(NX1,(MMI  to  begin  with,  including  750  horses  and  covering  4."»0  iiiiles  of  load. 
•Iaiiii';4  llii'i'li,  president,  waa  the  first  advocate  in  Washington  of  the  o\'er- 
hn>\  mail  to  tho  east,  and  by  his  persistence  it  was  secured,  hi  |S.V.(  tiO  the 
vi.c|iii  ■^i,l^.llt,  F.  L.  Stevens,  urged  upon  the  de]Ntrtiiient  the  im|iortaiiee  of 
II  liaily  mail  lino  overland  from  S.  F.  to  Portland,  and  siieceeded  in  gain- 
in.,'  Iiii  point  and  the  contract.  In  Juno  1800  the  ( 'alifoniia  eompaiiy  placed 
itHstiak  on  the  road  ivs  far  north  as  Oakhtnd,  conm^cting  there  with  t'hase's 
liiii;  to  Coivallis,  which  again  eonnocted  with  the  Oregon  Stage  t'ompuiiy's 
lino  to  Por.lnnd,  making  a  through  line  to  Sacramento  in  (K'tober.  It 
r('i{iiii('i|  a  coiisiilorablu  outlay  to  put  the  road  in  repair  for  making  regular 
tiiiir,  aiil  at  the  best,  winter  travel  was  often  interruiited  or  ilelayed,  'I'lieii 
cuiiie  till'  great  Hood  of  1801-2,  which  carried  av  ay  almost  uU  the  bridges  ou 


iMm 


438 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATK 


I 


military  post  in  the  Klamath  Lake  country.*  On 
the  22d  of  January  the  legislative  assembly  adjourntd 
without  having  learned  whether  its  acts  were  invalid, 
or  the  state  still  out  of  the  union ;  but  not  without 
having  elected  the  usual  list  of  territorial  officers." 

ilic  line,  and  damaged  the  road  to  such  an  extent  that  for  luonths  no  maiU 
were  carried  over  it.  But  nothing  long  interrupted  the  enterprises  of  tiie 
coiniMiny.  In  due  course  travel  was  resumed,  and  in  1805  their  coaches  ran 
4()(>  inileH  into  Oregon.  This  year  thueonipuny  demanded  $.50,000  a>l<liti<<iuil 
for  tills  service,  wliii^li  was  refused,  and  in  ItWUi  thev  sold  their  line  to  Fi.ink 
■Stevens  and  Louis  MeLane,  who  soon  re-sold  it  to  H.  W.  C'orliett,  K.  Corlntt. 
William  Hall,  A.  O.  Thomas,  and  Jesse  I).  Carr,  and  it  was  oiierat<ril  until 
1X(»'.(  uiitler  the  name  of  11.  W.  Corhett  &  Co.  Carr  tlien  purehai'-il  the 
stock,  an<l  carried  the  mail  until  1870,  when  the  Cal.  and  Or.  Coast  Ovirl.iinl 
Mail  CO.  obtained  the  contract,  and  Imuglit  Carr's  st«M;k.  They  were  riinniim 
ill  ISSl,  since  which  period  the  railroad  to  Oregon  has  liecn  complete)  1,  and 
carries  the  mail. 

The  first  daily  overland  mail  from  St  Joseph,  Missouri,  to  Sacratncnto  ar- 
rived at  that  place  July  IS,  1801,  in  17  days  4  hours,  having  lost  but  40  lioiirs 
running  time.  One  passenger,  Thomas  Miller,  came  directly  through  to  (iir- 
gon— the  longest  trip  by  coach  ever  made.  In  coii8e(juence  of  the  civil  war, 
the  southern  route  was  aliaiuloned,  and  the  central  route  by  Salt  Ijike  estuli- 
lishcd,  tho  precursor  of  the  railroad.  Indians  and  highwaymen  caustii  its 
discoutinuanco  in  18(i'J,  and  the  government  accepted  the  services  of  a  nui- 
nieiit  of  infantry  and  ;">  companies  of  cavalry  to  protect  it  Wtwecn  .Salt  Likt; 
iiiid  (California,  while  tho  Uth  Ohio  cavalry  kept  watch  on  the  plains  ca.<tt  ut 
Suit  l>akc. 

Contemporary  with  tho  daily  overland  mail  waa  the  Pony  Express,  a  de- 
vice for  shortening  In:  time  of  important  mail  matter.  W.  II.  Uush<H  uf 
Missouri  was  the  founder,  and  run  his  ponies  from  the  Missouri  to  .^alt  Like, 
connecting  with  tho  ponies  of  the  overland  mail  from  there  wcstwanl.  Tlio 
time  made  was  an  avcrugu  of  8  diiys,  or  half  the  time  of  the  coaches.  In  Nov, 
ISOI,  tho  teli!graph  lino  from  the  Nlissouri  to  the  bay  of  San  Fran'-i:«ii)  was 
completed,  though  tho  pony  express  continued  for  somo  time  afttrwanl.  \'<y 
the  aid  of  telegraph  and  daily  mail,  Oregon  obtained  New  York  iii.ws  in  4 
diiv!*,  until  in  I8(t4  a  telegrajih  line  from  Portland  to  Sacramento  had  linally 
done  away  with  space,  and  the  long  year  of  waiting  known  to  tho  pionitis 
was  reduced  to  a  few  hours. 

*"  There  wos  a  clause  in  the  constitution  which  prohibited  the  leu'is'lature 
from  groniing  divorces,  which  jirohibition  on  becoming  known  stinmlatcd  iu 
a  ri'iiiarkuble  manner  the  desire  for  freedom  from  uuirital  Iwrnlage.  Tiiiitv- 
one  divorces  were  granted  at  this  session  of  the  territorial  legislatun-,  wliii'li 
would  be  void  shouhl  it  be  found  that  congress  had  udmitteil  Oregon.  For- 
tiinatidy  for  the  lilierateil  applicants,  the  admission  was  dclayecl  loiij;  cnonji 
to  legali/.o  these  enactments.  It  wa.s  said  that  as  many  more  apidi.atioiit 
were  I'eccived.  The  churclies  were  shocked.  The  methodist  confcnnci'  ik- 
dared  that  nmrria^e  could  be  dissolved  only  by  a  violation  of  the  m  vintli 
couimandinent.  The  conu't-egatioiialists  drew  the  lines  still  closer,  and  in- 
cluded tho  slavery  (piestion.  Or.  Anjiii,  July  i!8,  1800;  Or.  StaUtinun,  >ciit. 
20,  18")!). 

*'  D.  Newcomb  was  chosen  brigailiir-genernl;  fleorge  H.  .Steward  <|iiaitfr- 
jiiaster-general;  .'\.  L.  Lovejoy  eonuuissary-general;  I).  H.  Ilolton  sMvi^imi- 
general;  J.  1>.  Boon  tivasurer;  B.  F.  Honham  auditor  ami  librarian.  Tin' e\- 
penso  of  tho  territorial  government  for  18.')8  was  $18,0.14.70.  To  j>.iy  the 
expenses  of  the  constitutional  convention  a  tax  of  li  mills  woa  levied  ou  all 
taxable  praperty.    Or.  Laws,  lboS-\),  40. 


A  BROKEN  IDOL. 


43» 


Before  the  adjournment,  letters  began  to  arrive  from 
Grover  and  Smith  relative  to  the  prospects  of  Oregon 
f(ir  {uhnission.  They  wrote  that  republicans  in  con- 
gress opposed  the  measure  because  the  constitution 
ticljarrod  free  negroes  from  emigrating  thither,  as 
v*'ll  as  because  the  population  was  insufficient,  and 
that  an  enabling  act  had  not  been  passed.  These 
objections  had  indeed  been  raised;  but  the  real  ground 
of  lepublican  opposition  was  the  fact  that  congress 
liad  refused  to  admit  Kansas  with  a  population  loss 
til  III  enough  to  entitle  her  to  a  representative  in  the 
liiwer  liouse,  unless  she  would  consent  to  come  in  as 
a  >lave  state;  and  now  it  was  proposed  to  admit  Ore- 
gon witli  not  more  than  half  the  recpiired  population,^^ 
and  excluding  slavery.  The  distinction  was  invidious. 
Tlu;  democrats  in  conjjress  desired  tiie  admission  bo- 
eaiise  it  would,  on  the  eve  of  .1  presidential  election, 
give  them  two  senators  an<l  one  representative.  For 
th(  same  reason  the  republicans  could  not  be  expected 
to  desire  it.  Why  Lane  did  not  labor  for  it  was  a 
question  which  puzzled  his  c«jnstituents;  but  it  was 
evident  that  he  was  plavin*'  fast  and  loose  witli  his 
|>;iity  ill  Oregon,  whom  he  had  used  for  his  own  ag- 
^raixHzeiiient,  and  whom  now  he  did  not  admit  to  his 
eiinlideneo.  The  hue  and  cry  of  politicians  now  l»e- 
gaii  (o  assail  him.     The  idol  of  Oregon  democracy  was 

'■'  111  IH.'ifl,  when  the  suhjoct  was  l»pfore  conirrefw,  Iauc  naiil  lie  liclicvod  tlio 
till  itdiy  timid  poll  !5,0(K>  or  '.la.aiW  votes.  It  lia<l  U'fii  Htuteil  in  tliu  huiisu, 
liy  till'  cliiiinnaii  of  tho  eoniiiiittfc  on  U'rritoriea,  on  tliu  .tint  of  •Ian. 
Is.'i7,  tliat  (t'ljgon  liiul  a  iM)pul:itioiiof  alioiit  IM.IKK).  fo/i;/.  (lhlM\  xxxiv.  '\-lQ. 
I'liit  tlic  Kansas  alFair  liail  iiiailc  iiU'inlMTS  critu-al,  aiiil  it  waa  well  known  liu- 
fiilis  that  tlii.s  \vaH«loul»le  tlio  real  nunilicrof  white  inliaJiitantH.  (li'l'nii'^Dr., 
Ms.,  17  IS;  Ihivlji'M  Hint.  Or.,  MS.,  :;<».  The  population  of  Onu'uii  in  IS.YS 
Uiinriliii^r  to  the  turritoriul  ueiiHua  wasi 4 J,(i77.  The  U.  S.  ccniiu.s  in  iStiUuiuilo 
ii  .iJ.IKi. 

"  111  tilt!  ti'n  years  Binco  tho  territory  had  first  nent  n  delc^^ato  to  conjrross, 
ni.il  iliiiiii;;  wliieli  lit  every  Hession  its  Ifgi»lattir<' had  freely  made  deiiiaiiilH 
«liirh  iiad  111  •!  freqiicutly  respondcil  to,  tlieinten-stof  eoii|;reHHin  the  Oregon 
ti'iritiiiy  liiid  'ilincd.  Then  came  tlic  allegations  made  liy  the  highest  iril- 
it.'uy  .'iiitliiirity  (>ii  tho  Pacitic  cooat  that  tho  |>c<iple  of  Oregon  were  an  ori:an- 
i/t'il  army  of  Indian -uiurdercra  nnd  (^ovcniinent  rohlK-rB,  in  Riipiiort  of  wliieli 
n-isi'i'tjon  wiiH  the  enormous  Hcconntn^^tiinst  the  lutioii,  of  nearly  six  iiiillioii 
dollars,  the  [mynient  uf  which  waa  opiMRitil  liy  ainiust  tho  entire  jirutia  of  tho 
uiiiuii.     It  is  doubtful  if  any  niau  cuuld  havo  auucvsafully  coutuudud  aguioit 


440 


OREGON  BECOMES  A  STATE. 


II 


At  last,  amidst  the  multitude  of  oppugnant  issues 
and  tactions,  of  the  cuntunding  claims  to  lite  and  lib- 
erty of  men — white,  red,  co|>per-colored,  and  Mic  k 
— of  the  scheraings  of  parties,  uud  the  tierce  (juarr  Is 
of  politicians,  democrats,  national  and  sectional,  whig. 
know-nothings,  and  republicans,  Oregon  is  enthrone  i 
a  sovereign  state! 

While  all  this  agitation  was  going  on  over  the  non- 
admission  of  Oregon,  toward  the  close  of  March  news 
came  that  the  house  had  passed  the  senate  hill 
without  any  of  the  amendments  with  which  tho 
friends  of  Kansas  had  encumbered  it,  few  republicans 
voting  for  it,  and  the  majority  being  but  eleven." 
Thus  Oregon,  which  had  ever  been  the  bantling  of  the 
democratic  party,  was  seemingly  brought  into  tho 
union  by  it,  as  according  to  titness  it  should  have  been ; 
althop'^h  without  tho  help  of  certain  republicans,  who 
did  not  wish  to  punish  the  waiting  state  for  tho  prin- 
ciples of  a  party,  it  wouM  have  remained  out  inchli- 
nitely.**     The  admission  took  place  on  Saturday,  Vvh- 

tlie  suspicion  thus  created,  that  the  <1einan<Is  of  Orefcon  were  in  other  in- 
BtaiiccH  unnecessary  and  unjust.  But  Lano  thought  that  Oregon's  ueccsKity 
Mas  his  opjMjrtunity,  and  that  by  promising  the  accomplishment  of  a  (liiiil)t> 
fill  mutter  iio  should  secure  at  least  his  personal  ends.  Nor  was  hu  aluiH'  iu 
tills  determination.  Stephens  of  Georgia,  a  personal  friend  of  Litnc,  wiio 
wa-s  ciiiiiiiiian  of  tho  coniniitteo  on  territories,  was  generally  Ijclie veil  to  Ite 
withlioliling  the  rcjwrt  on  tho  bill  for  the  admission  of  Oreijon,  ia  olM^ditn. e 
to  instructions  from  Lane.  Smith  and  Graver  also  appeared  to  bo  won  ovit, 
and  were  found  defending  the  course  of  tho  delegate.  These  disscnsiuiis  in 
tho  party  were  prennmitory  of  the  disruption  which  was  to  follow. 

**Cn„ff.  Ololu;  1858-0,  pt  i.  1011,  3jth  cong.  'Jdsess.;  Id.,  pt  ii.  iip.  ."Ud; 
S.  F.  niillrliii,  March  10,  1859;  Decuhi'n  Lawn  Or.,  101-4;  Poorc't  Chtirt. r.t 
and  CoiiHlUti/iom  of  U.  S.,  pt  ii.,  1485  91,  1507-8;  Or.  Laws,  1800,  '.'.S-.tO; 
U.  S.  I'uh.  Lawn,  3.13-4,  35th  con^'.  12.1  sess. 

*'"  Sclitiyler  (>olfax,  in  a  letter  to  W.  C.  Johnson  of  Oregon  CMty,  made  this 
ex|iliination:  'The  president  in  his  message  demanded  that  tho  oH'cnsivo  re- 
striction a^'ainst  Kansas  should  Ih)  miiintaincd,  proliibiting  her  ailinissiori  till 
she  hud  03,000  inhabitants,  because  she  rejected  a  slave  constitution,  wliiiu 
Oregon,  with  licr  Leconipton  delectation,  should  l)uadmitteil  forthwitii.  And 
the  chief  (if  yonr  delegation,  (ten.  I^no,  was  one  of  tiio  men  who  hud  um^I 
all  his  |H;rsoual  iniluenco  in  favor  of  that  political  ininuity,  the  Lc>'oniptiin 
con'*titution.  iMid  itse.inally  worthy  successor,  the  Knglisn  bill.  He,  of  coiirsi', 
refused  now  to  say  wliether  ho  would  vote  in  tho  U.  8.  senate,  if  udniitticl 
there,  to  repeal  tho  English  prohibition  which  ho  had  so  earnestlv  lulxinil  t» 
impose  on  Kansas;  nnd  its  political  friends  in  tho  house  refused  also  to  iim  <  iit 
to  Us  ri'|>eal  in  any  manner  or  form  whatever.  This,  of  course,  iui|"'lli  d 
many  republicans  to  insist  that  Oregon,  witli  her  Liccompton  delegation,  slioiiKI 
wait  for  adniiisiou  till  Kansas,  with  her  republican  delegation,  was  t>ii>i}  tu 


ADMISSION  TO  THE  UNION. 


441 


ant  issuos 
u  and  lilt- 
ind  Itl.uk 
3  (|Uan*  Is 
lal,  whig, 
inthroiiu  1 

•  tlio  llOll- 

areh  news 
3iiato  liill 
^hifh  tlio 
jpublicaiis 


even. 


u 


el 
ingot'  the 

into  the 
lavc  been ; 
cans,  who 

the  piiii- 
)ut  indeli- 
day,  Felj- 

in  other  in- 

ion's  neci's.sity 

of  a  iloiilit- 

liu  alone  ill 

Laiif,  w  Ik) 

jelicvfil  ti)  Ipo 

ill  olK>(liiMi  e 

bo  W(in  DVcr, 

HMCiitiiuUii  in 

IV. 

a  ii.  up.  H;<l); 
in'"  I  hurl'  r.i 
mH),  'Jrs-Hl); 

ty,  iiiiiiltjtliis 
Dlli'iisivi'  i(^- 
ln)i.s:jiiiii  till 
iitioii,  wliilu 
with,  .\iiil 
lo  hiiil  iiM  I 
Leroinptiiii 

le,  uf  luiiisi', 
if  iiiliiiittol 

ly  Uilxiii'il  ti) 

klstl  to  lis  1  lit 
so,    iMl|"l'l'l 

iitioii,  sii"iil'l 
i-fuJ)  to 


ruarv  12,  1859;  the  bill  was  approved  by  the  pres- 
i(|(  lit  on  Monday,  the  14th,  on  which  day  Lane  and 
Sinitii  presented  their  credentials  to  the  senate,  and 
were  sworn  in.  On  drawing  for  their  terras,  Lano 
with  his  usual  good  luck  drew  the  terra  ending  in 
1  sd  I ,  while  Smith's  would  expire  the  following  luonth. 
On  the  1 5th  Grover  took  his  seat  in  the  house,  to 
wliit'h  he  would  be  entitled  only  until  the  3d  of  March. 
The  satisfaction  which  the  friends  of  state  govern- 
ment expected  to  derive  from  admission  to  the  union 
was  much  dulled  by  delay  and  the  circumstances  at- 
tending it.  Party  leaders  had  taught  the  ixople  to 
helieve  that  when  Oregon  became  a  state  the  war 
deht  would  be  paid.**  The  same  leaders  now  declared 
that  afttir  all  they  had  gained  little  or  nothing  by  it, 
and  were  forced  to  solace  themselves  with  pleasant 
messages  from  the  western  states,  from  which  had 
^rone  forth  the  annual  trains  of  men  and  means  by 
whicli  Oregon  had  been  erected  into  an  independent 
coin nion wealth.*'  She  had  at  all  events  come  into  the 
union  respectably,  and  had  no  enemies  either  north  or 
south. 

cDiiic  ill  with  her.  With  a  less  obnoxious  delegation  from  Orejjon,  the  votes 
of  many  ivpiiblicans  wonhl  havu  been  differi-nt.  As  it  ttirncd  out,  louever, 
till'  Very  nii'ii  for  whoso  interests  (ren.  Lane  had  laliored  8oeuriiestl\  — -I  mean 
till' ultra-Hoiitlicm  leiulcrs — refiisvd  to  vote  for  t  lie  admission  biU,  alt  hough 
tliry  liail  the  whole  delegation  elect  of  their  own  kidney.  Aui'  it  would  have 
iit'iii  ill  iVated  but  for  the  votes  of  fifteen  of  us  republicans  who  thought  it 
huttii'  to  ilitiiuthridl  Oregon  from  presidential  sovereignty,  and  from  the  sphere 
of  I  Mill  Scott  decisions;  and  even  in  spite  of  your  obnoxious  delegation,  to 
iiiliiiit  tilt!  new  state  into  the  union,  rather  tliun  remand  it  to  the  condition 
of  a  slave-holding  territ«jry,  as  our  snprame  court  declares  all  our  territories 
t'l  Kc.  ili'iice,  if  there  is  any  question  raised  about  which  ]mrty  ndtnitted 
Ori'piii,  you  can  truthfully  say  that  she  would  not  have  been  admilted  but 
fur  I  "|iiil)lican  aid  and  support;  republicans,  too,  who  voted  fur  it  not  through 
tilt'  iiiilncncn  of  Uen.  Lone  and  Ct).,  but  in  spite  of  the  disfavor  with  which 
tiny  iigai'tluilthein.'  Or.  Aiyua,  Mny2H,  1839;  See  U.S.  II.  licpt,  I'iS,  vol. 
i.,  :riili  Cong.  2d  sess. 

'"Smi  eoinmeuts  of  DoMon  Journal,  in  Or.  Arfpu,  Sept.  24,  IS.'iO. 

'Mvaaiuis  City,  Missouri,  on  the  4th  of  July,  i8.'>9,  uttuohetl  the  new  star 
rrprt'^i'iit  iiig  Oregon  to  ita  flag  amidst  a  display  of  enthusiasm  and  self-aggrau- 
(lii;fiiiuut. 


mM 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


r 


POLITICS  AND   PATRIOTISM. 

1859-1861. 

Appointment  of  OFnoKBS  of  the  United  States  Cocrt— Extra  Ses- 
sioN  OF  the  Leuislatukk — Acts  and  Reports — State  Seal— Dkla- 
zoN  Smith — Republican  Convention" — Nominations  and  ELEcridNi 

— RCPTUBE   IN   TIIK    DEMOCRATIC   PaRTY — ShEIL  ELECTED  TO  CoNiatKSS 

— Scheme  of  a  Pacific  Republic — Legislative  Session  uf  isiiO— 
Nesmm  H  AND  Baker  Elected  U.  S.  Senators— Influence  ok  Sor mi- 
EKN  Secession — Thayer  Elected  to  Congress — Lane's  Disi-oyai  ir 

— GOVEUNOR     WlIITEAKER — StARK,     U.    S.    SENATOR — OkECON     IN    TUE 

War— New  Officials. 

The  act  of  cwnj^jress  extending  the  laws  and  judicial 
system  of  the  United  States  over  Oregon,  which 
passed  March  3,  1859/  provided  for  one  United  States 
judge,  at  a  salary  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  i)cr 
annum,  Matthew  P.  Deady  being  chosen  to  fill  this 
office.''  Late  in  1858  Williams  had  been  appointed  chief 
justice  of  the  territory,  with  Boisd  associate  justice,  aiul 
Walter  Forward^  of  Marion  county  United  States  iiiar- 
shal,  McCracken  having  resigned.  On  the  20th  of 
May  the  judges  elect  of  the  supreme  and  circuit  courts 

•  U.  8.  Piih.  Laws,  437,  35th  cong.  2d  sess. 

'Groversays  that  Hendricks  of  Indiana,  who  was  then  commisRiomr  of 
the  Ri^neral  land  ottice,  and  was  afterward  U.  S.  senator  for  (i  jfais,  iind  a 
candidate  for  the  vice-presidency,  was  among  the  applicants  fur  the  jihur, 
and  personally  his  preference,  but  that  tl'.d  Oregon  people  were  opiioM  d  to 
imported  olHcers,  and  hence  he  recomm'i-aded  Deady.  i'lib.  Life  in  Or..  MS., 
57.  It  was  Kaid  at  the  time  that  Lane  made  the  recominendatioii  U>  kti-p 
Deady  out  of  his  way  in  future  elections.  However  that  might  he,  tlio  ap- 
poiutnient  was  satisfactory,  and  Judge  Deady  has  done  much  to  8ii|ip(irt  tliu 
dignity  of  the  state,  and  to  promote  the  growth  of  moral  and  social  iiibticu- 
tions. 

•■'  He  was  a  nephew  of  Walter  Forward  of  Ponn.  and  of  Jeremiah  Ulacii 
U.  S.  atty-gen.  Amer.  Almanac,  1857-0;  Or.  Stalesman,  Dec.  21,  ISoS. 

( 44a ) 


ORGANIZAllON  OP  TBK  COURTS. 


443 


nu  t  at  Salem  to  draw  lots  for  their  terms  of  office, 
JJoisd  and  Stratton  getting  the  six  years  and  Wait 
tlio  four  years  term,  which  made  him,  as  holder  of 
the  shorter  term,  by  the  provisions  of  the  constitu- 
tion, chief  justice.  The  vacancy  created  by  Dcady's 
ai»[»ointment  was  filled  by  P.  P.  Prim  of  JjK.'kson 
county.*  Andrew  J.  Thayer  was  appointed  United 
Stiitos  district  attorney  in  place  of  W.  H.  Farrar,  and 
Forward  cortinucd  in  the  office  of  marshal  until  Sep- 
tiiul)er,  when  Dolph  B.  Hannah  was  appointed  in  his 
|ilci('e.  Joseph  G.  Wilson  received  the  position  of 
clnk  of  the  supreme  court,*  and  J.  K.  Kelly  was 
iniido  attorney  for  the  United  States. 

The  supreme  judges  not  being  able  to  detcrmino 
V  liother  their  decisions  would  be  valid  under  the  act 
jiassL'd  by  the  state  legislature  before  the  admission 
nt' Oregon,  Governor  Whiteaker  convened  the  legisla- 
ture on  the  16th  of  May,  which  proceeded  to  complete 
the  state  organization  and  regulate  its  judiciary. 
Among  the  acts  passed  was  one  accepting  certain 
jiropositions  made  by  congress  in  the  bill  of  admission. 
]^V  this  bill,  in  addition  to  the  munificent  dowry  of 
lauds  for  school  and  university  purposes,  the  state 
roceived  ten  entire  sccUons  of  land  to  aid  in  complot- 
iuLT  the  public  build iigs,  all  the  salt  springs  in  the 
state,  not  exceeding  twelve  in  number,  with  six  sec- 
tious  of  land  adjoining  each,  with  five  per  cent  of  the 
Hit  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  all  public  lands  lying 
^\  it  hill  the  state  to  be  applied  to  internal  improve- 
uuiits;  in  return  for  wliieh  the  state  agreed  that  non- 
rf-idents  should  not  be  taxed  higher  than  residents, 
au(]  tiie  property  of  the  United  States  not  at  all;  nor 
should  the  state  in  any  way  interfere  with  the  primary 
(lis|)osal  of  the  soil  by  the  United  States,  or  with  any 
ni;ulations  which  congress  miglit  find  necessary  for 

*  Prim's  Judicial  Affairs,  MS.,  11;  Anhldnrl  Tidings,  Juael,  1S78.  The 
iliHtrict  I'ourt  held  its  sessiona  in  tlio  niethodist  church  iu  Juckaouville.  Or. 
Aiyii^,  Nov.  22,  1850;  Overland  Monthly,  xiv.  377-81. 

'Or.  J{< ports,  ii.  8-0.  Dcady  iiiaile  liiin  Bpeciul  U.  S.  attorney  ia  the 
il'tiiig  uf  I8(i0. 


imiH 


1. 

i: 

1'.: 

•^:{!!f 

.■, 

H 

- 

H 

444 


POLITICS  AND  I'ATKIOTI.SM. 


scourinjjj  title  in  tlio  soil  to  bona  fide  purchasers.'  A 
few  acts,  L'enei-jil  and  siucial,  were  passed,'  anioii.r 
others,  one  providinjj*  for  the  seal  of  the  state  of  ( )ic- 
jjfon,"  and  one  f<»r  a  speeial  eleetion  to  lu'  held  on  I  lie 
27th  of  June  for  the  ehoiee  of  a  representative  to 
eon«i;res8,  after  which  the  le;jfislature  adjourned. 

ihw  tliinj^  they  had  failed  to  do,  its  omission  hein;^' 
sis^nificant  they  had  not  elected  Delazon  Sinitli  to 
nsturn  to  the  United  States  senate.  Kather  than  do 
that,  they  preferred'  to  leave  his  place  vacant,  which 
they  did,  Smith  havin<jf  shown  himself  while  in  Wasli- 
inj^ton  not  only  an  adherent  of  Lane,  dethroned,  hut  m 
man  altnuether  of  whom  even  his  Jiarty  wasashaimd.' 

Of  their  representative  (Jrover,  there  was  nnuh  to 
he  said  in  his  praise.  His  speeches  were  impressive, 
full  of  cond«'nsed  facts,  and  he  conducted  himself  in 
snch  a  way  "generally  as  to  connnand  respect.  It  w.is 
said  that  there  was  more  culture  and  ahilitv  in  the  one 
represeiitativi"  than  in  the  tw<»  senators.  But  it  was 
not  upon  fitness,  hut  jtarty  n'(|uircments,  that  hv.  had 
het'H  elected;  and  l»efore  he  liatl  returne<l  to  offer  him- 
self for  reelection,  new  is.su«'s  ha«l  arisen,  and  anc^thcr 
man  had  heen  nominated  in  his  place.  Thus  Ixtth  of 
the  men,  prime  favorites  of  the  democratic  paify  in 
()re«jfon,  returned  to  the  new  state  after  less  than  nnc 
month  of  coiiixressional  honors,  to  find  that  their  uains 
were  oidy  pecuniary." 

«(rV/i.  hiii-Mlh:,   IH.V.J,  iMt  :10. 

'  All  act  |iri)\  Ilium  fur  •'"'  ''l''<'fi"H  of  jircMiihuitinl  (iloctorw,  iiiul  tn  prr- 
Hcrilx'  llicif  i|iitii'>4.  All  iift  |>ri>\hliii){  for  tlm  rcniHtriitidii  of  tlif  |ii'ii|>i'rl\  if 
iiiamol  wiiiiii'ii,  iicconhiig  tn  tlm  ciiiiHtitiilinii.  An  iK't  |iri>viilni^  f^r  tlir 
li'iiHJng  iif  till*  )H'iiit<!iitiury.  An  (lot  raiMing  tliti  utiUu  tux  tn  two  nulls  on  u 
ilnlliir,  fto. 

•■  ■  'I'll!'  i|i>Hrri|itinii  of  till'  m'lil  of  tli<>  Ntiiti-  of  Oroffon  HJiiiIl  lio  iiii  I'sniti  lirmi 
HiiiiiHirti'il  liy  tliirty  tlirri'  utiirM  iliviilnt  liy  an  nnlinary,  with  tliu  inMi'i'i|>liMii 
"TIhi  I'liliiii.'"  ■  In  I'liii'f  iiiniiiit  tiuM,  an  «'lk  witfi  lir.iin'liiiit;  aiillii-^.  i 
waf(iiii,  till!  I'ai'ilii'  iH'i'an,  on  wlmli  Im  a  HntiNli  nmn-nf'War  ili'|iartiii^  iiii'l  in 
Aiiii'rii'iiii  HtraiiiiT  arriviiix.  'I'liti  .hi'ihiiiI  i|iiai't('riiiK  witli  a  Hlii'af,  iilnii^'li  aii'l 
|iii'k'ax(>.  CiTst,  tliii  AiiiiTiraii  t'agic.  Li'ijuinl,  Statu  of  Orcgiiii.  J-'kIiI;/" 
Imii'h  Or.    41Mi  7. 

"'I'Im-v  nxi'ti  to  •■all  liiiii  |)(<liii«ioii  Hiiiith. 

'"Tile  iiii'ii  put  III  nniiiitiatiiin  at  tlic  ili'iiiocratii-  I'onvi'iitioii  in  Aiiril  wirn 
W.  W .  ( 'lia|iiiiaii,  tirnrnii  !'•  '"nrry.  tlrnr^tn  II.  WillianiH,  L.  K.  (irnMT,  ;im.| 
l.aiiHiiif/  Stiiiit.  'I'liii  Oniiti'Ht  was  lictwci'ii  Stniit  aii<l  (irovcr,  ami  Si'  il 
ruuuiviiil  7  nioru  votfM  in  ccmvuiition  than  lirnviir.     J^uiiHtng  Stout,   la\(,\<i, 


REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 


m 


On  the  2lst  of  April  tho  republicans  met  in  con- 
V.  iition  and  brouglit  out  their  platform;  which  was,  in 
111  it  r,  devotion  to  the  union,  and  the  rij^ht  of  indo- 
iiiiidcnt  action  in  the  states,  subject  only  to  the  con- 
si  it  iition  of  the  United  States;  declarinj^  the  wisdom 
ul"  the  constitution  in  relation  to  slavery,  yet  opposed 
tn  its  extension;  recot^nizinjjf  the  fact  that  the  consti- 
tution vested  the  sovereij^nty  of  the  territories  in 
(■(iiiLjrcss,  yet  not  forofcttinj^  that  con«^ress  might  dele- 
^nU-  the  exercise  of  that  sovereignty  partly  or  wholly 
to  the  [)eoi)le  of  the  territories,  and  favoring  such 
(Itlcgation  so  far  as  consistent  witli  free  labor  and 
good  government.  It  declared  thr  intervention  of 
congress  for  the  protection  of  slavery  in  the  territo- 
ries, demanded  by  leading  democrats,  a  gross  infrac- 
tion of  popular  and  national  rights,  which  should  bo 
resisted  by  free  men.  It  was  opposed  to  j>lacing  largo 
sums  of  money  in  the  hands  of  the  executive  with 
iU'thority  to  purchase  territory  as  he  chose  without 
the  eousideration  of  coui^ress;  and  while  welcoming 
those  of  the  white  race  who  canie  to  the  United 
States  t()  enjoy  the  blessings  of  free  institutions,  held 
that  the  safety  of  those  institutions  dep«»nded  upon 
the  enforcement  of  the  t.aturalization  laws  of  the 
country.  These  were  the  real  points  at  issue.  But 
ill  order  to  add  strength  to  the  platform,  it  was 
resolved  by  the  convention  that  the  interests  of  Ore- 
gon, as  well  as  the  whole  union,  demanded  i\\o  passago 
iif  the  homestead  i 'II,"  and  the  speedy  construction 
of  the  Pacific  railroad.  Interiud  miprovements  of  a 
national  clujiucter,  a  tariff  sutheient  to  meet  the  cur- 
rent <>xpenses  oi'  the  govi'rnmeiit  which  should  dis- 
tiiuiiimte  in  favor  of  home  industry,  a  free  gift  of  a 

WiiK  II  nutivi'  <if  N.  v.,  Oftino  to  Cil.  in  I8.VJ,  ami  wwiclccti'il  td  tho  li'jjinlfttum 
ill  \\\'t.  Ho  Hft«>nvar(l  n'movuti  to  I'lirtlutiil  iiiid  win  <'U'ot4'il  roiiiity  jiuluc 
lilt  liiiil  uhility,  pui'ticiilnrly  ill  tliii  ilii't'otiiiit  ot' |Miliiica.  liu  difil  in  IhTI  at 
till' apt  iif  4;j  yi'uiR.  Watla  iVitll'i  ShifiHinun,  Miirclill,  IS'I;  O/ym/na  Wiuh. 
Shiu.laril,  MiiicK  II,  IS71. 

"  riiiN  liiul  liouii  III  fori)  ootiKruR*  at  thu  lait  loiKiun,  Lnnn  TotitiK  nKniiiRt 
it.  riiiH  fiict  wnt  iiMod  hy  tliu  rcpiiliIiouiH  liuiuiint  liiiii;  iiml  it  in  ililliiiult  tu 
uutlo-HUiiiil  Iii4  iiiotive,  uulcHs  it  wua simply  tu  upputo  iiurtlnrii  vcuutors. 


m 


446 


POLITICS  AND  rATllIOTISM. 


lumu!  to  him  who  wouM  cultivate  jiihI  «l«f(M»<i  if,  \\i m 
aiiiiouiK'ol  Jis  tilt;  measure's  wiiicli  the  ro[>ui»li«aii  paiiv 
|)!j(I;^(mI  itself  to  support.  Lastly,  <(infifn;sH  was  cn- 
iiestly  iiivokofl  to  pay  the  war  «lel)t  of  ()re]L,'ou,  ii..t 
htjldiiij^  respoMsil)hj  thu  people  for  any  ormrs  or  mis. 
coiiduet  of  otHcers  OF  iMilivitluals,  whether  truly  m- 
falsely  alle;^e(l. 

Oil  procee«liii<r  to  hallot  for  oon;^'ressmen,  tho  nanus 
of  J)avi<l  l,ogaii,  H.  J.  l*eiij^ra,  and  W.  L.  Ailiiiii> 
w»!re  j>reseiite<l,  Lojjfan  n-ceiviii'Lj  a  majority  of  Ihii 
t«M'M  over  IV'lij^ra.  J)ele<^ates  wen;  choseM  to  allrinl 
tile  national  repuhliean  eonveiition  of  iSCtO,  who  wnv 
instruetcd  to  vote  tor  W.  II.  Seward  for  pi'esid(iili;il 
candidate;  hut  in  easo  this  wi?ro  not  expedient,  to  ii.>' 
their  discn^tion  in  seK^etiiij^  another.'^ 

Tht!  n-puhliejin  jwirty  (»f  <  )re«ron  was  n<»w  faiilv 
l/iumhi'tl  on  the  unknown  sea  «>f  romin^  e\eiii-. 
Loj^an  was  admitted  hy  his  opponents  to  h<-  th.' 
HlronjLji'st  man  of  his  pai'ty,  one  possessed  (A'  posili\i 
(pialilies,  and  an  elo(pient  and  satiiieal  orato,-.  il< 
iiad,  however,  <'ertain    moral   dejrets   whieli   diniiin  I 

till'  lustre  of  his   mental  j^ifts,  and  always  si I  in 

tiio  way  of  his  hij^jhest  sui't'ess.  How  near  he  eaiiif 
to  a  victory,  which  w«»uld  have  ht-en  unpri'cedenti  I, 
{Stout's  majority  of  oidy  sixtoen  voti's  pomtetllv  iIIun- 
trat.s.'-' 

Anythin<^  so   near  a  repuhliean  triumph  had   ii<>t 
lieen  anticipatud,  und  hotli  parties  were  eiiually  astnii- 


"The  iletoffitM  wem  W.  Warron,  I/»Btiili>r  IToIinet,  and  A.  0.  Ilovi';. 

"Stiiiit'i*  Hi'iiioii  wiiM  i|iii"4tiiiii<«l  (III  lu'i'ouut  of  Nomo  irr(i){iil<iiit.v,  Imt 
I»g»ii  faili'il  to  iiiMriit  Iniii. 

"  I  III'  ("iiiiitv  of  Miirioti,  liithrrtii  millilly  ili'iiuM'rAtin,  )(rvu  ix>K»n  ikiiiIv 
JWWI  nii'jiirity.  I.iiiii,  the  Ihimih  nf  |)<'lii/<iii  Smith,  f(avi<  .stout  luit  l)Nl  nm 
jority;  I'ulk,  tlin  lioiiix  ol  Ni'itiiiitli,  ^iivo  lia  iniijni  it\  fur  Stout;  htiii'U»«'  <> 
niiijoiity  of  'JO  for  l^iuiiii.  Multiioniali,  <  laiHop.  \ViiHliin(!loti,  Viiinlnll,  himI 
I'lllmiKMik,  ttll  wi'iit  fur  l<o){nii.  'riK'Noiitlicriiciiinitii-M^i'iu'riilly  went  f'>i  S|..iii, 
•ii<l  nivt'il  tliti  iti'tiiiMTHlii'  |Hiity  III  till)  WillniiM'tlx  Vi«llt«y  from  tit'ltiil:  lot-  nl- 
tlioliuli  tlll'y  folitililiril  HoliKi  of    tllii  Ntroil^iMl  o|i|Mim'litll  of   tlll<  cIciimmI'iii  \    i\<u 

iiiujoiity  wf*rii  iiit«Mi»i<ly  iliivoU'il  t^i  liiiit',  uml  ttit'y  linti  not  Imil  tlin  li«;lil  <'i>  lii* 
rrifiit  I'oiinwiuiHtiigroM  wliloh  Iwil  bvuit  givon  l>y  tlie  Sialmmun  to  tlin  ii<>ttli' 
•m  ouiaitlo*. 


LANE  FOR  PRESIDENT. 


447 


Mul   it,  \Vi  10 

»li<an  I  I.I  It  y 
is   was  i-ai'- 

»rs  MI'  lui^- 
ur  irul)-  i.r 

,  thu  naiiii'S 
li.    Ailidiis 
itv  (if  lliir 

I    to    Utti'llll 

),  who  \\i|v 
i>i'<'si<|(iiii;il 
limit,  t'l  ii.v! 

now    laiilv 
in;;    cNfiits. 

to    lu)    the 

of  |>o>iti\' 
>i'ato4\      II' 

|ch   (iiiiiiiK' I 

"S    stoml     ill 
\V    lie   cailir 

ri'ccdfiitr'l, 
.<j(llv  iilii-^- 


)li 


liail    ii'>t 
ally  asloii- 


<).  Nov., 
•rt'miliirily,  Imt 

l>i|iitii  ii-arly 

It     llllt     IINI  lllll' 

It;   I  Jiiif  «»>«'  » 

II,  Viiiiiliill.  itiiil 
wnil  f..rM|..iil, 
•  Iftnil;  Int  111- 

(li'iiii>iill«.\.  ''i» 
tli<ili|{ltt<>iillil 

in  to  tliP  iK'ttli- 


tl 


And  now  Josoph  Lano  aspired  to  tho  prosidcnry  of 
!■  Knitod  Stjitus.  Poiulinj^  tho  nu'etinj^j  of  a  (h'lno- 
ciatic  ponvcntion  in  Novoinhor,  which  was  to  t'ltct 
(ji  l.Hfatcs  to  the  national  convention  at  Charleston, 
(iii.vcr  an<l  Curry  made  speeehes  throu<^hout  tiio 
state,  the  olycet  of  wliich  was  to  obtain  the  noniina- 
tlitn  to  the  vaeant  senatorship;  hut  dissensions  in  the 
jiarty  had  j;«)ne  too  far  to  afi'ord  a  hope  of  eitlur 
\)i\u'^  chosen  hy  tlie  next  legislature.  The  mutual 
aluise  heaped  upon  each  other  hy  tho  partisans  of 
the  two  factions  only  contributed  to  widen  the  breach 
ami  cojijplcte  the  «lisruption  of  the  party.  The  tyran- 
iii<';»l  and  proscriptive  course  of  the  old  Tjane-liush 
(|(  iiiociacy  was  now  pnu'tised  by  the  Lane-Stout  de- 
mocracy. In  1858  tho  Stutcsiiutn  had  upheld  the 
iiicasjire  of  making  I^ane's  nuijority  the  basis  of  ap- 
iHiititnimcnt  in  the  several  counties.  In  18.')*)  the 
(Tiitral  conunittee,  foll(>wing  tliis  example,  dt.'clarcd 
that  Stout's  majority  should  be  tho  basis  of  appor- 
tioiinicnt  for  delegates  to  the  November  convtMition. 
A  v't'iieral  protest  followed,  tho  counties  sending  as 
iii.iiiy  dcli'gates  as  they  thought  fit.  Oidy  f«»ur  w«re 
admitted  from  Marion,  which  sent  ten,  and  eight 
niiiiities  withdnnv,'*  rt'solving  not  to  elect  delegates 
to  the  Charleston  convention,  but  simply  to  pledge 
titciiisclves  to  support  tlu!  national  nominee. 

rpon  the  withdrawal  of  this  body  of  delegates,  tho 
drirgatcsof  the  eh'ven  remaining  counties  ma<le  known 
tin  ir  instructions  con<'eriung  the  presi<lental  canditlate, 
when  it  was  found  that  Josephine  county  had  named 
Stephen  A.  |)«)uglns,  an«l  Yandiill  Daniel  S.  Dickin- 
snii.  Other  counties  r«>fus(Ml  to  nominate  Lane.  In 
this  embarrassing  position  those  who  had  so  deter- 
iiiiiied,  guided  by  li.  V.  Mosher,  Lane's  s(»n-in  law, 
cut  the  gordian  knot  by  moving  to  appoint  a  «-otii- 
iiiitte«'  to  report  delegates  to  the  national  convention 
with  instructions,  which  was  dtme.  The  report  of 
the  committee'  named  tloseph   Lane,  Lansing  Stout, 

'MiiriDii,  I'ulk,  Umou,  ClaUoji,  WitahiiiKtoii,  Uiii|)<|iia,  C<kmi,  anJ  Curry, 


fl 


mis  A 


'! 


:  'i 


Ik 


: 


448 


POLITICS  AND  PATRIOTISM. 


ami  ^Tattli('\v  P.  Doady  ilelogates,  with  John  K.  Lam 
orick,  .Iidiii  F.  Millor,  and  John  Adair  as  altcni;it<s; 
M'itli  instriictionH  to  use  all  their  influence  to  procun; 
the  notniiiation  in  the  Charleston  convention  of  Jo- 
seph Lane  for  the  presidency.  Blinded  by  paitisiii 
zeal  and  llie  dan<^crous  flattery  of  southern  nun  .md 
women,  J.ane  had  staked  all  on  this  desperate  ha/.aid; 
while  tile  un^vise  action  of  his  friends  in  allowinj^  ti^ht 
counties  to  he  driven  out  of  the  Eugene  convention 
apparently  deprived  him  of  any  reasonable  expiita- 
tion  of  carrying  his  own  state  should  he  receive  .siuli 
nomination.'" 

Un<ler  the  state  constitution  the  legislature  and 
state  ofliccrs  were  to  bo  elected  biennially  on  the  tiist 
Monday  in  June.  The  first  electicm  having  Imcii 
held  in  IHrjR,  there  could  be  no  other  befon^  .Iiim' 
18G0;  therefore,  after  the  democratic  convention  of 
November,  the  |)eople  might  have  enjoyed  exemption 
from  tlu!  noise  of  politi(!s  had  it  not  been  that  a  clond 
of  party  Jomiials  had  fallen  upon  the  land.*'     The  only 

**Sacramf)iti)  Union,  in  Or.  StatfHtnnti,  Jan.  17,  1800. 

'M'Diiccinini,'  flit!  ncwupiipcrs  whicli  i«|iruii^  into  t'xiutcnco  alxmt  tlw  timo 
of  t1ic>  ii(liniN:4iiiii  <if  Oregon,  1  liuvu  uatliureii  tlio  f(illiiwini{  cliiclly  IVum  thr 
StaleHintin,  .liv/i/.i,  ami  ttrnjoiiinn.  Nliuiy  of  tlu>ni  li.td  a  orief  cMstiiii't',  or 
8<)  fri'<|iu'ntly  tlianj^'i'il  tlii'ir  titles  tliut  it  i»  (litilinilt  to  follow  tlifin.  li.nly 
ill  IS.'S  tlin  Jiiiiiiii  nilir  St'inilaril,  wliioli  Wii8  CHUihiiHlicil  by  Aloii/o  I.ilaiid 
ill  18.'i(,  cliaii^'cil  hanilii,  aiiil  was  editcil  liy  JtinieH  ()'M(!iirn,  uh  \vu  iuivi  mcii. 
It  HiiHpi'iiilol  Ml  .huiuary  IS.'tit,  liiit  roHiiMicil  piil>Ucatii>ii  in  iM'tinmi  v.  N'>'t 
lon){  after,  the  picHs  wus  reinovetl  to  Kii^'enu  City,  whcro  a  paper  eiilltil  tliu 
JhinthiuUir  /li  mill  wan  Htarted  \>y  Alex.  lUakely,  to  l)H  tlevoteil  to  tlii'  iiiltr- 
ests  of  the  |,iiiui  (leiniHiracy.  It  survived  but  ono  year.  I'liviniisly  fo 
thin  reiiiiivMi   ti)  Kii^'eiiu,  tiitiro  liad  liecn  a  neutral  paper  puMiiheil  at  tliiit 

1)laei)  eallid  the  J'arijir  Jonrnnl.  Tliin  paper  was  purehaned  in  l^.iS  hy 
t.  •!.  I'eii^^'ia,  and  piiliIiMhed  as  n  repuhliean  journal  under  '  naiin'  of 
Till'  Pi(i/>Ii'm  /'/v.«s.  A  Homi-weukly,  called  tlio  Fnndlin  Ail'  nixvi;  wm 
for  n  Nhiii't  tiiiK  pulilixliud  in  Portland  liy  S.  J.  McCorinit^k.  SmI)M'ciiii  ally, 
ill  ISi')!),  Iceland  of  the  Sfiiinliiril  stated  a  papor  at  Portland,  callid  tlio 
Dixiiy  Ailirrll.ii  i;  'p|ot  up  an  tlio  Slitinlard  wan,  '  oniHh  out  the  Suit'in 
cli(pie.'  It  was  pro  slavery  and  antinuHli.  Afti  .uniiing  a  few  iiii>utli« 
it  iMiRBed  into  the  lianda  of  S.  J,  MuCoriniek  iw  pulilinlior,  Lcland  with'haW' 
in^  from  tlie  editorial  eliair.  (ieo.  L.  Curry  iN.'oanio  connieted  with  it, 
when  it  wai  enlargud  ami  published  weekly  as  widl  nit  daily,  .Me('iiruii<  k  iie 
triMhK'iuK  n  Hteani  press  into  his  printiiif;  establiMlinient.  I'roviouH  to  i^tm  tint; 
tiiu  Ail-niimr  Leiand  liud  eHtablished  tlio  JMlif  Ncwn,  thu  liiHt  daily  |'.i|Hr 
in  Urrgoii,  in  I'diineetidii  with  S,  A.  Kn;j;lii«h  &  Co.,  n\i)>UHherH.  Iliiidly  liml 
it  begun  liefiire  it  paHNcil  into  tho  uditoriul  cliaruu  ui  K.  U.  Shattiiik,  aad  a 
little  Liter  into  the  liantU  of  W.  I).  Cartur.  I'lio  AVim  then  (ailili  lini » 
wuulily,  iiidi  peiideul  in  pulitioi,  which  hod  tt  brief  cxiatuuuo.     In  Ucctiubtir 


NOMINATING  CONVENTIONS. 


449 


K.  L.Uil 
Iternatfs; 
,()  imxuni 
on  <>t  Jd- 
V  niU'tisiiii 
\  nicii  .11x1 
to  h!i/.:it<l; 
,vin«jj  riulit 
.'on  volition 
o  ox|«'<t;i- 
iooivo  siah 

latnro  and 
on  ilu;  tii'f*t 

ol'ol'O    .luiK' 

ivontitin  of 

oxom|itinii 

hat.  a  rldiiil 

Tho  only 


about  tl\«'  timo 

iff  I'xiHtLiiif,  or 
w  tlu'iii.     Kiily 
Moli/t)  l.>'l:illd 
tH  wo  liiiv>:  Ni'i;". 
Fi'luimiv.     N»' 
HjHT  nill»«l  tlio 
,i!il  to  till'  iutf- 
J'nviniisly  to 
il.liHlu'.l  at  tlmt 
st'il    in    1^'">"*  I'V 
,  y        ■  imtiH^  iif 
All'   riisii;  WM 
SuliM''|iii  »''>'. 
aii.l,  .iill..!  tlio 
out  til"   Saifm 
a  f«\v  niKiitli* 
•lunil  witlilniw- 
mini    Nvitli   it. 
M.'Ciiniii.k  in- 

ioUM  to  (.Lilting 

irst  ilaily  paptr 

l-«.      llnnlly  liii'l 

iiiittuiU,  'inaa 

111  DociuiUir 


crnod  tliinof  that  could  bo  said  of  them  was  that  thoy 
|)i(.\()kcd  i'roe  oritioiam  of  thomselv^vs,  and  wcro  tlius 
iiisliumontttl  in  emancipatinj^  the  thought  of  tho 
jie(i|ilf. 

A  doniocratic  convention  for  the  nomination  of  a 
rcprosontativo  was  called,  to  meet  at  Eugene  in  April, 
the  call  being  doolined  by  Marion,  Clatsop,  Curry, 
\V!isliingtt)n,  Polk,  and  Tillamook.  George  K.  Shell 
was  nominated,'*  and  the  convention  adjourned  with- 
out rhoosing  candidates  for  presidential  electors,  which 
was  a  part  of  tho  business.  Two  days  later  the  re- 
|iulili»ans  hold  a  convention,  at  which  delegatey  I'roiu 
Kevontoon  counties  were  present.     At  this  meeting 

iNltl   lie  Portland  Daily  Tiine»  iaHUol  tmo  or  two  nuinl>or8,  and  HU8pen<Iud. 
It  WMs  revived  ill  Istil,  aiul  supported  tho  Ki'^'ffnmciit.     In  tho  li  'ter  jurt 


of  iMiO  Henry  L.  I'lttoek,  the  present  puhlislier  of  tho  Omjo'iian,  iiurcliuMod 

"  ^',  whieli  anpourc'd  for  tlic  first  timo  Fel>.  l,  I. S(»l. 
h.i',»  a  journal  ualleil  I  ho  I'oHihurij  hxi'irsn  wns  published  in  llosoburg,  oil 


tliat  I'^iier,  and  Htarted  ii  daily,  wliieli  anpourcil 
III  I'^.iK  a  Journal  ualleil  I  ho  I'oHihiinj  hxprc.iH  y       _ 

tlie  ]iiv^x  of  the  r/iri'Hi(7'C)f  Yreka,  L.  K.  V.  Coon  &  C!o.  publishcrH,  which 
ran  t^r  a  year  and  failed.  Corvallis  liad  had,  afte,  the  rcinovul  of  tho  Slaten- 
lu'tii,  till!  tii-vUlfiituI  MrH'<f)uji'r  and  Dfiiwrrnlic  VrtKin,  both  of  which  wore 
(k'ad  ill  Is.")!).  T.  II.  is.  Odeneul  was  puhlislicr  uf  tuo  latter.  In  place  of 
tlii^  a  KL'ce.sMion  ]iaper  called  Thf.  Union  was  bein^j  issuoil  in  IHiU)  liy  J.  11. 
^!ilat(l■.  In  Is.'il)  \V'.  (J,  T' Vault  witlidrcw  fruni  tho  Jac.!'»onville  Sentitifl, 
wYwu^  u.  W.  h.  'rreanor  k  Co.,  wito  employed  the  uhiqtiitous  O'Meaia  as  ed- 
iiiiriuiid  iHtil,  whin  ho  was  succroded  by  Jh'llingcr  and  Hand.  Alioiit  tho 
lit'iiiiiiiiiiL,'  iif  iS.'ilt  Thf  JhillfH  Joiiriiul  was  cstaliliMhed  by  A.  J.  Price,  after- 
waid  '  'in'.inlled  hy  'riinniiis  .lordan,  an  army  ollicer,  whoso  interference  with 
Rtati  in:iiir'4  was  ntit  regaided  with  favor.  It  jmssetl  into  the  hands  of  W. 
11.  Niuili  ill  ISIil,  who  started  Thf  Monnftiiinrr.  AlstUt  tho  closu  of  iS.'il), 
iH'la/uii  'iiiith  caused  the  "/V'/oft  7>rm'»'/viMo  lie  established  at  Alliany  for 
liinowu  pm  poHe.'<.  It  was  pul)lished  by  Shcpnrd,  inado  war  on  tlie.Snlcin 
i'li(|iie,  mill  Nustained  l.aae.  Karly  in  I.S4il  it  was  taken  in  churgu  by  P.  ,1. 
.Miliiiie,  an  jililo  writer,  anil  in  IStIo  lecanio  the  Stiilf  Hiijhtu  Jiriwinit,  with 
(I'Miara  |nr  eilitor.  Tlii!  I*ivijic  ('hriiiliiiii  .{'Iro'dli-  was  removed  from  Sjilem 
to  I'liMJaiid  aJHMit  this  time,  its  editor,  Thomas  II.  I 'etirne  taking  great  mter- 
ftt  ill  jKilitics.  In  fact,  iM>  |iaiKT  could  gain  a  footing  without  polities;  and 
wnli  llii>  exception  of  tho  {tri'ijoniun,  .1 /'i/im,  and  I'mjile'ii  I'lruM,  every  imper 
in  tlie  H.ale  was  democratic.  At  llosebiirg  the  Orrijitn  Shile  Jonniiii  wan 
Htartid  ill  . I  line  l,S(ll  on  the  materials  of  tlie  h'otihiir'j  AV/iriw,  whieli  had 
iKit  Ipi'i  II  long  in  existi'iiec.  In  AiigiiKt  bSdl  O'.Menra  and  Ponicroj  began 
tliu  ii\ili!iciition  of  the  Southrrn  OrfiiDii  tlimllf,  a  secession  journd.  wlneli 
lui'il  liiita  brief  period.  As  all  oviden'.'o  of  the  increiMod  facilities  for  punt- 
i'lK,  it  iiii^lit  bu  hero  mentionod  tlmt  T.  ■).  Met'onnick,  who  was  the  pul>- 
liiiitT  nt  tlio  (irst  literary  magazine  in  Oregon,  styleil  the  (hrijnn  M'lithJii 
Mwiiziiif,  ill  IN.VJ,  and  the  Orryo'i  Almniiiir,  in  the  spring  ot  IS.V.I,  puliliNliud 
iiiK'"i'l  ftyloa  i;ov«  I  of  IkM)  iMges  by  Mrs  ,\lii>;nil  .Scott  PuniwiiV,  i.tlhnl 
'(1/7(1,11  i,'mi/'»  ('om/Kiii}/.  The  SttUiMiiinn  was  lirst  iiiililiNlii'il  on  a  pnwi-r 
pr(;s.H,  May  17,  js.Mt.  After  this  printing  improved  raiiidly  and  neWM|ia|iora 
I'lultipii.  d.     Tho  lirst  daily  Slulfumin  was  published  July  M,  ISiil. 

"Till'  other  caiiilidutea  lioforo  the  eonveiition  were  .1.   K.   Kellv,  8.  V, 
Clud«irk,  ,Ii,hn  A.lair.  and  J.  U.  KeuU.  (Jr.  Statiimm,  April  '24,  llWa 
Uut.  ua.,  vui,.  11.    iN 


■MMAiiilBlli 


450 


POLITICS  AND  PAi'RIOTISM. 


8*  ->l 


'  " 


spoke  E.  D.  Baker,"  a  prominent  politician,  who  oanie 
from  California,  where  iiiH  star  was  not  propitious,  to 
Orei^on,  wliore  ho  hoped  to  have  a  finger  in  the  new 
j)ohtic3.  lie  made  many  speeches  during  the  sumiiRr 
campaign,  Logan  being  again  the  repubHcan  caiKli- 
date  for  congress,  the  Seward  plank  in  their  platt'drm, 
however,  being  aband(med.  Ncsmith  took  the  tic  M 
against  Sheil,  while  Kelly,  who  had  returned  to  liis 
party,  Smith,  and  Sheil  himself,  advocated  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  southern  democracy.  Whatever  tlio 
cause,  there  was  a  slight  reaction  from  the  conn^rcs- 
sional  campaign  of  1859,  and  Sheil  received  a  iniijor- 
ity  over  Logan  of  104  votes,  whilo  the  legiHlatiiiv 
was  more  solidlv  democratic  than  at  the  last  elect i< mi.-' 

The  election  was  not  long  past  when  the  final  invvs 
was  roceivcd  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Charleston  ami 
Baltimore  conventions,  the  secession  of  the  extiviin! 
southern  states,  and  the  nomination  by  them  of  liUio 
to  the  vice- presidency,  causing  a  strong  revulsion  i)\' 
feeling  among  all  of  the  democratic  party  not  stronj^Hy 
pro-slavery  in  principle. 

Oregon  was  still  less  prepared  to  receive  a  sclicnn' 
of  government  said  to  be  entertained  by  the  senators 
of  the  Pacific  coast,  which  was  to  establish  a  slave- 
holding  republic,  on  the  plan  of  an  aristocracy  similar 
to  the  anc.ent  ruj)ublic  of  Venice,  which,  while  pru- 
viding  for  an  elective  executive,  vested  all  [lowcr  in 
hereditary    nobles,'"'    repudiating    universal   stiU'ia;'!'. 

'•Born  in  I^ionduu  in  IHIlj  caino  to  Aiik^Hca  in  ISHl;  Ifiirniil  c.Aliinct- 
niukinu,  and  in  1828  wfnt  U>  Cnirolltmi.  III.,  where  hv  l>tt^'aii  tin'  iliidynl 
law.  In  IH;W  !io  wii«  mnjor  in  tli(<  Bluck  Hawk  war  For  tiui  yi'ai'M  lu' wih 
a  nu'nilHT  nf  tli<j  HI.  hgislatun-,  ami  in  l**3  of  the  U.  S.  liotuo  nt  n|iim!iit 
iitivoH.  ^tiirin^  that  year  hi'  laisf"'  a  ren;imunt  for  tlu'  Mexifiin  vmii  iui<i 
Joincil  Taylor  at  tlin  Rio  (irandu.  In  |K<i  IH4A  titi  roturnod,  niailr  ■i  »\m<A\ 
on  the  war  in  conKrefw,  ufU'V  wliiili  he  rewjifned  and  went  Uiek  t'l  .Mi  xii'n, 
wiieni  he  pariieipated  in  tie  eapturo  of  Sail  iluan  tlv  I'litu  Mid  the  Imttle  <>f 
I'erro  tJordo;  taking  liio  coiamand  in  tlnu  tmttln  aftcir  tin'  wonntliin;  "f  <ifii. 
SUieliU.  The  attitu Of  Illinois  |)n>iH!nt.ed  mni  with  a  hw  >.'d.  In  l>>l!l  In'  um 
n}(iiin  eliictiMl  tu  congreHH;  and  in  IM.'tl  lie  undurt(H)k  aonio  work  un  the  I'liii' 
ani^l  railway,  hut  wiui  driven  l>y  thu  fever  to  ('al  in  IHijJ,  where  he  [iiiu'liwil 
law  and  niiidn  politieal  8|)eti(-lit<«.  Or   Arun*,  >)yM.  4.  IHIi'2 

■''" There  wiiH  an  inoreiwe  m  the  poll  of  l,8'2U  Mtun^  .lu[;e,  IS.10.  Or.  .sVii/ce 
mail,  June -JO.  IHOO. 

'"  It  W4M  Ui«  unnitnor  belief  ihmi  iiwiu  ct(  (JalUurttui  was  at  tiiu  ixjltum  of 


•i    M 


PROJECTS  OF  LANE  AND  GWm. 


m 


an,  who  came 
propitious,  to 
sr  ill  tlu;  iH'w 
r  the  summer 
bhcan  c'iiiidi- 
leir  |)hitrnnn, 
ook  the  ticM 
turned  to  liis 
ited  the  priii- 
V^hatever   tlio 

the  ct)n;j;ros- 
ived  a  miijur- 
lio  lej^JHlatiin' 
last  election.'' 
the  fuial  lu'ws 
Charleston  ami 

the  extri'iiio 
them  of  Luiic 
T  revulsion  i>t' 
y  not  strongly 

sivc  a  scIu'Iiu^ 

the  scMiattiis 

jlish  a  sluvr- 

MTaey  similar 

1,  whili    |»rn- 

all  powtT  ill 

;rsal    sullVagc. 

(>;    Iclirili'il    cvliilll't- 

.(■^'fiii  tlii>  ^iii.ly  "( 

II-  ton  yi'iiis  111'  wn 

lioiiMO  (it  i<|'i'  ■«•"' 

Mi-xiciin  "ill  uii'l 

llO'l,  llliulo   il  Spcfill 

it  \Mi\i  t"  M-xii'". 

ku  Mill  tin-  lutilti  «i 
wixiti'liiiL: ''  '•''"• 
•  1.  Ill  1^^!'  I"'  ^''>* 
work  "II  till'  I'liii 
wlierii  III'  jinii:li*''l 

0,  1H.TO.  "'    ^'<^"'- 
^aahi  thu  l»>tu>mii( 


Lal)nr  was  to  be  performed  by  a  rlass  of  persons  from 
any  of  tlie  dark  races,  invited  to  California,  and  sub- 
geciMcntly  reduced  to  slavery.  Such  was  the  bold  and 
unscnipulous  scheme  to  which  Lane  liad  lent  himself, 
(lie  (lisi'overy  of  which  caused  mingled  indignation 
an<l  alarm.  The  alarm  was  not  lest  the  plan  should 
succeed,  hut  lest  an  internecine  war  should  be  forced 
upon  tlieiu  to  prevent  its  success.  But  this  was  not 
all.  The  war  debt  still  remained  unpaid.  The  next 
(uiigross  would  bo  largely  republican.  Oregon  was 
(Irmocratic,  and  with  such  a  record — of  having  voted 
in  tlie  Charleston  convention  for  secession — how  was 
the  payment  of  that  debt  to  be  secured?  It  was  thus 
tlic  p(>ople  reasoned,  while  those  whose  pl.'icesd()[)ended 
uiion  the  will  of  the  admini.stration,  now  openly  in 
sympathy  with  the  seceders,  were  deeply  troubled 
what  course  to  pursue  in  the  approaching  crisis.  In 
tlic  mean  time,  the  republican  national  convention  at 
CliicaL^o  had  nominated  to  the  presidency  A.braham 
Lincoln,  and  the  keenest  interest  was  felt  throughout 
the  uni(m  in  an  election  which  was  to  decide  the  fate 
of  the  nation.  For  it  was  well  understood  that  if  the 
ri  pnhJicanH  carried  the  country  against  Dougla.s,  o,s 
the  Ih'eckenridge  ai.d  Lane  nomination  seemed  to 
piomisc,  and  as  it  Wiis  believed  to  be  intended,  the 
Bi'Uth  wouKl  make  that  a  pretext  for  disunion. 

As  soon  as  the  full  results  of  the  Charleston,  Bal- 
timore, and  Washington  o*mjvi  ntions  became  known, 
u  melting  of  the  state  democratic  central  comnnttee 
\\:\-  lieKl  at  Eugene  (^Mty,  whi»  h,  having  a  majority 
"I  Lam*  dcmoi!iats,  procecideil  to  indorse  the  Breek- 
tiiridge  and  Lane  nominations.     This  ac^tion  alarmed 

this  Hi'hcmu,  Sliimlil  thb  noiithoru  Ntiit<m  •iiucoed  in  witlulrawin^  from  tha 
uiii 'II  mill  Hottiii;^  U|>  li  Hiitithfrn  confi'il<iritry,  nriil  criuld  a  lino  of  mIiivo  tiirri- 
i"iy  111'  lit>|it  iipt'ti  fioni  Tuxim  to  tin-  I'iumII.  ,  tlm  IWOio  c<ia><t  would  (oiiiWiiio 
wall  tin' iiimlli.  Hut  ii>  view  of  th«  pn>l>.tltlo  wiu^  m  wliu'h  thn  nx)|,'ri!si)ivo 
iiolii'V  iif  tJKi  Hotttliurn  •tiitos  wiw  likoly  t<i  iiivolvu  their  allicR,  Owiii  wia  in 
iiiMir  iif  a  H('|i...ratii  oniuiru  iH- repiiblii!  'Vhv  plan  pointed  out  tho  nit'iuiK  <>f 
piik'Urii^Hliiv»'H,  wliu'h  waa  to  iiiTito  th«'  inimiumtinn  of  o(M)Ih'»  South  S«)» 
Isl.miliiH,  mid  iiu^rouH,  wli.t  wtni  to  bo  i ■  .lucudto  ■iftvcry  <'ii  tlifir  iirrtvid. 
It  vvuH  till'  iliMoiivvry  of  this  conapirouy  Wiiich  f{avo  tliu  Oalifornia  Hoiifttor  lU« 
btlcuf  i)uku(iwin.  a.  f.  nmcM.iaUr.  SUittMMn,  Li«c  lU,  IHOO. 


m 

l! 


452 


POUTICS  AND  PATRIOTISM. 


h- 


the  opposite  faction,  which  called  a  convention  to  pro- 
test  a<^ainst  the  iiulorsement,  and  to  nominate  pn  si- 
dential  electors,  to  be  held  in  September.  Tho 
convention  was  fully  attended,  indorsed  the  J3ou.jla.s 
platform,  declared  the  Oregon  democracy  loyal  to  the 
union  of  the  states,  denouneinuf  secession.  Anvthinf 
so  earnest  and  unsectional  had  not  been  enunciatt d 
by  the  Oregon  democracy  in  all  its  previous  hi.>t.iiv. 
(-omparing  their  new  platform  with  that  of  the  ri[)ul)- 
licans,  there  was  no  essentinl  difference." 

On  the  1 0th  of  September  the  legislature  nut  at 
Salem,  and  the  preponderance  of  Lane  men  ajiioiii,' 
the  democrats  caused  a  fusion  between  the  Doii^^'las 
democrats  and  the  republicans,  which  gave  the  liision- 
ists  a  majority  in  the  house  of  twenty-one  t<»  tiftnii.^ 
An  attempt  to  organize  in  the  senate  was  deCeatf.l  l»y 
the  difliculty  of  electing  a  president,  the  Douj^I.is  hk  u 
having  nominated  Tichenor,  and  the  Lane  men  Klkins, 
another  Douglas  democrat;  and  the  vote  stainliii,' 
seven  to  seven  without  chanj'e  for  the  first  dav.  On 
the  morning  of  the  second  »lay  it  was  discovtivd  that 
six  senators,  Jierry,  IJrown,  Florence,  Fitzhiigh,  Mmi- 
rtie,  and  Mdteeney,  had  left  Salem,  an<l  were  kivji- 
irig  in  concealment,  with  the  intent  to  <l(f.  at  tin; 
election  of  United  States  senators,  whieh  in  the  tli'ii 
impending  crisis   was  of  unusual   importance.     Tlio 

"See  republican  stnto  platform,  in  Or.  Aniun,  Auff.  2!},  IS«)0. 

'^SeiintorH:  (luckuiiinii  iind  Wiiauo,  J.  K.  Kiilly;  Mnltnoinali,  J.  A.  Will- 
iaiiiH;  WiiHliiiigtoii,  ('(iluiiiliiu,  ('I'.tMtp,  and  'I'lllanuMik,  TIkih  ]{.  ('.'rmlMis 
V.uiiliill.J.  K.  M.'hri.le;  Tolk.  William  Taylor;  Marion,  J.  W.  (J.ii.i,  K.  1'. 
Cotliy;  Linn,  Luthor  Klkina,  II.  h.  iiruwn;  I^ne,  A.  It.  Floniui ,  .i.umi 
Monnw;  llonton,  <F.  S.  MclUionoy;  DuiiglaH,  Solomon  Fitzliii^li;  riii|M{iiu, 
Coo*,  and  Curry,  William  Tiuliunor;  JoMrpUino,  U.  S.  Ilolton;  .hids'Ui,  A. 
M.  Iturry.  Uuprosoiitulivua:  VVuaoo,  Ilolicrt  Mavcs;  Multuoumli,  .V.  C. 
(■il)l>8,  It.  Stark;  (MuUtop  and  Tillamo<>k,  (/.  J.  Tri-nclmrd;  r,>hiiiiM.k  mil 
Wiialiingtcm,  K.  rK)nyoni!  Wuahiuuton,  Wilson  litiwlby;  CLicknimui,  .\.  H<>1 
brook,  W.  A.  SUrkwoathcr,  Wmiam  Eddy;  Vumhill,  S,  M.  <:iImimii.  M 
Crawford;  Marion,  H.  V.  Harding,  8.  Tarkc-r.  C.  !'.  Cran<lall,  U.  N'«'ll; 
folk,  Ira  V.  M.  Ihitlor.C.  C.  l^rani;  Linn,  It.  (^url,  A.  A.  McC:illy,.l  I'  i^tf. 
.1.  O.  A.  Worth;  Lano,  John  Duval,  Jiwopli  lUiloy,  H.  H.  Cochruuc;  Hint  ii, 
H.  M.  Wulk«r,  It.  0.  llill;  Ump<|na,  J.  W.  I'.  Iluntiuatm;  Cu<h  aixK  >iny, 
H.  K.  Murt4>ni  l>uuglac,  J.  F.  Uiuk'V,  tC  K.  CuwIub;  lowphuu-,  Cini^c  1. 
VininK:  Ja«k»on,  J.  It.  Wlilto.d.  W.  Kotdor,  ,1.  N.  T.  MilUr.  or.  Mr.. nun, 
Juuii'M,  iHflU.  In  tlio  wliultt  body  tlt«  Iauu  muu  uiln^Ull-<Hi  10,  uuu  Luut 
muu  '2i,  rupubl'.oiuu  10. 


A  POUTICAL  nCHT. 


453 


ition  to  jiro- 
jinate  [n*  si- 
nber.      The 

the  J)<  mollis 

loVJil  to  lliu 

Anvtliiii'f 

I    CllUllcUlttU 

ious  history. 
)f  the  ripuli- 

ture  nut  at 
nnjii  aiiioni,' 
the  DiMii^'lus 
70  tho  ruMiiii- 
ic  t«»  liftiMii.^ 
s  (Icl'catrd  hy 
Douj^lns  1)11  II 
;  nioii  l'.llviii>, 
oto  .staiwliiiL,' 
rst  ihiy.  <  'ii 
H'ovtrn!  tliat 

zhuu'li,  ^l*"»- 
(I  \v»it.'  kiv|>" 
()   th'fi'at  thu 

I  ill  thi 

taiui). 


Lane  faction  were  deterniincd,  if  not  able  to  ch«ct 
th«  ir  favorites,  to  prevent  any  election  boinjTf  hehl. 
Tht'  aspirants  to  the  scnatorship  were  Smith  and 
LaiH',  democrats,  Judge  Williams  and  J.  W.  Nesmith, 
iiidtjicndents,  and  E.  D.  Baker,  repuhlican.  Stronj^ 
iiitlueiices  were  brought  to  bear  by  tlie  Lane  denio- 
(I'lts,  who  besieged  the  lobby  and  had  tiieir  spies  at 
tviiy  street  corner. 

( )ii  tho  13th  the  senate  organized  without  a  quoruin, 
KIkiiH  being  chosen  president.  A  motion  was  niade 
to  adjourn  sine  die,  which  was  defeated,  and  a  resolu- 
timi  otrored  authorizing  the  president  to  issue  \\;ir- 
laiits  for  tho  arrest  (»f  the  absconding  menilurs, 
wliiih  was  adopted.  They  continued,  however,  to 
rlmlc  the  sergeant  aud  his  as.sailants  for  nine  (hiys, 
wIk  II  .iftor  an  unsuccessful  ballt»t  for  senators  in  joint 
(oii\  tilt  ion,  in  which  the  Doughis  democrats  vott'd 
Inr  Xesinith  and  Williams,  and  the  republicans  for 
ilaker  and  Iloforook,  the  legislature  adjouiMUMl  sine 
(lie.  ( iovernorWhiteaker  then  made  an  appeal  through 
flir  pulihc  j)rints  to  all  tlu;  m^rmlnTs  of  tliat  body  to 
ivass(  iiihleand  attend  to  their  dutv;  which  thi'y  (iiially 
(Ikl  1)11  the  LMth,  but  it  was  not  until  the  1st  of  Oc- 
tolicrthat  l)aIloting  for  senators  was  resumeil,  Deady, 
(  iiirv,  and  IJrew  beinir  added  to  the  nominees.  The 
miitt  >t  was  decreed  by  the  l^anr  nn  ii  to  bu  between 
Smith  and  any  one  of  the  I)(»uglas  democrats  on  one 
Milf,  aiitl  any  two  of  the  Douglas  nien  on  tlu;  othei"; 
liut  the  democratic  party  in  the  legislature  revolted 
iiLjaiiist  Smith,  and  rejected  him  on  any  terms.  With 
ti|iiil  scorn  the  Lane  democrats  rejected  Nesmilh, 
\^li'iiM  they  hated,  but  intimated  that  tluy  wotdd  vote; 
l"t  liim  il'Smith  couhl  be  ileeted.  The  l)ol|gJas  nicii 
"Hiivil  if  the  Lane  nu-n  would  j^ive  two  votes  Inr 
Nisiiiitli  to  elect  Curry  in  place  of  Smith,  but  tliey 
ivliisid.  On  the  eighteenth  l*alIot  the  I  )oU'das  demo- 
<rats  rchictantly  gave  up  the  hope  ot"  t  h  ctiiig  t  wod.tii- 
oimiic  siiiators  without  accepting  Smitli,  and  ehcted 


IB 


i 


454 


POLITICS  AND  PATRIOTISM. 


Nusmith  and  Baker,  the  formor  for  the  long  and  tho 
latter  for  the  short  term. 

As  soon  as  practicable  after  the  reassembiini,'  of  tlio 
]e<;islature  the  house  passed  a  bill  proviciin*^  for  tlio 
election  of  a  representative  in  congress  to  superscile 
tho  ununth(»rized  election  of  Sheil,  but  the  uitasuro 
was  defeated  in  the  senate,  the  Lane  members  votiiii,' 
solidly  against  it.  The  democratic  state  central  com- 
iiiittee  then  called  a  meeting,  with  the  intentidri  of 
olecting  another  re[)rcsentativo  in  November,  when 
the  presidential  election  would  occur,  and  nominated 
A.  J.  Tliayer.^  This  action  caused  the  senate  to  rtj- 
eonsider  their  opposition  to  a  legal  election  bill;  and 
an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  governor  to  is-suc  a 
writ  of  election  to  fdl  vacancies  that  might  occur  iu 
tlio  oflice  of  representative  to  congress.  The  l.iw 
went  into  effect  two  days  after  the  meeting  of  tho 
state  central  committee,  and  the  brief  interval  be- 
tween the  adjournment  of  the  legislature  and  the  d.iy 
fixed  for  the  presidential  election  was  devoted  to  ran- 
vassing  I'ov  a  congressman.  Nesmith  and  Beiijaiiiiii 
lliiyden,  one  of  the  democratic  presidential  clcctois, 
took  j)art  in  it,  the  candidates  being  Thayer  and  Sheil. 

liid'ore  the  Gth  of  November  arrived,  the  pony  <\- 
picss  began  to  bring  stirring  news  of  great  rcjiuMi'aii 
victories  in  the  northern  and  western  states.  Tho 
successes  of  the  new  party  were  almost  too  gi'cat  to  ho 
believed.  Even  in  Oregon  the  contagion  spread  until 
all  other  interests  were  swallowed  therein.  On  tho 
Gth  the  vote  was  cast.  Suflicieiit  returns  wen>  in  hy 
the  0th  to  make  it  certain  that  the  state  had  lJ"!!"' 
republican.'-"'     Not  oidy  was  there  a  republican  plural- 

"lilorii  in  N.  Y.,  npciit  liin  lH)yltn<)<l  on  a  furm,  Apquirod  a  coninidii  Hui{- 
HhIi  ('(liu'iitiiiii,  aiiil  Ntiiilii'il  ami  priiotixL'd  liiw,  (■iiii^i'iiitii)^  to  ()i'i'K"|>  >'■  '""'''' 
III  IS.Vi  lid  wna  ii|>|>(iititi!<l  tiTritmial  uiulitor  iu  iilucuof  J.  A.  ik'iiiict,  nvIk' li-i'i 
(It'clinuil.  IIJH  repututiiin  us  ii  lawyer  luul  u  iiiun  wu8  cxut'lluiit.  Iu  I^TO  li<i 
wiiH  I'Uictvd  to  tliu  aupi'uiiii!  Iiiuiuli,  nnil  ua  n  jiulgo  wua  fourli'SH  ami  iiM|)aitiul. 
IliH  iloiitli  ocuurri'd  ill  IST.'t.  (h:  JtrftorU,  i,  x\.  \\,;  Albany  Mwoi  l■(l^  .M«y 
'J,  I.s7;i;  Salnn  Mirniry,  May  •_>,  IS7;». 

"  Linoolii'H  pliuiility  wax  'l'\).  Tlio  wliulo  vote  of  thn  iiluto  w.ih  IIT.-'I. 
riiit'iijii.  :\:V\A\  i>»ii;;las.  i.l.'llli  llruckuui'td({u,  5,074.  Ikil,  uf  tliu  li<  il  uiul 
Kvvivll  pui'ty,  liud  l'.)7  \oluH. 


LANE  IN  DISGRACE. 


455 


itv  f'T  president,  but  Shell  was  defeated.^  On  the 
,jtli  uf  Deceaiher  the  repul)lican  presi<luntial  electors 
T.  .1.  Drver,  W.  H.  Watkins,  and  B.  J.  Penj^ra  met 
at  Saltin  and  cast  the  electoral  vote  for  Lincoln,  ap- 
Itniiitiiig  Dryer  to  carry  the  vote  to  Washinjjfton. 
Tlius  ended  the  political  revolution  of  1860  in  Ore«,^)n. 

Slowly,  reluctantly,  regretfully  came  home  the 
truth  to  the  people  of  Oregon  that  Joseph  Lane  wus 
a  ><(essionist;  that  he  had  offered  his  services  ai;d 
iliMsc  of  his  sons  to  fight  in  battle  against  hisgovern- 
iiniit,  and  against  his  late  friejids  in  Oregon.  The 
)i('Usof  tile  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  did  not  reach  Ore- 
*n,u  till  the  3()th  of  April,  18()l.  By  the  same 
sttaiiit  r  that  brouglit  the  thrilliiii;  intelliirence  of 
actual  war  came  Lane  back  to  his  hcnne  in  Ore«jon. 
Wliat  a  pitiful  home-coming!  Hatred  and  insult 
oiiM  ted  him  from  the  moment  he  came  in  si<;ht  of 
tli'Sf  Pacitic  shores.  At  San  Francisco  it  was  so, 
and  when  he  reached  Portland,  and  a  few  pers(>nal 
fritiids  wished  to  give  a  salute  in  his  honor,  they 
wrVi'  assured  that  such  a  demonstration  would  not  be 
j»c  iiiiittcd  ill  that  town.  Even  the  owner  of  a  <'art 
i(  III srd  to  transport  his  luggage  to  the  house  of  his 
Mill  ill-law.  It  consisted  of  two  or  three  stout  bo.xes  in 
wliicii  were  being  conveyed  to  southern  Oregon  arms 
lor  the  ('(jiiipment  of  the  aiiny  «)f  the  Pacific  repub- 
lii  !  l>ut  this  fact  was  not  known  to  the  cartman, 
oi  it  might  have  fared  worse  with  the  ex-st-nator. 
i'lornding  south  after  a  few  days  with  these  arms 
ill  a  stout  wagon,  but  unsuspected,  he  was  met  at 
vaiioiis  parts  of  the  route  by  demonstrations  of  dis- 
rcsht'ct.  At  Dallas  he  was  hanged  in  effi<'V.  A 
f'ltnii.ite  accident  arrested  him  in  the  peipetratioii 
(»l   tile  contemplated  folly  and  treachery,'''  and  con- 

•'"  The  w  liolo  vote  for  congrowinan  was  n  little  over  4,000.     Of  tlieso  Louo 
n-K  iviil ,".,  1^(^1111  H,  Slu'il  l;n,  anil  Tliiiycr  tlio  ronmimlur. 

•  li:-,-  Ajiplcguto  tuHtilit-H  iiM  folioNrK:  In  croxHin);  tliu  Calupooyn  Moun- 
tain w  ill  iiii.y  |||8  IriHil  ti'itiiiHtiT,  l>y  MDiiK!  iiiittL'liiiiii.'i:  II  |)iMtol  wumiU.-k  imi^^'cil, 
Muiiiiiliiig  i.unu  ill  thu  arm,     'i'liu  Irisliniun,  frighteucd  Iviit  it  hIiuuM  be 


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POLITICS  AND  PATRIOTISM. 


signed  him  to  a  life  of  retirement  from  which  he 
never  emerged.'*^ 

That  a  considerable  class  in  Oregon  were  in  favor 
of  secession  is  undeniable.  That  there  were  some 
who  would  have  fought  for  the  extension  of  slavery 
had  they  been  upon  southern  soil  is  undoubted.  But 
there  were  few  who  cared  enough  for  what  they  called 
the  rights  of  the  southern  states  to  go  to  the  seat  of  war 
and  fight  for  them.^  On  the  other  hand,  there  were 
many  who  fought  for  the  union.**     Party  lines  were 

thou{;ht  that  he  had  inflicted  the  wound  with  murderous  intent,  fled  to  the 
house  of  Applegate,  at  Yoncalla,  and  related  what  had  occurred.  Ai)plL'i,'ate 
at  once  went  to  Lane's  relief,  taking  him  to  his  house,  where  he  remaiiu'd  for 
several  weeks.  During  thia  visit  Lane  revealed  to  his  friend  the  nature  of 
liis  Bchcmo  concerning  Oregon,  and  was  dissuaded  from  the  undertaking. 

'"  For  many  years  Lane  lived  alone  with  a  single  servant  upon  a  inmiu- 
tain  farm.  In  1878,  to  gratify  his  children,  he  removed  to  Roseburg,  wlieru, 
being  cordially  welcomed  by  society,  the  old  fire  was  awakened,  and  he 
nominated  himself  for  the  state  senate  in  1880  at  the  age  of  79  years.  ]\vh\s 
rather  rudely  rejected  and  reproved,  he  wept  like  a  child.  His  deatli  occuneil 
in  May  1881.  Whatever  errors  ho  may  have  committed,  whatever  vanity  iio 
may  have  displayed  concerning  his  own  achievements,  he  was  ever  gemiious 
in  his  estimate  of  others,  and  tlie  decline  of  his  life  was  full  of  kindness  and 
courtesy. 

'■"•John  Lane,  son  of  Joseph  Lane,  became  a  colonel  in  the  confederate 
army.  Captain  Thomas  Jordan,  for  a  time  U.  S.  (juarterniaster  at  The  Dalies, 
resigned  to  take  service  in  the  south.  He  was  said  to  have  accepted  a  colo- 
nelcy in  the  Culpepper  cavalry.  Major  Garnett,  for  several  years  stationed  in 
Oregon  and  Washuigton,  also  resigned,  and  was  commissioned  brigadier  liy 
Jett'erson  DarH.  John  Adair  of  Astoria,  Oregon,  son  of  the  collector  and  post- 
master,  who  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1861,  was  commissionctl  lieiitfa- 
ant  of  dragoons  and  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  "  la  Walla,  and  after- 
ward to  report  at  Wabhington,  instead  of  whi'  leaerted,  ami  went  to 
Victoria,  V.  I,  He  was  dismissed  the  service.  0  ileginan,  Awff. '!'>,  ist'ti. 
The  place  left  vacant  by  John  Lane  at  West  i'mut  was  filled  l)y  Volney 
Smith,  son  of  Delazon  Smith,  who  failed  in  his  examination.  Hj  wax  un- 
pointed a  lieutenant  in  a  New  York  cavalry  regiment,  but  did  not  long  remain 
in  the  service.  Adolphus  B.  Hannah,  who  had  been  U.  S.  marshal  in  Oie- 
gon,  olTcrcd  his  services  totho  confederacy.  J.  B.  Sykes,  Indian  agent  at  the 
Siletz  reservation,  resigned  and  wcntcast  to  servo  in  the  rebel  army,  lie  wan 
captured  with  a  portion  of  .Tackson's  command,  and  sent  to  (Jolumbus,  Ohio. 
John  K.  Lamerick,  once  brigadier-general  of  the  Oregon  militia,  went  to 
Washington  to  dispose  of  his  Indian  war  scrip,  and  joined  the  rebel  army  iis 
a  comniisaary.  C.  H.  Mott,  who  in  ISoS  was  sent  to  Oregon  to  examine  into 
the  Indian  accounts,  joined  the  rebel  army  and  commanded  tiio  Kith  Miwis- 
Bippi  at  Bull  Ilun.  He  was  killed  in  front  of  Hooker's  division  May  5, 
18«'2. 

'"Notable  among  whom  was  Captain  Rufns  Ingalls,  who  came  to  Tort 
Vancouver  in  1849.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  on 
McClellau'a  staff,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  quartermaster's  department  at 
Yorktown.  Colonel  Joseph  Hooker,  then  livmg  at  Salem,  oflered  lii.i  Hor- 
vices,  and  wan  promoted  to  the  rank  of  briaadior-general.  The  other  ollirers 
who  had  nerved  in  Oregon  and  weru  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  or  briu.'.iiief- 
geucral  were  Grant,  Sheridan,  Augur,  Ord,  Wright,  Smith,  Casey,  UusKell, 


THE  WAR  OF  SECESSION. 


45? 


which  he 

■e  in  favor 
were  some 

of  slavery 
)ted.  But 
they  called 
seat  of  war 
there  were 

lines  were 

;ent,  fletl  to  the 
'ed.  Aj)plL'i,';ite 
he  remaiiu'il  for 
i  the  natiiru  of 
ndertaking. 
t  upon  a  iniiuu- 
oseburg,  wIiltl', 
akencd,  ami  he 
'9  years.  IWinjj 
9  deatli  oceurrt'd 
atever  vanity  lie 
8  ever  geiK^rous 
of  kindness  and 

the  confodi'rate 

er  at  The  Dalies, 

iccepted  a  colo- 

earsstationi'il  in 

ed  brigailier  liy 

Hector  and  jmst- 

issioned  licutiii- 

^alla,  and  iiftor- 

ed,  and  went  to 

,  Aug.  iJ.'),  isti2. 

Hod  by  Vuliicy 

Hj  was  lip- 

not  long  remain 

marshal  in  Ore- 

ian  agent  at  the 

army,     lie  was 

oluud)Us.  Oiiio, 

Tiilitia,  went  to 

10  rebel  aiiiiy  iiu 

to  exaniini'  into 

10  lltth  Miwis- 

livision  May  5, 

enino  to  I'ort 
naiit-colonel  on 
department  at 
(iti'ered  his  ser- 
lie  other  ullii  era 
jor  (U'l>riu.''iier- 
Casey,  llusscll, 


blotted  out  as  quickly  in  Oregon  as  in  New  York, 
and  soon  there  was  but  one  party  that  amounted  to 
anything — the  union  party.  By  reason  of  lack  of 
sympathy  with  the  people  at  this  juncture,  Governor 
Wliiteaker  was  requested  to  resign. 

The  first  despatches  transmitted  across  the  conti- 
nent entirely  by  telegraph  shocked  the  whole  Pacific 
coast  with  the  message  that  at  the  battle  of  Ball's 
Bluff,  on  the  21st  of  October,  1861,  fell  Oregon's 
republican  senator,  E.  D.  Baker. '^  The  seat  in  the 
senate  left  vacant  by  Baker  was  filled  by  the  appoint- 
ment by  Governor  Whiteaker  of  Benjamin  Stark,  one 
of  the  original  owners  of  the  Portland  land  claim. 
Inronnation  was  forwarded  to  Washington  of  the  dis- 
l(iyal  sentiments  of  the  appointee,  and  for  two  months 
the  senate  hesitated  to  admit  him ;  but  he  was  finally, 
in  February  18G2,  permitted  to  take  the  oath  of  office 
by  a  vote  of  twenty-six  to  nineteen,  Senator  Nesmith 
voting  for  his  admission.     But  the  matter  was  not 

ReynoMs,  and  Alvord,  besides  Baker  and  Stevens,  who  had  received  a  mili- 
tary ciliication,  but  were  not  in  the  army.  Captain  Hazen,  who  was  formerly 
stationed  at  Fort  Yamhill,  was  placed  in  command  of  a  volunteer  infantry 
reuinient  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Lieutenant  Lor- 
raine, wlio  was  Ntationed  at  Fort  Umpciiia,  was  assigned  to  a  new  regiment 
in  thi-  (ield,  and  was  wounded  at  Bull  Run.  Captain  VV.  L.  Dall  of  the 
steiunsluii  Cohiiiibia  was  appointed  a  lieutenant  commanding  in  the  U.  S. 
navy.  Kosweil  C.  Lampson  of  Yamhill  county,  son  of  an  immigrant  of  1845, 
the  iirst  naval  cadet  from  Oregon,  and  who  graduated  about  this  time,  sorvod 
in  the  war,  ami  was  promoted  to  the  conunand  of  a  vessel  for  gallant  conduct 
at  I'oit  I'isher.  At  the  close  of  the  war  ho  resigned,  returned  to  Oregon,  and 
beeamo  elerii  of  the  U.  S.  courts.  Portland  Oreijoimn,  April  fi,  IStiu;  Port- 
lawl  Stiindard,  April  27,  1877.  James  W.  Lingcnfeltcr,  a  native  of  Fonda, 
N.  v.,  bnt  residing  in  Jacksonville,  Oregon,  was  made  japtaia  of  a  volunteer 
cuiii|iiiny,  and  killed  near  Fortress  Monroe,  Oct.  8,  1801.  John  It.  Boon,  son 
of  .1.  1).  Boon,  state  treasurer,  an<l  a  student  at  the  Weslyan  university,  Dela- 
V arc,  Ohio,  hcrved  in  un  Ohio  regiment,  l)cing  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and 
Ceiinth,  ill  tliu  division  under  (ieneral  Lew  Wallace.  The  niiijor  of  tiio  ()8th 
Ohio  was  !»  fi inner  resident  of  Oregon,  named  Suo'iks,  of  tlio  imniigratiott 
of  I'vH,  (ieoigo  Williams,  son  of  Elijah  Williams  of  .Salem,  was  api)oiiited 
2d  lient  of  the  itii  inf.,  and  was  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  AiitietJim, 
Frrihrii'Usbiirg,  and  Cettysburg,  losing  a  foot  in  the  last  named,  Frank 
W,  Thoniiison  of  Linn  county  was  colonel  of  the  ,'M  Va.  voliiiiteers  in  I8(i.'l, 
anil  siiliseijuently  promoted.  Henry  liutlur  of  Oakland,  Oregon,  was  a  iiiotii- 
lir  lit'  l!ie  Hdth'lll.  volunteers;  and  (.Iliarles  Marker  of  Oregon  was  a  lieiit 
ill  the  nniiiii  aniiy.  Many  more  wouhl  iiavo  been  in  the  Her\  icu  but  for  tliu 
Bpiivi  hen^iiins  entertained  of  the  designs  of  disunionista  on  the  I'acillo  coast. 
'"  When  war  was  declared  Baker  raised  a  regiment  in  Fonn.  His  remains 
were  deposited  in  Lone  Mountain  oomotory,  Sou  Francisco,  and  u  luouumeut 
erected  to  hia  memory. 


i 


468 


POLITICS  AND  PATRIOTISM. 


allowed  to  rest  there.  A  committee  being  appointed 
to  examine  the  evidence,  Stark  was  finally  impeached, 
but  was  not  expelled,  his  term  ending  with  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Oregon  legislative  assembly  in  September. 
A  similar  leniency  was  exercised  by  congres^s 
towards  Shell,  who  contested  the  election  of  Thayer, 
The  latter  was  admitted  to  his  seat,  and  occupied  it 
during  most  of  the  special  term  of  1861,  but  upon  the 
right  to  it  being  contested,  Thaddeus  Stevens  main- 
tained that  since  there  was  at  the  time  no  authority 
for  a  congressional  election  in  Oregon,  the  scat  was 
really  vacant.  The  contestants  being  thus  placed  u[)()ii 
an  equality  as  to  legal  rights,  a  preponderance  was 
left  of  such  right  as  might  be  in  favor  of  the  first  man 
elected.  The  republicans  in  the  house  could  have  kept 
out  Sheil  by  insisting  upon  the  illegality  of  his  elec- 
tion, had  not  congress  taken  every  occasion  to  show 
such  magnanimity  as  could  be  ventured  upon  toward 
men  of  disunion  predilections  in  the  hope  of  conciliat- 
ing the  south. 

With  a  change  of  administration  there  was  a  channfo 
in  the  official  list.  William  L.  Adams  of  the  Ai'i/ns 
was  appointed  collector  of  customs  at  Astoria.  W. 
W.  Parker^^  became  his  deputy.  B.  J.  Pcngra  sup- 
planted W.  W.  Chapman  as  surveyor-general;  T.  J. 
Dryer  was  appointed  commissioner  to  the  Hawaiian 
Islands;  Simeon  Francis,  paymaster  in  the  army,  with 
(,nc  rank  of  major;**  W.  T.  Matlock,  receiver  of  tiie 
land  office  at  Oregon  City;  and  W.  K.  Starkweather, 

"A  nativo  of  Vt,  educated  at  Norwich  university.  lu  1847  hv  was 
appointed  mining  engineer  to  the  Ijako  Superior  Copper  Mining  Coiiiiiiiiiy, 
but  hearing  tiiat  tho  uiuil  stcomor  Cnl{fornia  was  about  to  suil  for  Ctililoiiiiik 
and  Oregon  iu  1S4S,  lio  took  passage  in  lier  for  the  Pacific  coast.  ]ly  tlio 
time  tlio  stoauior  arrived,  tlio  gold  fever  was  at  its  height,  and  lie  cii^'nu'i''! 
in  mining,  at  whicii  ho  was  successful,  losing  his  earnings  afterward  l)y  lire 
Ho  was  one  of  tho  board  of  assistant  alderman  in  Sun  IfVuncisco  in  ISril.  In 
Fob.  185*2  he  removed  to  Astoria,  Oreuon. 

"  Francis  came  from  Springfield,  III.,  to  Oregon  in  1859.  After  Liii'iiln's 
campaign  ho  took  chargo  of  tiio  Pwtland  Oroijonian  while  Dryer  canit'i!  tlio 
clectoriil  vote  to  WasTungton.  Ho  afterward  resided  at  Fort  Viiiiinuvor. 
Hisdeatlj  occurred  at  Portland  in  Nov.  1872,  to  which  place  military  liead* 
quarters  had  beui  removed.  See  Portland  Ufcgoiiian,  Nov.  2,  1872. 


NESMITH  AND  STOUT. 


459 


rec^istrar  of  the  same;  W.  H.  Rector  received  the 
appointment  of  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and 
A.  L.  Lovejoy  the  office  of  pension  agent. 

When  Nesmith  first  took  his  seat  in  the  senate  he 
liad  some  feeUng  in  favor  of  the  south,  and  spoke 
accordingly ;  but  in  due  time  his  utterances  became 
more  moderate,  and  when  he  returned  to  Oregon  in 
the  autumn  of  1861  he  was  well  received.  Stout 
represented  Oregon  with  fidelity,  industry,  and  abil- 
ity. At  his  first  session  he  introduc^ed  a  bill  to  re- 
move the  obstructions  in  the  Missouri  and  Columbia 
Rivers,  with  a  view  to  opening  a  line  ol'  travel  across 
the  continent.  He  urged  the  protection  of  immi- 
grants, and  the  restoration  of  the  military  department 
of  Oregon,  which  was  depleted  by  the  call  for  troops, 
and  labored  for  the  payment  of  the  Indian  war  bonds, 
tlie  issuance  of  which  was  delayed  by  Secretary  Chase 
until  the  loans  necessary  for  the  civil  war  had  been 
negotiated. 

After  issue,  they  sold  at  about  ninety  cents  on 
the  dollar,  when  the  bond  amounted  to  five  hundred 
dollars,  without  a  market  for  the  smaller  bonds. 
Sonic  of  the  scrip  exchanged  for  these  bonds  had 
hvcu  purchased  at  thirty,  forty,  and  even  as  low  as 
tlihtcen  cents  on  the  dollar. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


WAR   AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

1858-1862. 

War  Departments   and  Commanders — Military   Administratiom  op 
General  Harney — Wallen's  Road  Expeditions — Troubles  with 

THE     ShOSIIONES  —  EMIGRATION     ON     THE     NORTHERN     AND     SoPTIIEUV 

Routes — Expeditions  of  Steen  and  Smith — Campaign  against  the 
Shoshones — Snake  River  Massacre — Action *of  the  Legislature- 
Protection  of  the  Southern  Route — Discovery  of  the  John  Day 
and  Powder  River  Mines — Floods  and  Cold  of  1861-2 — Progress 
OF  Eastern  Oregon. 


In  the  sumnier  of  1857  General  Wool,  who  was  so 
much  at  variance  with  the  civil  authorities  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  was  removed  from  this  departmriit,  and 
the  command  given  to  General  Newman  S.  Clarke. 
The  reader  will  remember  that  Colonel  George  Wright 
had  been  left  by  Wool  in  command  at  Vancouver  in 
the  spring  of  185G.  Not  long  after,  en  account  of 
the  hostilities  of  those  tribes  which  had  taken  part  in 
the  Walla  Walla  treaties  of  1855,  Wright  was  re- 
moved to  The  Dalles,  and  Colonel  Thomas  Morris 
took  command  at  Vancouver.  In  the  mean  time  two 
new  posts  were  established  north  of  the  Columbia, 
one  in  the  Yakima  country,  and  another  in  the  Wiilla 
Walla  Valley;  and  for  a  period  of  two  years  Wriglit, 
embarrassed  by  the  policy  of  the  commanding  gener- 
als, outim inhered  and  outwitted  by  the  Indians,  was 
engaged  in  a  futile  endeavor  to  subdue  without  fight- 
ing them.  The  Indians  being  emboldened  by  the  ap- 
parent weakness  of  the  army,  in  the  spring  of  1868 
the  troops  under  Colonel  Steptoe,  while  marching  to 

-  (400t 


MILITARY  DEPARTMENT. 


m 


Colville,  were  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  Spokaneg 
and  Coeur  d'Al^nes,  and  sustained  a  heavy  loss. 
Awakened  by  this  demonstration  of  the  hostile  pur- 
poses of  the  confederate  tribes,  Clarke  prepared  to  in- 
flict condign  punishment,  and  in  September  of  that 
year  Wright  marched  a  large  force  through  their 
country,  slaying  and  destroying  as  he  went.  This 
chastisement  brought  the  treaty  tribes  into  a  state  of 
humility.  In  the  mean  time  E.  R.  Geary  had  been 
appointed  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  in  Oregon 
and  Washington,  and  in  the  spring  of  1859,  congress 
having  ratified  the  treaties  of  1855,  he  made  arrange- 
ments with  them  for  their  permanent  settlement  on 
their  reservations,  four  in  number,  namely:  Simcoe, 
Warm  Spring,  Umatilla,  and  Lapwai;  but  unfortu- 
nately for  the  credit  of  the  government  with  the  Ind- 
ians, no  appropriation  was  made  by  congress  for  carry- 
ing out  its  engagements  until  the  following  year;  nor 
was  any  encouragement  given  toward  treating  with 
other  tribes  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  state. 

By  an  order  of  the  secretary  of  w^ar  of  September 
13,  1858,  the  department  of  the  Pacific  was  sub- 
divided into  the  departments  of  California  and  Ore- 
gon, the  latter  under  the  command  of  General  W. 
8.  Ilarney,  with  headquarters  at  Vancouver.  This 
change  was  hailed  with  delight  by  the  Oregonians, 
not  only  because  it  gave  them  a  military  department 
of  their  own,  but  because  Harney's  reputation  as  an 
Indian-fighter  was  great,  and  they  hoped  through  him 
to  put  a  speedy  termination  to  the  wars  which  had 
continuously  existed  for  a  period  of  five  years,  imped- 
ing land  surveys  and  mining,  and  preventing  the  set- 
tlement of  the  country  east  of  the  mountains.  Har- 
ney arrived  at  Vancouver  on  the  29th  of  October,  and 
two  days  later  he  issued  an  order  opening  the  Walla 
Walla  Valley,  closed  against  settlement  ever  since 
1855,  to  the  occupation  of  white  inhabitants. 

By  this  order  Harney's  popularity  was  assured. 
A  joint  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  legislature  con- 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


gratulating  the  people,  and  asking  the  general  to  ex- 
tend his  protection  to  the  immigration,  and  establis'i 
a  garrison  at  or  near  Fort  Boisd.*  A  considerable 
military  force  having  been  massed  in  the  Oregon 
department  for  the  conquest  of  the  rebellious  tribes,^ 
Harney  had,  when  he  took  command,  found  employ- 
ment for  them  in  explorations  of  the  country.  The 
military  department  in  1858  built  a  steamboat  to  run 
between  The  Dalles  and  Fort  Walla  Walla,'  and  about 
two  thousand  settlers  took  claims  in  the  Walla  Walla 
and  Umatilla  valleys  during  this  summer.  The  hos- 
tilities which  had  heretofore  prevented  this  progress 
being  now  at  an  end,  there  remained  only  the  Snake/ 
Klamath,  and  Modoc  tribes  to  be  either  conquered  or 
conciliated.  Little  discipline  had  been  administcMcd 
in  this  quarter,  except  by  the  three  expeditions  pio- 
viously  mentioned  of  Wright,  Walker,  and  Hallor. 

Harney,  though  more  in  sympathy  with  the  [wo- 
pie  than  his  predecessors,  was  yet  like  them  inclined 
to  discredit  the  power  or  the  will  of  the  wild  tribes 

^Clarke  and  Wright's  Campaign,  85;  Or.  Laws,  1858-9,  app.  iii. ;  Dr. 
Statesman,  Feb.  8,  1859. 

"Besides  the  companies  stationed  to  guard  the  Indian  reservations  in  Oic- 
gon  in  1857,  there  were  3  companies  of  the  9th  inf.  at  The  Dalles,  one  of 
the  4th  inf.  at  Vancouver,  one  of  the  3d  art.  at  the  Cascades,  3  of  tho  'Jtli 
inf.  at  Fort  Simcoe  in  the  Yakima  country,  and  at  Fort  Walla  WuUa  '2  com- 
panies of  inf.,  one  of  dragoons,  and  one  of  art.  U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc.  2,  vol.  ii. 
pt  ii.  78,  35th  cong.  1st  sess.  In  the  autumn  of  1858  three  companies  of 
art.  from  S.  F.,  one  from  Fort  Umpqua,  now  attached  to  the  department  of 
Cal.,  and  an  inf.  co.  from  Fort  Jones  were  sent  into  the  Indian  country  oust 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains.  Kip's  Army  Life,  lG-18;  Sac.  Union,  Aug.  J;), 
1858. 

'  This  steamer  was  owned  by  R.  R.  Thompson  and  L.  Coe,  and  was  named 
the  Colonel  Wright.  Harney  mentions  in  a  letter  to  tho  adjutant-gcneuil 
dated  April  25,  1859,  that  a  steamboat  line  had  been  established  between 
Tho  Dalles  and  Walla  Walla,  and  that  in  June  when  tho  water  of  the  (J  >1- 
iimbia  and  Snake  rivers  should  bo  high,  the  steamer  should  run  to  the  niontli 
of  tho  Tucannon,  on  the  latter  river.  U.  S.  Mest.  and  Does.,  1859-03,  !».'), 
36th  cong.  1st  sess.;  S.  F.  Bulletin,  April  28,  May  13  and  30,  and  Sept.  1,1, 
1859.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  first  steamer  to  ascend  the  Misaonii 
to  Fort  Benton  made  her  initial  trip  this  year.  This  was  the  Chippewa.  Id., 
Sept.  17,  1859;  Or.  Argtis,  Sept.  3,  1859. 

*  I  use  tho  term  Snake  in  its  popular  sense  and  for  convenience.  The  sev- 
eral bands  of  this  tribe,  the  Bannacks,  and  the  wandering  Pah  Utes  were  all 
classed  as  Snakes  by  the  people  who  reported  their  acts,  and  as  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  separate  them,  the  reader  will  understand  that  by  Snakes  is 
meant  in  general  the  predatory  bands  from  the  region  of  the  Snake  and 
Owyhee  rivers. 


WALLEN'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


463 


o  companies 


to  inflict  serious  injury.  Yet  not  to  neglect  his  duty 
iu  keeping  up  an  appearance  of  protecting  miners,  im- 
migrants, and  others,  and  at  the  same  time  to  carry 
forward  some  plans  of  exploration  which  I  have  al- 
ready hinted  at,*  toward  the  end  of  April  he  ordered 
into  the  field  two  companies  of  dragoons  and  infantry 
mounted,  under  Captain  D.  H.  Wallen,  to  make  a 
roconnoissance  of  a  road  from  The  Dalles  to  Salt 
Lake  City,  connecting  with  the  old  immigrant  route 
through  the  South  Pass,  and  to  ascertain  whether 
such  a  road  could  not  be  constructed  up  the  John  Day 
River,  thence  over  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Malheur, 
and  down  that  stream  to  Snake  River."  Wallen  pro- 
ceeded as  directed  and  along  the  south  side  of  Snake 
River  to  the  crossing  of  the  Oregon  and  California 
roads  at  Raft  River,  meeting  on  his  march  with  none 
of  the  predatory  bands,  which,  eluding  him,  took  advan- 
tage of  being  in  his  rear  to  make  a  descent  upon  the 
Warui  Spring  reservation  and  drive  oflf  the  stock  be- 

'  Hiirney  was  much  interested  in  laying  out  military  roads,  and  in  hia  re- 
ports to  tlio  general-in-chief  called  the  attention  of  the  war  department  to  the 
iioccssity  for  such  roads  in  this  portion  of  the  United  States  territory.  Among 
other  roads  proposed  was  one  through  the  south  pass  to  the  head  of  Salmon 
River,  down  that  stream  to  the  SnaKo  River,  and  thence  to  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
wliicli  was  never  opened  owing  to  the  roughness  of  the  country.  F.  W. 
Laiulcr  made  an  improvement  iu  the  road  from  the  south  pass  to  the  parting 
of  tliu  Oregon  and  California  routes  which  enabled  most  of  the  immigration 
to  arrive  at  the  Columbia  several  weeks  earlier  than  usual.  The  new  route 
was  called  the  Fort  Kearney,  South  Pass,  and  Honey  Lake  wagon  road,  aud 
appears  to  have  been  partially  opened  in  18u8,  or  across  the  Wachitjv  moun- 
tains. Appended  to  Lander  s  report  is  a  long  list  of  names  of  persons  eu 
route  for  California  and  Oregon  who  passed  over  it  in  1858  aud  1859.  A  party 
left  Fairbault,  Minnesota,  in  July  1858,  and  travelled  by  the  Saskatchewan 
route,  wintering  in  the  mountains  with  the  snow  in  many  places  twenty  feet 
deep.  They  experienced  great  hardships,  but  arrived  at  The  Dalles  May  I, 
IS.VJ,  in  good  health.  Their  names  were  J.  L.  Houck,  J.  W.  Jones,  J.  E. 
Smith,  I'j.  Hind,  William  Amesbury,  J.  Emehiser,  J.  SchaeflTer,  J.  Palmer,  J. 
R.  Saudford.  Olympia  Herald,  May  27,  1859. 

"  Wallen  crossed  the  Des  Chutes  at  the  mouth  of  Warm  Spring  River, 
proceeded  thence  to  the  head  of  Crooked  River,  IGO  miles,  finding  a  good  natural 
ruail  ^^itll  grass  and  water.  He  detached  Lieutenant  Bunnycastlo  with  i)art 
of  \ni  oouiniand  to  explore  the  country  east  of  tho  route  followed  by  himself, 
who  travelled  no  farther  than  Harney  Lake  Valley,  to  which  he  probably 
gave  this  name  in  honor  of  the  commanding  general,  from  which  point  he 
turned  north  to  the  head  waters  of  John  Day  River  and  followed  it  down, 
aud  back  to  The  Dalles,  on  about  the  present  liuo  of  tho  road  tu  Canyoa 
City.  Harney  reported  that  Bonnycastle  brought  a  train  of  17  ox-wai;ou8 
from  Ilarnoy  Valley  to  The  Dalles  in  12  days  without  accident.  U.  8.  Mem, 
and  Docs,  1859-^0,  113;  U.  S.  Sen.  Doc,  34,  ix.  51.  3Gth  cong.  Ist  seaa. 


tl 


i 


48t 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


longing  to  the  treaty  Indians/  A.  P.  Dennison,  ^lie 
agent,  applied  to  Harney  for  a  force  to  guard  the  res- 
ervation, but  the  general,  instead  of  sending  troops, 
ordered  forty  rifles  with  ammunition  to  be  furnished, 
and  Dennison  resorted  to  organizing  a  company  among 
the  reservation  Indians,  and  placing  it  under  the  com- 
mand of  Thomas  L.  Fitch,  physician  to  the  reserva- 
tion, who  marched  up  John  Day  River  in  the 
hope  of  recovering  a  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  horses 
and  cattle  which  had  been  stolen.  His  company 
killed  the  men  belonging  to  two  lodges,  took  the 
women  and  children  prisoners,  and  recaptured  a  few 
horses,  which  had  the  efiect  to  secure  a  short-lived 
immunity  only.  In  August  the  Snakes  made  another 
raid  upon  the  reservation,  avenging  the  slaughter  of 
their  people  by  killing  a  dozen  or  more  Indian  women 
and  children  and  threatening  to  burn  the  agency  build- 
ings, the  white  residents  fleeing  for  their  lives  to  The 
Dalles.  The  agent,  who  was  at  that  place,  hastened 
to  the  scene  of  attack  with  a  company  of  friendly 
Indians,  but  not  before  sixteen  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  property  had  been  stolen  or  destroyed.®  It  was 
only  then  that  a  small  detachment  of  soldiers  was  sent 
to  guard  the  reservation  and  induce  the  terrified  Ind- 
ians as  well  as  white  people  to  return ;  and  a  dragoon 
company  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  along 
the  base  of  the  Blue  Mountains,  to  recover  if  possi- 
ble the  property  carried  ofi",  returning,  however,  emp- 
ty-handed; and  it  was  not  without  reason  that  the 
old  complaint  of  the  Indian  department  was  reiter- 
ated, that  the  military  department  would  not  trouble 
itself  with  the  Indians  unless  it  were  given  exclusive 
control. 

'  Though  Wallen  met  with  no  hostile  savages  in  his  march  to  Camp  Floyd, 
he  f onnd  no  less  than  three  commands  in  the  field  from  that  post  pursuing  Ind- 
ians who  had  attacked  the  immigration  on  the  California  road.  Ho  mentions 
the  names  of  a  few  persons  killed  in  1859,  S.  P.  Shephard,  W.  F.  Shephard, 
W.  C.  Riggs,  and  C.  Rains.  Olympia  Herald,  Sept.  16,  1859.  E.  0.  Hall 
and  Mr  and  Mrs  Wright  are  mentioned  as  having  been  attacked.  Hall  was 
killed  and  the  others  wounded. 

*Ind.  Aff.  Ihpt,  1859,  389.  Indemnity  waa  olaimed  for  tlio  losses  of  prl* 
vate  persons  and  the  Indian*. 


IMMIGRATION. 


465 


From  a  combination  of  causes,  the  chief  of  which 
was  the  aj^itation  of  the  question  of  slavery,  the  inimi- 
irration  of  1859  was  larger  than  any  which  had  pre- 
coded  it  for  a  number  of  years.'  Owing  to  the  care 
tiilvcii  by  Captain  Wallen  to  insure  the  safe  passage 
of  the  trains,  all  escaped  attack  except  one  company, 
wliitli  against  his  advice  turned  off  the  main  route  to 
trv  that  up  the  Malheur,  and  which  was  driven  back 
with  a  loss  of  one  man  severely  wounded,  and  four 
Wci!j^f)ns  abandoned.^*'  Major  Reynolds  of  the  3d 
artillery  from  Camp  Floyd  for  Vancouver,  with  one 
luui(hod  men  and  eight  field-pieces,  escorted  the 
advance  of  the  immigration,  and  Wallen  remained  to 
hr'uv^  up  the  rear,  sending  sixty  dragoons  four  days' 
travel  back  along  the  road  to  succor  some  belated  and 
famishing  people." 

In  the  spring  of  1860  General  Harney  ordered  two 
exi)editions  into  the  country  traversed  by  predatory 
Snakes,  not  with  the  purpose  of  fighting  them,  as 
Walleu's  march  through  their  country  had  been 
uninterrupted,  but  to  continue  the  exploration  of  a 
road  to  Salt  Lake  from  Harney  Lake,  where  Wallen's 
exploration  in  that  direction  had  ceased ;  and  also  to 
explore  from  Crooked  River  westward  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Willamette  River,  and  into  the  valley 
by  the  middle  immigrant  route  first  opened  b}' 
authority  of  the  legislature  in  1853. 

This  joint  expedition  was  under  the  command  of 
Major  E.  Steen,  who  was  to  take  the  westward  march 


hio  losses  of  pri* 


"  Horace  Greeley  estimated  that  30,000  people  and  100,000  cattle  were  en 
route  ti)  ( 'iiliforiiia.  This  estimate  was  not  too  large,  and  instead  of  all  go- 
ina  to  California  about  one  third  went  to  Oregon,  many  of  them  settling  in 
Wall.i  WiiUa  Valley — at  least  800.  About  2J  families  settled  in  the  Yakima 
Valley,  3l)  families  on  the  Glickitat,  and  others  in  every  direction.  Some 
settkd  ill  the  Grande  Hondo  and  south  of  the  Golumbia,  but  not  so  many  as 
in  the  following  years.  Oli/mpia  Pioneer  and  Democrat,  Sept.  30,  18o9;  Or. 
.4/Y/«N,  Oct.  15,  iSoO. 

^'' Dnlliii  Journal,  in  Or.  Argus,  Sept.  24,  1839;  Portland  Oregonian,  Oct. 

15,  1,S.VJ. 

".See  letter  in  Olympia  P.  S.  Herald,  Sept.  16,  1839.    Colonel  Wright 
sent  forward  from  Fort  Walla  Walla  to  meet  the  later  trains  which  were  dea- 
tituto  of  provisions  230  sacks  of  flour,  50  barrels  of  pork,  and  other  necessaries. 
Oi'.  SUilennian,  Sept.  0,  1839. 
HiBi.  Ob.,  Vol.  U.    30 


466 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT, 


; 


from  Crooked  River,  while  Captain  A.  J.  Smith  was 
to  proceed  southward  and  eastward  to  the  City  of 
Rocks.  About  six  weeks  after  Smith  and  Steoti  had 
set  out  from  The  Dalles,  news  was  received  that  the 
hostile  bands,  so  far  from  hiding  from  the  siglit  of 
two  dragoon  companies,  had  attacked  Smith  after  his 
parting  with  Steen,  when  he  was  within  twenty  miles 
of  the  Owyhee;  and  that  he  had  been  no  more  llian 
able  to  protect  the  government  property  in  his  charse. 
It  being  unsafe  to  divide  his  command  to  explore  in 
advance  of  the  train,  he  was  compelled  to  retreat  to 
Harney  Lake  Valley  and  send  an  express  after  Stceii, 
who  turned  back  and  rejoined  him  on  the  head  waters 
of  Crooked  River. ^^  Accompanying,  or  rather  over- 
taking, Steen's  expedition  on  Crooked  River  was  a 
party  of  four  white  men  and  five  Indians  escorting 
Superintendent  Geary  and  G.  H.  Abbott,  agent  at 
Warm  Springs,  upon  a  search  after  some  chiefs  with 
whom  they  could  confer  regarding  a  treaty,  or  at  least 
a  cessation  of  hostilities.  Without  the  prestige  of 
numbers,  presents,  or  display  of  any  kind,  Geary  was 
pushing  his  way  into  the  heart  of  a  hostile  wilderness, 
under  the  shadow  of  the  military  wing  which,  so  tar 
from  being  extended  for  his  protection,  completely 
ignored  his  presence.*'  ' 

During  Geary's  stay  at  Steen's  camp,  on  the  15th 
of  July  two  refugees  from  b  party  of  prospectors 
which  had  been  attacked  by  the  Indians  came  in 
and  reported  the  wounding  of  one  man,  the  loss  of 
seventy  horses,  and  the  scattering  of  their  company, 


"Rept  of  Captain  Smith,  in  IT.  S.  Sen.  Doc,  i.  119,  36th  coug.  2il  sess.; 
Sac.  Union,  July  20,  1860;  S.  F.  Alta,  July  13,  1800. 

"  In  the  reports  of  military  and  Indian  departments  there  is  found  a 
mutual  concealment  of  facts,  no  mention  being  made  by  Steen  of  the  pic-ioiiie 
of  the  Ijead  of  the  Indian  department  of  Oregon  and  Washington  at  liis  (-iimp, 
in  his  communication  to  his  superiors;  nor  did  Geary  in  his  report  (.(iiifoss 
that  he  had  been  disdainfully  treated  by  the  few  savages  to  whom  he  had  :m 
opportunity  of  offering  the  friendsliip  of  the  United  States  governniont,  as 
well  as  by  the  army.  To  his  interpreter  they  replied  that  powder  and  Iwll 
were  the  only  gifts  that  they  desired  or  would  accept  from  white  men.  /(/. 
Aff.  llept,  1860,  174-5;  Dalles  Mountaineer,  in  Or.  Statetman,  July  10,  1800) 
Olympia  Pioneer  and  Democrat,  July  20.  1860l 


STEEN'3  EXPEDITION. 


487 


Smith  was 
;he  City  of 
1  Stecn  had 
3(1  that  the 
he  sight  of 
ith  alter  his 
wenty  miles 

more  than 
1  his  charge, 
>  explore  in 
D  retreat  to 
after  Stcen, 
head  waters 
rather  over- 
River  was  a 
tis  escorting 
)tt,  agent  at 

chiefs  with 
y,  or  at  least 
!  prestige  of 

,  Geary  was 
wilderness, 

hich,  so  far 
completely 

Ion  the  15th 

prospect(»r3 

,ns  came  in 

the  loss  of 

ir  company, 

kth  cong.  2il  ses3.; 


wliioh  had  fled  into  Harney  Lake  Valley  after  being 
attacked  a  second  time.  This  incident,  with  the  gen- 
eral hopelessness  of  his  errand,  caused  Geary  to  re- 
turn to  The  Dalles,  while  an  express  was  sent  for- 
ward to  warn  Smith,  then  two  days  on  his  march 
toward  the  City  of  Rocks.  Steen  also  moved  his 
camp  to  Harney  Lake  to  be  within  communicating 
distance  in  case  Smith  should  be  attacked,  and  he 
s[)ent  two  days  looking  for  Indians  without  finding 
any.  A  few  days  later  Smith  was  attacked,  as  above 
related. 

In  the  mean  time  Harney  had  been  summoned  to 
Washington  city  on  business  reputed  to  be  connected 
witli  the  war  debt  of  Oregon  and  Washington  territo- 
ries, and  Colonel  Wright  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
department  of  Oregon.  On  hearing  of  the  interru/ 
tion  of  the  explorations,  Wright  at  once  ordered 
throe  companies  of  artillery  under  Major  George  P. 
Andrews  to  ?narch  to  the  assistance  of  the  explorers, 
while  a  squadron  of  dragoons  under  Major  Grier  was 
diiected  to  move  along  the  road  toward  Fort  Bois^ 
to  guard  the  immigrant  road,  and  be  within  com- 
manding distance  of  Steen,  who  it  was  supposed 
would  also  be  upon  the  road  in  a  few  weeks. 

When  Steen  had  been  reenforced  by  the  artillery 
companies,  he  marched  on  the  4th  of  August  toward 
a  range  of  snow  mountains  east  of  Harney  Lake,  ex- 
tending for  some  distance  southward,  near  which  he 
helioved  the  Indians  would  be  found,  taking  with  him 
a  hundred  dragoons  and  sixty-five  artillerymen.  The 
remainder  of  the  command  under  Major  Andrews 
moved  eastward  to  a  camp  near  the  Owyhee  to  await 
orders.  Major  Grier  being  on  the  road  to  Boisd  with 
lii.s  dragoons,  looking  out  for  the  immigration,  Steen 
hoped  to  catch  the  Indians  and  drive  them  upon  one 
or  the  other  of  these  divisions.  Attached  to  Steen's 
division  was  a  small  company  of  scouts  from  the 
Warm  Spring  reservation,  who  on  the  foi/Hh  day 


"^ 


46a 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


% 


!! 


discovered  signs  of  the  enemy  on  the  north  slope  of 
a  high  butte,  'vhich  now  bears  the  name  of  Steeii 
Mountain,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  a  .small 
party  of  Indians  was  surprised  and  fled  to  the  very 
top  of  this  butte  to  the  region  of  perpetual  snow, 
hotly  pursued  by  the  troops.  Arrived  at  the  sum- 
mit, the  descent  on  the  south  side  down  which  the 
Indians  plunged,  looked  impassable;  but,  with  njoie 
zeal  than  caution,  Steen  pursued,  taking  his  whole 
command,  dragoons  and  artillery,  down  a  descent  of 
six  thousand  feet,  through  a  narrow  and  dan«jcroii.s 
canon,  with  the  loss  of  but  one  mule.  The  country 
about  the  mountain  was  then  thoroughly  recon- 
noitred for  three  days,  during  which  the  scouts 
brought  in  three  Indian  men  and  a  few  women  and 
children  as  prisoners. 

On  the  16th  the  command  returned  to  camp,  after 
which  Smith  made  a  forced  march  of  a  hundred  miles 
on  a  supposed  trail  without  coming  upon  the  enemy. 
Steen  then  determined  to  abandon  the  road  survey 
and  return  to  The  Dalles.  Dividing  the  troop.s  into 
three  columns  twenty  miles  apart,  they  were  nuireheJ 
to  the  Columbia  River  without  encountering  any 
Indians  on  either  route.  Early  in  September  the 
companies  were  distributed  to  their  several  jiosts.'* 
Yet  the  troops  were  not  more  than  well  settletl  in 
garrisons  before  the  Snakes  made  a  descent  on  the 
Warm  Spring  reservation,  and  drove  off  all  the  stock 
they  had  not  before  secured.  When  there  was  nothin^' 
left  to  steal,  twenty  dragoons  under  Lieutenant  Givolt 
were  quartered  at  the  reservation  to  be  ready  to  repel 
any  further  attacks." 


Colonel  Wright  reported  to  headquarters,  Septem- 
ber 20th,  that  the  "routes  of  immigration  wore  ren- 
dered perfectly  safe  "  by  the  operations  of  troops  duriiijj 


"P.  .S'.  Sen.  Doc.  1,  vol.  ii.  131,  30th  cong.  2(i  bchs.;  Objmina  Pionar 
ami  Demoernt,  Sept.  14,  1800. 

»»y/.J.  Af.  Iie2Jt,  ISOO,  170;  1801,  150;  Puget  SouivUIeralJ,  Oct.  Jd,  1800. 


MASSACRE  ON  SNAKE  RIVER. 


469 


tlio  summer;  that  nothing  more  needed  to  be  done  or 
couM  1)0  done,  with  regard  to  the  Shoshones,  before 
s()iiiiL,^  when  the  superintendent  would  essay  a  treaty 
at  Salmon  River,  which  would  serve  every  purpose;'" 
Init  urged  the  construction  of  a  fort  at  Bois(5,  which  had 
already  been  directed  by  the  secretary  of  war,  delayed, 
howover,  for  reasons  connected  with  the  threatening 
aspect  of  affairs  in  the  southern  states.  Major  Grior's 
coiiimaiid,  which  had  taken  the  road  to  Boisd  to  look 
after  the  immigration,  returned  to  Walla  Walla  in  Sep- 
tcinhcr. 

The  troops  were  no  sooner  comfortably  garrisoned 
than  the  local  Indian  agent  at  the  Umatilla,  Byron 
N.  Davis,  notified  the  commander  at  Fort  Walla 
Walla  that  a  massacre  had  taken  place  three  weeks 
previous  on  Snake  River,  between  Salmon  Falls  and 
Fort  Boise,  wherein  about  fifty  persons  had  been 
killed,  or  scattered  over  the  wilderness  to  perish  by 
starvation.  Davis  also  report(>d  that  lie  had  imme- 
diately despatched  two  men  \yith  a  horse-load  of  pro- 
visions to  hasten  forward  to  meet  any  possible  surviv- 
ors; and  at  the  same  time  a  loaded  wagon  drawn  by 
(ixen,  this  being  the  best  that  he  could  do  with  tlio 
means  at  his  command.  As  soon  as  the  disaster  be- 
came known  to  the  military  authorities,  Captain  Dent 
with  one  hundred  mounted  men  was  ordered  to  pro- 
f'oed  rapidly  along  the  road  and  afford  such  assistance 
as  was  required  by  the  sufferers,  and  if  possible  to 
punish  the  Indians.  At  the  same  time  it  was  thouglit 
that  the  report  brought  in  by  the  three  known  sur- 
vivors might  be  exaggerated.*^ 

The  story  of  the  ill-fated  party  is  one  of  the  most 
terrihle  of  the  many  terrible  experiences  of  travellers 
across  the  Snake  River  plains.  On  the  13th  of  Sep- 
ti'iiiher,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
a  train  of  eight  wagons  and  fifty-four  persons  was 


"'('.  S.  S,-ii.  Dor.  1,  vol.  ii.  p.  130,  (800-01,  30th  con«.  2(1  scss. 
,  '  l;(|.uit  c.f  Coloucl  Wiiglit,  ill  U.  S.  Sai.  Doc.  1,  vol.  ii.  p.  141,  1800-1, 

30tli  lull''.  iM  Huas. 


i 


470 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


attacked  by  Indians  about  one  hundred  in  number. 
An  escort  of  twenty-two  dragoons  had  travelled  with 
this  company  six  days  west  of  Fort  Hall,  where  Colo- 
nel Howe  was  stationed  with  several  companies  of 
troops  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  immigration 
to  California  and  Oregon.  Thinking  the  California 
road  more  dangerous,  and  aware  that  there  were  or 
had  been  troops  from  the  Oregon  department  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Boise,  Colonel  Howe  deemed  further 
escort  unnecessary,  and  the  train  proceeded  for  two 
weeks  before  meeting  with  any  hostile  Indians. 

On  the  morning  named  they  appeared  in  force,  sur- 
rounding the  train,  yelling  like  demons,  as  the  emi- 
grants thought  with  the  design  of  stampeding  their 
cattle,  which  they  accordingly  quickly  corralled,  ut 
the  same  time  preparing  to  defend  themselves.  See- 
ing this,  the  savages  made  signs  of  friendshii),  and 
of  being  hungry,  by  which  means  they  obtained  lt'a\o 
to  approach  near  enough  to  receive  presents  of  food, 
Tliey  then  allowed  the  emigrants  to  pass  on,  hut 
when  the  wagons  had  gained  a  high  point  which  e.\- 
[)osod  them  to  attack,  a  tire  was  opened  on  the  train 
with  rifles  and  arrows  from  the  cover  of  the  arteinisia. 
Again  the  couipany  halted  and  secured  their  eattle. 
But  beft)re  this  was  accomplished  three  men  were 
shot  down.  A  battle  now  took  place,  which  lasted 
the  remainder  of  the  day,  and  in  which  several  Ind- 
ians were  seen  to  fall.  The  firing  of  the  savages  was 
badly  directed,  and  did  little  harm  except  to  aunny 
the  horses  and  cattle,  already  irritable  for  want  of 
food  antl  water.  All  night  the  Indians  fired  randi)ni 
shots,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day  recom- 
menced the  battle,  which  continued  until  the  second 
night,  another  num  being  killed.  Toward  sunsit  the 
c()nij)any  agreed  u})on  leaving  four  of  their  wa^on-t 
for  booty  to  the  Indians,  hoping  in  this  way  to  divert 
their  attention  long  enough  to  escape  with  tlu;  I'llur 
four.  They  accordingly  started  on  with  hall'  tlio 
train,  Iciaving  half  behind.     But  the  savages  paid  no 


SUFFERINGS  OF  THE  IMMIGRANTS. 


4im 


3C   nioii  wi'ic 


lued  to  the  abandoned  property,  following  and  attaek- 
Intf  the  emigrants  with  fresh  activity.  The  men 
labored  to  hasten  their  cattle,  but  in  spite  of  all  their 
elfoits  tlie  hungry  creatures  would  stop  to  snatch  a 
mouthful  of  food.  With  the  company  were  four 
young  men,  discharged  soldiers  from  Fort  Hall,  well 
aimed  with  rifles  and  revolvers  belonging  to  the  com- 
|iaii_v,  and  mounted  on  good  horses,  who  were  to  rido 
in  advance  to  keep  the  way  open.  Instead  of  doing 
their  duty,  they  fled  with  the  horses  and  arms.^^  Two 
oilier  men,  brothers  named  Reith,  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing- Umatilla  the  2d  of  October,  by  whose  report,  as 
\\\  11  as  the  story  of  the  other  surviving  fugitives,  the 
massacre  became  known. 

FiiRliiig  it  impossible  to  drive  the  famished  cattle, 
and  s(.!eiiig  that  in  a  short  time  they  must  fall  victims 
to  the  savages,  the  ill-fated  emigrants  determined  to 
aliaiidoii  the  remainder  of  the  loaded  wagons  and  the 
ealth',  and  if  possible  save  their  lives.  The  moment, 
liDWdVLT,  that  they  were  away  from  the  protection 
(if  the  wagons,  two  persons,  John  Myers  and  Susan 
liter,  were  shot  dead.  Mr  Utter,  father  of  the 
yming  woman,  then  made  signs  of  peace,  but  was 
shot  while  pro[)osing  a  treaty.  Mrs  Utter  refused  to 
([uit  her  dead  husband,  and  with  three  oi'  her  children, 
a  hoy  and  tsvo  girls,  was  soon  despatched  by  tho 
isa\agi'S. 

l'>leven  persons  had  now  been  killed,  six  others  had 
It'i't  the  train,  and  there  remained  thirty-seven  men, 
Women,  and  children.  They  were  too  hard  pressed  to 
secure  even  a  little  food,  and  with  one  loaf  of  bread 
li;istily  snatched  by  Mrs  Chase,  iled,  under  cover  of 
llie  darkness,  out  into  the  wilderness  to  go — they 
kiifw  not  whither.  By  walking  all  night  and  hiding 
under  the  bank  of  the  liver  during  the  day  they 
eliidcd  the  Indians.     The  men  had  some  fish-hooks, 

"  rinse  nii'ii  wiTo  imineil  Siiydcr,  Mi'nloclt,  Chanilmurg,  fttid  Clmll't-y. 
Siiy.li  r  iiiid  ('Imll'i'V  i'sca|H'(l  and  rt']n)rted  tlni  otlicr  two  iih  killed.  Acecmiit 
<'f  In  cp'i  Mytrs,  iit  Olyiiipia  Slaiid.inl,  Nov.  ao,  18(i0j  hco  uUo  iS'rtC.  Union, 
Oct,  10,  1800. 


i 


! 


1 


I 


lil 


II 

ill:    i 


472 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  women  some  thread,  which  furnished  lines  for 
fishing,  by  which  means  they  kept  from  starvini^r. 
As  the  howhngs  of  the  Indians  could  still  be  JilukI, 
no  travel  was  attempted  except  at  night.  After  go- 
ing about  seventy  miles,  the  men  became  too  wcuk 
from  famine  to  carry  the  young  children.  Still  thty 
had  not  been  entirely  without  food,  since  two  dogs 
that  had  followed  them  had  been  killed  and  eaten. 

After  crossing  Snake  River  near  Fort  Boise  they 
lost  the  road,  and  being  unable  to  travel,  eucaiiij)i(l 
on  the  Owyhee  River.  Just  before  reaching  this 
their  final  camp,  a  poor  cow  was  discovered,  which 
the  earlier  en)igration  had  abandoned,  whose  ihsh 
mixed  with  the  berries  of  the  wild  rose  furnishid 
scanty  subsistence,  eked  out  by  a  few  salmon  ])ur- 
chased  of  some  Indians  encamped  on  the  Snake  lli\ xr 
in  exchange  for  articles  of  clothing  and  ammunition. 
The  meml^ers  of  the  party  now  awaiting  their  doom, 
in  the  shelter  of  the  wigwams  on  the  banks  of  the 
Owyhee,  were  Alexis  Vanorman,  Mrs  Vanorniaii, 
Mark  Vanorman,  Mr  and  Mrs  Chase,  Daniel  i\ud 
Albert  Ciiase,  Elizabeth  and  Susan  Trimble,  Saimul 
(jrleason,  Charles  and  Henry  Utter,  an  infant  child 
of  the  murdered  Mrs  Utter,  Joseph  Myers,  ^Iis 
Myers,  and  five  young  children,  Christopher  Triiiihle, 
several  children  of  Mr  Chase,^*  and  several  of  Mr 
Vanorman's. 

Before  encam[)ing  it  had  been  determined  to  send  an 
express  to  the  settlements.  An  old  man  named  .Mtiii- 
son,  and  a  boy  of  eleven,  Christopher  Trimble,  w<i'o 
selected  to  go.  On  reaching  Burnt  River  they  round 
the  Reith  brothers  and  Chatfey,  one  of  the  desert in;^ 
soldiers.     They  had  mistaken  their  way  and  wandered 

"Tlioao  arc  all  tlio  nnnics  niontioncd  1)y  Myers  in  liis  nccount  of  tlio 
sojourn  on  the  Owyhoe;  Itut  there  arc  other  names  uiven  l)y  tlic  Keith  Im'tl:- 
ers  who  lirst  arrived  at  I'liiatilla.  Tlieso  verc  William  Auttiy,  a  MiMiii' 
fioin  iMirt  llnll;  A.  Markernian,  >vifo  anil  five  children;  an  old  mnn  iiiinnil 
Civilian  IJ.  Munsoii;  and  Chailcs  Kcsner,  a  soldier  from  Fort  Jhdl.  I'.  "•. 
iSV/(.  Dor.  1,  vol.  ii.  N;1,  18(i(>-t)l,  ,'t(iUi  conK.  '2d  boss.  Munson  was  iiiii'H.i} 
the  I'l'Hi'iied;  uU  the  others  must  have  been  killed  in  lliuht.  Myers  nf  i  cuiisu 
could  uul  SCO  uU  that  was  truuspiriiig  in  the  inumuut  uf  greatest  eniergiu^y. 


STARVATION". 


473 


d  linos  for 
n  starviiiir. 
11  bo  J  10(11  (I, 

Aftor  o-o- 
e  too  Weak 

Still  th.y 
B  two  do^fn 
u  oaton. 
Boiso  tliry 
,,  cncaiiij)LMl 
aching  this 
3rod,  which 
,vlio!<o  llcsh 
i  furnished 
almon  ]»iir- 
Inako  IvivLT 
mnmnitiim. 
tlioir  (loom, 
inks  of  the 
Vanorniaii, 
Daniel  and 
)lc,  Suimifl 
ni'ant  child 

yers,   31  is 
Ti'iuil<lc, 
!ral  of  31  r 

to  send  an 

inied  31uii- 

mblo,  wciv 

:hey  found 

desei'tinj^' 

wandered 

HH'OUnt  of  tlio 
lu  Keith  limtli- 

ittly,  II  hnl.llil' 
111  llliill  liiniiid 
It  Jliill.  /■.  ^ 
oil  WHS  iinioiig 
lyors  of  coiiiso 
!8t  uiuurgnuy. 


in  the  wilderness,  havincf  just  returned  to  the  road. 
3Iunson  went  on  with  these  four  men,  two  of  whom 
succumbed  before  reaching  any  settlement,  and  young 
Trimble  returned  to  the  Owyhee  to  encourage  the 
otlit'i's  in  the  hope  that  help  might  'jome.  They 
thciefore  made  what  effort  they  could  to  keep  them- 
selves idive  with  frogs  caught  along  the  river. 

J)uring  the  first  fortnight  the  Indians  made  several 
visits  to  the  camp  of  the  emigrants,  and  carried  away 
their  guns.  A  considerable  quantity  of  clothing  had 
been  disposed  of  for  food,  and  as  there  was  nothing  to 
rc|)laee  it,  and  the  nights  were  cold,  there  was  an  in- 
crease of  suffering  from  that  cause.  The  Indians 
took  away  also  by  force  the  blankets  which  the  fleeing 
men  and  women  had  seized.  Alarmed  lest  another 
day  they  might  strip  him  of  all  his  clothing,  and  end 
hy  killing  him,  Vanorman  set  out  with  his  wife  and 
childi'en,  live  in  number,  Samuel  Gleason,  and  Charles 
and  Henry  Utter,  to  go  forward  on  the  road,  hoping 
the  sooner  to  meet  a  relief  party.  As  it  afterward 
appeared,  they  reached  Burnt  River,  where  all  their 
bodies  were  subsequently  discovered,  exce[)t  those  of 
the  lour  younger  children,  who,  it  was  thought,  were 
taken  into  captivity.''^''  They  had  been  murdered  by 
the  savages,  and  Mrs  Vanorman  scalped. 

Xot  long  after  the  departure  from  camp  of  this 
im fortunate  party,  Mr  Chase  died  from  eating  sal- 
mon, w  Iiieli  he  was  too  weak  to  digest.  A  few  days 
lafei",  IClizabeth  Trimble  died  of  starvation,  followed 
shortly  by  her  sifter  Susan.  Then  died  Daniel  and 
Alhert  Chase,  also  of  famine.  For  about  two  weeks 
pivNious,  the  Indians  had  ceased  to  bring  in  food,  or, 

■" '  Kaglo-fnu'  '"igliti  a  Ncz  Perc<5,  had  just  returned  from  tlio  Hnako 

cniuiiiy,  mid  tliiuo  ramu  with  liim  four  Siiiiko  Indians,  who  iiifonncd  Agi'iit 
Ciiiii  th;it  they  Uncw  of  four  cliildirn,  nK'Uil)er8  of  thiit  uiifortuiuito  party, 
tiinl  \vi  10  yot  alive.  Arraiigi'incnta  wore  inado  with  thorn  liy  which  tiioy 
«>,'iv,)  to  liiinji  tiiom  in,  untl  aixtorduigly  have  U'ft  thoir  si|iiaws,  and  rctiiriiod 
to  t hoi r  country  for  that  jiurposo.'  Letter  from  Walla  W'aUa,  in  Or.  Arijm, 
I'll. '_'J,  iStiO.  'I'hu  Indians  who  went  after  the  uhihlien,  unu  of  whom  was 
n  '{ill  ot  thiitci'ii,  ri'tunied  on  neoouiit  of  Hiiow  in  the  mountains,  'i'liry  weio 
lu'iiiil  lif  within  |,")0  niilesof  the  I'lathead  agency,  ivud  woro  uuiit  for  by  Air 
Owe  n,  agent  at  that  phico,  but  wore  uovcr  louml. 


474 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


indeed,  to  show  themselves,  and  thus  helped  on  tlic 
catastrophe,  the  indirect  cause  of  which  was  their 
dread  of  soldiers.  Young  Trimble  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  visiting  the  Indian  camp  before  nientiouud, 
and  one  day  on  returning  to  the  immigrant  camp 
brought  with  him  some  Indians  having  salmon  to  stU. 
As  Trimble  was  about  to  accompany  them  back  to 
their  village,  he  was  asked  by  Myers  to  describi;  tho 
trail,  "for,"  said  he,  "if  the  soldiers  come  to  our  relief 
wo  shall  want  to  send  for  you."  It  was  an  uiifortii- 
riate  utterance.  At  the  word  'soldiers'  the  Indians 
betrayed  curiosity  and  fear.  They  never  returned  to 
the  white  camp;  but  when  sought  they  had  tied,  leav- 
ing the  body  of  the  boy,  whom  they  murdered,  to  tho 
wolves. 

At  length,  in  their  awful  extremity,  the  living  wore 
conipclled  to  oat  the  bodies  of  the  dead.  This  deter- 
mination, says  Myers,  was  unanimous,  and  was  arrived 
at  after  consultation  and  prayer.  The  bodies  of  four 
children  were  first  consumed,  and  eaten  of  sparingly, 
to  make  the  hated  food  last  as  lonjx  as  it  niinht.  J  hit 
the  time  came  when  the  body  of  Mr  Chase  was  ex- 
humed and  prepared  for  eating.  Before  it  had  been 
tasted,  succor  arrived,  the  relief  parties  of  the  Indian 
agenc}''  and  Captain  Dent  reaching  the  Owyhee,  f  »it  y- 
live  days  after  the  attack  on  Snake  Kiver.  When 
the  troops  came  into  this  camp  of  misery,  they  tliivw 
themselves  down  on  their  faces  and  wept,  and  thou^iit 
it  a  cruelt}'"  that  Captain  Dent  would  not  permit  them 
to  scatter  food  witliout  stint  among  the  half-naked 
living  skeletons  stretched  upon  the  ground,  or  that 
he  sjiould  resist  the  cries  of  the  wailing  and  eniael- 
ated  children. 

The  family  of  Myers,  Mrs  Chase  and  one  child,  ami 
Miss  Ti'inible  were  all  left  alive  at  tho  camp  en  the 
Owyhee.  Munson  and  Chaffey  were  also  resi  u  d, 
making  twelve  brought  in  by  tho  troops.  These  v.  itii 
the  three  men  who  first  reached  the  Columbia  Kiver 
were  all  that  survived  of  a  company  of  fifty-four  per- 


ACTION  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE. 


475 


()    1VS(  lli'U 


sons.  Thirty-nine  lives  had  been  lost,a  largo  amount  of 
property  wasted,  and  indescribable  suffering  endured 
for  six  weeks.  When  Captain  Dent  arrived  with 
the  rescued  survivors  at  the  Blue  M<^untains,  they 
were  already  covered  with  snow,  which  a  little  later 
would  have  prevented  his  return.'^^ 

The  Oregon  legislature  being  in  session  when  news  of 
tlie  Snake  River  massacre  reached  the  Willamette 
Valley,  Governor  Whiteaker,  in  a  special  message, 
suggested  that  they  memorialize  the  president,  the 
.secretary  of  war,  and  the  commander  of  the  depart- 
ment of  Oregon,  on  the  necessity  for  greater  security 
of  the  immigration  between  forts  Hall  and  Walla 
Walla.  He  reminded  them  that  they  had  just  passed 
through  an  Indian  war  from  which  the  country  was 
greatly  depressed,  and  left  it  with  the  legislature 
t(»  Jetermine  whether  the  state  should  undertake  to 
chastise  the  Indians,  or  whether  that  duty  should  be 
left  to  the  army.'*^  Actinjj  upon  the  governor's  sug- 
gestion, a  memorial  was  addressed  to  congress,  asking 
for  a  temporary  post  at  the  Grand  Rond,  with  a  com- 
mand of  twenty-hve  men ;  another  with  a  like  command 
<Hi  Buint  River;  and  a  permanent  post  at  Boise  of 
iiitt  loss  than  one  company.  These  posts  coulil  be 
su[)plied  from  Walla  Walla,  which,  since  the  opening 
of  the  country  to  settlement,  had  become  a  llourishing 
centre  of  business.*^  The  troops  at  the  two  tempo- 
lary  posts  of  Grande  Rondo  and  Burnt  River  could 

■•'  Wnxhimjlon  .Staiidnnl,  Nov.  30,  1800;  Or.  Statcuman,  Nov.  '2(!,  1800; 
Pi.illtiiul  Aiti'i  rtiiri\,'Sov.  7,  1800;  //a;/'s  .S'cm/w,  v.  l!tl;  Or.  An/iLf,  'Nov. 
'Jl,  ISOO;  Ohjmiiia  Pioneer  and  JJcmorriU,  Oct.  10,  1800;  Iiid.  Af.  pp/it, 
iMil,  I.').);  (J.  S.  II.  E.c.  Doc.  40,  vol.  viii.,  IKilli  coii^'.  211  sesa. ;  ('((;/(/.  iVohc, 
iSillMil,  part  ii.  p.  i:t'2-t-.");  ()/•.  Jour.  Scnnlv,  IS(0,  O.'i;  S/icrM  M'lMd'jn  of 
(I  i:  H'hiintker,  in  Ur.  Siaksinan,  Oct.  IJ,  1800;  S.  F.  linUetlu,  Nov.  ll 
ami  'j;!,  ISOO. 

''U>r.  Slah:ima)},  Oct.  1.5,  ISfiO. 

■^Tlie  bcuulicial  ruaults  of  tlio  military  post  at  Wiilla  Walla,  erected  hy 
onlor  of  (Juuer.il  Wool  in  IS,")?,  liiul  Ijocii  givat.  'WHiero  Imt  recently  tiio 
lioiien  of  our  countrymen  were  lileaciiiny  on  tlio  grouuil,  now  all  is  quiet  and 
our  citizens  are  living  in  peace,  cultivaiing  the  soil,  ami  tliis  year  Imve  har- 
vested thousands  of  huaiiels  of  grain,  vegetahles  are  produced  in  .'il)undanoe, 
mills  have  heeii  erected,  a  village  has  sprung  ii]),  siiops  and  stores  have  heen 
iipeued,  and  civilizjition  lias  accomplished  woudeiful  results  iiy  the  wise  policy 
01  liiu  government.'   ilemorial  to  Cong.,  Or.  Laws,  1800,  ap.  2. 


I  :  i 


476 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


return  to  Fort  Walla  Walla  to  winter,  and  remain  in 
garrison  from  November  till  May.  Another  ])ernia- 
nent  ])ost  at  or  near  the  Great  Falls  of  Snake  lliv<r, 
garrisoned  by  at  least  one  full  company,  was  asked 
for,  where  also  an  Indian  agent  should  be  stationed. 
This  post  it  was  b(jlieved  would  hold  in  check  not 
only  the  Indians,  but  lawless  white  men,  fugitives 
from  justice,  who  consorted  with  them,  and  could  be 
supplied  from  Fort  Hall. 

The  same  memorial  urged  that  treaties  should  ))e 
made  with  all  the  Indians  of  Oregon,  removing  tJieiii 
to  reservations;  and  asked  for  military  posts  at  Warm 
Springs  and  Klamath  Lake.  In  connection  with 
these  military  establishments,  the  legislature  recom- 
mended the  construction  of  a  military  road  from  the 
foot  of  the  Cascades  <»+'  the  Columbia  to  Fort  Walla 
Walla,  which  should  be  passable  when  the  Columbia 
was  obstructed  by  ice.  In  a  briefer  memorial  the 
secretary  of  war  was  informed  of  the  want  of  military 
protection  on  the  routes  of  immigration,  and  asked  to 
establish  three  posts  within  the  eastern  borders  of 
Oregon;  namely,  a  four-company  post  at  Fort  Boise; 
a  two-com[)any  post  on  the  Malheur  River,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  new  immigrant  trail  from  Boise 
to  Eugene  City;  and  a  one-company  post  somewhei-e 
on  Snake  River  between  forts  Boise  and  Walla 
Walla.  This  memorial  also  asked  that  a  military 
road  be  constructed  on  the  trail  leading  from  Eujjfene 
City  to  Boise.-* 

The  Unipqua  district  being  attached  to  the  depart- 
ment of  Calilbrnia,  it  devolved  on  General  Clarke  in 
command  to  look  after  the  southern  route  to  Oregon. 
This  he  did  by  ordering  Lieutenant  A.  Piper  of  the 
3d  artillery,  stationed  at  Fort  Umpqua,  to  take  the 

'*The  committee  that  prepared  this  memorial  evidently  was  uiKkr  the 
impression  tlmt  Steen  had  completed  a  recoimoissauce  of  the  middle  njiitc, 
which  was  not  the  case,  his  time  being  cliielly  spent,  as  Wright  expressed  it, 
in  'pursniiij;  an  iiivisilile  foe.'  Steen's  report  was  published  by  congress. 
See  Voiiij,  Ulobe,  ISiiO-l,  part  ii.,  {■iol. 


SUCCESS  OF  THE  SNAKES. 


477 


fiokl  in  southern  Oregon  with  one  company  June  27th, 
and  proceed  to  the  Klamath  Lake  country  to  quiet 
disturbances  there,  occasioned  by  the  generally  hostile 
attitude  of  the  Indians  of  northern  California,  Ne- 
vada, and  southern  Oregon  at  this  time.  Piper  en- 
camped at  a  point  seventy-five  miles  west  of  Jack- 
sonville, which  he  called  Camp  Day.  In  September 
a  train  of  thirty-two  wagons  arrived  there,  which 
had  escaped  with  no  further  molestation  than  the  loss 
of  some  stock.  Another  train  being  behind,  and  it 
becoming  known  that  a  hundred  Snake  Indians  were 
in  the  vicinity  of  Klamath  Lake,  under  a  chief  named 
Howlack,  sixty-five  men  were  sent  forward  to  their 
protection.  They  thus  escaped  evils  intended  for 
them,  but  which  fell  on  others. 

Successes  such  as  had  attended  the  hostile  move- 
ments of  the  Snake  Indians  during  the  years  of 
18o'J-G0  were  likely  to  transform  them  from  a  cow- 
ardly and  thieving  into  a  warlike  and  murderous  foe. 
The  [)roperty  obtained  by  them  in  that  time  amounted 
to  many  thousands  of  dollars,  and  being  in  arms,  am- 
munition, horses,  and  cattle,  placed  them  upon  a  war 
footing,  which  with  their  nomadic  haljits  and  knowl- 
edge of  the  country  rendered  them  no  despicable 
foe,  as  the  officers  and  troops  of  the  United  States 
Wire  yet  to  be  compelled  to  acknowledge.'"' 

''■'Ill  tlic  summer  of  1858  G.  H.  Abbott,  Indian  agent,  went  into  the  Ind- 
ian loiintry,  afterward  ku'.wn  to  militftry  men  as  tlie  Lake  District,  with  a 
view  to  niiike  treaties  witli  tlio  Sualies,  Bannockn,  Klaiiiiitha,  ami  Modocs, 
the  (inly  tribes  capable  of  making  war,  wl\o  bad  neither  been  conquered  nor 
treaU'il  \\  ith,  and  selected  a  place  for  an  acjency  nortii  of  the  Klamath  Lakes, 
ami  about  7">  miles  from  Jacksonville  in  a  north-easterly  diniction.  On  his 
rctui'ii  his  party  discovered  the  remains  of  live  men,  prospectors,  who  had 
lifeii  murdered,  as  it  was  believed,  by  Klamaths,  on  the  head  waters  of  Butto 
creek,  the  middle  fork  of  llo^ue  Kivcr.  They  were  Kli  Tedford,  whoso 
body  was  burned,  Robert  I'robit,  James  Crow,  S.  F.  t'onger,  and  James 
Broun.  /(((/.  Alf'.  Uept,  18.1!),  .S'JI-'i.  A  company  of  volunteers  at  once  went 
ill  search  of  the  murderers,  three  of  whom,  chiefly  by  the  assistance  of  the 
a;;ciit,  were  apprehended,  and  whom  tlie  Klamaths  voluntarily  killed  to  pre- 
vent trouble;  that  tribe  being  now  divsirous  of  standing  well  wii,h  t!ie  LI.  S. 
gov-rnnient.  Five  other  renegades  from  the  coiKiuerecI  tribes  of  the  Rogue 
Kiver  mountains  were  not  captured.  In  June  ISJO  a  prospecting  party  from 
Lane  county  was  attacked  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Malheur  River,  and 
two  of  the  men  wounded.  They  escaped  with  a  loss  of  :S7,000  or  §8,000 
worth  of  property.  Sac,  Union,  July  7,  ISOO.     Of  the  emigrauta  of  ISJU  who 


I 


478 


WAE  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


The  continual  search  for  gold  which  had  been  going 
on  in  the  Oregon  territory  both  before  and  after  its  di- 
vision^ was  being  actively  prosecuted  at  this  time.  An 
acquaintance  with  the  precious  metal  in  its  native 
state  having  been  acquired  by  the  Oregon  miners  in 
California  in  1848-9,  reminded  some  of  them  that 
persons  wlio  had  taken  the  Meek  cut-off  in  1845, 
while  passing  through  the  Malheur  country  had  pickid 
up  an  unfamiliar  metal,  which  they  had  hammered  out 
on  a  wagon-tire,  and  tossed  into  a  tool-chest,  but  which 
was  afterward  lost.  That  metal  they  were  now  confi- 
dent was  gold, and  men  racked  their  brains  to  ren.eniher 
the  identical  spot  where  it  was  found;  even  going  on 
an  expedition  to  the  Malheur  in  1849  to  look  for  it, 
but  without  success. 

Partial  discoveries  in  many  parts  of  the  country 

took  tlie  southern  route  into  the  Klamath  Lake  valley,  one  small  train  was 
so  completely  cut  o(F  that  tlieir  fate  might  never  have  been  (liscovevcd  Imt 
for  the  iutormation  furnished  by  a  Klamath  Indian,  who  related  the  alliiir  to 
Abbolt.  The  men  and  women  were  all  killed  at  tiie  moment  of  attack,  and 
the  children,  reserved  for  slavery,  were  removed  with  their  plunder  to  the 
island  in  Tule  Lake,  long  famous  as  the  refuge  of  the  murderous  iMoclocs. 
A  few  days  later,  seeing  other  emigrant  trains  passing,  the  Indians  hecaiiie 
apprehensive  and  killed  tlieir  captives.  Abbott  made  every  effort  to  ham 
something  more  detinite,  but  without  success.  By  80!no  of  tho  Moilocs  it 
was  denied;  by  others  the  crime  was  charged  upon  the  Pit  River  Iii'Hans, 
and  the  actual  criminals  were  never  brouglit  to  light.  In  the  Bumiuer  of 
18.18,  also,  that  worthy  Oregon  pioneer,  Felix  Scott,  and  seven  other;)  iiad  lietii 
cut  oft"l)y  the  Modocs,  and  a  la"ge  amount  of  property  captured  or  destinyid. 
Drew  made  a  report  on  the  ^lodocs,  in  Iiid.  Aff.  licpt,  18t).'<,  5!),  wluie  lie 
enumerates  1  \'l  victims  of  their  hostility  since  1852,  and  estimates  the  aiiumiit; 
of  property  takcni  at  not  less  than  S;j()O,000. 

'"As  early  as  July  18.50  two  expeditious  set  out  to  explore  for  gold  on  tlio 
Spokane  and  Yakima  rivers,  .S'.  F.  Pac.  News,  July  "24  and  Oct.  10,  I.S.M); 
but  it  was  not  found  in  quantities  sulHcient  to  cause  any  excitement.  M.  llu 
Saint-Amant,  an  envoy  of  tiie  French  government,  travelling  in  Oregim  in 
1851,  remarked,  page  .S05  of  his  book,  that  without  doubt  gold  existcil  in  tlic 
Yakima  country,  an<l  added  that  tho  Indians  daily  found  nuggets  of  tlu' pre- 
cious metal.  He  gave  the  same  account  of  tho  Spokane  country,  but  I  dmbt 
if  his  knowledge  was  gained  from  any  more  reliable  source  than  rumor.  Tliurc 
were  similar  reports  of  the  I'end  d'Oreille  country  in  18o2.  Zabri^kic^  Lmul 
Lain,  8'2'.i.  In  ISoli  Captain  George  B.  McClelLai,  then  connected  with  the 
Pacitic  railroad  survey,  found  traces  of  gold  at  the  head-waters  of  tiie  Viik- 
ima  River.  Slereiis'  Nurr.,  in  Pac.  R.  /?.  h'ept,  xii.  140.  In  l8.)4  8ome  ininin;; 
was  done  on  that  river  and  also  on  the  Wenatchie.  Ur.  Stali-sman,  June  'JO, 
1854;  S.  F.  Al/a,  Juno  l.S,  18.54;  and  prospecting  was  begun  on  Burnt  Itivir 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year.  Ebfifs  Journal,  MS.,  ii.  30,  50,  ami  also 
in  tho  vicinity  of  The  Dalles.  8.  F.  .4 /^n,  Sept.  30,  18.54.  In  1855  tlicie 
were  discoveries  near  Colville,  the  rush  to  which  place  was  interrupted  liy  (lio 
Indian  war.  In  1857-8  followed  tho  discoveries  ia  British  Columbia,  and 
the  Frazer  River  excitement. 


SEARCHING  FOR  GOLD. 


479 


north  of  the  Columbia  again  in  1854  induced  a  fresh 
star'.h  for  the  'lost  diggings,' as  the  forgotten  locality 
of  llie  gold  find  in  1845  was  called,  which  was  as  un- 
successi'ul  as  the  previous  ore.  Such  was  the  faith, 
however,  of  those  who  had  handled  the  stray  nugget, 
that  parties  resumed  the  search  for  the  lost  diggings, 
wliile  yet  the  Indians  in  all  the  eastern  territory  were 
hostile,  and  mining  was  forbidden  by  the  military  au- 
tliorities.-^  The  search  was  stimulated  by  Wallen's 
report  of  his  road  expedition  down  the  Malheur  in 
ISo'J,  gold  being  found  on  that  stream;  and  in  18G0 
thore  was  formed  in  Lane  county  the  company  before 
uuiitioned,  which  was  attacked  by  the  Snakes,''^'^  and 
rol)l)od  of  several  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  horses 
and  supjilies.  In  August  1861  still  another  company 
was  organized  to  prosecute  the  search,  but  failed  like 
the  others;  and  breaking  up,  scattered  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,  a  small  number  remaining  to  pros- 
pect on  the  John  Day  and  Powder  rivers,  where  some- 
tiuie  in  the  autunm  good  diggings  were  discovered. 


29 


^'  In  August  1857  James  McBride,  George  L.  Wootls,  Perry  McCullock, 
Henry  Moore,  and  three  others,  Or.  Argim,  Aug.  8,  lSo7,  left  The  Dalles,  in- 
tcmlin^;  to  go  to  the  Malheur,  but  were  driven  hack  l)y  the  Snake  Indiana,  and 
flc'iiiig  westward,  crossed  the  Cascade  "  ountains  near  the  triple  peaks  of  the 
Thrc'(!  .Sisters,  emerging  into  the  Willamette  Valley  in  a  famishing  condition. 
Vl-tarK  Tnul-makin<)  in  Oregon,  in  Overlind  Monthly.  In  August  1838  Mc- 
Briilo  organized  a  second  expedition,  consisting  of  2G  men,  who  after  a  month's 
swirt'h  returned  disappointed.  Or.  Ar(/us,  !<ept.  18,  l8o8.  Other  attempts 
followed,  but  the  exact  locality  of  the  lost  diggings  was  never  lixed. 

-"  This  party  was  led  by  Henry  Martin,  who  organized  another  company 
the  fi)llo\ving  year. 

-■"There  were  three  companies  exploring  in  eastern  Oregon  in  1801;  the 
one  from  Marion  county  is  the  one  above  referred  to,  seven  men  remaining 
after  tlic  departure  of  the  principal  part  of  the  expedition.  It  appears  th;it 
J.  L.  Adams  was  the  actual  discoverer  of  the  John  Day  diggings,  and  one 
Marshall  of  the  Powder  River  mines.  The  other  companies  were  from  Clack- 
amas and  Lane,  and  each  embraced  about  CO  men.  The  Lane  company  proa- 
pcetcil  the  Malheur  unsuccessfully.  In  Owen'n  D'lrertorij  the  discovery  of 
the  .John  Day  mines  is  incorrectly  attributed  to  Californians.  Porllaial  A'l- 
rc )•//•■•■» ;•,  ill  Olynipia  Herald,  Nov.  7,  1801;  Portland  Om/owian,  Nov.  7,  18(il; 
Sac.  Uiiiou,  Nov.  16,  1801;  N.  Y.  Engineering  and  Mininij  Jonrnal,  in  Port- 
I'liil  I).  Ihrald,  March  22,  1871;  i'a'l.  Farmer,  Feb.  27,  I80:{.  Previous  to 
the  announcement  of  the  discoveries  by  the  Oregon  prospcctoi-s,  E.  D.  Pierce 
returned  to  Walla  Walla  from  an  expedition  of  eight  weeks  in  extent,  per- 
foriiiL'd  \\\i\\  a  party  of  20  through  the  country  on  the  west  side  of  Snake 
Hivir,  taking  in  the  Malheur,  Burnt,  Powder,  and  Grande  Rondo  rivers.  He 
reported  liuding  an  extensive  gold-field  on  these  streams,  with  room  forthou- 
tauds  of  miners,  who  could  niako  from  three  to  fifteen  dollars  a  day  each. 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


Two  men  working  half  a  day  on  Powder  Rivor  cleaned 
up  two  and  a  half  pounds  of  gold-dust.  One  eluiiii 
yielded  $(J,000  in  four  days;  and  onepanof  earth  con- 
tained $150.  These  stories  created  the  liveliest  inter- 
est in  every  part  of  Oregon,  and  led  to  an  ininiediatu 
rush  to  the  new  gold-fields,  though  it  was  already 
November  when  the  discovery  was  made  known. 

Taken  in  connection  with  the  discoveries  in  the 
Nez  Perce  country,  which  preceded  them  by  about  a 
year  and  a  half,  these  events  proved  that  gold-lield.s 
extended  from  the  southern  boundary  of  Oregon  to 
the  British  possessions.  Already  the  migration  to 
the  Nez  Perce,  Oro  Fino,  and  Salmon  River  mines 
had  caused  a  great  improvement  in  the  countr}-.  It 
had  excited  a  rapid  growth  in  Portland  antl  The 
Dalles,^^  and  caused  the  organization  of  the  Oroiron 
Steam  Navigation  Company,^^  which  in  18G1  had 
steamboats  carrying  freight  three  times  a  week  to 

Pierce  brought  specimens  of  silver-bearing  rocks  to  be  assayed.  About  fi.irty 
persons  in  Oct.  Iiad  taken  claims  in  the  Grande  Rondo  Valley,  prepaiud  to 
vintcr  there.  Portland  Oreijonian,  Aug.  27,  18G1;  Or.  Sfulesmaii,  0(jt.  '2i, 
I80I;  /J.  /'.  Bulldln,  Oct.  24,  1801;  S(ic.  Union,  Nov.  4  and  l(i,  1801. 

'''Wasco  county  was  assessed  in  1803  §1,500,000,  a  gain  of  half  a  niilliun 
since  1802,  notwithstanding  heavy  losses  by  flood  aad  snow.  (Jr.  Anini, 
Sept.  28,  1803. 

^'  The  James  P.  Flint,  a  small  iron  propeller,  built  in  the  east,  was  the 
first  steamboat  on  the  Columbia  above  the  Cascades.  She  was  haukd  up 
o\er  tlie  rapids  in  1852  to  run  to  The  Dalles,  for  the  Bradford  biotlais, 
Daniel  and  Putnam.  The  Yakima  war  of  1855-0  gave  the  first  real  im- 
pulse to  steamboating  on  the  Columbia  above  the  Willamette.  Tliu  liist 
steamer  built  to  run  to  the  Cascades  was  the  Belle,  owned  by  J.  C.  Ainswdith 
&  Co.,  the  next  the  Fmhion,  owned  by  J.  O.  Van  Bergen.  J.  S.  Ruckle  isuou 
after  l)uilt  the  Mountain  Buck.  Others  rapidly  followed.  In  1850  liotwccn 
the  Ca-sicades  and  The  Dalles  there  were  the  Mary  and  the  Woho,  built  by 
the  Bnidtords.  In  1857  there  was  r,o  ^teamboau  above  The  Dalles,  and  ("ap- 
tain  Cram  of  the  army  confidently  declared  there  never  could  bo.  1.  .1. 
Steverj  contradicted  this  view,  and  a  coirespondenco  ensued.  Oljmidd  Her- 
ald, Dec.  24,  1858.  In  1858  U.  R.  Thompson  built  a  steamboat  abov>;  llie 
Cascades,  called  The  Venture  which  getting  into  the  cunont  was  carried  (niT 
t'.ie  falls.  She  was  repair  1,  named  the  Umatilla,  and  taken  to  Fiasrr 
kiver.  In  the  autumn  and  inter  of  1858-9,  R.  R.  TJiompsou  and  Lawnnue 
\V.  Coe  built  the  Colonel  \V  ht  above  The  Dalles,  which  in  spite  of  t'l  aui's 
prognostics  ran  to  Fort  Wal  Valla,  to  Priest's  Rapids,  and  up  Snake  Ki.cr. 
1  ho  JJiinsaloe  was  also  put  oi  le  river  between  the  Cascades  and  The  D.illi'S 
in  1858,  and  below  the  Case*  .^s  the  Carrie  A.  Ladd.  There  was  at  tliis 
time  a  horse-railroad  at  the  pt  ige  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cascades,  owned 
by  Bradford  &  Co.,  built  in  18  .  In  1858  J.  0.  Van  Bergen  purchased  the 
right  of  way  on  the  south  sidt  ')f  the  Cascades,  and  began  a  tramway.  like 
that  on  the  north  side,  but  uii  d  in  connection  with  Lia  steamers.     Sub:>u- 


STEAMERS  ON  THE  COLUMBIA. 


481 


The  Dalles  for  the  country  beyond.  Walla  Walla 
had  unnvn  to  be  a  thriving  town  and  an  outfitting 
station  for  miners,  where  horses,  cattle,  saddles,  har- 


(|iitiitly  J.  S.  Ruckle  and  Henry  Olmstcad  purchased  it  to  complete  their 
lino  to  I'lio  Dulles.  At  this  stage  of  progress  a  company  wua  formed  by 
Aiiisworth,  Ruckle,  and  Bradford  &  Co.,  their  common  property  ))eing  the 
Carrir  A.  Ladd,  Senorita,  Belle,  Mountain  Buck,  another  small  steamer  run- 
iiiiiL;  to  The  Dalles,  and  five  miles  of  horse-ruilroad  on  the  north  side  of  the 
riviT.  Tlic  Company  styled  itself  the  Union  Transportation  Company,  and 
8(]oii  purchased  the  liidrpendenre  and  Waxco,  owned  by  Alexander  Ankeny, 
uuJ  tlio  JdiiieH  P.  Flint  and  Fashion,  owned  by  J.  O.  Van  Bergen. 

As  there  was  no  law  in  Oregon  at  this  time  under  which  corporations 
could  1)0  established,  the  above-named  company  obtained  from  the  legislature 
ol  \Va.--liingtou  an  act  incorporating  it  under  the  name  of  the  Oregon  iSteam 
Navi;,'ation  Company.  When  the  Oregon  legislature  passed  a  general  incor- 
puratiou  act  granting  the  same  privileges  enjoyed  under  the  Washington  law, 
tiio  cimipaiiy  was  incorporated  under  it,  and  paid  taxes  in  Oregon.  In  1801 
tlio  railroad  portage  on  the  south  side  of  the  Cascades  was  completed,  and  tlio 
fulliiwiug  year  the  O.  S.  N.  Co.  purchased  it,  layini^  down  iron  rails  and  put- 
ting ou  a  locomotive  built  at  the  Vulcan  founds. ^  of  S.  F.  The  first  train 
run  over  the  road  was  on  April  20,  1803,  and  the  same  day  the  railroad  port- 
ayo  from  The  Dalles  to  Celuo  was  opened.  Meantime  the  O.  S.  N.  Co. 
liiiil  loiisolidated  with  Thompson  and  Coe  above  The  Dalles  in  1801,  and  now 
liccanie  a  powerful  monopoly,  controlling  the  navigation  of  the  Columbia 
al)u\o  the  Willamette.  Tliiiir  charges  for  passage  and  freight  were  always 
■dA  liigli  us  they  would  stand,  tliis  lieing  the  principle  on  which  charges  were 
regulated,  rather  than  the  cost  of  transportation. 

In  1 80;J  the  People's  Transportation  Company  built  the  E.  D.  Baker  to 
run  to  the  Cascades;  another,  the  Irin,  botweeu  the  Cascades  and  The  Dalles; 
and  u  third,  the  Cayui^e,  above  The  Dulles.  They  lost  the  contract  for  carry- 
ing tlio  g')vcrnmcnt  freight,  and  the  O.  S.  N.  Co.  so  reduced  their  rates  as  to 
lii:i\o  the  opposition  .small  profits  in  competition.  A  compromise  was  effected 
liy  purchasing  the  property  of  the  people's  line  above  the  Cascades,  paying 
fur  tlic  ( 'ajitine  and  Irix  in  three  boats  I'unniiig  between  Portland  and  Oregon 
City,  and  .'i<10,000;  the  O.  S.  N.  Co.  to  have  the  exclusive  navigation  of  the 
Cuhinil)ia  and  the  people's  li  le  to  confine  their  business  to  the  Willamette, 
alwvi'  Portland.  In  1805  all  the  boats  on  the  lower  Columbia  wero  purchased. 
In  1n7!)  tiie  O.  S.  N.  Co.  sold  its  interests,  whicii  had  greatly  multiplied  and 
incioasod,  to  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company,  a  corporation 
wliioh  included  river,  ocean,  and  railroad  transportation,  and  which  repre- 
sented many  millions  of  capital.  Ainswortb  formerly  commanded  a  Missis- 
sippi River  steamboat.  Ruckle  came  to  Oregon  in  1855,  and  became  captain 
of  Van  Bergen's  boat,  the  Fashion.  Then  he  built  a  boat  for  himself,  the 
Moiailtdii  Buck,  and  then  the  railroad  portage.  He  was  a  successful  projector, 
ami  made  money  in  various  ways.  In  IS0+-5  he  assisted  George  Thomas  and 
others  to  construct  a  stage  road  over  the  Bine  Mountains;  and  also  engageii 
in  (|uartz  mining,  developing  the  famous  Rockfellow  lode  between  Powder 
and  Uurnt  rivers,  which  was  later  the  Virtue  mine.  S.  G.  Reed  came  from 
XIassachusetts  to  Oregon  about  1851.  Ho  was  keeping  a  small  store  at  .'iai- 
nier  in  18o.%  but  soou  removed  to  Portland,  where  he  became  a  member  of 
the  0.  S.  N.  Co.  in  a  few  years.  He  has  given  much  attention  to  the  raist 
ing  of  fine-blooded  stock  on  his  faim  ii.  Washington  county.  Parker's  Puget 
Sound,  MS.,  1;  Dalles  Liland  Empire,  Dec.  '28,  1878.  John  H.  Wolf  com- 
mandc(l  The  Cascades;  John  Babbage  tho  Julia  and  the  Emma  Hat/ward; 
J.  McNulty  the  llassaloe  and  Mountain  Queen.  Thomas  J.  Stump  could  i-un 
The  Dalles  and  the  Cascades  at  a  certain  stage  of  water  with  a  steamboat. 
Other  steamboat  men  were  Samuel  D.  Holmes,  Sebastian  Miller.  Ijeonard 
Hist.  Ob.,  VoIn  U.    31 


482 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


f|ir 


ness,  clothing,  and  provisions  were  required  in  larore 
quantities  and  sold  at  high  prices.  Lewiston  had 
also  sprung  up  at  the  junction  of  the  Clearwater  and 
Snake  rivers,  besides  several  mining  towns  in  the  gold- 
fields  to  the  east.  Nor  were  mining  and  cattle-rais- 
ing the  only  industries  to  which  eastern  Oregon  and 
Washington  proved  to  be  adapted.  Contrary  to  the 
generally  received  notion  of  the  nature  of  the  soil  of 
these  grassy  plains,  the  ground,  wherever  it  was  culti- 
vated, raised  abundant  crops,  and  agriculture  became 
at  once  a  prominent  and  remunerative  occupation  of 
the  settlers,  who  found  in  the  mines  a  ready  market. 
But  down  to  the  close  of  1861,  when  the  John  Day 
and  Powder  River  mines  were  discovered,  the  bene- 
fits of  the  great  improvements  which  I  have  men- 
tioned had  accrued  chiefly  to  Washington,  although 
founded  \.  i:h  the  money  of  Oregonians,  a  state  of 
things  which  did  not  fail  to  call  forth  invidious  com- 
ment by  the  press  of  Oregon.  But  now  it  was  anti- 
cipated that  the  state  was  to  reap  a  golden  harvest 
from  her  own  soil,  and  preparations  were  made  in 
every  part  of  the  Pacific  coast  for  a  grand  movement 
in  the  spring  toward  the  new  land  of  promise. 

Before  the  vivid  anticipations  of  the  gold-hunters 
could  be  realized  a  new  form  of  calamity  had  come. 

White,  W.  P,  Gray,  Ephraim  Baughman  of  the  E.  D.  Baker  and  later  of 
tlie  O.  S.  N.  Co.'s  boats  above  The  Dalles;  Josiah  Myrick  of  the  Wilmn  0. 
Hunt  and  other  boats;  James  Strang  of  the  Rescue  and  Wenat;  Joseph  Kel- 
logg of  the  JirHcue  and  the  Kellong;  William  Smith  of  the  Wenat;  William 
Turnbnll  of  the  Fnntiie  Troup;  Richard  Hobson  of  the  Jone  McNear;  James 
M,  Oilman  and  Sherwood  of  the  Annie  Stewart;  Gray,  Felton,  and  Holman, 
V  hose  names  are  associated  with  the  ante-railroad  days  of  transportation  in 
Oregon.  See  McCrnrken's  Early Steamboating,  MS.;  Deady's  Hist,  Or.,  MS.; 
JJeady'a  Scrap-book;  Or.  Argun,  Feb.  22,  1862;  Portland  Oregonian,  Deo.  '2\'i, 
1804,  and  July  31,  1865;  Or.  Statexman,  April  7,  1802;  Olympia  Pioneer  ami 
Democrat,  Sept.  10,  1858;  Olympia  Herald,  Sept.  10,  1858;  Land  Off.  Rept, 
1807,  09;  U.  S.  Sec.  War  Kept,  li.  509-11,  40th  cong.  2d  seas.;  Con;/.  (''/(//», 
180.Vfl,  pt  V.  ap.  317,  39th  cong.  Ist  sess.;  Or.  City  Enterprine,  Dec.  '2!l,  iSdli; 
Dalle»  Mountaineer,  Jan.  19,  IHQQ;  Punling's  Acrons  America,  231,  2'i();  S.  /'. 
Bullitin,  July  20,  1858;  8.  F.  Alta,  March  4,  1862;  Or.  Laws,  1800,  ap. '.'i 
Census,  8th,  331;  Ford's  Road-makers,  MS.,  31;  Or.  Reports,  iii.  109-70;  Mc- 
CormirH-'a  Portland  Directory,  1872,  30-1;  Or.  Deutsch  Z-Uung,  June  21, 18711; 
Portland  Standard,  July  4,  1870;  Astorian,  July  11,  1879;  Portland  On'- 
goninn,  April  20  and  June  15,  1878;  Richardson's  Missisi.,  401;  Owen'a  Di- 
rectory, 1866,  141;  Bowles'  Northwest,  482-3. 


A  DISASTROUS  FLOOD. 

Toward  the  last  of  November  a  deluge  of  rain  began, 
which,  being  protracted  for  several  days,  inundated 
all  the  valleys  west  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade 
ranges,  from  southern  California  to  northern  Wash- 
ington, destroying  the  accumulations  of  years  of  indus- 
try. No  flood  approaching  it  in  volume  had  been 
witnessed  since  the  winter  of  1844.  All  over  the 
Willamette  the  country  was  covered  with  the  wreck- 
age of  houses,  barns,  bridges,  and  fencing;  while  cattle, 
small  stock,  storehouses  of  grain,  mills,  and  other 
property  were  washed  away.  A  number  of  lives 
were  lost,  and  many  imperilled.  In  the  streets  of 
Salem  the  river  ran  in  a  current  four  feet  deep  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  breadth.  At  Oregon  City  all  the 
mills,  the  breakwater,  and  hoisting  works  of  the  Mill- 
ing and  Transportation  Company,  the  foundery,  the 
Oregon  Hotel,  and  many  more  structures  were 
destroyed  and  carried  away.  Linn  City  was  swept 
clean  of  buildings,  and  Canemah  laid  waste.  Cham- 
poeg  had  no  houses  left;  and  so  on  up  the  river,  every 
where.**  The  Umpqua  River  rose  until  it  carried 
away  the  whole  of  lower  Scottsburg,  with  all  the  mills 
and  improvements  on  the  main  river,  and  the  rains 
destroyed  the  military  road  on  which  had  been 
expended  fifty  thousand  dollars.^  The  weather  con- 
tinued stormy,  and  toward  christmas  the  rain  turned 
to  snow,  the  cold  b.jing  unusual.  On  the  13th  of 
January  there  had  been  no  overland  mail  from  Cali- 
fornia for  more  than  six  weeks,  the  Columbia  was 
blocked  with  ice,  which  came  down  from  its  upper 
branches,  and  no  steamers  could  reach  Portland  from 
the  ocean,  while  there  was  no  communication  by  land 
or  water  with  eastern  Oregon  and  Washington;  which 
state  of  things  lasted  until  the  20th,  when  the  ice  in 
the  Willamette  and  elsewhere  began  breaking  up,  and 
the  cold  relaxed. 


"  In  the  followins  Bninmer  the  first  eaw-mill  vru  erected  at  Gardiner. 
" Or.  8tcUeaman,Dm.  9  and  10,  1801.    The  rainfall  from  October  to 
Murch  wof  ;i.QO  inoheih  Id.,  May  10, 1802. 


484 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


Such  a  season  as  this  coming  upon  miners  and 
travellers  in  the  sparsely  settled  upper  country  was 
sure  to  occasion  disaster.  It  strewed  the  plains  with 
dead  men,  whose  remains  were  washed  down  by  the 
next  summer's  flood,  and  destroyed  as  many  as  twonty- 
tive  thousand  cattle.  A  herder  on  the  Tucainiou 
froze  to  death  Vvith  all  the  animals  in  his  ciiar^r,;. 
Travellers  lay  down  by  the  wayside  and  slept  tlie 
sleep  that  is  dreamless.  A  sad  tale  is  told  of  the  \m- 
neers  of  the  John  Day  mines,  who  were  wintering  at 
the  base  of  the  Blue  mountains  to  be  ready  for  tho 
opening  of  spring,  many  of  whom  were  murdered  ami 
their  bodies  eaten  by  the  Snakes.^ 

The  flood  and  cold  of  winter  were  followed  in  IMay 
by  another  flood,  caused  by  the  rapid  melting  of  tho 
large  body  of  snow  in  the  upper  country.  The  water 
rose  at  The  Dalles  several  feet  over  the  princi])al 
streets,  and  the  back-water  from  the  Columbia  over- 
flowed the  lower  portion  of  Portland.  On  the  ]  4th 
of  June  the  river  was  twenty-eight  feet  above  low- 
water  mark.  The  damages  sustained  along  tho  CV)- 
lumbia  were  estimated  at  more  than  a  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  although  the  Columbia  Valley  was  almost 
in  its  wild  state.  Added  to  the  losses  of  the  winter, 
the  whole  country  had  sustained  great  injury.  On 
the  other  hand,  there  was  a  prospect  of  rai)idly  re- 
covering from  the  natural  depression.  The  John  J  )ay 
mines  were  said  by  old  California  miners  to  be  tho 
richest  yet  discovered.  This  does  not  seem  to  have 
proved  true  as  compared  with  Salmon  River;  hut 
they  were  undoubtedly  rich.  By  the  1st  of  July 
there  were  nearly  a  thousand  persons  mining  and 
trading  on  tho  head  waters  of  this  river.  New  discov- 
eries were  made  on  Granite  Creek,  the  north  branch 
of  the  North  Fork  of  John  Day,  later  in  the  season, 


•♦  Of  the  perilous  and  fatal  adventurei  of  a  party  of  express  tnrssfnccrs 
and  travellers  in  this  region,  John  D.  James,  J.  K.  Jaffger,  Moody,  CSiiy,  Nilio. 
Jofil'ies,  Wilson,  Bolton,  and  others,  also  of  a  party  irauud  for  the  •lohii  Day 
River  mines,  full  details  are  given  iti  CcU\for«ki  iMtr  Pocula,  this  surius. 


>^x 


JOHN  DAY  AND  POWDER  RIVER. 


485 


which  yielded  from  twenty  to  fifty  dollars  a  day.  Nor 
were  the  mines  the  sole  attraction  of  this  region :  the 
country  itself  was  eagerly  seized  upon ;  almost  every 
quarter-section  of  land  along  the  streams  was  claimed 
and  liad  a  cabin  erected  upon  it,^  with  every  prepara- 
tion for  a  permanent  residence. 

About  a  dozen  men  wintered  in  the  Powder  River 
Valloy,  not  suffering  cold  or  annoyed  by  Indians. 
This  valley  was  found  to  contain  a  large  amount  of 
fertile  land  capable  of  sustaining  a  large  population. 
It  was  bounded  by  a  high  range  of  granite  mountains, 
rising  precipitously  from  the  western  edge  of  the 
basin,  while  on  the  north  and  south  it  was  shut  in 
by  high  rolling  hills  covered  with  nutritious  grass. 
To  the  east  rose  a  lower  range  of  the  same  rolling 
hills,  beyond  which  towered  another  granite  ridge 
similar  to  that  on  the  west.  The  river  received  its 
numerous  tributaries,  rising  in  the  south  and  west, 
and  united  them  in  one  on  the  north-east  side  of 
the  valley,  thus  furnishing  an  abundance  of  water- 
courses throughout. 

In  this  charming  locality,  where  a  little  handful  of 
minors  hibernated  for  several  months,  cut  off  from  all 
tl.o  world,  in  less  than  four  months  after  the  snow 
bloekade  was  raised  a  thriving  town  had  sprung  up 
and  a  new  county  was  organized,  a  hundred  votes 
being  cast  at  the  June  election,  and  the  returns 
being  made  to  the  secretary  of  state  as  "the  vote 
of  Haker  county.""''  The  Grand  Kond  Valley  had 
always  been  the  admiration  of  travellers.     A  por- 


'•  Klm/a  Jmrnal,  MS.,  viii.  237-8. 

"  "Tlicy  iiHsunicii  to  organize,' said  the  (S<a<e(inian  of  June  23,  1862,  'iind 
naiiicil  tliu  ix't'cincts  Union  uiid  Auburn,  iviid  elected  ollieors.  One  iirccimt 
iiiado  icturus  |)i'oi)crly  from  Wasco  county.'  The  li'giNliitivi!  iissenibly  in  tlio 
iiilliiwin^'  Seiiti'iiiber  organized  tlio  county  of  IJiiker  legally  by  act.  Sydney 
Aliili  was  tlie  lirst  justice  tf  the  jieaco.  Ho  died  in  Miiy  18(»3,  being  over 
fiO  jc.ivs  of  age.  He  was  fonnerly  from  Springlit'ld,  111.,  but  muro  I'ccently 
fnuM  Miiiysv  ille,  Cal.  Purlltind  Vrnjoniau,  May 'J8,  ISO.'t.  Ai  the  lirst  nui- 
iiii'ipid  elcctiiin  of  Auburn  Jacob  Norcrosa  was  elei'ted  mayor;  0.  .M.  I'owo 
iciiiiilc  1 ;  ,1,  .1.  ]>ooiey  trea-surerj  A.  (J.  Lowring,  l>.  A.  Joliniton,  J  .  LuveU, 
Ij.  M.  llilknap,  J,  H.  Totman,  aldermen.  Or.  Stutvstnan,  Nov.  17,  180-. 
tinutilla  county  wus  also  ostublished  in  1802. 


486 


WAR  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


tion  of  the  immigration  of  1843  had  desired  to  settle 
here,  but  was  prevented  by  its  distance  froin  a 
base  of  supplies.  Every  subsequent  immigration 
had  looked  upon  it  with  envying  eyes,  but  had 
been  deterred  by  various  circumstances  from  set- 
tling in  it.  It  was  the  discovery  of  gold,  after  all, 
which  made  it  practicable  to  inhabit  it.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1861-2  a  mill  site  had  been  selected,  and  there 
were  five  log  houses  erected  all  at  one  point  for 
greater  secuiuty  from  the  incursions  of  the  Snake 
Indians,  and  the  embryo  city  was  called  La  Grande. 
It  had  at  this  date  twenty  inhabitants,  ten  of  whom 
were  men.  It  grew  rapidly  for  three  or  four  years, 
being  incorported  in  1864,'^  and  after  the  first  flush  of 
the  mining  fever,  settled  down  to  steady  if  slow  ad- 
vancement. 

The  pioneers  of  Grand  Rond  suffered  none  of  those 
hardships  from  severe  weather  experienced  in  the  John 
Day  region  or  at  Walla  Walla.  Only  eighteen  inches 
of  snow  fell  in  January,  which  disappeared  in  a  few 
days,  leaving  the  meadows  green  for  their  cattle  to 
graze  on.  La  Grande  had  another  advantage :  u.  was 
on  the  immigrant  road,  which  gave  it  communication 
with  the  Columbia.  Another  road  was  being  opened 
eastward  fifty  miles  to  the  Snake  River,  on  a  direct 
course  to  the  Salmon  River  mines;  and  a  road  was 
also  opened  in  the  previous  November  from  the  west- 
ern foot  of  the  Blue  Mou  itains  to  the  Grande  Roiide 
Valley,  which  was  to  be  extended  to  the  Powder 
River  Valley.** 

"  Owens'  Directory,  1865,  140;  Or.  Jour.  House,  1864,  83.  The  Fiviuh 
Toya^ruurs  Boiiiotiiiioa  called  tho  Grand  Uuiid,  La  (rraiulo  Vulloo,  itml  tliu 
Ainuricaii  Bottlers  Bubsequeiitly  a(l<i))tP'l  tho  ailjootivo  h8  a  naiiio  for  tliiir 
town,  instead  of  tho  longer  phrase  Ville  de  la  Grande  Vallde,  which  was 
meant. 

"Tho  last  rond  mentioned  was  one  stipulated  for  in  the  treaty  of  lS,u 
Mith  tho  Cayuso  and  Umatilla  Indians,  which  should  be  'located  and  opciRMl 
from  Powder  River  or  Grand  Kond  to  tho  westorn  base  of  tlio  Dhiu  Moun- 
tains, south  of  tho  southern  limits  of  tho  reservations. '  Tho  explnratlDna 
wuro  mado  under  tiie  direction  of  H.  G.  Thornton,  by  order  of  Wm  II.  Uectiir. 
Tliu  distunuo  by  this  road  from  tho  buso  to  the  summit  is  sixtitcii  luiles; 
from  tho  summit  to  Grand  lloud  River,  eighteen  miles;  and  down  the  rivir 
to  tho  old  emigrant  road,  twulvo  miles.     It  lirst  touched  the  Grand  Komi 


THE  GRAND  ROND 


4S7 


Such  was  the  magical  growth  of  a  country  four 
hundred  miles  from  the  seaboard,  and  but  recently 
ojieiied  to  settlement.  In  twenty  years  it  had  be- 
come a  rich  and  populous  agricultural  region,  holding 
its  mining  resources  as  secondary  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil. 


River  about  midway  between  Grand  Rond  and  Powder  River  valley,  and 
tiiiiieil  south  to  the  latter  from  this  point.  Ind.  Aff.  Bept,  1861,  154;  Port- 
laud  Oregouian,  Feb.  6,  18H2. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 

1861-1865. 

Appropriation  Asked  for — General  Wright — Six  Companies  Raised- 
Attitude  TOWARD  Secessionists — First  Oregon  Cavalry— Kxpe- 
DiTioNs  OP  Maory,  Drake,  and  Curry — Fort  Bois^  Estahlisiikd— 
Reoonnoissancb  of  Drew — ^Treaty  with  the  Klamaths  and  J*Io- 
Docs — Action  of  the  Legislature — First  Infantry  Oregon  Vo'.- 

VNTEERS. 

Sometime  during  the  autumn  or  winter  of  1860  tho 
military  department  of  Oregon  was  merged  in  t.xiit 
of  the  Pacific,  Brigadier-general  E.  V.  Sumner  com- 
manding; Colonel  Wright  retaining  his  position  of 
commander  of  the  district  of  Oregon  and  Washington. 
The  regular  force  in  the  country  being  much  reduced 
by  the  drafts  made  upon  it  to  increase  the  army  in 
the  east/  Wright  apologized  for  the  abandoment  of 
the  country  by  troops  at  a  time  when  In''.ian  wars 
and  disunion  intrigue  made  them  seem  indispensable, 
but  declared  that  every  minor  consideration  must  give 
way  to  the  preservation  of  the  union.'' 

Fearing  lest  the  emigrant  route  might  be  left  un- 
protected, a  call  was  made  by  the  people  of  Walla 

'  There  were  only  about  700  men  and  19  commissioned  officers  left  in  tlio 
whole  of  Oregon  and  Washington  in  ISCl.  Tho  garrisons  h-ft  were  1 1 1  iiu  n 
under  Captain  H.  M.  Black  at  Vancouver;  110  men  under  M:vj.  LugeiilKtl at 
Colville;  1'27  men  under  Maj.  Stcen  at  Walla  Walla;  41  men  under  ('apt. 
Van  Voast  at  Cascades;  43  men  under  Capt.  F.  T,  Dent  at  Hoskins;  1 10  iiieu 
at  tho  two  posts  of  Steilacoom  and  Camp  Picket;  and  fl4  men  under  hiciit- 
colonel  Buclinnan  at  Tho  Dalles.  U.  S,  Sni.  Doc,  1,  vol.  ii.  '\'2,  IlTth  inn,'. 
2tl  SCS8.  Even  tho  revenue  cutter  Jo  Lane  belonging  to  Astoria  was  ordi'iuil 
to  New  York.   Or.  Anjim,  .Juno  12!),  1801. 

*  Seo  letter  in  Or.  Statesman,  July  1,  1861. 

(488) 


-ma 


INDIAN  TROUBLES. 


489 


eft  in  tlio 

II 1  llirll 
lor  (";ipt. 

)1()|IKH 

er  ]<ii'\it- 

'ith  I'liiii,'. 

ordi'iuJ 


Walla  Valley  to  form  a  company  to  guard  the  immi- 
gration, a  plan  which  was  abandoned  on  learning  that 
congress  had  made  an  appropriation  asked  for  by  the 
legislature  of  $50,000  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing 
an  escort.' 

Although  no  violent  outbreaks  occurred  in  1861, 
both  the  people  and  the  military  authorities  were  ap- 
prehensive that  the  Indians,  learning  that  civil  war 
existed,  and  seeing  that  the  soldiery  were  withdrawn, 
might  return  to  hostilities,  the  opportunities  offered 
by  the  numerous  small  parties  of  miners  travelling  to 
and  fro  heightening  the  temptation  and  the  danger.* 
Son\e  color  was  given  to  these  fears  by  the  conduct 
of  the  Indians  on  the  coast  reservation,  who,  finding 
Fort  Umpqua  abandoned,  raised  an  insurrection,  took 
possession  of  the  storehouse  at  the  agency,  and  at- 
tempted to  return  to  their  former  couutr3^  They 
were  however  prevented  carrying  out  their  scheme, 
only  the  leaders  escaping,  and  the  guard  at  Fort  Hos- 
kins  was  strengthened  by  a  small  detachment  from 
Fort  Yamhill.  Several  murders  having  been  commit- 
ted in  the  Modoc,  Pit  River,  and  Pah  Uto  country, 
a  company  of  forty  men  under  Lindsey  Applegate, 
who  had  been  appointed  special  Indian  agent,  went 
to  the  protection  of  travellers  through  that  region, 
and  none  too  soon  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  a  train 
of  immigrants  at  Bloody  Point,  where  they  wore  found 
sunonnded.''     On  the  appearance  of  Applcgate's  com- 

'Or.  Ari/us,  June  15,  1801;  Coiig.  Globe,  1860-1,  pt  ii.  1213,  3Gth  cong.  2d 
sess.;  Id.,  i:V.'4-5;  M,  app.  3G'2. 

H)ii  tlio  liarlow  route  to  Tho  Dalles  the  Tygho  Indians  from  the  Warm 
SpiiiiLT  reservation  murdered  several  travellers  in  the  month  of  -Tuly.  Among 
till!  killed  were  Jarvis  Briggs,  and  his  son  aged  28  years,  residents  of  Linn 
county,  and  pioneers  of  Oregon,  from  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  Or.  Statesman, 
Aug.  ■_'(),  ISO  I.  The  murderers  of  tiieso  two  were  apprehended  and  hanged. 
Tlu;  Pit  River  Indians  and  Modocs  killed  Joseph  liailey,  mamlier  elect  to  the 
Oiegdii  le;,'isliiture,  in  August,  while  driving  a  herd  of  8lK)  cattle  to  the  Nevad;i 
niiiics.  jJailey  was  a  large  and  athletic  man,  and  fought  deanerately  for  his 
lift',  lulling  several  Indians  after  he  was  wounded.  Samuel  hvan*  iiml  John 
Sims  « cru  also  killed,  the  remainder  of  the  party  escaping.  Or.  Statesman, 
Aug.  1!),  ISO  I. 

'•Iii't.  Af.  Ifppt,  1863,  59;  Portland  Oregonian,  Aug.  27,  18()1;  0.  0.  Ap- 
ril<",inl('.'s  Moilor  Hint.,  MS.,  17.  Present  at  this  ambush  were  some  of  tho 
Moilocs  eelel)rated  afterward  iu  the  war  of  1872-3;  namely,  Sconchin,  Scar- 
lace,  Black  Jim,  and  others. 


490 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPEiiATIONS. 


pany  the  Modocs  retreated,  and  no  further  violence 
occurred  during  the  season.  In  anticipation  of  simi- 
lar occurrences,  Colonel  WrigHt  in  June  1861  made  a 
requisition  upon  Governor  Whiteaker  for  a  cavalry 
company.  It  was  proposed  that  the  company  bo  en- 
listed for  three  years,  unless  sooner  discharged,  and 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  with 
the  pay  and  according  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of 
the  regular  army,  with  the  exception  that  the  com- 
pany should  furnish  its  own  horses,  for  which  they 
would  receive  compensation  for  use  or  loss  in  service. 
A.  P.  Dennison,  former  Indian  agent  at  The  Dalles, 
was  appointed  enrolling  oflScer;  but  the  suspicion 
which  attached  to  him,  as  well  as  to  the  governor,  of 
sympathy  with  the  rebellion,  hindered  the  success  of 
the  undertaking,  which  finally  was  ordered  discon- 
tinued,* and  the  enlisted  men  were  disbanded. 

In  the  mean  time  Wright  was  transferred  to  Cali- 
fornia to  take  the  command  of  troops  in  the  soutliern 
part  of  that  state,  for  the  suppression  of  rebellion, 
while  Lieutenant-colonel  Albemarle  Cady,  of  the  7th 
infantry,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  district 
of  Oregon.  Soon  after,  Wright  was  made  brigadier- 
general,  and  placed  in  command  of  the  department  of 
the  Pacific.'^     As  troops  were  withdrawn  from  tlio 

^Or.  Statesman,  June  17  and  Oct.  21,  18G1;  Or.  Jour.  House,  18G2,  app. 
22-4. 

'  He  waa  a  native  of  Vt,  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1822,  and  waa  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  2d  lieut  in  the  3d  inf.  in  July,  and  to  tiio  tank  of  ht 
lieut  in  Sept.  of  tlie  same  year.  Ho  served  in  tho  west,  principally  at  .It  tl'ii- 
son  Barracks,  Mo.,  and  in  Indian  campaigns  on  tho  frontier,  until  18.fl,  uhcii 
he  was  transferred  to  La,  with  the  3d  inf.,  occupying  tho  position  of  adj.  to 
thatreg.  until  1836,  when  ho  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  tho  8tli  inf. 
He  served  through  tho  Florida  war,  and  under  the  command  of  Gen,  Tayloi-, 
fou['h»^  nt  Palo  Alto  and  Resaco.  do  la  Palma  in  Mexico,  after  which  ln^  wiw 
tr...idferrcd  to  Scott's  counnand.  Ho  received  three  brevets  for  callant  sei-- 
vices  before  Ijcing  promoted  to  the  rank  of  maj.,  one  in  the  Florida  wai',  uiio 
after  tho  battles  of  Coutreras  and  Churubusco,  Mexico,  and  tho  last,  tliat  of 
col,  after  the  battle  of  Molino  del  Rey.  Wright  came  to  tho  Pauilic  inast 
with  tho  r)tli  inf.  in  1852,  holding  the  rank  of  maj.,  and  was  promo  toil  to  it 
colonelcy  Feb.  3,  1855,  and  the  following  month  was  appointed  to  coiiiiiuiinl 
the  reg.  of  9th  inf.,  for  which  provision  had  just  been  made  by  cougnss.  ilo 
went  cast,  raised  his  regiment,  and  returned  in  Jan.  1856,  when  ho  was  or- 
dered to  Or.  and  Wash.  Ho  remained  in  that  military  district,  an  wi'  liavo 
Been,  until  the  summer  of  1861.  lu  Sept.  ho  was  ordered  to  S.  F.,  ami  suoa 
after  relieved  Gen.  Sumner  in  the  command  of  the  department  of  tho  racitie. 


ENLISTING  FOR  THE  WAR. 


lill^ 


several  posts  in  Oregon  and  Washington  he  replaced 
them  with  volunteer  companies  from  California.  On 
the  28th  of  October  350  volunteer  troops  arrived  at 
Vancouver  and  were  sent  to  garrison  forts  Yamhill 
and  Steilacoora.  On  the  20th  of  November  five  com- 
panies arrived  under  the  command  of  Major  Curtis, 
two  of  which  were  despatched  to  Fort  Colville,  and 
two  to  Fort  Walla  Walla,  one  remaining  at  The 
Dalles.^ 

The  attempt  to  enlist  men  through  the  state  authori- 
ties having  failed,  the  war  department  in  November 
made  Thomas  R.  Cornelius  colonel,  and  directed  him 
to  raise  ten  companies  of  cavalry  for  the  service  of 
the  United  States  for  three  years;  this  regiment 
being,  as  it  was  supposed,  a  portion  of  the  500,000 
whose  enlistment  was  authorized  by  the  last  congress. 
R.  F.  Maury  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel, 
Benjamin  F.  Harding  quartermaster,  C.  S.  Drew 
major,  and  J.  S.  Rinearson  junior  major.  Volun- 
teers for  themselves  and  horses  were  to  receive  thirty- 
one  dollars  a  month,  $100  bounty  at  the  expiration  of 
service,  and  a  land  warrant  of  IGO  acres.  Notwith- 
standing wages  on  farms  and  in  the  mines  were  high, 
men  enlisted  in  the  hope  of  going  east  to  fight."    Six 

being  appointed  brig.  -gen.  on  the  28th  Sept.  He  remained  in  command  till 
18(m,  when,  being  transferred  to  the  reestalilished  Oregon  department,  ho  took 
pai^sagc  on  the  ill-fated  Brother  Jonathan,  whicli  foundered  near  Crescent 
City  July  9,  186.'),  when  Wright,  his  wife,  the  captain  of  the  ship.  Do  Wolf, 
anil  .'{(K)  passengers  were  drowned.  North  Pacific  Itioiew,  i.  210-17. 

^S'.  ;.'.  Alta,  Nov.  .3  and  14,  1861;. Sat-.  Union,  Nov.  10  and  25,  1801.  The 
otlkois  at  Walla  Walla  were  Capt.  W.  T.  McGruder,  1st  dragoons,  lieuta 
lU'iio  and  Wheeler,  and  surgeon  Thomas  A.  MeParlin.  Capts  A.  Rowell  and 
AVest,  of  the  4th  Cal.  rog.,  were  stationed  at  The  Dalles.  Or.  Statesman, 
Aug.  11  and  Dec.  2,  1801. 

"Saya  J.  A.  Waymire:  'It  was  thought  as  soon  as  we  should  become 
disciplined,  if  the  war  should  continue,  we  would  bo  taken  cast,  should  there 
111'  Mil  war  on  this  coast.  For  my  own  part,  I  should  have  gone  to  the  army 
«f  tlio  Missouri  but  for  this  understanding.'  Historical  Corregpnndrnce,  M8. 
Camps  were  established  in  Jackson,  Marion,  and  Clackamas  counties.  The 
<iist  company,  A,  was  raised  in  Jackson  county,  Capt.  T.  S.  Harris.  The 
KcciMul,  ]J,  HI  Marion,  Capt.  E.  J.  Harding.  Company  C  was  raised  at 
\'aiKouver  by  Capt.  William  Kelly.  D  company  was  raised  in  Jackson 
comity  by  Capt.  S,  Truax;  company  E  by  Capt.  George  B.  Curry,  in  Wasco 
ciuiiity;  and  company  F,  of  the  southern  battalion,  by  Capt.  VVilliam  J. 
Matthews,  principally  in  Josephine  county.  Captains  D.  1*.  Thompson,  of 
Oregon  City,  and  Uemick  Cowles,  of  Umnqua  county,  also  raised  com^Hinies, 


i" 


I 


492 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


companies  being  fully  organized,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Vancouver  about  the  last  of  May  18()2, 
where  it  was  clothed  with  United  States  uniforms, 
and  armed  with  old-fashioned  muzzle-loading  riHos, 
pistols,  and  sabres;  after  which  it  proceeded  to  The 
Dalles. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  Colonel  Cornelius  arrived  at 
Fort  Walla  Walla  with  companies  B  and  E,  and  took 
command  of  that  post.  About  two  weeks  later  tho 
three  southern  companies  followed,  making  a  force  of 
GOO.  The  necessity  for  some  military  force  at  homo 
was  not  altogether  unfelt.  The  early  reverses  of  tlic 
federal  army  gave  encouragement  to  secession  on  tho 
Pacific  coast.  General  Wright,  on  the  30th  of  Apiil, 
1862,  issued  an  order  confiscating  the  property  of 
rebels  within  the  limits  of  his  department,  and  mak- 
ing sales  or  transfers  of  land  by  such  persons  illegal.^' 
Government  officers  refused  to  purchase  forage  or 
provisions  from  disloyal  firms;  and  disloyal  newspa- 
pers were  excluded  from  the  mails." 

or  parts  of  companies.  Broivri's  Autobiograph;/,  MS.,  47;  Letter  of  Lieut  W'ny- 
mire,  in  IlisUirkal  Correspoiidence,  MS.;  Jihinehart'a  Oregon  Cavalrij,  -MS., 
1-2. 

'"A  circular  was  issued  from  the  land  office  at  Washington  confining;  grants 
of  land  to  persons  'loyal  to  the  United  States,  and  to  such  only;'  and  rc(|iiir- 
ing  all  surveyors  and  preemptors  to  take  tho  oath  of  allegiance.  Or.  A  rijm, 
March  8,  ISC'2;  Or.  Statesman,  March  .3,  1862. 

"Tlio^/6a(/,v  Democrat  was  excluded  from  the  mails;  also  tho  Soullimi 
Orer/on  Gazette,  the  Eugene  Democnitic,  Jteghter,  and  next  the  Alhainj  Jiiqiiirrr, 
followed  by  the  Portland  Advertiser,  published  by  S.  J.  McCormick,  ami  tho 
Corvallix  Union,  conducted  by  Patrick  J.  Malone.  W.  fr.  T'Vault  started  a 
Becession  journal  at  Jacksonville  in  Novemljer  1862,  called  tho  Oregon.  Jut'  Hi- 
gencer.  Tho  Albitni/  Democrat  resumed  publication  by  pernaission,  under  tlie 
charge  of  James  O'Mcara  in  tho  early  part  of  February  18(i;J.  In  M;iy 
O'Meara  revived  tho  Eugene  Register,  under  the  name  of  Democratic  Jtuvi'  ic. 
Tho  Democratic  Slate  Journal  dt  Tho  Dalles  was  sold  in  1863  to  W.  W.  l!:in- 
croft,  and  changed  to  a  union  paper,  in  Idaho.  Union  journals  were  starliil 
about  this  time;  among  them  The  State  Republican,  at  Eugeno  Citj-,  was  llrst 
published  by  Shaw  &  Davis  on  the  materials  of  tho  People's  Priss,  in  .(aii- 
uary  1862,  edited  by  J.  M.  Gale,  and  the  Union  Crusader  at  tho  same  jiLici^ 
by  A.  C.  Edmonds,  in  October,  changed  in  a  month  to  The  Herald  of  I'<- 
J'orm.  Tho  first  daily  published  in  Oregon  was  the  Portland  News,  April  IS, 
1859;  S.  A.  English  &  Co.  Tho  Portland  Daily  jTimes  was  first  issued  iKc. 
19,  1860,  and  tho  Portland  Daily  Oregonian,  Feb.  4,  1861.  Tho  first  news- 
paper east  of  The  Dallas  was  tho  Mountain  Sentinel,  a  weekly  journal  startoil 
at  La  Grando  in  October  1864,  by  E.  S.  McComas,  In  tho  spring  < if  1 ''•!"> 
the  Tri-Wcekly  Advertiser  was  started  at  Umatilla  on  the  materials  of  tlio 
Portland  7'imea,  and  the  following  year  a  democratic  journal,  tho  Columbia, 


FIRST  OREGON  CAVALRY. 


13 


The  1st  Oregon  cavalry  remained  at  Walla  Walla 
with  little  or  nothing  to  do  until  the  28th  of  July. 
In  the  mean  time  Cornelius  resigned,  and  Colonel 
Steinberger  of  the  Washington  regiment  took  com- 
mand." It  had  been  designed  that  a  portion  of  the 
()rei,'on  regiment  should  make  an  expedition  to  meet 
and  escort  the  immigration,  and  if  possible  to  arrest 
and  punish  the  murderers  of  the  immigrants  in  the 
autumn  of  18G0.  General  Alvord  ordered  Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Maury,  with  the  companies  of  Harris, 
Harding,  and  Truax,  to  proceed  upon  the  errand. 

The  history  of  the  1st  Oregon  cavalry  from  1862 
to  18G5  is  the  history  of  Indian  raids  upon  the  min- 
ing and  new  farming  settlements,  and  of  scouting  and 
figliting  by  the  several  companies.  Like  the  volun- 
teers of  southern  Oregon,  they  were  called  upon  to 
guard  roads,  escort  trains,  pursue  robber  bands  to  their 
strongholds,  avenge  murders,"  and  to  make  explora- 
tions of  the  country,  much  of  which  was  still  un- 
known. 

In  January  1863  a  call  was  made  for  six  companies 
of  volunteers  to  till  up  the  1st  regiment  of  Oregon 
cavalry,  notwithstanding  a  very  thorough  militia  or- 
ganization had  been  effected  under  the  militia  law  of 
18G2,  which  gave  the  governor  great  discretionary 
power  and  placed  several  regiments  at  his  disposal. 
The  work  of  recruiting  progressed  slowly,  the  dis- 


Press,  by  J.  C.  Dow  and  T.  W.  Avery.  Neither  continued  long.  Other 
epliemcral  publications  appeared  at  Salem,  Portland,  and  elsewhere.  lu 
180.')  Oregon  had  well  established  9  weekly  and  3  daily  journals. 

'^Colunel  Justin  Steinberger  was  of  Pierce  county,  Washijigton  Territory. 
He  i-aist'(l  4  companies  of  his  regiment  in  California,  and  arrived  with  them 
at  Vancouver  on  tho  4th  of  May,  relieving  Colonel  Cady  of  the  command  of 
tlio  district.  In  July  Brigadier-general  Alvord  arrived  at  Vancouver  to  take 
command  of  the  district  of  Oregon,  and  Steinberger  repaired  to  Walla  Walla. 
Olymiiiii  Herald,  Jan.  28,  March  20,  April  17,  18G2;  Olympia  Standard, 
AuL'.  0,  188'2;  Or.  Statesman,  June  30,  18G2. 

'^  Tho  immigration  of  1862  has  been  placed  by  some  writers  as  high  aa 
30,000,  and  probably  reached  26,000.  Of  these  10,000  went  to  Oregon,  8,Or.O 
to  Utah,  8,000  to  California.  Olympia  Standard,  Oct.  11  and  25,  lStJ2  The 
greater  portion  of  the  so-called  Oregon  immigration  settled  in  the  mining 
region  cast  of  the  Suako  River  nnu  in  the  valleys  of  Oraudo  Bonde,  Powder 
River,  John  Day,  and  Walla  WalU. 

''The  fate  of  many  amall  parties  must  forever  remain  unknown. 


!• 


I 


404 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


engaged  men  of  the  state  who  had  not  enlisted  hcmr 
absent  in  the  mines.  One  company  only  was  raised 
during  the  summer,  and  it  began  to  be  feared  that  a 
draft  would  be  resorted  to,  Provost  Marshal  J.  M. 
Keeler  having  been  sent  to  Oregon  to  make  an  en- 
rolment. 

The  situation  of  Oregon  at  this  time  was  peculiar, 
and  not  without  danger.  The  sympathy  of  England 
and  France  with  the  cause  of  the  states  in  rebellion, 
the  unsettled  question  of  the  north-western  portion  of 
the  United  States  boundary,  known  as  the  San  Juan 
question,  the  action  of  the  French  government  in 
setting  up  an  empire  in  M.  "ico,  taken  together  witli 
the  fact  that  no  forts  or  defences  existed  on  the  coast  of 
Oregon  and  Washington,  that  there  was  a  constant!  v 
increasing  element  of  disloyalty  upon  the  eastern  and 
southern  borders,  as  well  as  in  its  midst,  which  niiL;lit 
at  any  time  combine  with  a  foreign  power  or  with  the 
Indians — all  contributed  to  a  feeling  of  uneasiness. 

Oregon  had  not  raised  her  share  of  troops  for  tlic 
service  of  the  United  States,  and  had  but  seven 
companies  in  the  field,  while  California  had  nearly 
nine  regiments.  California  had  volunteers  in  every 
part  of  the  Pacific  States,  even  in  the  Willamette 
Valley.  Troops  were  needed  to  serve  on  Oregon  soil, 
and  to  protect  the  Oregon  frontier.  A  post  was 
needed  at  Bois^  to  protect  the  immigration,  and  an 
expedition  against  the  Snakes  was  required.  Every- 
thing was  done  to  stimulate  a  military  spirit.  By  the 
militia  law,  the  governor,  adjutant-general,  and  sec- 
retary of  state  constituted  a  board  of  military  audit- 
ors to  audit  all  reasonable  expenses  incurred  by  vol- 
unteer companies  in  the  pervice  of  the  state.  This 
board  publicly  offered  premiu^us  for  perfection  in 
drill,  the  test  to  be  made  at  tlie  time  of  holding  the 
state  fair  at  Salem. 

The  war  department  had  at  length  consented  to 
allow  posts  to  be  established  at  Boisd,  and  at  some 


k 


NEW  GOVERNMENT  POSTS. 


495 


pnint  between  the  Klamath  and  Goose  Lakes,  near 
the  southern  immigrant  road;  and  in  the  spring  of 
18(j;3  Major  Drew,  who  in  May  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  1st  Oregon  cavalry, 
.sent  Captain  Kelly  with  company  C  to  construct  and 
irarrison  Fort  Klamath.  The  remainder  of  the  reiji- 
iii(>nt  was  employed  in  the  Walla  Walla  and  Nez 
Percd  country  in  keeping  peace  between  the  white 
people  and  Indians,  and  in  pursuing  and  arresting 
liiglnvaymen,  whiskey-sellers,  and  horse-thieves,  with 
which  the  whole  upper  country  was  infested  at  this 
pLiiod  of  its  history,  and  who  could  seldom  be  ar- 
lested  without  the  assistance  of  the  cavalry,  whose 
horses  they  kept  worn  down  by  long  marches  to  re- 
cover both  private  and  government  property. 

On  the  13th  of  June  an  expedition  set  out,  whose 
ol)ject  was  to  find  and  punish  the  Snakes,  consisting 
of  companies  A,  D,  and  E,  with  a  train  of  150  pack- 
mules  under  Colonel  Maury  from  the  Lapwai  agency. 
Following  the  trail  to  the  Salmon  River  mines,  they 
passed  over  a  rugged  country  to  Little  Salmon  River, 
and  thence  over  a  timbered  mountain  ridge  to  the 
head  waters  of  the  Payette.^'  The  command  then 
proceeded  by  easy  marches  to  Boisd  River  to  meet 
Major  Lugenbeel,  who  had  left  Walla  Walla  June 
lOtli  by  the  immigrant  road  to  establish  a  govern- 
nient  post  on  that  river  near  the  line  of  travel.  On 
July  1st,  the  day  before  Maury's  arrival,  the  site  of 
the  fort  was  selected  about  forty  miles  above  the  old 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  fort,  and  near  the  site  of 
the  present  Boisd  City.^*    While  at  the  encampment 


"  Or.  Argun,  July  27,  1863,  contains  a  good  description  of  this  country,  by 
J.  T.  Apperson,  lieutenant. 

'^Tho  immigration  of  1863  was  escorted,  as  that  of  the  previous  year  had 
been,  hy  a  volunteer  company  under  Captain  Medorum  Crawford,  wlio  wen*; 
cast  to  organize  it,  congress  having  appropriated  $30,000  to  meet  the  expense; 
$10,000  of  which  was  for  the  protection  of  emigrants  by  the  Fort  Benton  and 
Mullan  wagon-road  route.  See  Cong.  Olobe,  1862-3,  part  ii.  app.  18'2,  37th 
Cong.  .3d  sess.;  letter  of  J.  R.  McBride,  in  Or.  Argus,  May  16,  1803.  The 
immigration  was  much  less  than  in  the  previous  year,  only  about  400  wagons. 
Among  them  was  a  large  train  bound  for  the  town  of  Aurora,  founded  by 


496 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


:: : 


:''i 


on  Salmon  Falls  Creek,  Curry  with  twenty  men 
made  an  expedition  across  the  barren  region  between 
Snake  River  and  the  Goose  Creek  Mountains/^  toward 
the  Owyhee,  through  a  country  never  before  exploi\;{|. 
At  the  same  time  the  main  command  procecdijd 
along  to  Bruneau  River,  on  which  stream,  after  a  .sep- 
aration of  eleven  days,  it  was  rejoined  by  Curry,  who 
had  travelled  four  hundred  miles  over  a  rouuh  vol- 
After  an  expedition  by  Lieut(!iiant 


came  region. 


18 


Waymire'''  up  Bruneau  River,  the  troops  returned 
to  Fort  Walla  Walla,  where  they  arrived  on  the  2Gtli 
of  October. 

In  March  Maury  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy 
of  the  regiment,  C.  S.  Drew  to  be  lieutenant-colo- 
nel, and  S.  Truax  to  be  major.  Rhinehart  was  niiule 
regimental  adjutant,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
took  command  of  company  A,  Harris  having  re- 
signed at  the  close  of  the  Snake  River  expedition. 
Rinearson  was  stationed  at  Fort  Boisd  to  conij*lete 
its  construction.  Lieutenants  Caldwell,  Drake,  and 
Small  were  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain;  second 
lieutenants  Hopkins,  Hobart,  McCall,  Steele,  Hand, 
and  Underwood  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenants.  Those 
who  had  been  promoted  from  the  ranks  were  Way- 
mire,  Pepoon,  Bowen,  and  James  L.  Curry. 

The  first  expedition  In  the  field  in  1864  was  one 
under  Lieutenant  Waymire  consisting  of  twenty-six 
men,  which  left  The  Dalles  on  the  1st  of  ]V[arch,  cii- 

Dr  Koil  ill  Marion  county  several  years  before,  upon  the  community  systfiiii. 
JJemli/'n  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  78. 

''Tlic  reports  of  the  expedition  and  the  published  maps  ilo  imt  mltcc. 
The  latter  plaoo  tlio  (jooso  (.-'reek  Mountains  to  the  soutii-oast.  C^iptaiii 
Curry,  iiowuvm',  travelled  soutli-wcst  toward  a  cliain  of  mountuins  nrarly 
parallel  with  tiio  range  niontioned,  wiiii;h  on  tho  map  is  not  (listingiuslieil 
by  a  name,  in  vvhicli  the  Bruneau  and  Owyhee  rivers  take  their  risii!, 

'"Carry  Huya:  'With  tlie  exception  of  two  camps  made  near  tliu  suiiiiiiit 
of  Goose  Creek  Mountains,  the  remainder  were  made  in  fissures  in  tlic  cirtli 
80  deep  that  neither  tho  polo  star  '.lor  tiie  7-pointors  could  Ixi  hi'cii.  '  Tliu 
whole  of  Ciiriy's  report  of  this  expedition  is  interesting  and  well  wi ilteii. 
Soo  Hf/it  of  Adjutant  Oen.  of  Or.,  imi\,  '28. 

"Waymire,  in  JJistorical  Correspondence,  MS.;  S.  F.  Evening  I'oxl,  Oct. 
28,  188-2. 


IONS. 


WAYMIRE'S  EXPEDITION. 


497 


twenty  men 
ion  between 
litis,"  toward 
jre  exploivd. 
d  proceeded 
1,  after  asip- 
'  Curry,  who 
a  rough  vol- 
'  Lieutenant 
nps  returned 
.  on  the  2Gth 

ihe  colonelcy 

uteuant-colo- 

irt  was  made 

captain,  and 

3   having  re- 

r  expedition. 

to  complete 

,  Drake,  and 

itain;  second 

teele,  ITand, 

lants.    Those 

s  were  Way- 

rrv. 

8G4  was  one 
»f  twenty-six 
^larch,  eu- 

Dmmunity  system. 

laps  ilo  not  ;iu't't't', 
Titl»-PaNt.  ('a|iiaiii 
finountiiiiis  n.arly 

lliuir  list!. 
I  near  the  sumiiiit 
JiBUi'cs  ill  the  lartll 
fill  \m  Hi'i'U.'    Tho 
iiul  wiiU  written. 

^otning  Pout,  Oct. 


camping  on  the  17th  on  the  south  fork  of  John  Day- 
River,  thirty-three  miles  from  Canon  City.  This 
temi)orary  station  was  called  Camp  Lincoln.  From 
this  point  he  pursued  a  band  of  Indian  horse-thieves 
to  Harney  Lake  Valley,  where  he  found  before  him 
in  the  field  a  party  of  miners  under  C.  H.  Miller.*" 
Tlie  united  force  continued  the  search,  and  in  three 
days  came  upon  two  hundred  Indians,  whom  they 
fought,  killing  some,  but  achieving  no  signal  success. 
Early  in  June,  General  AUord  made  a  requisition 
ii[)on  Governor  Gibbs  for  a  company  of  forty  mounted 
nuMi,  to  be  upon  the  same  footing  and  to  act  as  a  de- 
taeliment  of  the  1st  Oregon  cavalry,  for  the  purpose 
of  guarding  the  Canon  City  road.  The  proclama- 
tion was  made,  and  Nathan  Olney  of  The  Dalles  ap- 
pointed recruiting  officer,  with  the  rank  of  2d  lieuten- 
ant. The  term  of  service  required  was  only  four 
luoiitlis,  or  until  the  cavalry  which  was  in  the  field 
should  have  returned  to  the  forts  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  settlements  and  mines.  The  people  of  The 
Dalh'S,  whose  interests  suti'ered  by  the  frequent  raids 
of  tho  Indians,  offered  to  make  up  a  bounty  in  addition 
to  tho  [)ay  of  the  government.  The  company  was 
raised,  and  left  The  Dalles  July  19th,  to  patrol  tho 
road  between  The  Dalles  and  the  company  of  Captain 
Caldwell,  which  i)erformed  this  duty  on  the  south  fork 
of  dohn  Day  River. 

In  the  summer  of  18G4  every  man  of  the  Oregon 
cavahy  was  in  the  field.  Immediately  after  Lieuten- 
ant Waymire's  expedition  a  larger  one,  consisting  of 
companies  D,  G,  and  part  of  1>,  was  ordered  to 
Crooked  liiver,  there  to  eshxblisli  headquarters. 
With  them  went  twenty-five  scttuts  from  the  Warm 
Hpiing  reservation,  under  Donald  McKay,  half- 
hn.tluu-  of  W.  C.  McKay.  This  force  left  The  Dalles 
Apiil  20th,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Drake, 

"IiiiKiuin  Miller,  author  subsequently  of  several  poetical  works,  storioH, 
and  jiliiyH.     Ho  iiad  but  '""tely  been  editor  of  tho  iJemocnUic  lieijuter  of  Ku- 

Si'iK' City,  which  wua    ..    rossod  by  order  of  Col.  Wright  for  promulgating 
isluViil  Nentiiiu'iits. 

Uui.  UK.  Vol.  II.    n 


V  -,i 


MUM 


498 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


being  reenforced  at  Warm   Spring  by  Small's  com- 
pany from  Vancouver,  and  arriving  at  Steen's  old  camp 
May  1 7th,  where  a  depot  was  made,  and  the  ))lace 
called  Camp  Maury.     It  was  situated  three  miles  from 
Crooked  River,  near  its  juncture  wioh  Des  Chutes,  in 
a  small  canon  heavily  timbered  with  pine,  and  abun- 
dantly watered  by  cold  mountain  springs.     The  scouts 
soon  discovered  a  camp  of  the  enemy  about  fourteen 
miles  to  the  east,  who  had  with  them  a  large  number 
of  horses.     Lieutenants   McCall   and  Watson,  with 
thirty-five  men  and  some  of  the  Indian  scouts,  set  out 
at  ten  o'clock  at  night  to  surround  and  surprise  the 
savages,  but  when  day  dawned  it  was  discovered  tliat 
they   were   strongly   intrenched    behind    the   rocks. 
McCall  directed  Watson  to  advance  on  the  front  with 
his  men,  while  he  and  McKay  attacked  on  both  flanks. 
Watson  executed  his  duty  promptly,  but  McCall,  be- 
ing detained  by  the  capture  of  a  herd  of  horses,  was 
diverted  from  the  main  attack.     On  hearing  Watson's 
fire  he  hastened  on,  but  finding  himself  in  the  ranjic 
of  the  guns  had  to  make  a  detour,  which  lengtheneil 
the  delav.     In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  concentrated 
their  fire  on  those  who  first  attacked,  and  Watson  was 
shot  through  the  heart  while  cheering  on  his  men, 
two  of  whom  were  killed  beside  him,  and  five  others 
wounded.     The  Indians  made  their  escape.     On  the 
20th  of  May  Waymirc,  who  had  relieved  Watson  at 
Warm  Spring,  was  ordered  to  join  Drake's  command, 
and  on  the  7th  of  June  all  the  companies  concentratii);,' 
at  Camp  Maury  proceeded  to  Harney  Valley,  where 
it  was  intended  to  establish  a  depot,  but  findiii<(  the 
water  in  the  lake  brackish  and  the  grass  poor,  thi- 
])lnn  was  abandoned.    Somewhere  in  this  region  1  )rakL 
expected  to  meet  Curry,  who  with  A  and  E  compa- 
nies, ten  Cayuse  scouts  under  Umhowlitz,  and  Colo- 
nel Maury  had  left  Walla  Walla  on  the  28th  of  April. 
by  way  of  the  immigrant  road  for  Fort  Boisd  and  the 
Owvheo,  but  two  weeks  elapsed  before  a  junction  wa^ 
.made. 


CURRY'S  EXPEDITION. 


499 


Curry's  expedition  on  reaching  old  Fort  Boisd  was 
rocnforoed  by  Captain  Barry  of  the  1st  Washington 
iiil'antry,  with  twenty-five  men.  A  temporary  depot 
Av;is  established  eight  miles  up  the  Owyhee  River  and 
placed  in  charge  of  Barry.  The  cavalry  marched  up 
the  west  bank  of  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  a  tribu- 
tary called  Martin  Creek,  formed  by  the  union  of 
Jordan  and  vSu'  kor  creeks,  near  which  was  the  cross- 
ing of  the  road  from  California  to  the  Owyhee  mines, 
beginning  to  be  much  travelled.^* 

On  the  25th  of  May,  Curry  moved  west  from  the 
ftiry  ciglit  miles,  and  established  a  camp  on  a  small 
stream  falling  into  the  Owyhee,  which  ho  called  Gibbs 
Creek,  in  honor  of  Governor  Gibbs.  Here  he  began 
]  nil  ling  a  stone  bridge  and  fortifications,  which  he 
1,  \  Camp  Henderson,  after  the  Oregon  congress- 
lu  I  ,  and  Khinehart  was  ordered  to  bring  up  the  sup- 
,iiii  s  left  with  Barry,  the  distance  being  about  one 
liuiulred  miles  between  the  points.  When  Rhinehart 
CcUiie  up  with  the  supply  train  he  found  Curry  ab- 
f^i'iit  on  an  exploring  expedition.  Being  satisfied  from 
all  he  could  learn  that  he  was  not  yet  in  the  heart  of 
the  country  most  frequented  by  the  predatory  Ind- 
ians, whore  he  desired  to  fix  his  encampment,  Curry 
made  an  exploration  of  a  very  difficult  country  to  the 
south-west.''"^ 

On  this  expedition,  Alvord  Valley,  at  the  eastern 
base  of  Steon  M^^imtain,  was  discovered;^'  and  being 
satisfied  tliut  h  Tcabout  would  be  found  the  head- 


fir  •  T^vson  Meadows  on  the  Humboldt,  via  Starr  City, 


WW!  1S'>  iiiilea  'rom  tii'5  Moadowa  to  thia  ferry,  and  05 
ti'i-'  ■-.  Portland  Orerionian,  Juno  2ri,  1804. 


''  This  .on  '  w 
ftinl  i^'iii'i'ii  H>or.     ' ' 
tliiiii'u  t')  H(>()rvr.'<i  i 

^'Tlii!  report  of  tins  o<|ilorfttion  is  inten-sting.  A  peculiar  feature  of  the 
«cciH  ly  w  as  tlio  frequent  niirago  over  driod-up  lakes.  '  While  on  this  smooth 
8  .rt:i<i','  ho  Hays,  speaking  of  one  on  tho  east  of  Steen  Mountain,  '  tho  mirago 
ni.'iili'  (lur  little  party  play  an  amusing  pantomime.  Some  appeared  to  bo  high 
in  tlic  air,  others  sliding  to  the  right  and  left  like  weavers  shuttles.  Some 
III  tlii'iii  appeared  spun  out  to  an  enormous  length,  and  tiio  next  group 
spiiullicl  up:  thus  a  changeable,  movable  tableau  was  pntduced,  represent- 
iiii,' I'vcry thing  contortions  ami  capricious  rofloctions  could  do.'  Report  of 
(.'uptain  ( 'urry,  in  lifpt  AiUt  Otn.  Or.,  1800,  37-8. 

-'Ihis  M.  "ment  should  be  qualilied.  Waymire  disoovered  the  valley, 
and  Curry  ■;.;.•  .adit. 


Hi 


iii 


600 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


quarters  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  hostile  Ind- 
ians, Curry  determined  to  move  the  ;iain  coinniaiid 
to  this  point,  and  to  this  end  returned  toward  c';iiii|) 
Henderson  by  another  route,  hardly  less  wearisome 
and  destitute  of  water  than  the  fornK^r  one.  The 
place  selected  for  a  permanent  camp  was  between  soiuo 
ririe-pits  dug  in  the  spring  by  Waymire's  conininnd 
and  the  place  where  he  fought  the  Indians,  on  a  small 
creek  coming  down  from  the  hills,  which  sank  uitoiit 
three  miles  from  the  base  of  the  mountains.  Earth- 
works were  thrown  up  in  the  form  of  a  star,  to  con- 
stitute a  fort  easily  defended.  Through  this  enclosure 
ran  a  stream  of  pure  water,  and  there  was  rot)iii  for 
the  stores  ;.  •'  ^ho  garrison,  the  little  post  Iniiii^f 
called  Camp  xi  -.  Here  were  left  Barry's  infan- 
try and  the  disau  i  cavalry  horses  and  their  riders; 
and  on  the  22d  of  June  Curry  set  out  with  the  main 
cavalry  to  form  a  junction  with  Drake,  somewliert'  in 
the  vicinity  of  Harney  Lake,  which  junction  was 
effected  on  the  1st  of  July  at  Drake's  car  >p  on  Rattle- 
snake Creek,  Harney  Valley. 

For  a  period  of  thirty  days  captains  Druki>  and 
Curry  acted  in  conjunction,  scouting  the  country  in 
every  direction  where  there  seemed  any  |)r(»si)cct  ut' 
finding  Indians,  and  had  meantime  been  reeiiforced  iiy 
Lieutenant  Noble  with  forty  Warm  Spring  Indians, 
which  brought  the  force  in  the  field  up  to  about  I'onr 
hundred.  Small  parties  were  kept  continually  mov- 
ing over  the  country,  along  the  base  of  the  illuc 
^Mountains,  on  the  head  waters  of  the  John  Day,  and 
over  toward  Crooked  River,  as  well  as  soutliuaid 
toward  the  southern  immigrant  trail,  which  was  moro 
especially  under  the  protection  of  Colonel  Drew. 
Mining  and  immigrant  parties  from  California  were 
frequently  fallen  in  with,  nearly  every  one  of  which 
had  suffered  loss  of  life  or  property,  or  both,  and 
wherever  it  was  possible  the  troops  pursued  the  Ind- 
ians with  about  the  same  success  that  the  hou-u -doj,' 
pursues  the  limber  and  burrowing  fox.     Few  skir- 


INDIANS  ON  JORDAN  CREEK. 


501 


mlslios  were  had,  and  not  a  dozen  Indians  killed  from 
April  to  August.  In  the  mean  time  all  the  stock 
was  (Irivon  off  from  Antelope  Valley,  a  settled  re- 
^non  .sixty-five  miles  east  of  The  Dalles,  and  about 
till'  same  distance  west  of  the  crossing  of  the  south 
folk  of  the  John  Day;  and  nothing  but  a  continuous 
wall  of  troops  could  prevent  these  incursions. 

About  the  1st  of  August  Curry,  who  with  Drake 
luid  been  scouting  in  the  Malheur  mountains,  sepa- 
rated irom  the  latter  and  returned  toward  Camp 
Alvord.  Before  he  reached  that  post  he  was  met  by 
an  exi)ress  from  Fort  Boisd,  with  the  information  ifhat 
a  stock  farmer  on  Jordan  Creek,  a  branch  of  the 
Owyhee,  had  been  murdered,  and  his  horses  and  cat- 
tle driven  off.  Twenty-oni  miners  of  the  Owyhee 
(listriL't  had  organized  and  pursued  the  Indians  eiglity 
miles  in  a  south-west  direction,  finding  them  encamped 
ill  a  deep  canon,  where  they  were  attacked.  The 
Iiidiiins,  being  in  great  numbers,  repulsed  the  miners 
with  thj  loss  of  one  killed'*  and  two  wounded.  A 
second  company  was  being  organized,  IGO  strong,  and 
Cdloiu'l  !Maury  had  taken  the  field  with  twenty-five 
men  from  Fc^rt  Boise.  Curry  pushed  on  to  Camp 
Alvord,  a  distance  of  350  miles,  though  his  command 
had  not  rested  since  the  22d  of  June,  arrivin<j:  on  the 
l-(h  with  his  liorses  worn  out,  and  iOG  men  out  of 
\->-[  sick  with  dysentery.**  The  Warm  Spring  Indians, 
who  were  constantly  moving  about  over  the  country, 
hiDuniit  intelligence  which  satisfied  Curry  that  the 
marauding  bands  had  gone  south  into  Nevada.  Con- 
s(i|iicntly  on  the  2d  of  September,  the  sick  having 
]iai'tially  recovered,  the  main  comn.and  was  put  in 
motion  to  follow  their  trail.  Passing  south,  throu«di 
the  thou  new  and  famous  mining  district  of  Puebla 
^alli  V,  where  some  prospecitors  v^-ere  at  work  with  a 
Miiall  (|uartz-mill,  using  sage-brush  for  fuel,  a  party 

I  M.  M.  .lonliin,  tlio  diacoveror  of  .ronliiii  Criu'U  minus,  wn.s  killed. 

^'Iii  till'  iiliHL'iico. lit'  iiK'iliuiiii's,  Sur^iMtu  Ciu'linuio'ssuiiply  liciiiKcxliiuistc'd, 
mill  liiiiixll'  iiiu'  (pf  llici  Hiill'iTiTS,  an  inlusion  of  tlio  root  ot  tliu  wild  gcraniuni, 
f'Hiiid  lu  Unit  country,  jirovud  oU'uctivo. 


K-'l 


602 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


of  five  Indians  was  captured  forty  miles  beyond. 
Surmising  that  they  belonged  to  the  band  which 
attacked  the  rancho  on  Jordan  Creek,  they  would 
have  been  hanged  but  for  the  interference  of  the 
miners  of  Puebla,  who  thought  they  should  be  more 
safe  if  mercy  were  shown.  Yielding  to  their  wishes, 
the  Indians,  who  asserted  that  they  were  Pah  Utes, 
were  released.  But  the  mercy  shown  then  was  atro- 
ciously rewarded,  for  they  afterward  returned  and 
murdered  these  same  miners.'^  The  heat  and  dust  of 
the  alkali  plains  of  Nevada  retarding  the  convules- 
cence  of  the  troops,  Curry  proceeded  no  farther  than 
Mud  Lake,  returning  by  easy  marches  on  the  west 
side  of  Steen  Mountain  to  Camp  Alvord  September 
IGtli,  breaking  camp  on  the  2Gth  and  marching  to 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  the  infantry  and  baggage- waj^^ons 
being  sent  to  Fort  Boisd.  Cuiry  took  the  route  down 
the  Malheur  to  the  immigrant  road,  where  he  was  met 
October  14tli  by  an  express  from  district  headquar- 
ters directing  him  if  possible  to  be  at  The  Dalles 
before  the  presidential  election  in  November,  tears 
being  entertained  that  disloyal  voters  would  make  that 
the  occasion  of  an  outbreak.  If  anything  could  inl'use 
new  energy  into  the  Oregon  cavalry,  it  was  a  prosptct 
of  having  to  put  down  rebellion,  and  Curry  was  at 
Walla  Walla  tweb^e  days  afterward,  where  the  com- 
mand was  formally  dissolved,  company  A  going  into 
garrison  there,  the  detachment  of  F  to  Lapwai,  and 
company  E  to  The  Dalles,  wliere  the  election  procoi'dcd 
quietly  in  consequence.  Drake's  command  remained 
in  the  field  until  late  in  autumn,  making  his  head- 
quarters at  Camp  Daldgren,  on  the  head  watuis  of 
Crooked  River,  and  keeping  lieutenants  Way  mi  re, 
Noble,  and  others  scouring  the  country  between  the 
Cascade  and  Blue  mountains. 


While  these  operations  were  going  on  In  eastern 
Oregon,  that  strip  of  southern  country  lying  along 

»« Report  of  Captain  Curry,  in  Itrjd  Adjt  Oen.  Or.,  1800,  40. 


ON  THE  CALIFORNIA  FRONTIER. 


503 


n  in  eastern 


the  California  line  between  the  Klamath  Lakes  and 
Steen  Mountain  was  being  scoured  as  a  separate 
district — being  in  fact  a  part  of  the  district  of  Califor- 
nia. Toward  the  last  of  March,  Colonel  Drew,  at 
Camp  Baker  in  Jackson  county,  received  order«  from 
the  department  of  the  Pacific  to  repair  to  Fort  Klam- 
atli,  as  soon  as  the  road  over  Cascades  could  be  trav- 
olltd,  and  leaving  there  men  enough  to  guard  the 
i>(»vernnient  property,  to  make  a  reconnoissance  to  the 
Owyhee  country,  and  return  to  Klamath  post. 

The  snow  being  still  deep  on  the  summit  of  the 
iiiouiitains,  in  May  a  road  was  opened  through  it  for 
si'vc  ral  miles,  and  on  the  2Gth  the  command  left  Camp 
Baker,  arriving  at  Fort  Klamath  on  the  28th.  The 
Indians  being  turbulent  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  it 
became  necessary  to  remain  at  that  post  until  the 
2Sth  of  June,  when  the  expedition,  consisting  of  thirty- 
nine  enlisted  men,  proceeded  to  Williamson  River, 
antl  thence  to  the  Sprague  River  Valley,  over  a  suc- 
cession of  low  hills,  covered  for  the  most  part  with  an 
open  forest  of  pines."  He  had  proceeded  no  farther 
than  Sprague  River  when  his  march  was  interrupted 
liy  news  of  an  attack  on  a  train  from  Shasta  Valley 
|»i'(ieeodiiig  by  the  way  of  Klamath  Lake,  Sprague 
IJiver,  and  Silver  Lake  to  the  John  Day  Mines."^ 
Foitunately  Lieutenant  Davis  from  Fort  Crook,  Cal- 
it'iirnia,  with  ton  men  came  up  with  the  train  in  time 
to  render  assistance  and  prevent  a  massacre.     The 

■'  l)re\v's  report  was  published  in  ISO."),  in  the  JackKomnUi'  Se/itini'f,  from 
Jiiiinary  -H  to  March  II,  180."),  ami  also  in  a  painplilet  of  ',V2  pagoH,  jiriiitcd 
ill  .l,icksonville.  It  is  ohiully  a  topograpiiical  reeonnoi.ssunue,  ami  as  siicli 
is  iiisiiiiitivo  and  interesting,  hut  contains  few  incidents  of  a  military  cliar- 
lutci'  ill  relation  to  the  Indians;  in  fact,  these  appear  to  have  been  purposely 
icit  iiiit.  lint  taking  tlio  explorations  of  l>rew,  which  were  made  at  soniu 
di^tiiiice  nortii  of  the  southern  iiniiiigrunt  road,  in  connection  with  those  of 
I'raKi'  mid  Curry,  it  will  he  seen  that  a  great  amount  of  viduahle  work  of  a 
iliiiiiicter  tisnaily  performed  by  ex|)enHive  government  exploring  t^xpeditions 
w:is  |i(  rt'ormed  by  the  1st  Oregon  cavalry  in  this  and  the  following  year.  See 
J)ii  ir';<  Owjihei'.  Jtrroniiounance,  1-,'l'J. 

'  Tliis  occurred  Juno  '2.Sd  near  Silver  Jjake,  8.')  miles  north  of  Fort  Klam- 
alli.  'I'lio  train  consisted  of  7  wagons  ami  1.1  men,  several  of  whom  were  ac- 
(■iiiii|iiiiiied  by  their  families,  The  Indians  took  7  of  their  oxen  and  H.HOO 
|>'<iiiiils  of  tlour.  John  HicUardsou  was  leuiluruf  the  uumpauy.  Three  meu 
wm-  Wounded. 


>>' 


504 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


company  fell  back  forty  miles  to  a  company  in  tlio 
rear,  and  sent  word  to  Fort  Klamath,  after  which 
they  retreated  to  Spraj^ue  River,  and  an  ambulaiicc 
having  been  sent  to  take  the  wounded  to  the  fort, 
the  innnigrants  .all  determined  to  travel  under  Drew's 
])rotection  to  the  Owyhee,  and  thence  to  the  Jolm 
Day. 

Their  course  was  up  Sprague  River  to  its  licad 
waters,  across  the  Goose  Lake  Mountains  into  Drew 
Valley,  thence  into  Goose  Lake  Valley,  around  the 
head  of  the  lake  to  a  point  twenty-one  miles  down 
its  east  side  to  an  intersection  with  the  immi<;niiit 
road  from  the  States  near  Lassen  Pass,  when'  a 
number  of  trains  joined  the  expedition.  Passiii^f 
eastward  from  this  point,  Drew's  route  led  into  Fan- 
dango Valley,"^  a  glade  a  mile  and  a  half  west  iiom 
tlie  summit  of  the  old  immigrant  pass,  and  tliL-iico 
over  the  summit  of  Warner  Range  into  Surprise 
Valley,*'  passing  across  it  and  around  the  north  md 
of  Cowhead  Lake,  eastward  over  successive  raiims 
of  rocky  ridges  down  a  canon  into  Warner  Valh  y, 
and  around  the  south  side  of  Warner  Mountain," 
where  he  narrowly  escaped  attack  by  the  redoui)ta- 
ble  chief  Panina,  who  was  deterred  only  by  seeing  the 
howitzer  in  the  train. ^^     Proceeding  south-east  o\ ci'  a 

'•So  named  from  a  dunce  being  held  there  to  celebrate  the  nicetiiiu' 'if 
friends  from  California  and  the  States.  In  the  mid.st  of  their  iiiei  riim  lit 
they  were  attacked,  and  war's  alarms  quickly  interrupted  tlieir  festiviii's. 
iJreir's  /'eroniioisiiance,  {). 

'"Drew  says  this  and  not  the  valley  beyond  it  slumld  have  been  i.iliiil 
Warner  Valley,  the  jiarty  under  Capt.  Lyons,  which  Huarched  for  \Vaiiiii's 
remains,  linding  his  bones  in  Surprise  V'alley,  u  few  nales  south  of  the  iiiiini- 
giant  road.   /(/.,  10. 

^' Drew  made  a  rcconnoissanco  of  this  buttc,  whieii  ho  declared  fur  luili- 
tt;ry  purposes  to  be  uneipuilled,  and  as  sncii  it  was  held  by  the  Snake  Iml- 
ians.  A  summit  on  a  general  level,  witii  an  area  of  more  than  100  sipiaiu 
ndles,  diversified  with  miniature  mounhiins-,  grassy  valleys,  lakes  and  Ntn;iiiia 
of  jture  water,  groves  of  aspen,  willow,  and  mountain  mahogany,  and  ^':ii'- 
dens  of  service-berries,  maile  it  a  eom|»leto  haven  of  I'efiige,  where  its  p'W- 
sessors  could  rejx;l  any  foe.  The  approach  from  the  valley  was  e\ii nl- 
ingly  abniiit,  being  in  many  places  a  solid  wall.  On  its  north  side  it  I'sc 
directly  from  the  waters  of  Warner  Lake,  which  rendered  it  unassaiLiI'lo 
from  tliat  direction.  Its  easiest  approach  was  from  tlie  south,  liy  a  siiiia 
of  benches;  but  an  examination  of  the  country  at  its  liaso  discovciid  lliu 
fact  that  the  approach  used  by  the  Indiana  was  on  the  iiortii. 

"  rauiuu  ait<!rward  accurately  described  the  order  ot  march,  and  theunlcr 


: 


DREW'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


steiilo  country  to  Puebla  Valley,  .the  expedition 
turned  northward  to  Camp  Alvord,  having  lost  so 
imich  time  in  escort  duty  that  the  original  design  of 
exjiloring  about  the  head  waters  of  the  Owyhee  could 
not  be  carried  out.  The  last  wajj^ons  reached  Drew's 
camp,  two  miles  east  of  Alvord,  on  the  31st  of  Au- 
gust, and  from  this  point,  with  a  detachment  of  nine- 
teen men,  Drew  proceeded  to  Jordan  Creek  Valley 
and  Fort  Boisd,  escortinsf  the  immiiifratioii  to  these 
points,  and  returning  to  camp  September  22d,  where 
he  Ibund  an  order  requiring  his  immediate  return  to 
Fort  Klamath,  to  be  present  with  his  command  at  a 
council  to  be  held  the  following  month  with  the 
Khiniaths,  Modocs,  and  Panina's  band  of  Snake  Ind- 
ians. On  his  return  march  Drew  avoided  going 
around  the  south-eastern  point  of  the  Warner  Moun- 
tains, finding  a  pass  through  them  which  shortened 
Ills  route  nearly  seventy  miles,  the  road  being  nearly 
straiujht  between  Steen  and  Warner  Mountains,  and 
thence  westward  across  the  ridge  into  Goose  Lake 
Valley,  with  a  saving  in  distance  of  another  forty 
niih's.  On  rejoining  his  former  trail  he  found  it 
travelled  by  the  innnigration  to  Rogue  River  Valley, 
whieli  passed  down  Sprague  River  and  by  the  Fort 
Klamath  road  to  Jacksonville.  A  line  of  conununi- 
cation  was  opened  from  that  place  to  Owyhee  and 
lioise,  which  was  deemed  well  worth  the  labor  and 
cost  of  the  expedition,  the  old  innnigrant  route  be- 
in<r  shortened  between  two  and  three  hundred  miles. 
The  military  gain  was  the  discovery  of  the  haunt  of 
Panina  and  his  band  at  Warner  Mountain,  and  the 
(hscovory  of  the  necessity  for  a  post  in  Goose  Lake 


VaHe 


33 


it: 


Congress  having  at  length  made  an  appropriation 
of  .sJO,000  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  tivaty  with 

'if  (^i)i:iiiiii)inf?.  jnckotiiifT,  and  guarding,  witli  all  tlio  details  of  an  adviuico 

till 'Ii  Mil  t'lieiny'M  country,  sliDwinj,'  that  nothing  csoaped  hid  observation, 

ami  III, it  wliat  was  worth  copying  hu  could  easily  karu. 
'•'^  li'ii/'.iHrmiis,  iii.  121-'2. 


606 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


.:    \'i 


!l'  i  i 


the  Indian  tribes  in  this  partof  Oregon,  Superintend- 
ent Huntington,  after  a  preliminary  conference  in  Au- 
gust, appointed  a  general  council  for  the  9th  of  Orto- 
ber.  The  council  came  off  and  lasted  until  the  loth, 
on  which  day  Drew  reached  the  council  ground  at  the 
ford  of  Sprague  River,  glad  to  find  his  services  liad 
not  been  required,  and  not  sorry  to  have  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  treaty  there  made :  not  because  the 
treaty  was  not  a  good  and  just  one,  but  from  a  fear 
that  the  government  would  fail  to  keep  it.^ 

'*  The  treaty  was  made  between  Huntington  of  Oregon,  A.  E.  Wiley,  sup. 
of  Cal.,  by  his  deputy,  agent  Logan  of  Warm  Spring  reservation,  aii<l  the 
Klamaths,  Modocs,  and  Yahooskin  band  of  Snakes.  The  military  jncseiit 
■were  a  detachment  of  Washington  infantry  under  Lieut,  nallorun,  \V.  ('. 
McKay  with  5  Indian  scouts.  Captain  Kelly  and  Lieutenant  Umlei\\.ioil 
with  a  detachment  of  company  C.  The  Indiana  on  the  ground  numlicivd 
lOTO,  of  whom  700  were  Klamaths,  over  300  Modocs,  and  20  Snakes,  but 
more  than  1,500  were  represented.  Huntington  estimated  that  there  wci-e 
not  more  than  2,000  Indians  in  the  country  treated  for,  though  Dre«  .iml 
E.  Steele  of  California  made  a  much  higher  estimate.  lud.  Aff.  lii'i't,  I  Mi'), 
102.  Special  Agent  Lindsey  Applegate  and  McKay  acted  as  counsellni'.s  ami 
interpreters  for  the  Indians.  There  was  no  difficulty  in  making  a  treaty  witli 
the  Klamaths.  Tho  Modocs  and  Snakes  were  more  reluctant,  but  signed  t'lo 
treaty,  which  they  perfectly  understood.  It  ceded  all  right  to  a  tract  ot  emin- 
ti'y  extending  from  tho  44th  parallel  on  the  north  to  the  ridge  which  div  ides 
tho  Pit  and  McLeod  rivers  on  tho  south,  and  from  tho  Cascade  MimnhuMsou 
the  west  to  the  Goose  Lake  Mountains  on  the  east.  There  was  reserved  n  tract 
beginning  on  tho  eastern  shore  of  Upper  Klamath  Lake  at  Point  of  Uoi  ks, 
twelve  miles  below  Williamson  River,  thence  following  up  tho  castenislMiro 
to  tho  moutli  of  Wood  River  to  a  point  one  mile  north  of  tho  bridjiu  nt  lurt 
Klamath;  thence  due  cast  to  the  ridge  which  divides  Klamath  niarsli  from 
Upper  Klamath  Lake;  thence  along  said  ridge  to  a  point  duo  cast  of  tliu 
north  end  of  Klamath  marsh;  thence  duo  cast,  passing  the  north  end  of  Kla- 
math marsh  to  tho  summit  of  tho  mountain,  tho  extremity  of  which  t'oruis  tliu 
Point  of  Rocks,  and  along  said  ridge  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Tiiis  trait 
contained,  besides  much  country  that  was  considered  unlit  for  scttleineiit, 
the  Klamath  marsh,  which  afforded  a  great  food  supply  in  roots  and  surils,  a 
largo  extent  of  fine  grazing  land,  with  enough  arable  land  to  make  farms  fur 
all  the  Indians,  and  access  to  the  fishery  on  vVilliamson  River  and  the  i,'reat 
or  Upper  Klamath  Lake.  Tho  Klamath  reservation,  as  did  every  Indian  res- 
ervation, if  that  on  the  Oregon  coast  was  excepted,  cimtaincd  suino  of  tho 
choicest  country  and  most  agreeable  scenery  in  the  state.  White  persons,  ex- 
cept government  officers  and  employes,  were  by  tho  terms  of  tho  treaty  for- 
bidden to  reside  upon  the  reservation,  while  the  Indians  were  ci|ually  liouiid 
to  live  upon  it;  tho  rigiit  of  way  for  public  roads  only  being  pledged.  The 
U.  S.  agreed  to  pay  §S,000  per  annum  for  five  years,  beginning  when  the 
treaty  should  be  ratified;  §5,000  for  the  next  five  years,  and  $.'{,000  fi  r  the 
following  five  years;  these  sums  to  bo  expended,  under  tho  direction  of  the 
president,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians.  Tho  U.  S.  further  agreed  to  pay 
|;i5,000  for  such  articles  as  should  be  furnished  to  the  Indians  at  tlic  time  of 
signing  the  treaty,  and  for  their  subsistence,  clothing,  and  tcan>s  to  l>egia 
fnrnung  for  tho  first  year.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  the  ratification  of  tlio 
treaty,  mills,  shops,  and  a  school-Iiouse  were  to  be  built.  For  fifteen  yi  ara  a 
superintendent  of  farming,  a  farmer,  blacksmith,  wagon-maker,  saw}  er,  aud 


f 


HUNTINGTONS  TREATY. 


8W 


Overtures  had  been  made  to  Panina,  but  unsuccess- 
fully. He  had  been  invited  to  the  council,  but  pre- 
Icirud  enjoying  his  freedom.  But  an  unexpected 
reverse  was  awaiting  the  chief.  After  Superintend- 
t'lit  Huntington  had  distributed  the  presents  provided 
for  the  occasion  of  the  treaty,  and  deposited  at  the 
fort  16,000  pounds  of  flour  to  be  issued  to  such  of  the 
Indians  as  chose  to  remain  there  during  the  winter, 
ho  set  out  on  his  return  to  The  Dalles,  as  he  had 
come,  by  the  route  along  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Cascade  Mountains.  Quite  unexpectedly,  when  in 
tlio  neighborhood  of  the  head  waters  of  Dos  Chutes, 
1k'  came  upon  two  Snakes,  who  endeavored  to  escape, 
l»ut  being  intercepted,  were  found  to  belong  to  Panina's 
l»aiid.  The  escort  immediately  encamped  and  sent 
out  scouts  in  search  of  the  camp  of  the  chief,  which 
was  Ibund  after  several  hours,  on  one  of  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  river,  containing,  however,  only  three 
iiu'ii,  three  women,  and  two  children,  who  were  cap- 
tured and  brought  to  camp,  one  of  the  women  being 
Panina's  wife.  Before  the  superintendent  could  turn 
to  advantage  this  fortunate  capture,  which  he  hoped 
iiiii,dit  bring  him  into  direct  communication  with 
Panina,  the  Indians  made  a  simultaneous  attempt  to 
seize  the  guns  of  their  captors,  when  they  were  fired 
upon,  and  three  killed,  two  escaping  though  wounded. 
One  of  these  died  a  few  hours  afterward,  but  one 
leaehed  Panina's  camp,  and  recovered.  By  this  means 
the  ehiof  learned  of  the  loss  of  four  of  his  warriors 
and  the  captivity  of  his  wife,  who  was  taken  with  tho 
otiicr  women  and  children  to  Vancouver  to  be  held 
as  hostaijes. 

ciiipi;ntt.'r  were  to  ho  furnished,  and  two  teachers  for  twenty- two  years.  Tho 
U.  S.  might  cause  the  land  to  bo  surveyed  in  allotments,  wliicli  might  be 
Sfciiicil  ti)  tho  families  of  tho  holders.  Tho  annuities  of  tho  tribe  could  not 
lie-  tMktin  for  the  debts  of  individuals.  Tlio  U.  S.  inight  at  any  future  time 
lijcatti  other  Indians  on  tho  reservation,  tho  parties  to  the  treaty  to  lose  no 
rij,'hts  thereby.  On  tho  part  of  tho  Indians,  they  pledged  tlicmsclves  not 
to  drink  intoxicating  liquors  on  pain  of  forfeiting  their  annuities;  and  to  obey 
tlio  laws  of  tho  U.  S. ;  tho  treaty  to  bo  binding  when  ratified. 

Tlio  lir.st  settler  in  tho  Klamath  country  was  George  Nourse,  who  took  up 
ill  .Uii^u.st  lS(i.3  tho  land  where  IJnkvillo  stands.  He  was  n<itai-y  public  and 
rugi.itrar  of  tho  Liukton  laud  district.    J acknoiioilk  Sentinel,  March  8,  1873. 


:;  I 


i  ! 


508 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


Not  lonjir  after  this  event  Paniiia  presented  himself 
at  F(jrt  Klamath,  having  received  a  niessai^ti  sent  him 
from  the  council  ^rounil,  that  he  would  he  permitted 
to  come  and  «jfo  unharmed,  and  wished  Ca])tain  KtHy 
of  Fort  Klamath  to  assure  the  superintendent  that 
he  was  tired  of  war,  and  would  willingly  make  peace 
could  he  be  protected. ^^  To  this  offer  of  suhmissioii, 
answer  was  returned  that  the  superintendent  would 
visit  him  the  following  summer  with  a  view  to  mak- 
ing a  treaty.  This  closed  operations  against  the 
Indians  of  southern  Oregon  for  the  year,  and  afforded 
a  prospect  of  permanent  peace,  so  far  as  the  country 
adjacent  to  the  Kogue  River  Valley  was  concerned, 
a  portion  of  which  had  been  subject  to  invasions  fiom 
the  Klamath  country.  Even  the  Umpqua  Valley 
had  not  been  quite  free  from  occasional  mystei-ious 
visitations,  from  which  henceforward  it  was  to  bo 
delivered. 

With  the  close  of  the  campaigns  of  the  First  Ore- 
gon Cavalry  for  18G4,  the  term  of  actual  service  of 
the  original  six  companies  expired.  They  had  per- 
formed hard  service,  though  not  of  the  kind  they 
would  have  chosen.  Small  v/as  the  pay,  and  tritliiig 
the  reward  of  glory.  It  was  known  as  the  'puiitau 
regiment,'  from  habits  of  temperance  and  moralitv, 
and  was  largely  composed  of  the  sons  of  well-to-do 
farmers.  Out  of  fifty-one  desertions  occurring  in 
three  years,  but  three  were  from  this  class,  the  rest 
being  recruits  from  the  floating  population  of  tliu 
country.  No  regiment  in  the  regular  army  had  stood 
the  same  tests  so  heroically. 

When  the  legislature  met  in  1864  a  bounty  act  was 
pavssed  to  encourage  future,  not  to  reward  past,  volun- 
teering. It  gave  to  every  soldier  who  should  enlist 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  as  part  of  the  state's 

'*  A  treaty  waa  made  with  Panina  iu  the  following  year,  but  badly  observed 
by  him,  aa  the  history  of  the  iSuake  wars  will  show. 


I    K 


i    i 


NEW  ENLISTMENTS. 


809 


quota  unclcT  the  laws  of  congress,  $150  in  addition  to 
other  bounties  and  pay  already  provided  for,  to  be 
j)aiJ  in  three  instalments,  at  the  beginning  and  end 
of  the  first  year,  and  at  the  end  of  the  term  of  service 
either  to  him,  or  in  case  of  his  demise,  to  his  heirs. 
For  the  purpose  of  raising  a  fund  for  this  use,  a  tax 
was  levied  of  one  mill  on  the  dollar  upon  all  the  tax- 
able pro[)erty  of  the  state. ^^  At  the  same  time,  how- 
ever, an  act  was  passed  appropriating  $100,000  as  a 
IuikI  out  of  which  to  pay  live  dollars  a  month  addi- 
tional compensation  to  the  volunteers  already  in  the 
service. 

On  the  day  the  first  bill  was  signed  Governor  Gibbs 
issued  a  proclamation  that  a  requisition  had  been 
made  by  the  department  commander  for  a  regiment 
of  infimtry  in  addition  to  the  volunteers  then  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  who  were  "to  aid  in  the 
enforcement  of  the  laws,  suppress  insurrection  and  in- 
vasion, and  to  chastise  hostile  Indians  "  in  the  mili- 
tary district  of  Oregon.  Ten  companies  were  called 
for,  to  bo  known  as  the  1st  Infantry  Oregon  Volun- 
teers, each  company  to  consist  of  eighty-two  privates 
niaxiuium  or  sixty -four  minimum,  besides  a  full  corps 
<jf  regimental  and  staff  officers.  The  governor  in  his 
proclamation  made  an  earnest  appeal  to  county  offi- 
cers to  avoid  a  draft  by  vigorously  prosecuting  the 
business  of  procuring  volunteers.  Lieutenants'  com- 
missions were  immediately  issued  to  men  in  the  sev- 
eral counties  as  recruiting  officers,**  conditional  upon 
their  raising  their  companies  within  a  prescribed  time, 
when  they  would  be  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain.*" 


««0r.  Law»,  1866,  98-110. 

'■/(/.,  104-8;  Rhinehart's  Oregon  Cavalry,  MS.,  15. 

'''A.  J.  Borland,  Grant  county;  E.  Palmer,  Yamhill;  Charles  J^follet, 
Polk;  J.  M.  (iale,  Clatsop;  W.  J.  Shipley,  Benton;  W.  S.  Powe]l,  Multno- 
niiili;  C,  P.  Crandall,  Marion;  F.  0.  McCown,  Clackamas;  T.  Humphreys, 
Jackson,  were  commissioned  2d  lieutenants. 

'■^^  Polk  county  raised  $1,200  extra  bounty  rather  than  fail,  and  completed 
her  enlistment,  first  of  all.  Josephine  county  raised  §2,500,  and  Clackamas 
otfere-i  similar  inducements.  Portland  Oregonian,  Nov.  30,  1864,  Feb.  14, 
18UJ, 


^i 


510 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPERATIONS. 


I  i 


i  (■ 


Six  companies  were  formed  within  the  limit,  and  two 
more  before  the  first  of  April  1805.*° 

Early  in  January  1865  General  McDowell  made  a  re- 
quisition for  a  second  regiment  of  cavalry,  the  exihtiii^f 
organization  to  be  kept  up  and  to  retain  its  name  of 
1st  Oregon  cavalry,  but  to  be  filled  up  to  twelve  cdiu- 
panics.  In  making  his  proclamation  Governor  Gil)l)s 
reminded  those  liable  to  perform  military  duty  of  the 
bounties  provided  by  the  state  and  the  general  gov- 
ernment which  would  furnish  horses  to  the  new  n'gi- 
ment.  But  the  response  was  not  enthusiastic.  Ahoiit 
this  time  the  district  was  extended  to  include  the 
southern  and  south-eastern  portions  of  the  state,  here- 
tofore attached  to  California,  while  the  Boi.se  and 
Owyhee  region  was  made  a  subdistrict  of  Oregon, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Drake.  These 
arrangements  left  the  military  affairs  of  Oregon  en- 
tirely in  the  hands  of  her  own  citizens,  under  the 
general  command  of  General  McDowell,  and  thus 
they  remained  through  the  summer.  On  the  Utli 
of  July  Colonel  Maury  retired,  and  Colonel  B.  Curry 
took  the  command  of  the  district. 


' ' :' 


II!  I 


In  the  summer  of  1864  General  Wright,  tliouLfh 
retaining  command  of  the  district  of  California,  was 
relieved  of  the  command  of  the  department  of  the 
Pacific  by  General  McDowell,  who  in  the  month 
of  August  paid  a  visit  of  inspection  to  the  dis- 
trict of  Oregon,  going  first  to  Puget  Sound,  where 
foi'tifications  were  being  erected  at  the  entrance  to 
Admiralty  I;det,  and  thence  to  Vancouver  on  the 
revenue  cutter  Shuhrick,  Captain  Scaramon.  On  the 
13th  of  September  he  inspected  the  defensive  woiks 
under  construction  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columhia, 

"Tho  following  were  the  lieutenants  in  tlie  regiment:  William  .1.  Sliip- 
ley,  Cvrus  H.  W'alkc-,  Thomas  H.  lieynoUU,  Snmuel  P,  Korus,  Joliii  ». 
Dimick,  Diu'iuB  H.  Randall,  William  M.  Rand,  William  Grant,  Harri><>ii  H. 
Oatmun,  Hyion  Barlow,  William  R.  Dunl>ar,  .folin  \V.  Cullen,  Climiii  H. 
Kolaiul,  Charles  II.  Hill,  Joseph  M.  Gale,  James  A.  Balch,  Peter  1*.  ViMfi, 
Dnniol  W.  Apnlcgato,  Charlus  N.  Chapman,  All)ert  Applegate,  Riuhaul  Fox 
(vice  Baloh).   Jie^rt  Aiift  Qtn.  Or.,  1800,  pp.  217-221. 


w^ 


FORTIFICATIONS. 


011 


uliieh  were  begun  the  previous  year.  For  this  pur- 
jKisf  congress  had  in  1861-2  appropriated  $100,000 
in  1)0  expended  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and 
^vith  such  rapidity  had  the  work  been  pushed  forward 
tli;i<^  the  fortifications  on  Point  Adams,  on  the  south- 
ern side  of  the  entrance  to  the  river,  were  about  com- 
pK'ted  at  the  time  of  McDowell's  visit.  With  the 
aiiproval  of  the  war  department.  Captain  George  El- 
liot i)f  the  engineering  corps  named  this  fort  in  honor 
(if  (General  I.  J.  Stevens,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Cliaiitilly,  September  1,  1862." 

Immediately  on  the  completion  of  this  fort  corre- 
(5)1011(11  ng  earthworks  were  erected  on  the  north  side  of 
tilt!  entrance  to  the  river  on  the  high  point  known  as 
Capo  Disappointment,  but  recognized  by  the  depart- 
iiutit as  Cape  Hancock.  Both  of  these  fortifications 
were  completed  before  the  conclusion  of  the  civil  war, 
which  hastened  their  construction,  and  were  garri- 
soned in  the  autumn  of  1865.*^  In  1874,  by  order  of 
till'  war  department  and  at  the  suggestion  of  Assist- 
ant adjutant-general  H.  Clay  Wood,  the  military  post 
at  Capo  Hancock  was  named  Fort  Canby,  in  honor 
of  Major-general  Edward  R.  S  Canby,  who  perished 
l»v  assassination  during  the  Modoc  war  of  1872-3, 
and  the  official  name  of  the  cape  was  ordered  to  be 
Udc'd  by  the  army. 

*'  Fort  Stevens  was  constructed  of  solid  earthworks,  jnst  inside  the  en- 
tram T,  ami  was  made  one  of  the  strongest  and  beat  armed  fortifications  un 
tlio  I'acit'h^  coasit.  It  was  a  nonagon  in  shape,  and  surrounded  by  a  ditch  thirty 
ft'ct  ill  width,  which  was  again  surrounilcd  by  earthworks,  protecting  the 
w;ilN  iif  the  fort  and  tho  earthworks  supporting  the  ordnance.  Or.  ArijiiM, 
Jun.' :>  iiiid  29,  1803;  Ibid.,  Aug.  18,  18«3;  Victor's  Or.,  40-1;  Sunjeon  Utn. 
Crc.  H,  484-7. 

'-(In  (.'iipe  Disappointment  was  a  light-house  of  the  first  class,  rising  from 
the  liiu'lit  st  iKHnt.  Extending  o  long  the  cruHt  of  the  capo  on  tho  riverside 
W(  IV  I  lin-i-  powerful  Imttcf  ies  mounted  on  solid  walls  of  earth.  Unsler  tlio  slul- 
ter  nt  till!  cape,  around  the  shore  of  Hiiker  iiay,  were  tho  garrison  buildings 
Biiil  nilii'iii's'  quarters.  It  was  and  is  at  present  one  of  the  prettiebt  places 
on  lilt'  Columbia,  though  rather  inaccessible  in  stcmy  weather.  Sunimii 
(.I'll.  Cirriilar,  8,  461;  Vtctor'nOr.,  !iQ-H;Oivrtaiid  AIontMi/,  viii.  73-4;  Htcel'n 
liiih-  l.'r,,!,  M8.,  fl;  Portland  Oregonian,  April  4,  i8(J4,  Oct.  19,  1865;  S.  F, 
Ml  <  tin,  Nov.  25,  1864;  Or.  Pioneer  Hist.  Soc.,  7-8. 


1 


1 

•  i| 
I 


I 

SI  r 


I 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 
1866-1868. 

C0»n»ANIE8     AND     CaMPS— StEELE'S     MEASURES — HaLLECR     HeADSTRO.VO— 

Battle  of  the  Owvhee— Indian  Raids — Sufferings  of  the  Skttlers 

AND  TUANSrOllTATIUN  MeN— MOVEMENTS  OF  TroOPS — ATTITUDE  OK  (liiV- 
EKNOll    \Vo()DS — FUEE    FlGHTINO — ENLISTMENT    OF    INDIANS   TO    FlOHT 

Indians— MiLiiARY  Reorganization — Among  thk  Lava-beus— Crook 
IN  Command— Extermination  or  Confinement  and  Deatu  in  Ke.s£r- 

▼ATI0N3. 


In  the  spring  of  1865  the  troops  were  early  callorl 
upon  to  take  the  field  in  Oregon  and  Idaho,  the  rotuls 
between  The  Dalles  and  Boisd,  between  Boise  and 
Salt  Lake,  between  Owyhee  and  Chico,  and  Owyliee 
and  Humboldt  in  California,  being  unsafe  by  reason  of 
Indian  raids.  A  hundred  men  were  sent  in  April  to 
guard  The  Dalles  and  Boisd  road,  which,  owing  to  its 
length,  450  miles,  they  could  not  do.  In  May,  com- 
pany B,  Oregon  volunteers,  Captain  Palmer,  moved 
from  The  Dalles  to  escort  a  supply-train  to  Boisd. 
Soon  after  arriving,  Lieutenant  J.  W.  Cullen  was 
dircted  to  take  twenty  men  and  proceed  150  miles  t':ir- 
ther  to  Camp  Reed,  on  the  Salmon  Falls  Creek,  wIhto 
he  was  to  remain  and  guard  the  stage  and  injmi^i.iiit 
road.  Captain  Palmer  was  ordered  to  establish  a  siim- 
mer  camp  on  Big  Camas  prairie,  which  ho  called  ( ';iinp 
Wallace.  From  this  point  Lieutenant  C.  H.  Wnlktr 
was  sent  with  twenty-two  enlisted  men  to  theTlmo 
l^uttes,  1 10  miles  east  of  Camp  Wallace,  to  look  out  fDr 
the  immiyfration.  Leavinyf  most  of  his  command  at 
Three  Buttes,  Walker  j)roceeded  to  Gibson's  inry, 

(SU( 


i: 


CAMP  LANDER. 


513 


ie\dstr:»so— 
the  8k.ttlek3 

ITUDKOK  lliiV. 

\Ns  TO  Fight 
,-BEUS — Ckook 
ATU  IS  Ke.sEK- 


above  Fort  Hall,  where  ho  found  a  great  number  of 
wai^oiia  crossing,  and  no  unfriendly  Indians.  On  ro- 
cfiviiig  orders,  however,  he  removed  his  company  to 
the  t'ciiy,  where  he  remained  until  September  19th, 
at'ttr  which  he  proceeded  to  Fort  Hall  to  prepare  winter 


g_^  "^  eUQENt  CITY 


yrsTKRN  Obeoon. 


qnartors,  Palmer's  company  being  ordered  to  occupy 
tliat  post.  The  old  fort  was  found  a  heap  of  ruins;  but 
i»iit  of  the  adobes  and  some  aba?»doned  buildings  of  the 
iivti  land  stage  company,  a  shelter  was  erected  at  the 
junction  of  the  Salt  Lake,  Virginia  City,  and  BoiscS 
tuuds,  «vl)ich  station  was  named  Cnaip  Lander.     This 

HiiT.  Ob.,  VuL.  II.    83 


1 

11 

■11  f 

11 

1 

i.      i  r| 

1  :  Ji 

||    \m 

I    mm 

1       3|'|n 

11 

614 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


post  and  Camp  Reed  were  maintained  during  the  win- 
ter by  the  Oregon  infantry,  the  latter  having  only  tents 
for  shelter,  and  being  exposed  to  severe  hardships.^  In 
May  detachments  of' Oregon  cavalry  were  ordered  from 
The  Dalles,  under  lieutenants  Charles  Hobart  and 
James  L.  Curry,  to  clear  the  road  to  Caiion  City,  and 
thence  to  Bois^,  from  which  post  Major  Drake  ordered 
Curry  to  proceed  to  Rock  Creek,  on  Snake  River,  to 
escort  the  mails,  the  Indians  having  driven  off  all 
the  stock  of  the  overland  stage  company  from  several 
of  the  stations. 

Lieutenant  Hobart  proceeded  to  Jordan  Creek, 
where  he  established  a  post  called  Camp  Lyon,  after 
General  Lyon,  who  fell  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
at  Willow  Creek  in  Missouri.  Soon  after,  being  in 
pursuit  of  some  Indians  who  had  again  driven  off 
stock  on  Reynolds  Creek,  he  was  himself  attacked 
while  in  camp  on  the  Malheur,  having  the  horses  of  his 
command  stampeded;  but  in  a  fight  of  four  hours,  dur- 
ing which  he  had  two  men  wounded,  he  recovered  hu 
own,  took  a  part  of  the  enemy's  horses,  and  killed  and 
wounded  several  Indians.'  Captain  L.  L.  Williams, 
of  company  H,  Oregon  infantry,  who  was  employed 
guarding  the  Caflon  City  road,  was  ordered  from  camp 
Watson  in  September,  to  proceed  on  an  expedition  to 
Selvie  River,  Lieutenant  Bowen  of  the  cavalry  be- 
ing sent  to  join  him  with  twenty-five  soldiers.  Before 
Bowen's  arrival,  Williams*  company  performed  some 
of  the  best  fighting  of  the  season  under  the  great- 
est difficulties;  being  on  foot,  and  compelled  to  march 
a  long  distance  surrounded  by  Indians  mounted  and 
afoot,  but  of  whom  they  killed  fifteen,  with  a  loss 
of  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded.'  Williams  re- 
mained in  the  Harney  Valley  through  the  winter, 
establishing  Camp  Wright. 

*  Lieut  Walker  here  referred  to  U  a  Hon  of  Rev.  Elkanab  Walker,  a  minion- 
aryof  1830. 

*  Jioia^  Oily  Statuman,  July  13  and  18, 1865.    Hobart  was  afterward  a  cap- 
tain ill  the  regalar  army.  Albany  StcUtt  Right* Democrat,  July  2,  i87<'^. 

■Report  of  LI  Wilfiarai  in  Kept  AM  Chn.  Or.  1866,  82-98.  L.  L.  WiU> 
iiama  wu  one  of  the  Port  Orford  puiy  Whioh  auffered  so  Mverely  in  \%U 


1 1 


it  '  u 


CURRY  AND  SPRAGUE. 


6X8 


In  addition  to  the  Oregon  troops.  Captain  L.  S. 
Scott,  of  the  4th  California  volunteer  infantry,  was 
employed  guarding  the  road  to  Chieo,  being  stationed 
in  Paradise  Valley  through  the  summer,  but  ordered 
to  Silver  Creek  in  September,  where  he  established 
Camp  Curry. 

Colonel  Curry  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  district  of  the  Columbia  on  the  death'  of  General 
Wright,  while  en  route  to  Vancouver  to  assume  the 
command,  by  the  foundering  of  the  steamship  Brother 
Jonathan.  In  order  to  obvi»^.te  the  inconvenience  of 
long  and  unwieldly  transportation  trains,  and  in  order 
also  to  carry  on  a  winter  campaign,  which  he  believed 
would  be  most  effectual,  as  the  Indians  would  then  bo 
found  in  the  valleys,  Curry  distributed  the  troops 
in  the  following  camps:  Camp  Polk  on  the  Des  Chutes 
River,  Camp  Curry  on  Silver  Creek,  Camp  Wright 
on  Selvie  River,  camps  Logan  and  Colfax  on  the 
Canon  City  and  Boisd  road,  Camp  Alvord  in  Alvord 
Valley,  Camp  Lyon  on  Jordan  Creek,  Idaho,  Camp 
Rood  near  Salmon  Falls,  and  Camp  Lander  at  old  Fort 
Hull,  Idaho.  But  with  all  these  posts  the  country 
continued  to  suffer  with  little  abatement  the  scourge 
of  frequent  Indian  raids. 

Early  in  October  Captain  F.  B.  Sprague,  of  the 
1st  Oregon  infantry,  was  ordered  to  examine  the  route 
between  Camp  Alvord  and  Fort  Klamath,  with  a  view 
to  opening  communication  with  the  latter.  Escorted 
by  eleven  cavalrymen,  Sprague  set  out  on  the  10th,  tak- 
ing the  route  by  Warner  Lake  over  which  Drew  had 
made  a  reconnoissance  in  1865,  arriving  at  Fort  Klam- 
atli  on  the  17th  without  having  seen  any  Indians. 
But  having  come  from  Fort  Klamath  a  month  previ- 
ous, and  seen  a  large  trail  crossing  his  route,  going 
south,  and  not  finding  that  any  fresh  trail  indicated  the 
return  of  the  Indians,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  were  still  south  of  the  Drew  road,  between  it  and 
Surprise  Valley,  where  Camp  Bidwell  was  located. 

On  making  this  report  to  Major  Kheinhart,  in  com- 


516 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


mand  at  Klamath,  he  was  ordered  to  return  to  Camp 
Alvord  by  the  way  of  Surprise  Valley  and  arrange  co- 
operative measures  with  the  commander  of  the  post 
there.  But  when  he  arrived  at  Camp  Bidwell  on  the 
28th,  Captain  Starr,  of  the  second  California  volunteer 
cavalry,  in  command,  was  already  under  orders  to  re- 
pair with  his  company,  except  twenty-five  men,  to  Fort 


Eastbiut  Oriooii,  Camm  akd  Fobts. 

Crook,  before  the  mountains  became  impassablo  with 
snow.  Ho  decided,  however,  to  send  ten  men,  iincior 
Lieutenant  Backus,  with  Sprague's  escort,  to  prove  tho 
supposed  location  of  the  main  body  of  the  Indians. 
On  the  third  day,  going  north,  having  arrived  at 
Warner's  Creek,  which  enters  the  east  side  of  the  lake 
seven  miles  south  of  the  crossing  of  the  Drew  road, 


DISBANDMENT  OP  VOLUNTEERS. 


617 


without  fallingjin  with  any  Indians,  Backus  turned 
back  to  Camp  Bidwell,  and  Sprague  proceeded. 

No  sooner  had  this  occurred  than  signs  of  the  enemy 
began  to  appear,  who  were  encountered,  125  strong, 
about  two  miles  south  from  the  road.  While  the 
tr()<ips  were  passing  an  open  space  between  the  lake  and 
tlie  steep  side  of  a  mountain  they  were  attacked  by  the 
savages  hidden  in  trenches  made  by  land-slides,  and  be- 
liind  rocks.  Sprague,  being  surprised,  and  unable  either 
to  climb  the  mountain  or  swim  the  lake,  halted  to  take  in 
the  situation.  The  attacking  parties  were  in  the  front 
and  rear,  but  he  observed  that  those  in  the  rear  were 
armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  while  those  in  front  had 
among  them  about  twenty-five  rifles.  The  former  were 
leaving  their  hiding-places  to  drive  him  upon  the  lat- 
ter. Observing  this,  he  made  a  sudden  charge  to  the 
rear,  escaping  unharmed  and  returning  to  Camp  Bid- 
well. 

Captain  Starr  then  determined  to  hold  his  company 
at  that  post,  and  cooperate  with  Camp  Alvord  against 
those  Indians.  But  when  Sprague  arrived  there  by 
another  route  he  found  the  cavalry  half  dismounted 
by  a  recent  raid  of  these  ubiquitous  thieves,  and  the 
other  half  absent  in  pursuit;*  thus  a  good  opportunity 
of  beginning  a  winter  campaign  was  lost.  But  an  im- 
portant discovery  had  been  made  of  the  principal 
lendozvous  of  the  Oregon  Snake  Indians — a  knowledge 
whieli  the  regular  army  turned  to  account  when  they 
succeeded  the  volunteer  service. 

In  October,  before  Curry  had  thoroughly  tested 
liis  plan  of  a  winter  campaign,  orders  were  received  to 
muster  out  the  volunteers,  and  with  them  he  retired 
iVoui  the  service.  Ho  was  succeeded  in  the  command 
of  the  department  by  Lie  itenant-colonel  Drake,  who 
in  turn  was  mustered  out  in  December.  Little  by 
little  the  whole  volunteer  force  was  disbanded,  until 
in  Juno  1866  there  remaioed  in  the  service  only  com- 

*<TiinH'n  Aldcrgon  of  Jacksonville,  a  good  mnn,  who  was  on  guard,  was  killed 
iu  tliiH  raid.  Portland  Ortgoniun,  Doc.  4,  1805. 


618 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


pany  B,  1st  Oregon  cavalry,  and  company  1, 1st  Oregon 
infantry.  All  the  various  camps  in  Oregon  were 
abandoned  except  Camp  Watson,  against  the  removal 
of  which  the  merchants  of  The  Dalles  protested,*  and 
Camp  Alvord,  which  was  removed  to  a  little  different 
location  and  called  Camp  C.  F.  Smith.  Camp  Lyon 
and  Fort  Bois^  were  allowed  to  remain,  but  forts 
Lapwai  and  Walla  Walla  were  abandoned.  These 
changes  were  made  preparatory  to  the  arrival  of  several 
companies  of  regular  troops,  and  the  opening  of  a  new 
campaign  under  a  new  department  commander. 

The  first  arrival  in  the  Indian  country  of  troops  from 
the  east  was  about  the  last  of  October  1865,  when 
two  companies  of  the  14th  infantry  were  stationed  at 
Fort  Boisd,  with  Captain  Walker  in  command,  when 
;he  volunteers  at  that  post  proceeded  to  Vancouver 
to  be  mustered  out.  No  other  changes  occurred  in 
this  part  of  the  field  until  spring,  the  United  States 
and  Oregon  troops  being  fully  employed  in  pursuing 
the  omnipresent  Snakes."  Toward  the  middle  of 
February  1866,  a  large  amount  of  property  having 
been  stolen.  Captain  Walker  made  an  expedition  with 
thirty-nine  men  to  the  mouth  of  the  Owyhee,  and  into 
Oregon,  between  the  Owyhee  and  Malheur  rivers,  com- 
ing upon  a  party  of  twenty-one  Indians  in  a  canon, 
and  opening  fire.  A  vigorous  resistance  was  made 
before  the  savages  would  relinquish  their  booty,  which 
they  did  only  when  they  were  all  dead  but  three,  who 
escaped  in  the  darkness  of  coming  night.  Walker 
lost  one  man  killed  and  one  wounded. 

On  the  24th  of  February  Major-general  F.  Steele 

*  Dalles  Mounlaitieer,  April  20,  1866. 

*  A  man  iiamc<l  Clark  was  shot,  near  the  month  of  the  Owvhee,  while  en- 
camped  with  other  wagoners,  ia  Nov. ;  34  horses  were  stolen  from  near  Bois^ 
ferry  on  Snake  River  iu  Dee. ;  and  the  paok-mules  at  Gamp  Alvord  were  stolen. 
Captain  Sprague  recovered  these  latter.  Feb.  13th  the  rancho  of  Anilrcw 
Hall,  15  miles  from  Ruby  City,  wea  attacked,  Hall  killed,  60  head  of  horsea 
driven  ofT,  and  the  premises  set  on  (ire.  BoM  Sfateamnn,  Feb.  17,  IMit!;  Ui 
March  4,  1866.  Ada  County  raised  a  company  c'  volunteers  t^  ^/ursim  tiiew 
Indians,  hut  they  were  not  ovcrtakou.  /nd.  J^ff.  Sept,  1860,  161-8',  Audin 
Eeete  liiver  Peveille,  March  13,  1806. 


CAMPS  AND  COMMANDERS. 


619 


took  command  of  the  department  of  the  Columbia. 
There  were  in  the  department  at  that  time,  besides 
the  volunteer  force  which  amounted  numerically  to 
553  infantry  and  319  cavalry,  one  battalion  of  the 
14th  United  States  infantry,  numbering  793  men,  and 
three  companies  of  artillery,  occupying  fortified  works 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  and  on  San  Juan  Island. 
These  troops,  exclusive  of  the  artillery,  were  scattered 
ill  small  detachments  over  a  large  extent  of  country, 
as  we  already  know. 

On  the  2d  of  March  the  post  of  Fort  Boisd,  with 
its  dependencies,  camps  Lyon,  Alvord,  Reed,  and  Lan- 
der, was  erected  into  a  full  military  district,  under  the 
command  of  Major  L.  H.  Marshall,  who  arrived  at 
district  headquarters  about  the  20th,  and  immediately 
made  a  requisition  upon  Steele  for  three  more  com- 
panies. In  April  Colonel  J.  B.  Sinclair  of  the  14th 
infantry  took  the  command  at  Camp  Curry,  which 
he  abandoned  and  proceeded  to  Bois^.  Fort  Boisd 
received  about  this  time  a  company  of  the  same  regi- 
ment, under  Captain  Ilinton,  withdrawn  from  Cape 
Hancock,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and  another, 
under  Lieutenant-colonel  J.  J.  Coppinger,  withdrawn 
from  The  Dalles. 

Camp  Watson  received  two  companies  of  cavalry, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  E.  M.  Baker.  Camp 
C.  F.  Smith  received  a  cavalry  company  under  Cap- 
tain David  Perry,  who  marched  into  Oregon  from 
the  south  by  tlie  Chico  route;  and  Camp  Lyon  received 
another  under  Captain  James  C.  Hunt,  who  entered 
Oregon  by  the  Humboldt  route.  At  Camp  Lyon  also 
was  a  company  of  the  14th  infantry  under  Captain  P. 
Collins,  and  one  of  the  1st  Oregon  infantry  under 
Captain  Sprague.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  most 
of  the  troops  were  massed  in  the  Bois^  military  dis- 
trict, only  Baker's  two  companies  being  stationed 
where  they  could  guard  the  road  between  The  Dalles 
and  Boisd,  which  was  so  infested  that  the  express 
company  refused  to  carry  treasure  over  itj  half  a  dozen 


520 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAB. 


M 


liir!;! 


successful  raids  having  been  made  on  the  line  of  the 
road  before  the  first  of  May. 

Although  Steele's  first  action  was  to  cause  the 
abandonment  of  most  of  the  camps  already  established, 
as  I  have  noticed,  as  early  as  March  20th,  he  wrote 
to  General  Halleck,  commanding  the  division  of  the 
Pacific,  that  the  Indians  had  commenced  depredations, 
with  such  signs  of  continued  hostilities  in  the  southern 
portions  of  Oregon  and  Idaho  that  he  should  recom- 
mend the  establishment  of  two  posts  during  the  sum- 
mer, from  which  to  operate  against  them  the  follow- 
ing winter,  one  at  or  near  Camp  Wright,  and  another 
in  Goose  Lake  Valley,  from  which  several  roads 
diverged  leading  to  other  valleys  frequented  by  hostile 
Snakes,  Utes,  Pit  Rivers,  Modocs,  and  Klamaths. 

On  the  28th  of  March  Major  Marshall  led  an  ex- 
pedition to  the  Bruneau  River,  110  miles,  finding  only 
the  unarmed  young  and  old  of  the  Snake  tribe,  to  the 
number  of  150.  On  returning  about  the  middle  of 
April  he  ordered  Captain  Collms,  with  a  detachment 
of  Company  B  and  ten  men  from  the  14th  infantry, 
to  proceed  to  Squaw  Creek,  a  small  stream  entering 
Snake  River  a  few  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Rey- 
nolds Creek,  and  search  the  cafion  thoroughly,  not 
only  for  Indian  foes,  but  for  white  men  who  were 
said  to  be  in  league  with  them,  and  who,  if  found, 
were  to  be  hanged  without  further  ceremony.  Being 
unsuccessful,  Collins  was  sent  to  scout  on  Burnt 
River  and  Clark  Creek. 

On  the  11th  of  May  Marshall  again  left  the  fort 
with  Colonel  Coppinger  and  eighty-four  men,  to  scout 
on  the  head-waters  of  the  Owyhee.  He  found  a 
large  force  of  Indians  at  the  Three  Porks  of  the 
Owyhee,  strongly  posted  between  the  South  and  Mid- 
dle forks.  The  river  being  impassable  at  this  place, 
he  moved  down  eight  miles,  where  he  crossed  his 
men  by  means  of  a  raft.  As  they  were  about  to 
advance  up  the  bluff,  they  were  fired  on  by  Indians 
concealed  behind  rocks.    A  battle  now  occurred  which 


MARSHALL'S  DEFEAT. 


821 


lasted  four  hours,  in  which  seven  of  the  savages  were 
killed  and  a  greater  number  wounded;  but  the  Indiana 
being  in  secure  possession  of  the  rocks  could  not  be 
dislodged,  and  Marshall  was  forced  to  retreat  across 
the  river,  losing  his  raft,  a  howitzer,  some  provisions, 
and  some  ammunition  which  was  thrown  in  the  river. 
His  loss  in  killed  was  one  non-commissioned  officer.' 
His  rout,  notwithstanding,  was  complete,  and  to  ac- 
count for  the  defeat  he  reported  the  number  of  Indians 
engaged  at  500,  an  extraordinary  force  to  be  in  any- 
one camp. 

And  thus  the  war  went  on,  from  bad  to  worse.* 
On  the  19th  of  May  a  large  company  of  Chinan)en, 
to  whom  the  Idaho  mines  had  recently  been  opened, 
were  attacked  at  Battle  Creek,  where  Jordan  and 
others  were  killed,  and  fifty  or  sixty  slaughtered,  the 
frightened  and  helpless  celestials  offering  no  resif^tance, 
but  trying  to  make  the  savages  understand  that  they 
were  non-combatants  and  begging  for  mercy.®  Pepoon 
hastened  to  the  spot,  but  found  only  dead  bodies  strewn 

'  A  detachment  of  the  Oregon  cavalry  accompanied  Marshall  on  this  ex- 
pcditiuii,  and  blamed  him  severely  for  inhumanity.  A  man  named  Phillips, 
an  Oivguniun,  was  lassoed  and  drawn  up  the  cliff  in  which  the  Indians  were 
lod^'ud,  tu  he  tortured  and  mutilated.  Lieut  Silas  Pepoon  of  the  Oregon 
cavuliy  wished  to  go  to  his  rescue,  but  was  forbidden.  He  also  left  4  men  on 
the  (ippoaite  bank  of  the  river,  who  were  cut  off  by  the  swamping  of  tlie  raft. 
Tliu  volunteer  commanders  would  never  have  abandoned  their  men  without 
an  ctrtiit  for  their  rescue.  See  U.  S.  Mem.  and  Docs,  1866-7,  501,  39th  cong. 
2d  st'ss. 

*  billing  the  night  of  the  4th  of  May  sixty  animals  were  stolen  from 
packers  on  Reynolds  Creek,  ciglit  miles  from  Ruby  City.  Nunc  of  the  trains 
wt'io  recovered.  The  loss  and  damage  was  estimated  at  $10,000.  Ihdleit  Moiin- 
taimci;  May  18,  1866.  Aliout  the  '25th  of  May,  Beard  and  Miller,  teamsters 
frum  Cliico,  on  their  way  to  the  Idaho  mines,  lost  4*21  cattle  out  of  a  lierd  of 
4()(i,  driven  off  by  the  Indians.  AlMut  the  20th  of  June,  twenty  horses  were 
atiileii  fioiii  War  Eagle  Mountain,  aljove  Ruby  City.  On  the  12th  of  June,  C. 
C.  (lasaett  was  murdered  on  his  farm  near  Ruby  City,  and  100  head  of  stock 
driven  otF.  Early  in  July,  James  Perry,  of  Michigan,  was  murdered  by  the 
Indians,  his  arms  and  legs  chopped  off,  and  hia  boily  pinned  to  the  ground, 
aliiiiu'  witli  a  man  named  Green,  treated  in  the  same  manner. 

"Ti-ii Tellers  over  the  road  reported  over  100  unburied  bodies  of  Chinamen. 
Tlie  iuun))er  killed  has  been  variously  reported  at  from  50  to  150.  One  boy 
cseajied  t»f  the  whole  train.  Ho  represented  his  countrymen  as  protesting, 
'  Mi^  belleo  good  Chinaman !  Me  no  fightee !'  Hut  the  scalps  of  the  Chinamen 
seemed  specially  inviting  to  the  savages.  Rutler'n  Life  and  Tintcs,  MS.,  11- 
1'2.  'i'heir  remains  were  afterward  gathered  and  buried  in  one  grave.  .Syicr'i 
/'/"/e.,  MS..  2;  U.  S.  Sec.  Int.  Rojit,  1867-8,  97,  40th  cong.  2d  sesa.;  Owyhee 
li'dtx,  .May  26,  1866;  Owyhee  2^eu)s,  June  1866. 


622 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


along  the  road  for  six  miles.  This  slaughter  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  raid  on  the  horses  and  cattle  near  Boon- 
ville,  in  which  the  Indians  secured  over  sixty  head. 
As  they  used  both  horses  and  horned  stock  for  food, 
the  conclusion  was  that  they  were  a  numerous  people 
or  valiant  eaters. 

Repeated  raids  in  the  region  of  the  Owyhee,  with 
which  the  military  force  seemed  unable  to  cope,  led 
to  the  organization,  about  the  last  of  June,  of  a  volun- 
teer company  of  between  thirty  and  forty  men,  under 
Captain  I.  Jermings,  an  officer  who  had  served  in  the 
civil  war.  On  the  2d  of  July  they  came  upon  the 
Indians  on  Boulder  Creek,  and  engaged  them,  but 
soon  found  themselves  surrounded,  the  savages  being 
in  superior  force.  Upon  discovering  their  situation, 
the  volunteers  intrenched  themselves,  and  sent  a  mes- 
senger to  Camp  Lyon;  but  the  Indians  were  gone 
before  help  came.  The  loss  of  the  volunteers  was  one 
man  killed  and  two  wounded.*"  The  Indian  loss  was 
reported  to  be  thirty-five. 

The  commander  of  the  district  of  Boisd  did  not 
escape  criticism,  having  established  f».  camp  on  the 
Bruneau  River  where  there  were  no  hostile  Indians, 
and,  it  was  said,  shirked  fighting  where  they  were." 
But  during  the  month  of  August  he  scouted  tlinniL'li 
the  Goose  Creek  Mountains,  killing  thirty  Indians, 
after  which  he  marched  in  the  direction  of  the  forks  of 
the  Owyhee,  where  he  had  a  successful  battle,  and 
retrieved  the  losses  and  failure  of  the  spring  canipaij^n 
by  hanging  thirty-five  captured  savages  to  the  limbs 
of  trees.*''    He  proceeded  from  there  to  Steen  Moun- 

'" Thomas  B.  Coson,  killed;  Aaron  Winters  and  Charles  Webster  wonndcil. 
Coson  had  built  up  around  him  a  stone  fortification,  from  which  hesliot  in  the 
2  days  15  Indians,  and  waa  shot  at  last  in  hia  little  fortress.  Sec.  Int.  Hcjit, 
18()7-8,  iii.,  40th  cong.  2d  sess.,  pt  2,  97;  Boiai  Statesman,  July  7  uixl  10, 
1S66:  Sac.  Union,  J  aly  28,  1868. 

"  Boisd  Stiitenman,  Julv  20,  1806.  Marshall  designed  erecting  a  pemiiuunt 
post  on  the  Bruneau,  and  had  expended  several  thousand  dollars,  wlicii  or 
ders  came  from  headquarters  to  suspend  operations.  A  one-company  camp 
was  permitted  to  remain  during  the  year. 

"  Yreka  Union,  Oct.  20,  1866;  Ilayea'  Scraps,  v.,  Indians,  228. 


ijMDIAN  DEPREDATIONS. 


623 


tain,  Camp  Warner,  Warner  Lake,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  1st -of  October. 

In  the  n?ean  time  the  stage-lines  and  transportation 
companies,  as  well  as  the  stock-rai.^ers,  on  the  route 
between  The  Dalles  and  Cafion  Citv,  and  between 
Canon  City  and  Boise,  were  scarcely  less  annoyed  and 
injured  than  those  in  the  more  southern  districts." 
Colonel  Baker  employed  his  troops  in  scouring  the 
country,  and  following  marauding  bands  when  their 
depredations  were  known  to  him,  which  could  not  often 
be  the  case,  owing  to  the  extent  of  country  over  which 
tlic  depredations  extended.  On  the  4th  of  July 
Lieutenant  R.  F.  Bernard,  with  thirty-four  cavalry- 
1 1.  n,  left  Camp  Watson  in  pursuit  of  Indians  who 

"  In  May  the  Indians  droTd  ^£f  a  herd  of  horses  from  the  Warm  Spring 
reservation,  and  murdered  a  settler  on  John  Day  Kiver  named  John  Witner. 
Ill  June  they  attacked  a  settler  on  Snake  River,  near  the  Weiser,  and  on  the 
muin  travelled  road,  driving  ofif  the  pack-animals  of  a  train  encamped  there. 
Ill  August  they  robbed  a  farm  on  Burnt  River  of  9300  worth  of  property, 
wiiilc  the  men  were  mowing  grass  a  mile  away;  stole  54  mules  and  18  beef- 
cuttle  from  Camp  Watson;  and  attacked  the  house  of  N.  J.  Clark,  on  the 
road,  which  they  burned,  with  his  stables,  50  tons  of  hay,  and  1,000  bushels 
of  grain,  and  stole  all  his  farm  stock,  the  family  barely  escaping  with  their 
live."  '']ight  miles  from  Clark's  they  took  a  team  belonging  to  Frank  Thomp- 
ROii.  ^  I  i)ut  the  same  time  they  murdered  Samuel  Leonard,  a  miner  at  Mormon 
i'^in  A  little  later  they  surprised  a  mining  camp  near  Cailon  City,  killing 
Miiiii.ew  Wilson,  and  severely  wounding  David  Graham.  No  aid  could  be 
obtained  from  Camp  Watson,  the  troops  being  absent  in  pursuit  of  the  govern- 
iiiciit  property  taken  from  that  post.  In  Sept.  they  took  horses  from  a  place  on 
Claik  Creek,  from  Burnt  River,  and  the  ferry  at  the  mouth  of  Powder  River. 
TIk  y  pursued  and  fired  on  the  expressman  from  Mormon  Basin;  and  attacked 
tlie  stage  between  The  Dalles  and  Ca&on  City,  when  there  were  but  two 
persons  on  board,  Wheeler,  one  of  the  proprietors,  and  H.  C.  Paige,  express 
agent.  Wheeler  was  shot  in  the  face,  but  showed  great  nerve,  mounting  one 
ol  the  horses  with  the  assistance  of  Paige,  who  cut  them  loose  and  mounted  one 
himself.  The  men  defended  themselves  and  escaped,  leaving  tlie  mail  and  ex- 
press matter  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  who  poured  the  gold-dust  out  on  the 
ground,  most  of  it  being  afterward  recovered.  The  money,  horses,  and  other 
property  were  carried  off.  In  October  eleven  horses  were  stolen  from  a  party 
of  prospectors  on  Rock  Creek,  Snake  River.  In  Nov.  the  Indians  again 
visited  Field's  farm,  and  stole  three  beef-cattle.  They  were  pursued  by  the 
troops,  who  surprised  and  killed  several  of  them,  destroying  tlieir  camp,  and 
capturing  a  few  horses.  On  the  20th  a  party  of  hunters,  encamped  on  Caflon 
Creek,  a  few  miles  from  Cafion  City,  were  attacked,  and  J.  Kester  killed.  The 
Indians  came  within  one  mile  of  Cafion  City,  and  prepared  to  attack  a  house, 
but  being  discovered,  fled.  Early  in  December  they  stole  a  pack-train  from 
near  the  Cafion  City  road.  They  were  pursued  by  a  detachment  of  twenty 
men  from  Baker's  command,  under  Sergeant  Conner,  and  the  train  recovered, 
with  a  loss  to  the  Inc^ians  of  fourt<^en  men  killed  and  five  women  captured. 
&C.  liU.  liept,  1867-8,  pt  2,  95-100;  Dalies  Mountaineer,  Dec.  14,  1806. 


624 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


had  been  committing  depredations  on  the  Canon  CItv 
road,  and  marched  south  to  the  head-waters  of  Crooked 
River,  thence  to  Selvie  River  and  Harney  Lake, 
passing  around  it  to  tlic  west  and  south,  and  continuiiiLf 
R«)uth  to  Steen  Mountain;  thence  north-east  arouiitl 
Malheur  Lake,  and  on  to  the  head-waters  of  Malheur 
River,  where,  on  the  middle  branch,  for  the  first  tiiiio 
in  this  long  march,  signs  of  Indians  were  discovered. 

Encamping  in  a  secure  situation,  scouts  were  sent 
out,  who  captured  two.  Lieutenant  Bernard  hinisclt", 
with  fifteen  men,  searched  for  a  day  in  the  vicinity 
without  finding  any  of  the  savages.  On  the  17th  lio 
detached  a  party  of  nineteen  men,  under  Sergeant 
Conner,  to  look  for  them,  who  on  the  18th,  about 
eight  )'clock  in  the  morning,  on  Rattlesnake  Creek, 
discovered  a  large  camp,  which  he  at  once  attacked, 
killing  thirteen  and  w<unding  many  more.  The  Ind- 
ians fled,  leaving  a  few  horses  and  mules,  but  taking 
most  of  their  property.  The  loss  on  the  side  of  the 
troops  was  Corporal  William  R.  Lord.  The  detach- 
ment returned  to  camp  on  the  evening  of  the  IStli, 
where  they  found  a  company  of  forty-seven  citizens 
from  Auburn  in  Powder  River  Valley  in  search  of 
tiie  same  band. 

With  this  addition  to  his  force,  Bernard,  on  tlio 
19th,  renewed  the  pursuit,  aiul  found  the  Indians 
encamped  in  a  deep  canon  with  perpendicular  walls  of 
rock,  about  a  mile  beyond  their  farmer  camp,  wiiii  li 
iilacethey  had  further  fortified,  but  which  on  discover- 
ing that  th(!y  were  pursued  they  abandoned,  leaving  all 
their  provisions  and  camp  equi[)age  behind,  and  escap- 
ing with  only  their  horses  and  arms.  Leaving  the  citi- 
zens to  guard  the  pack-train,  Bernard,  with  thirty  men, 
followed  the  Hying  enemy  for  sixty  miles  over  a  broken 
and  timbered  countr}',  passing  the  footmen,  who  scat- 
tered and  hid  in  the  rocks,  and  encamping  on  Selvio 
River.  During  the  night  the  footmen  came  togetlur, 
and  passing  near  cump,  turned  oft*  into  some  low 
bills  covered    with   broken  n)cks   and  juni[)er  trees. 


HALLECK'S  POLICY. 


02S 


Upon  being  pursued,  they  again  scattered  like  quail, 
uiiil  only  two  women  and  cliildren  were  captured. 
Tlie  following  day  the  train  was  sent  for,  and  the  citi- 
zens notified  that  they  could  accomplish  nothing  by 
coming  farther.  Bernard  continued  to  follow  the 
trail  of  the  mounted  Indians  for  another  day,  when 
lie  ri'turned  to  Camp  Watson,  having  travelled  630 
milts  in  twenty-six  days.  He  spoke  of  a  report 
ofUn  before  circulated  that  there  were  white  men 
lunong  the  Malheur  band  of  Shoshones,  the  troops 
having  heard  the  Englisii  language  distinctly  spoken 
dining  the  battle  of  the  1 8  th.  He  estimated  the  num- 
hir  ol"  Indians,  men,  women,  and  children,  a\  300,  and 
the  fighting  men  at  eighty.  The  loss  of  all  their  pro- 
visions and  other  property,  it  was  thought,  v  ould  dis- 
able them." 

In  August  Lieutenant-colonel  R.  F.  Beirne,  of  the 
14th  infantry,  from  Camp  Watson,  march' jd  from  The 
Dalles  along  the  Canon  City  road  to  7/oisd,  scouting 
the  countrv  along  his  route.  On  arriving  at  Fort 
Boist5,  he  was  ordered  to  scout  the  Burnt  River  region, 
where  the  Indians  were  more  troublesome,  if  tliat 
were  possible,  tluin  ever  before.  The  same  was  true 
(if  the  Powder  River  district  and  Cauon  City;  and 
the  inhabitants  complained  that  the  troops  drove  the 
Indiana  upi)n  the  settlements.  To  this  cnarge  Steele 
replied  that  this  (ould  not  always  be  avoided.  But 
till  |)eople  of  tlie  i»orth-eastern  part  of  Oregon  asserted, 
wlu!th«'r  justly  or  not,  that  Kalleck  favored  California, 
Ity  using  the  main  strength  of  the  troops  in  his  divis- 
iiin  to  protect  the  route  from  Chico  to  the  Idaho  mines, 
so  that  the  California  merchants  should  be  able  to 
Mitxjopolize  the  trade  of  the  mines,  while  the  Oregon 
iiiercinnts  were  left  to  sutler  on  tlie  road  from 
the  (!olumbia  River  to  the  mines  of  Idaho,  or  to  protect 
themselves  as  they  best  could.  The  stage  company 
sulFi  red  equally  with  nackers  and  merchants. 

Finally  Ilalleck  visited  south-eastern  Oregon;  and 

'*Aha  C(difornia,  Aug.  22,  1800;  J/eM.  and  I)oc»,  AbHdg.  1800-7.  K!. 


628 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


Mil 


going  to  Fort  Boisd  by  the  well-protectod  Chico  route, 
aiid  thence  to  the  Columbia  River,  travelling  with  an 
escort,  and  at  a  time  when  the  Indians  were  most 
quiet,  being  engaged  in  gathering  seeds  and  roots  for 
food,  he  saw  nothing  to  excite  apprehension. 

The  legislature,  which  met  in  September,  and  the 
new  governor,  George  L.  Woods,  were  urged  to  take 
,3ome  action,  which  was  done."  After  some  discussion, 
a  joint  resolution  was  passed,  October  7th,  that  if  tlio 
general  government  did  not  within  thirty  days  from 
that  date  send  troops  to  the  protection  of  eastcin 
Oregon  the  governor  was  requested  to  call  out  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  volunteers  to  afford  the  necessary  aid 
to  citizens  of  that  part  of  the  state. 

General  Steele  had  been  quite  active  since  takinj^ 
the  command  in  Oregon.  During  the  summer  he  had 
made  four  tours  of  inspection:  one  to  and  aroumi 
Puget  Sound,  travelling  between  GOO  and  700  miles,  a 
part  of  the  time  on  horseback.  The  second  tour  was 
performed  altogether  on  horseback,  a  distance  of  over 
1,200  miles.  Leaving  The  Dalles  with  an  escort  of 
ten  men  and  his  aide-de-camp,  ho  proceeded  to  Canip 
Watson,  where  he  took  one  of  the  cavalry  com]>ani(  .s 
sent  to  that  post  in  April,  commanded  by  Major  Iv 
Myers,,  and  continued  his  journey  to  (jamp  Curry 
and  Malheur  Lake.  While  encamped  on  the  ca.'^t 
side  of  the  lake,  the  Indians  drove  off  fifty-two  pack- 
mules  belonging  to  the  escort.  They  were  pursiud, 
and  the  animals  recovered,  except  three  which  lia<l 
been  killed  and  eaten.  From  Lake  Malheur  Sttclo 
proceeded  without  further  interruption  to  Camp  Lyon, 
and  thence  to  For  c  Boiad,  where  he  found  General  1  lal- 
Icck  and  staff,  returning  to  The  Dalles  by  the  usually 
travelled  road — leaving,  it  would  seem  by  the  cnin- 
plaints  of  the  citizens  of  Eastern  Oregon,  Mytrs' 
company  in  tho  Boisii  country.     With  Hailed 


10 


"Soo  Wood»*Itee.,  MS.;  alio  P.  S.  Mtu,  and  Docn,  180ft-7,  S0.V4.  ;i!)th 
oong.  2(1  aeu;  Or.  Jour.  SinaU,  1866, 01-6;  Portland  Ortf/onkm,  July  14,  lMi(i. 


STEELE'S  TOUR. 


527 


next  inspected  the  forts  at  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bia; and  on  the  13th  of  August  returned  to  Boisd, 
crossing  Snake  River  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bru- 
neau,  examining  the  country  in  that  vicinity  with 
a  view  to  establishing  a  post.  From  Bruneau  Steele 
went  to  the  Owyhee  mines,  and  thence  to  the  forks 
of  the  Owyhee,  where  troops  were  encamped  watch- 
ing the  movements  of  the  Indians.  Taking  an  escort 
of  twenty  men,  under  Captain  David  Perry,  he  next 
proceeded  to  Alvord  Valley,  arriving  at  Camp  Smith 
on  the  6tli  of  September.  Thence  he  returned  to  Fort 
Jjoise,  and  to  Vancouver  about  the  time  the  legislature 
was  considering  the  subject  of  raising  volunteers. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Steele  and  his  interview 
with  Woods,  recruiting  for  the  8th  regiment  United 
States  cavalry  was  begun  in  the  Willamette  Valley, 
but  progressed  slowly,  the  recruiting  service  having 
been  injured  by  the  action  of  the  legislature,  which 
luld  out  the  prospect  of  a  volunteer  organization,  in 
which  those  who  would  enlist  preferred  to  serve.  The 
n)ovement  to  recruit,  however,  by  promising  to  put  an 
additional  force  in  the  field,  arrested  the  volunteer 
niovcinent,  and  matters  were  left  to  proceed  aa 
fonuorly." 

'"  Til  Sept  the  Owyhee  stage  was  attacked  and  two  men  shot.  In  Not. 
the  IiiiliaiiB  fired  on  loaded  teams  entering  Owyhee  mines  from  Muako  River 
by  till'  main  road,  and  killed  a  man  named  McCoy,  besides  wounding  one 
AtlaiuH.  They  fired  on  the  Owyhee  ferry,  and  on  a  detachment  uf  cavalry, 
hiitli  attacks  Ijeing  made  in  the  nigiit,  and  neither  resulting  in  anything  more 
grri'iiis  than  killing  a  horse,  and  driving  off  fourteen  head  of  cattle.  During 
tlu'  iiiitnmn  a  party  of  08  Idaho  miners  were  prospecting  on  the  upper  waters 
uf  Siialio  Uiver.  A  detachment  of  cloven  men  wcro  alwent  from  the  main 
I>nrty  looking  for  gold,  when  one  of  the  eleven  sejNtrated  himself  from  them, 
til  l'M>k  for  the  trail  of  others.  On  retuniing,  ho  saw  that  the  detachment 
iuiil  lii'im  attacked,  and  hastened  to  report  to  the  main  company,  who,  on  reach- 
in^'  tlir  place,  found  all  ton  men  mnnlored.  Their  names,  so  far  as  known, 
wi K'  Bruce  Smith,  Edward  Riley,  David  C'onklin,  Wiibam  Strong,  ami 
(>>oi;.'i<  Ackleson.  This  party  were  afterward  attacked  in  Montana  by  the 
!Siiiux.  when  CJol  Rice  ana  William  Smith  were  killed,  and  several  wounded. 
Sim-  lu'countin  Portland  Orrgonian,  Nov.  28,  IHtiO.  On  tlie  8th  of  Nov.  the 
0\\\  lici'  stage  waa  attacked  within  four  miles  of  Snake  Ri'er  crossing,  a  passeii- 
get  iiiunod  Wiloox  killed,  another,  nameil  Harrington,  wounded  in  the  hip, 
kinl  till)  driver,  Waltennire,  wounded  in  the  side.  The  driver  ran  Ids  team 
t«ninil(<s,  pursued  by  the  Indians,  who  kept  tirin(|[on  the  stage,  answered  by 
pniiNcii^crs  who  had  arm*.  The  wheel-horses  *»  ;mg  at  last  shot,  the  party 
Were  forced  to  run  for  IMr  Uvm,  Mid  •waped.    On  retumiag  with  Miiittmoo, 


¥ 


i::l 


I 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 

But  it  cannot  be  said  that  Steele  did  not  keep 
his  troops  in  motion.  He  decided  also  to  try  the 
effect  of  a  winter  canipaij^n,  and  reestablished  several 
camps,  besides  establishinjy  Camp  Warner,  on  the 
',v"!st  side  of  Warner  Lake,  and  Camp  Three  Forks 
fji  Owyhee  on  the  head  of  the  north  branch  of  that 
river,  on  the  border  of  the  Flint  district,  and  throw- 
ing a  garrison  into  each  of  the  two  abandoned  forts 
of  Lapwai  and  Walla  Walla.  Two  or  three  nioro 
cavalry  companies  arrived  before  December,  there 
being  then  seven  in  Oregon  and  Idaho,  besides  five 
companies  of  the  14th  infantry,  one  of  the  1st  Oregon 
infantry,  and  five  of  artillery  in  the  department. 

A  number  of  scouting  parties  were  out  during  the 
autumn,  scouring  the  south-eastern  part  of  Oregon, 
skirmishing  here  and  there,  seldom  inflicting  or  sus- 
taining much  loss.  On  the  26th  of  September  fifty 
cavalrymen  under  Lieutenant  Small  attacked  tho 
enemy  at  Lake  Abert,  in  the  vicinity  of  Camp  War- 
ner, and  after  a  fight  of  three  hours  routed  them,  kill- 
ing fourteen  and  taking  seven  prisoners.  Their  horses, 
rifles,  and  winter  stores  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
troops. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  October  Lieutenant 
Oatman,  1st  Oregon  infantry,  from  Fort  Klamath, 
with  twenty-two  men  and  five  Klamaths  as  scouts, 
set  out  for  Fort  Bidwell  to  receive  reonforconieiits 
and  provisions  for  an  extended  scouting  expedition. 
He  was  joined  by  Lieutenant  Small  with  twenty-seven 
cavalrymen.     The  jommand  marched  to  the  Warner 

Wilcox  waa  found  scalped  and  mutilated.  The  matl-bage  were  cut  opoii  and 
oontentiiic»ttore<I.  In  Doc.  twenty  lavages  attaoiied  thoCk>w  Creek  faiiii  in 
Jordan  Valley,  and  talcinu  pouesaion  of  tlie  stablo,  riddled  tho  Iiuuho  witli 
bullets  and  arrows.  Havuis  frightened  away  tho  inmates,  they  rlniw  otf 
all  the  oattlo  on  the  place.  They  were  pursuetl,  and  the  cattle  rocovoii'd.  U, 
S,  Sfc,  Int.  Rfpt,  09-100,  vol.  iii.,  4th  coau.  2d  soss.  DaUva  Mountaimii\  iHtc. 
7,  1806;  Otnyhee  Avalntirhf,  Nov.  17,  WW',  Idaho  World,  Nov,  24,  ISIKI,  (In 
tho  30th  of  Oct.  tho  Indians  raided  Surprise  Camp,  a  military  station,  larr)- 
ing  off  grain,  tents,  tools,  etc.  Major  Wnlkor,  promoted  from  captain,  pur- 
sued them,  when  thoy  divided  their  force,  strnding  off  their  plund'M-  with 
tome,  while  a  doacnof  them  charged  tho  soldiers.  Four  ludiaas  wore  killed 
Mid  the  rest  esoaped.  Boii^.  Slak$man,  Nov,  8,  I86II1 


OATMANS  FIGHT. 


ot  keep 
try  the 
[  several 

on   the 
e  Forks 
I  of  that 
i  throw- 
led  forts 
36   more 
5r,  there 
ikies  five 
b  Oregon 
3nt. 
iiring  the 

Oregon, 
g  or  sus- 
iber  fifty 
eked  the 
imp  War- 
hem,  l<ill- 
)irln»rse8, 
Is  of  the 

ieutcnant 
Klamath, 
s  scouts, 
rcomeiits 
pediiioii. 
ity-soveii 
Warner 


I  cut  opoti  and 

Ireek  funii  in 

lioUHo  with 

Icy  di'ovi'  off 

BCOVOlt'il.  Ih 

Itaiiin'i;  I'l'*:' 
|4,  IblKi.    On 

Icaptttiii.  (tiir- 
>lunil'>r  with 
were  killed 


Lake  basin,  seeking  the  rendezvous  of  the  enemy. 
Two  days  were  spent  in  vain  search,  when  the  eom- 
iiiaiid  undertook  to  cross  tlie  mountains  to  Lake 
Al)»rt,  at  their  western  base,  being  guided  by  Blow, 
a  Klamath  chief.  After  proceeding  six  miles  in  a 
(lircct  course,  a  deep  canon  was  encountered  running 
iliiectiy  across  the  intended  route,  which  was  followed 
f(»r  ton  miles  before  any  crossing  offered  which  would 
jicnnit  the  troops  to  pass  on  to  the  west.  Such  a  cross- 
ing was  at  last  found,  the  mountains  being  passed  on 
the  JGth,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  of  the  day  the  command 
L'litered  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Chewaucan  by  a 
route  never  before  travelled  by  white  men. 

Aljout  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  point  where 
they  entered  the  valley,  Indians  were  discovered  run- 
ning toward  the  mountains.  Being  pursued  by  the 
tr(H»i)s,  they  took  up  their  position  in  a  rocky  cafton. 
Leaving  the  horses  with  a  guard,  the  main  part  of  tho 
coniniand  advanced,  and  dividing,  passed  up  the  ridges 
on  hoth  sides  of  the  ravine,  while  a  guard  remained 
at  its  mouth.  At  twelve  o'clock  the  firing  began,  and 
was  continued  for  three  hours.  Fourteen  Indians 
\\r\\'.  killed,  and  twice  as  many  wounded.  The  Indians 
then  fled  into  the  mountaiiis,  and  the  troops  returned 
to  tiieir  respective  posts.^^ 

Eiirly  in  November  the  Shoshones  under  Panina 
thnatcnod  an  attack  on  the  Klamath  reservation,  in 
revenge  for  the  part  taken  against  them  by  the  Klam- 
aths  in  acting  as  scouts.  With  a  promptness  unusual 
with  congress,  the  treaty  made  with  Panina  in  Sep- 
tenihiT  1865  had  been  ratifinl,"  and  this  chief  was 
under  treaty  obligations.  But  true  to  his  threat,  ho 
invaded  the  Sprague  River  Valley,  where  tho  chief  of 
tlie  Modocs  had  his  hon)«\  stealing  some  of  Sconchin's 
liorses.  In  return,  Sconchin  pursued,  capturing  two 
Snake   women.     He  roportea  to   the  agent  on  tho 

"Jachonvillf  Keporttr,  Nov.  .1,  180(1;  IkUUn  MoutUaiHeer,  Deo.  7,  1866. 
"C'un;/  Globe,  1865-6,  pt  v.  ap.  402. 
ain.Oa.,TobU.   iM 


630 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


reservation  that  he  had  co.i versed  with  some  of 
Panina's  head  men,  at  a  distance,  in  the  manner  of 
Indians,  and  learned  from  them  that  the  Snakes  were 
concentrating  their  forces  near  Goose  Lake,  prepara- 
tory to  invading  the  reservation,  and  capturing  the 
fort.  Applegate,  the  agent,  notified  Sprague,  who 
reported  to  his  superiors,  saying  that  he  had  not  men 
enough  to  defend  the  reservation  and  search  for  the 
enemy.  The  Shoshones  did  in  fact  come  within  a 
few  miles  of  the  post,  where  they  Vverc  met  and  fought 
by  the  troops  and  reservation  Indians,  losing  thirteen 
killed  and  others  wounded.  Meanwhile  the  troops 
were  gradually  and  almost  unconsciously  surroundini^ 
the  secret  haunts  of  the  hostile  Shoshones  in  Oregon, 
their  successes  being  in  proportion  to  their  nearness  of 
approach,  the  attacking  party  on  either  side  being 
usually  victorious.'' 

About  this  time  the  controversy  between  the  civil 
and  military  authorities  took  a  peculiar  turn.  The 
army  bill  of  186G  provided  for  attaching  Indian  scouts 
to  the  regular  forces  engaged  in  fighting  hostile  bands; 
and  certain  numbers  were  apportioned  among  the  states 
and  territories  where  Indian  hostilities  existed,  tlie 
complement  of  Oregon  being  one  hundred.  Governor 
Woods  made  application  to  General  Steele  to  have 
these  hundred  Indians  organized  into  two  comi)ani«s 
of  fifty  each,  under  commanders  to  be  selected  In* 
himself,  and  sent  into  the  field  independently  of  the 
regular  troops,  but  to  act  in  conjunction  with  thoni. 
This  proposition  Steele  declined,  on  the  ground  that 
the  army  bill  contemplated  the  employment  of  Indians 
as  scouts  only,  in  numbers  of  ten  or  fifteen  to  a  com- 
mand. 

'*  In  Oct.  Lieut  Patton,  of  Capt  Hunt's  company,  with  10'  men,  haiUikir- 
mish  on  Dunder  and  Blitien  Creek,  which  runs  into  Malhoui  Lake  fnnn  tha 
■onth,  killing  0  out  of  75  Indians,  with  a  loss  of  I  man,  and  4  hones  woundetl. 
Bnini'  SftttKiman,  Oct.  27. 1866.  Capt.  O'Beirno  also  had  a  fight  on  tlio  ( )wyli(  o 
in  M(»-. ;  in  which  he  kill«d  14  and  canture<l  10,  losing  one  man  woiiiulctl  and  a 
citizen,  H.  C.  Thompson,  killml.  M.  Nov.  17,  1866;  OtvyKfr  Avafamhe,  Nov, 
10,  IS(i«,  Bakei  >  command,  in  Nov.  and  Deo.,  killed  about  00  IndiaiiR.  Mh 
MounlaiMtr,  Deo.  U,  I866|  Stc.  Warittpt,  i.  481-2,  40th  cong.  !2d  sesB. 


fi  .;i 


INDIAN  COMPANIES. 


531 


i  some  of 
manner  of 
nakes  were 
:e,  prepara- 
)turing  the 
rague,  who 
ad  not  men 
reh  for  the 
le  within  a 

and  fought 
ing  thirteen 

the  troops 
mrroundins^ 
i  in  Oregon, 

nearness  of 
•  side  being 

Ben  the  civil 

turn.     The 

ndian  scouts 

ostile  bauds; 

ng  the  states 

existed,  tlie 

Governor 

ele  to  have 

o  companies 

selected  hy 

lently  of  the 

with  thoui. 

ground  that 

t  of  Indians 

n  to  a  com- 


Jmen.haiUikir- 
[t  Lake  from  the 
J  hones  wmimleil. 
IhtonthoOwyliee 
Tn  wouinlt'<l  anil  • 

\AvcUanfhf,'So''- 
>  IiulittiiH.  Mlfi 

hg.  2d  8utM. 


Being  refused  by  Steele,  "Woods  appealed  to  Hal- 
Icck  as  division  commander,  who  also  refused,  using 
little  courtesy  in  declining.  The  quarrel  now  became 
one  in  which  the  victory  would  be  with  the  stronger. 
Woods  telegraphed  to  the  secretary  of  war  a  state- 
ment of  the  case,  and  asked  for  authority  to  carry 
out  his  plan  of  fighting  Indians  with  Indians.  Secre- 
tary Stanton  immediately  ordered  Halleck  to  conform 
Ills  orders  to  the  wishes  of  the  governor  of  Oregon  in 
this  respect;  and  thus  constrained,  authority  was  given 
hy  Halleck  to  Woods  to  organize  two  companies  of 
fifty  Indians  each,  and  appoint  their  officers.  Accord- 
ingly, W.  C.  McKay  and  John  Darragh,  both  familiar 
with  the  Indian  language  and  customs,  were  appointed 
lieutenants,  to  raise  and  command  the  Indian  com- 
pauios,  which  were  sent  into  the  field,  with  the  humane 
orders  to  kill  and  destroy  without  regard  to  age,  sex, 
or  condition.^ 

About  the  time  that  the  Warm  Spring  Indians 
took  the  field,  George  Crook,  lieutenatit-colonel  23d 
infantry,  a  noted  Indian-fighter  in  California,  was 
ordered  to  relieve  Marshall  in  the  command  of  the 
district  of  Boisd,**  as  the  Idaho  newspapers  said,  "to 

**  Licuts  McKay  and  Darragh,  in  giving  a  penonal  account  of  their  expedi- 
tiun,  relate  that  their  command  Itilled  fourteen  women  and  children,  which  waa 
diiiu'  in  accordance  with  written  and  verlml  instructions  from  headquarters  of 
tlio  military  district,  and  much  against  the  wialios  of  the  Indian  icouti,  who 
rviiiuiistratcd  against  it,  on  the  ground  that  tiic  Snakes,  in  their  next  inroad. 
Mould  murder  their  wives  and  children.  U.  S.  Sfc.  Int.  Rept,  1867-8,  vol.  iii., 
nt  ii.,  lUl,  40th  cong.  2d  sess.  Woods'  apology  was  that  the  women  of  the 
snnko  tribe  were  the  most  brutal  of  murderers,  and  hod  assisted  in  the  fiendish 
tortiuTs  of  Mrs  and  Miss  Ward,  and  other  immigrant  women,  for  which  they 
deserved  to  suffer  equally  with  the  men. 

''See  RecollectionaqfO.  L.  IKom/m,  a  manuscript  dictation  containing  many 
terse  and  vivid  picture*  of  the  modem  actors  in  our  history;  also  Overland 
Moiilhtii,  vul.  ii.,  |).  162,  1809. 

The  following  is  a  complete  roster  of  the  officers  in  the  department  of  the 
Columbia  in  the  autumn  of  1800:  Department  staff:  Frederick  Steele,  major- 
gt'n.  commanding  department  Oeorgo  Macumbor,  2d  lieut  14th  inf.,  A.  A. 
innp.mi.  Henry  C.  Hodgea,  capt,  A.  Q.  M.,  bvt  lieut-ool  U.  8.  A.,  chief  Q. 
M.  Sam.  A.  Foater,  capt..  C.  8.,  bvt  major  U.  S.  A.,  G.  C.  8.,  Act.  A.  A.  U. 
!'•  (}.  8.  Ten  Broek,  surgeon  U.  8.  A.,  bvt  lieut-col,  medical  director. 
(ii'orge  Williams,  brevet  oapt  U.  8.  A.,  aide-de-oamp.  Richard  P.  Strong,  1st 
limit  7th  inf.,  aide-de-camp.  Btationa  and  oommands:  Fort  ColviUe,  Capt. 
Jobu  S.  Wharton,  oo.  0,  14tb  iut    Fort  Upwai,  Lt  J.  U.  Oalla<|her,  litk 


532 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


the  satisfaction  of  everybody."  General  Crook  was  a 
man  of  quiet  determination,  and  the  people  of  Oregon 
and  Idaho  expected  great  things  of  him.  Nor  were 
they  disappointed,  for  to  him  is  due  the  credit  of  sub- 
duing the  hostile  tribes  on  the  Oregon  and  California 
frontier,  and  in  Idaho.  When  the  war  began,  eastern 
(Jregon  was  for  the  most  part  a  terra  incognita,  and 
the  Oregon  cavalry  had  spent  four  years  in  explorinij 
it  and  tracking  the  Indians  to  their  Iiitherto  unknown 
haunts.  And  now  the  most  efficient  officers  decided 
that  the  Indians  must  be  fought  in  the  winter,  and 
Steele,  after  brief  observation,  adopted  the  theory. 
Then  Governor  Woods  had  thrown  into  the  field  the 
best  possible  aids  to  the  troops  in  his  two  companies 
of  Indian  allies. 

When  Crook  assumed  command  in  the  Boisd  dis- 
trict the  Indians  were  already  hemmed  in  by  a  cordon 
of  camps  and  posts,  with  detachments  continually  in 
the  field  harassing  and  reducing  them.  About  the 
middle  of  December  Crook  took  the  field  with  forty 
soldiers  and  a  dozen  Warm  Spring  allies.  On  tli(3 
Owyhee  he  found  a  body  of  about  eighty  warriors 
prepared  for  battle.  Leaving  ten  men  to  guard  camp, 
he  attacked  with  the  remainder,  fighting  for  several 
hours,  when  the  savages  fled,  leaving  some  women 
and  children  and  thirty  horses  in  his  hands.     Tvventy- 

iiif. ,  CO.  E,  8th  cav.  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Lt  Oscar  I.  Converse,  co.  D,  8tli  cav. 
Fort  Stevens,  Capt.  Leroy  L.  James,  co.  C,  2d  art.  Capo  Hancock,  Capt.  Julni 
I.  Rogers,  CO.  L,  2d  art.  Fort  Steilacooin,  Capt.  ("has  H.  Peirco,  co.  1:,  'Jil 
art.  San  Juan  Island,  Capt.  Thomas  Grev,  co.  I,  2d  art.  Fort  V'ancuiatr, 
CjIO.  a.  H.  Blake,  IstU.  S.  cav.,  field,  staff,  and  band;  Bvtlieut-col  AUnirtO. 
Vincent,  co.  F,  2d  art ;  Capt.  William  Kelly,  co.  C,  Stii  cavalry.  Vuiii'im\«r 
Arsenal,  Bvt  capt.  L.  8.  Babbitt,  det.  ordnance  corpi.  Camp  Watson,  Uvt. 
lieat-col  Eugene  M.  Baker,  co.  I,  Ist  cav. ;  Lieut  Amandus  C.  Kistlcr,  ci>.  F, 
14th  inf.  <^mp  Logan,  Lieut  Charles  B.  Western,  14th  inf.,  co.  F,  8tli  cuv. 
Fort  KUmath,  Capt.  F.  B.  Sprague,  co.  I,  ist  Or.  inf.  volunteers,  liuis.'  Dia- 
trict:  Fort  Boistf,  Bvt  moi.-gen.  George  Crook,  23d  inf. ;  Bvt  col  James  H.  Sin- 
clair, CO.  H,  14th  inf.  CJamp  Three  Forks,  I.  T.,  Bvt  lieut-col  John  J.  C  p- 
piuger,  cos  A  and  F,  14th  inf.  Camp  C.  F.  Smith,  Capt.  J.  H.  Walker,  lo. 
(',  Nth  inf.  Camp  Warner,  Capt.  P.  Collins,  cos  B  and  D,  14th  inf.;  Urt 
major  Edward  Myers,  co.  H,  1st  cavalry.  Camp  Lyon,  I.  T.,  Capt.  James  ('. 
Hunt,  CO.  M,  Ist  cav.  Off.  Arm.  Jtfgis.,  186G,  67;  Portland  Orfjonian,  Ike. 
22,  liiOO.  Capt  David  Perrv  superseded  Marshall  at  Fort  Boistf  in  tlie  intrriin 
before  Crook's  arrival;  and  Major  Rheinhart,  1st  Or.  inf.,  wu  in  coiniiuuid  at 
Fort  Klamatli  during  the  ■ummer  of  1806. 


CROOK'S  CAMPAIGNS. 


five  or  thirty  Indians  were  killed.  Crook  lost  but 
one  man,  Sergeant  O'Toole,  who  had  fought  in  twenty- 
eijj^ht  battles  of  the  rebellion. 

In  January  1867  Crook's  men  again  met  the 
enemy  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  Owyhee  ferry,  on 
the  road  to  California.  His  Indian  scouts  discovered 
the  Snake  camp,  which  was  surprised  and  attacked  at 
daylight.  In  this  affair  sixty  Indians  were  killed  and 
thirty  prisoners  taken,  with  a  large  number  of  horses. 
A  man  named  Hanson,  a  civilian,  was  killed  in  the 
charge,  and  three  of  Crook's  men  wounded.  Soon 
alter  a  snialler  camp  was  discovered;  five  of  the  sav- 
ai^es  were  killed,  and  the  remainder  captured.  An 
Indian  was  recognized  among  the  prisoners  who  had 
helore  been  captured  and  released  on  his  promise  to 
retrain  from  warlike  practices  in  the  future,  and  was 
shot  for  violating  his  parole."  From  the  Owyhee 
Crook  proceeded  toward  Malheur  lake  and  river,  in 
the  vicinity  of  which  the  Warm  Spring  Indian  com- 
panies had  been  operating.  On  the  Gth  of  January 
ilelvay  attacked  a  camp,  killing  three,  taking  a  few 
horses  and  some  ammunition.  He  discovered  the 
headquarters  of  Panina,  who  had  fortified  himself  on 
0  inountiiin  two  thousand  feet  in  height,  and  climbing 
the  rocks  with  his  men,  fought  the  chief  a  whole  day 
without  gaining  much  advantage,  killing  three  Sho- 
shones,  and  having  one  man  and  several  horses 
Wounded.  The  same  night,  however,  he  discovered 
another  hostile  camp,  attacking  which  he  killed 
twelve,  and  took  some  prisoners.  The  snow  being 
f'oaiteen  to  eighteen  inches  deep  in  north-eastern 
Oregon  at  this  time,  the  impossibility  of  keeping  up 
tile  strength  of  their  horses  compelled  the  scouts  to 
susnend  operations. 

Meanwhile,  not'  '^thstanding  the  exertions  of  the 
troops,  it  was  impossible  to  check  the  inroads  of  the 
Indians.     Only  a  few  years  previous  to  the  breaking 

"  C.  S.  Int.  Kept,  1807-8.  vol.  iii.  188,  40tb  coug.  2d  amt;  Owyfue  Ava- 
kiiche,  Jau.  fi,  lb(>7. 


S34 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


Ml 


out  of  the  Shoshone  war  this  tribe  was  treated  with 
contempt,  as  incapable  of  hostilities,  other  than  petty 
thefts  and  occasional  murders  for  gain.  When  they 
first  began  their  hostile  visits  to  the  Warm  Spring 
reservation  Robert  Newell,  one  well  acquainted  with 
the  character  of  the  different  tribes,  laughed  at  the 
terror  they  inspired,  and  declared  that  three  or  four 
men  ought  to  defend  the  agency  against  a  hundred  of 
them.  But  a  change  had  come  over  these  savages 
with  the  introduction  of  fire-arms  and  cattle.  From 
cowardly,  skulking  creatures,  whose  eyes  were  ever 
fastened  on  the  ground  in  search  of  some  small  living 
thing  to  eat,  the  Shoshones  had  come  to  be  as  much 
feared  as  any  savages  in  Oregon.** 

As  early  as  the  middle  of  March  detachments  of 
troops  were  moving  on  the  Cafton  City  road,  and  fol- 
lowing the  trails  of  the  marauders.  They  travelled 
many  hundred  miles,  killing  with  the  aid  of  the  allies 
twenty-four  Indians,  taking  a  few  prisoners,  and  de- 
stroying some  property  of  the  enemy.  On  the  27th 
of  July  Crook,  while  scouting  between  Camp  C.  F. 
Smith  and  Camp  Harney  with  detachments  from 
three  companies  of  cavalry,  travelling  at  night  and 


**  For  example,  it  takes  a  brave  and  somewhat  chivalrous  savage  to  rob  a 
stage.  On  March  2r>t)i,  as  the  Bois<i  and  Owyhee  stage  was  coming  down  tlie 
ravine  toward  Snake  River  from  Reynolds  Creek,  it  was  attacked  by  eight 
ambushed  Indians.  The  driver,  William  Younger,  was  mortally  wouiiducl. 
James  UUman,  a  California  pioneer,  a  BoinA  pioneer,  a  merchant  of  Idalio,  in 
attempting  to  escape,  was  overtaken  and  killed.  The  mail  and  contentsi  of  tliu 
coacli  were  destroyed  or  taken.  The  anme  liand  killed  Bouchet,  a  citi/in  «f 
Owyhee.  A  few  days  previously  they  had  raided  a  farm,  and  driven  oil'  '.'.'< 
cattle  from  Reynolds  Creek.  On  the  25th  of  April,  8  Shoshones  raidiil  tliu 
farm  of  Clano  and  CoH]H3r,  on  the  Caflon  Citv  road,  and  secured  25  cattle  aixl  '1 
horses.  They  were  pursued  by  J.  N.  Clark,  whose  house  and  bam  tiny  had 
destroyed  in  Sept.,  who,  with  Howard  Maupin  and  William  l{agan,  attacked 
them  as  they  were  feasting  on  an  ox,  killing  4  and  recovering  the  Hlmk. 
One  of  the  Indians  killed  by  Clark  was  the  chief  Panina.  In  the  8uiiie 
month  Frascr  and  Stuck  were  killed  near  their  homes  on  Jordan  Creek.  .'  > 
May  they  attacked  C.  Shea,  a  herder  on  Sinker  Creek,  and  were  repelled  and 
pursued  by  8  white  men,  who,  however,  barely  escaped  with  their  live!i. 
Two  men,  McKnight  and  Polk,  being  in  puranitof  Shoshones,  were  wouiuleJ, 
McKnight  mortallv.  The  savages  Imrned  a  house  and  bam  near  Iii.skip's 
farm,  Owyhee,  and  drove  off  the  stock,  which  the  troops  finally  recov- 
ered. Thev  killed  three  men  in  Mormon  Basin.  On  every  roml,  in  aiiv 
direction,  tney  made  their  raids,  firing  on  citizens  and  stealing  stock.  U.  S, 
Sec.  Int.  Bept,  18U7-8,  iii.  101-3,  40th  cong.  2d  sess. 


INDIAN  ALLIES  AND  RESERVATIONS. 


535 


lying  concealed  by  day,  came  upon  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy  in  a  caiion  in  the  Puebla  Mountains.  Ho 
had  with  him  the  two  companies  of  allies,  composed 
of  Warm  Spring,  Columbia  River,  and  Boise  Sho- 
shones,  the  first  eager  for  an  opportunity  of  aveng- 
iiij,'  themselves  on  an  hereditary  foe.  They  were 
allowed  to  make  the  attack,  leaving  the  troops  in  re- 
solve. The  Shoshones  were  completely  surrounded, 
and  the  allies  soon  had  thirty  scalps  dangling  at  tlieir 
hdts.  It  was  rare  sport  for  civilization,  this  making 
the  savages  fight  the  savages  for  its  benefit."  Pro- 
ceeding toward  and  when  within  eight  miles  of  the 
jHihit,  another  Indian  camp  was  discovered  and  sur- 
rounded as  before,  the  allies  being  permitted  to  per- 
form the  work  of  extermination. 


From  observing  that  the  Indians  were  constantly 
well  supplied  with  ammunition,  and  that  although  so 
many  and  severe  losses  were  sustained  the  enemy 
were  not  disheartened  nor  their  number  lessoned, 
General  Crook  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  not 
the  Oregon  tribes  alone  he  was  fighting.  From  a  long 
experience  in  Indian  diplomacy,  he  had  discovered  that 
reservations  were  a  help  rather  than  a  hinderance  to 
Indian  warfare,  premising  that  the  reservation  Indians 
wcie  not  really  friendly  in  their  dispositions.  It  was 
impossible  always  to  know  whether  all  the  Indians 
h(  longing  to  a  reservation  were  upon  it  or  not,  or 
what  was  their  errand  when  away  from  it.  An  Indian 
thought  nothing  of  travelling  two  or  three  hundred 
niiles  to  steal  a  horse — in  fact,  the  farther  his  thefts 
from  the  reservation  the  better,  for  obvious  reasons, 
lie  was  less  liable  to  detection;  and  then  he  could  say 
hv  had  been  on  a  hunting  expedition,  or  to  gather  the 
seeds  and  berries  which  were  only  to  be  found  in. 
mountains  and  marshes,  where  the  eye  of  the  agent 
was  not  likely  to  follow   him.     Meantime  he,  withi 

" Sen  Owi/hfp  AvcUnnrh)',  In  Orfqoman,  Aug.  24, 1867.     'The  troops  didiBoC 
fire  a  8bot.'  Uo'ue  Statenmaii,  iu  Shtutu  Courier,  Aug.  31,  1807. 


636 


THE  PrfOSHONE  WAR. 


others  likc-mindetl,  could  make  a  rapid  journey  into 
Oroyon,  leaving  his  coiitederatcs  on  the  reservation, 
who  would  help  him  to  sell  the  stolen  horses  on  his 
ieturn  (or  arms  and  ammunition,  and  who  in  thrir 
turn  would  carry  these  things  to  the  Oregon  Indiau.s 
to  exchange  for  other  stolen  horses.  There  wvw 
always  enough  low  and  vicious  white  men  in  the  nci<^r|i. 
borhood  of  reservations  to  purchase  the  |)roperty  tliii.^ 
obtained  by  the  Indians  and  furnish  them  with  the 
means  of  carrying  on  their  nefarious  practices.  By  tliis 
means  a  never-failing  supply  of  men,  amis,  and  aininii- 
nition  was  pouring  into  Oregon,  furnished  by  the 
reservation  Indians  of  California.  Such,  at  all  events, 
was  the  conviction  of  Crook,  and  he  determined  toa*  t 
upon  it  by  organizing  a  sufficient  force  of  cavalry  in 
his  district  to  check  the  illicit  trade  being  carried  vn 
over  the  border. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Crook  to  have  his  troops 
ready  for  prosecuting  the  plan  of  intercepting  these 
incursions  from  California  by  the  1st  of  July;  hnt 
owing  to  delay  in  mounting  his  infantry,  and  gottin^;- 
supplies  to  subsist  the  troops  in  the  field,  the  j)r()[)os(  d 
cam]>aign  was  retarded  for  nearly  two  months.  The 
rendezvous  for  the  expedition  was  Camp  Smitli,  nn 
the  march  from  which  point  to  Camj)  Warner,  in 
July,  his  command  intercepted  two  camps  of  the  mi- 
gratory warriors,  and  killed  or  captured  both.  Ciook 
left  Camp  Warner  on  the  29th  of  July  with  forty 
troops  under  Captain  Harris,  preceded  by  Darin^h 
with  his  company  of  scouts,  with  a  view  of  seleetin.,' 
a  site  for  a  new  winter  camp,  the  climate  of  Warner 
being  too  severe.'^  Passing  southerly  around  tho 
base  of  Warner  buttes,  and  north  again  to  the  ])i('\v 
crossing  of  the  shallow  strait  between  Warner  lakes, 


**The  winter  of  1866-7  was  very  severe  in  the  Warner  L«ke  region,  wliiili 
IiaH  an  iiltitiulo  of  nearly  5,000  feet.  One  soldier,  a  serj^t-unt,  got  lost.  :iii<l 
|)<'riHlii>il  in  the  snow.  The  entire  company  at  Camp  Warner  were  foini'illLiI 
to  wulk  uriiunil  a  small  circle  in  the  snow  for  several  nif^its,  not  (iariii::  to 
lie  down  or  sleep  lest  they  should  freeze  to  death.  Owyhef  Ara'aiiche,  Ai'rd 
6,  18U7;  Pvrtlund  Onfjouian,  Aug.  24,  1807. 


DISTRICT  CHANGES. 


037 


he  I'licaniped  on  Honey  Creek,  fifteen  miles  north-west 
(if  Wjirncr,  where  he  found  Darragh,  whom  he  followed 
till-  next  day  up  the  creek  ten  miles,  finding  that  it 
huaded  in  a  range  of  finely  timbered  mountains  trend- 
int,'  iK^rth  and  south,  with  patches  of  snow  on  their 
suiiiiiiits.  On  the  3Ist  the  new  camp  was  located 
ill  till  open-timbered  country,  on  the  easter:i  boun- 
dary of  California,  and  received  the  name  of  New 
Warner.  It  was  500  feet  lower  than  the  former 
cimi[).  On  the  1st  of  August  the  command  re- 
tiiiiud,  having  discovered  some  fresh  trails  leading 
touuid  California,  and  confirming  the  theory  of  the 
tsDiiKc  of  Indian  supplies.  At  Camp  Warner  were 
found  Ca[»tain  Perry  and  McKay,  who  had  returned 
In  Mil  a  scout  to  the  south-east  without  finding  an 
Indian;  while  Archie  Mcintosh,  a  half-breed  Boise 
scout,  had  brought  in  eleven  prisoners,  making  forty- 
six  killed  and  captured  by  the  allies  witliiii  two  weeks. 

On  the  3d  of  August  Crook  set  out  on  a  recon- 
noissance  to  Selvie  River  and  Harney  Valley,  with 
the  ohjcct  >f  locating  another  winter  post,  escorted  by 
Lieutenant  Stanton,  with  a  di  tachment  of  Captain 
Pi  I  it's  company,  and  Archie  Mcintosh  with  fifteen 
scouts.  The  point  ^elected  was  at  the  south  end  of 
tht  Blue  Mountains,  on  the  west  side,  and  the  camp 
was  named  Harney.'"'" 

On  the  IGth  of  August,  by  a  general  order  issued 
from  headquarters  military  division  of  the  Pacific, 
till'  district  of  Boisd  was  restricted  to  Fort  Boise. 
Caiiip  Lyon,  Camp  Tliree  Forks  of  the  Owyhee,  and 
Camp  C  F.  Smith  were  made  to  constitute  the  dis 
tri(  t  of  Owyhee,'"  and  placed  under  tlie  command 
of  (icneral  Elliott,  1st  cavalry.  Fort  Klamath  and 
camps  Watson,  Warner,  Logan,  and  Harney  were 
doignated  as  constituting  the  district  of  the  lakes, 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  Crook,  who  also  had 


••Oe/i.  Orden  De/tl  Cohimhia,  Nov.  20,  1807. 

"  A  few  niuutlts  later  Uoisd  was  iucor^)orated  in  the  district  of  Owyhee. 


538 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


'>.'  I 


command  of  the  troops  at  Camp  Bidwell,  should  he 
require  their  services. 

Having  at  last  obtained  a  partial  mount  for  his 
infantry,  Crook  set  out  about  September  Lst  for  that 
part  of  the  country  from  which  he  believed  the  iv- 
enforcements  of  the  Indians  to  come,  with  three  com- 
panies of  cavalry,  one  of  mounted  infantry,  an<l  all 
the  Indian  allies.  It  was  hoped  by  marching  at  ni<j^ht 
and  lying  concealed  by  day  to  surprise  some  c(ju>i(l- 
eraUo  number  of  the  enemy.  But  it  was  not  until 
the  9th  that  Darragh  reported  finding  Indians  in  I  ho 
tulc's  about  Lake  Abert.  On  proceeding  from  «:aiii|> 
on  the  east  side  of  Goose  Lake  two  days  in  a  muth 
course,  the  trail  of  a  party  of  Indians  was  discoviitd, 
but  Crook  believed  them  to  bo  going  south,  and  (h- 
viding  his  force,  sent  captains  Perry  and  Harris  and 
the  Warm  Spring  allies  north  to  scout  the  ('(lunliv 
bciwetMi  Sprague  and  Des  Chutes  rivers,  takini^  in 
CrooktMl  ](iver  and  terminating  their  campaign  at 
Camp  Harney  in  Harney  Valley. 

At  the  same  time  he  took  a  course  south-east  to 
Surprise  Valley,  with  the  mounted  infantry  unilrr 
^fadigan,  one  cavalry  company  under  Panu'II,  and  (hi- 
]^oisd  scouts  under  Mcintosh.  Having  found  (hat 
i\n'Xo  were  Indians  in  the  mountains  east  of  (Johm' 
Lake,  but  having  [►r«»<>rthat  liiey  ha«l  also  discovnvd 
him,  instead  of  moving  at  night,  as  heretofori-,  hi' 
ni.idi'  no  attempt  to  conct^al  himself,  but  nuui  hi  d 
alony:  the  r(»a<l  mm  if  yoim;  to  FortCnKik,  and  acliiallv 
«lid  ma»"h  to  within  twenty  miles  of  it;  but  when  he 
i-ame  to  a  |  hu-e  whertj  he  was  concealed  by  the  moun- 
tains along  tlie  river  on  the  south  side,  he  crossiil 
over  and  eruNimped  in  a  timbered  cailon. 

On  the  l!5th  the  command  was  mandied  in  a  conrxo 
south-east,  along  the  base  of  a  spur  of  the  moinitaiiis 
covered  with  timber.  While  passing  through  a  ii- 
vine  a  small  camp  of  In<lians  was  discovered,  uli<i 
lied,  and  were  not  pursued.  Coming  soon  al'ier  to  a 
plain  trail  leading  toward  the  south  fork  of  Pit  Kim  r, 


.^^ 


CROOK  ON  PIT  RIVER. 


539 


)uld 


lie 


for  liis 
for  til  at 
tlio  ic- 
ec  oom- 
aiul  all 
it  ui);lit 
cuii>i(l- 
lot  until 
H  ill  tliu 
111  caiiii) 
a  iiortli 
.'ovri't'd, 
,  uiul  (li- 
inis  and 
coundy 
ikiii;;'  in 
)iii<!H  at 


■oast  to 

iiiuli  r 

iiid  tlu' 

id  I  hut 

(  » ( X  ISO 
>(»\  tlrd 
H'f,    111' 

iiarriii'd 

ai'tiially 

lu'ii    lit' 

lllolUI- 

fll>>-t'tl 

I  cnlll'St! 

mntaiiis 
h  a  ra- 
,    \\lii» 

iT    In   a 

Ki\<r, 


it  was  followed  fifteen  miles,  and  the  camp  for  the 
!ii<^ht  made  in  a  caflon  timbered  with  pine,  with  good 
^lass  and  water.  Signs  of  Indians  were  plenty,  hut 
till'  commander  was  not  hopeful.  The  horses  were 
boi^dnning  to  fail  with  travelling  over  lava-beds,  and 
ut  night;  the  Indians  were  evidently  numerous  anil 
watciiful;  and  there  was  no  method  of  determining  at 
what  point  they  might  bo  expected  to  appear.  Fore- 
warned in  a  country  like  that  on  the  Pit  River,  the 
advantages  were  all  on  the  side  of  the  Indians. 

The  march  on  the  2Gth  led  the  troops  (  ver  high 
taliit'-land,  eastward  along  a  much  used  tiu'!,  where 
tracks  of  horses  and  Indians  wore  freijuent,  loading 
linally  to  the  lava-bluffs  o^^erlookin^  the  south  branch 
(»f  l*it  River,  and  through  two  miles  of  cafion  down 
into  the  valley.  Here  the  troops  turned  to  the  north 
along  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  and  wlion  near  tho  bond 
i*\'  the  river  the  scouts  announced  the  discovery  nf 
Indians  in  the  rocks  near  by.  Crook  prepared  for 
hattlc  by  orderitig  Parmdl  to  dismount  half  his  men 
an<l  form  a  line  to  the  south  of  tho  occupied  nwks, 
while  Madigan  formed  a  similar  lino  on  the  north  side, 
the  two  uniting  on  the  east  in  front  of  the  Indian  po- 
sition. Mcintosh  with  his  scouts  was  ordered  back 
t'l  the  bluff  overlooking  tho  valley,  tho  troops  getting 
iiiti>  |)osition  about  oin^  o'clock,  aiul  the  Indians  wait- 
ing to  be  attacked  in  th(5  rocks. 

The  stronghold  was  a  p'  :;H'ndicidar lava-wall,  three 
Innidred  feet  high,  ami  a  tn.id  of  a  mile  long  on  tho 
west  side  of  the  valley.  At  tho  north  eml  was  a 
ridge  of  bowlders,  am!  at  the  south  end  a  canon.  In 
iVniit  was  a  low  sharp  ridge  of  lava-blocks,  from  which 
tlii'ie  was  a  gradual  shipo  iiito  the  valley.  These  sev- 
ciil  features  of  the  place  formed  a  natural  fortificatinri 
ol'i^reat  strength.  Rut  there  were  yet  other  featuri's 
It  iideriiig  it  even  more  formidable.  Running  into  its 
H mth-oastcrn  boundary  were  two  promontories,  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  fe»)t  in  length,  thirty  in  height,  with 
I'l  r|iendicular  walls  parallel  to  each  oUier  and  about 


640 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


thirty  fiiot  apart,  making  a  scarped  moat  which  could 
not  bu  pafsed.  At  the  north  end  of  the  ea.sttin 
promontory  tliO  Indians  had  erected  a  tort  of  stoiio, 
twenty  feet  in  diameter,  breast-hifj^h,  pierced  with 
loop-holes;  and  on  the  wctstern  promontory  two  lar^ur 
forts  of  similar  ctmstruction.  Between  this  fortress 
and  the  hlutf  where  the  scouts  were  stationed  wcie 
hui^e  masses  of  rocks  of  every  size  and  contour.  Thf 
only  approach  appeariiiji^  practicable  was  I'rom  the 
eastern  sii>[)e,  near  which  was  the  first  fort. 

At  the  word  of  comntand  Parnell  approached  the 
canon  on  the  south.  A  volley  was  tired  fron»  the 
fort,  and  the  Indians  fell  back  under  covrr,  wh<M 
the  assailants  by  a  quick  movement  gained  the  shtlttr 
of  the  rocky  rim  of  the  ravine;  but  in  reconnoitriii;,' 
immediately  afterward  they  exposed  themselves  to 
another  volley  from  the  fort,  which  killed  .ind 
wounded  four  men.  It  was  only  by  siege  that  the 
foe  could  he  dislodged.  Accordingly  Eskridge,  who 
had  charge  of  the  horses,  herders,  and  supplies,  was 
ordei'cd  to  go  into  camp,  and  preparations  were  niiulc 
for  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  present  and  pro- 
spective. 

The  battle  now  opened  in  earnest,  and  the  afttr- 
noon  was  spent  in  volleys  from  both  sides,  iiccnin- 
panied  by  the  usual  sounds  of  Indian  warfare,  in 
which  yi'lls  the  troops  indulged  as  freelj'  as  the  linl- 
ians.  A  s(]UJid  of  l*arneirs  im  n  were  ordered  to  tlic 
bhitf  to  join  the  scouts,  and  help  them  to  pour  biillits 
down  into  the  round  forts.  The  Indians  wt-reeiitiivly 
suriounded,  yet  such  was  tin;  nature  of  the  grniiinl 
that  they  could  not  be  approached  by  men  in  line,  ami 
the  tiring  was  chielly  (H)ntineil  to  sharp-shooting.  TIh' 
range  from  the  blutfs  above  the  fort  was  about  I'niir 
hundred  yards,  at  an  angle  of  forty-tive  di'gn'«s;  ami 
liundre<ls  of  shots  were  sent  during  the  afteriKHUi 
down  among  them.  From  the  east  fort  shots  cmild 
reach  the  blwtf  I'rom  long-range  guns,  and  it  was  n»t «  >- 
sary  to  keep  under  cover.     All  the  Indians  whocniilil 


E  '  * 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BLUFF. 


artiT- 

iM'Cdin- 

arc,  ill 

w  lihl- 

1..  th." 

I)ull.-ts 

•iitinly 

yidllinl 

iir,  aiitl 
Til.' 
lit  I'l'iir 
•s;  (IImI 

CflHioIl 

s   CUllIll 

IH'ttS- 

()  c'uuld 


1(0  seen  were  clad  only  in  a  short  skirt,  with  feathers 
ill  tlit'ir  liair.  One  of  them,  notwithstanding  tlie  cor- 
(l(>;i  of  soldiers,  escaped  out  of  the  fortress  over  the 
picky  ridge  and  bluff,  giving  a  triumphant  whoop  as 
111  '^fjiiiied  the  level  ground,  and  distancing  his  pur- 
suers. It  was  conjectured  that  he  must  have  gone 
cithtT  fi>r  supplies  or  riienforcements. 

Thus  wore  away  the  afternoon.  As  night  ap- 
jiioachcd  Crook,  who  by  tiiis  time  had  reconnoitred 
the  position  from  every  side,  directed  rations  to  bo 
ishiK'd  to  the  piikets  stationed  around  the  stronghold 
to  [tifvcnt  escapes.  When  darkness  fell  the  scouta 
Iclt  the  bluff  and  crept  down  among  the  rocks  of  the 
\'\A\f(i  intervening  between  the  bluff  and  the  fortress, 
jrotting  within  a  hundred  feet  of  the  east  fort.  The 
tioops  also  now  careful'y  worked  themselves  into  the 
slirlicr  of  the  rocks  nearer  to  the  Indians,  who  evi- 
(Inilly  anticipated  their  movenients  and  kept  their 
arrows  Hying  in  every  direction,  together  with  stones, 
\vl  ro  t,ln«y  threw  at  random.  In  the  cross-fire  kept 
up  .:;  ho  dark  one  of  Madigan's  men  was  killed  by 
I'ariieirs  company.  All  night  inside  tlu;  forts  there 
was  a  sound  of  rolling  about  and  piling  up  stonrs, 
as  if  additional  breastworks  were  being  constructed. 
Whenever  a  volley  was  fired  by  the  troops  in  the 
(iircclion  of  these  noises,  a  sound  of  voic(.'s  was  heard 
nvtMborati ng  as  if  in  a  cavern.  During  the  (larly 
jiart  of  tile  night  there  were  frequent  ilashcs  of  light- 
ning and  heavy  peals  of  thunder.  In  the  mean  time 
no  change  was  apparent  in  the  position  of  affairs. 

At  daybreak  Parnell  and  ^ludigaM  w»'ro  directed 
to  bring  in  their  pickets  and  form  under  the  crest  of 
tile  ridge  facing  the  east  fort,  while  the  scouts  were 
oi(ler«Ml  to  take  position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
ridge,  and  having  first  crawlol  up  tlie  slope  among 
tile  rocks  as  far  as  could  be  done  without  discoveting 
tlieiiiselves,  at  the  word  of  command  to  storm  the 
I'urt.*^     At  sunrise  the  command  Forward!  was  given. 

**  'The  general  Ulked  to  the  men  like  a  father;  tuld  lliem  at  tlie  wonl 


M2 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


ii 


The  men,  about  forty  in  number,  sprang  to  their  foot 
and  rushed  toward  the  fort.  They  had  not  gone 
twenty  paces  when  a  volley  from  the  Indians  striK  k 
down  Lieutenant  Madigan,  three  non-commissioned 
officers,  three  privates,  and  one  citizen — eight  in  all. 
The  remainder  of  the  storming  party  kept  on,  cross! ti<r 
a  natural  moat  and  gaining  the  wall,  which  seemed  to 
present  but  two  accessible  points.  Up  one  of  those 
Sergeant  Russler,  of  Company  D,  23d  infantry,  led  tlio 
way;  and  up  the  other.  Sergeant  Meara  and  Private 
Sawyer,  of  Company  H,  1st  cavalry,  led  at  difTLTcnt 
points.  Meara  was  the  first  to  reach  a  natural  i)aia- 
pet  surrounding  the  east  fort  on  two  sides,  dasliinir 
across  which  ho  was  crying  to  his  men  to  coino  <iii, 
when  a  shot  struck  him  and  he  fell  dead.  At  the 
same  moment  Russler  come  up,  and  putting  his  «L,niii 
through  a  loop-hole  fired,  others  following  his  exam- 
ple.    Ho  was  also  struck  by  a  shot. 

It  was  expected  that  the  Indians,  being  forced  to 
abandon  the  enclosure  which  was  now  but  a  pen  in 
which  all  might  be  slaughtered,  would  be  easily  shot 
as  they  came  out,  and  some  of  the  men  disposed 
themselves  so  as  to  interrupt  their  anticipated  Hi,i,dit; 
but  what  was  the  surprise  of  all  to  see  that  as  fast  as 
they  left  the  fort  they  disappeared  among  the  roeks 
as  if  they  had  been  lizards.  In  a  short  time  the 
soldiers  had  possession  of  the  east  fort,  but  a  moiiieiit 
afterward  a  volley  coming  across  from  the  two  forts  on 
tho  west,  and  scattering  shots  which  appearwl  to  come 
from  tho  rocks  beneath,  changed  the  position  of  the 
besiegers  into  that  of  the  besieged.  Several  nnn 
more  were  wounded,  one  more  killed,  and  i^o  sit  na- 
tion became  critical  in  tho  extreme. 

But  notwithstanding  the  Indians  still  had  so  greatly 
the  advantage,  they  seemed  to  have  been  shakcti  in 
their  courage  by  the  boldness  of  tho  troops  in  stotni- 

Furwarill  thoy  •hould  riae  up  qniok,  go  with  a  yell,  and  keep  yolliiifz,  ami 
ncTor  think  uf  iitunpin({  until  thoy  had  croiiMd  the  d>t«h,  Roaled  the  wall,  nni 
broken  through  ttie  br(>iuitworkt,  and  the  faater  the  IJetter.'  J.  WMHtii,  iu 
Oret/oniau,  Nov.  Vi,  1807. 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  WARRIORS. 


54S 


ins,'  the  east  fort,  or  perhaps  they  were  preparing  a 
isuiprisc.  A  continuous  lull  followed  the  volley  from 
the  west  forts,  which  lasted,  with  scattering  shots,  until 
noon,  though  the  men  exposed  themselves  to  draw  the 
fire  of  the  enemy  and  uncover  his  position.  One  shot 
entered  a  loop-hole  and  killed  the  soldier  stationed 
tlierc.  Shots  from  the  Indians  became  fewer  during 
the  afternoon,  while  the  troops  continued  to  hold  tho 
east  fort,  and  pickets  were  stationed  who  kept  up  a 
fire  wherever  any  sign  of  life  appeared  in  the  Indian 
(juartcr.  The  west  Torts,  being  maccessible,  could  not 
be  stormed.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  watch 
fur  tlio  next  movement  of  the  Indians,  who  so  far 
as  known  were  still  concealed  in  their  fortifications, 
where  the  crying  of  children  and  other  signs  of  lif.: 
could  be  heard  through  the  day  and  night  of  the  27th. 
On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  suspense  having 
lujcome  unbearable.  Crook  permitted  an  Indian  woman 
to  pass  the  lines,  from  whom  he  received  an  explana- 
tion of  tho  mysterious  silence  of  tho  Indian  guns. 
Not  a  warrior  was  left  in  the  forts.  By  a  series  <tf 
suliterranean  passages  loading  to  the  cafion  on  tho 
Houtli-wost,  they  had  all  escaped,  and  been  gone  f<»r 
many  hours.  An  examination  of  tho  ground  revealed 
the  fact  that  by  tho  means  of  fissures  and  caverns  in 
the  sundered  beds  of  lava,  communication  could  bo 
ke|)t  up  with  tho  country  outside,  and  that  finding 
tlieinselvos  so  strongly  besieged  they  had  with  In<l- 
ian  mutability  of  purpose  given  up  its  defence,  and 
left  l)ehind  their  women  and  children  to  deceive  tho 
troops  until  thoy  were  safely  away  out  of  danger.  To 
attempt  the  examination  of  tlieso  caves  would  be  f<)<»l 
hardy.  A  soldier,  in  descending  into  one,  was  shot 
through  tho  heart,  probably  by  some  wounded  Indian, 
left  in  hiding  there.  The  extent  and  depth  of  tho 
caverns  and  fissures  would  render  futile  any  attempt 
to  (hiv(<  out  the  savages  by  fire  «)r  powder.  Nothing 
remained  but  to  return  to  Camp  Warner,  which 
niovement  was  begun  on  the  30th,  and  ended  on  the 


m 


■.■4 


644 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


4th  of  October  at  the  new  post  in  the  basin  cant  of 
Lake  Abort. 

The  result  of  this  h^ng-projected  campaigi.  .ould 
not  be  .saitl  to  be  a  victory.  According  to  Wasseii, 
it  was  not  chiinied  by  tlie  troops  that  more  than  til- 
tecn  Indians  wore  killed  at  the  Pit  River  fortresji, 
while  the  loss  sustained  by  the  connuand  in  the  two 
days'  siege  was  eight  killed  and  twelve  woundid.-' 
That  General  Crook  sacrificed  hi>i  men  in  the  aft'air  of 
Pit  River  in  his  endeavor  to  achieve  what  the  puMic 
expected  of  him  is  evident,  notwithstanding  the  laud- 
atory and  apologetic  accounts  of  the  correspoutlcnts 
of  the  expedition.  Had  he  let  his  Indian  scouts  do 
the  fighting  in  Indian  fashion,  while  he  held  his  troops 
ready  to  succor  them  if  overpowered,  the  result  might 
have  been  dilferent.  One  thing,  indeed,  he  was  ahlu 
to  prove,  that  the  foe  was  well  supplied  with  aiiniui- 
nition,  which  must  have  been  obtained  by  the  sale  of 
property  stolen  in  marauding  expeditions  to  the  noi ',  h. 
Stored  among  the  rocks  was  a  plentiful  su[)ply  of 
powder  and  caps,  in  sacks,  tin  cans,  and  boxes,  all 
(piite  new,  showing  recent  |)urchases.  The  guns  found 
were  of  the  American  half-stocked  pattern,  indicating 
whence  they  had  been  obtained,  and  no  breech-loadini; 
guns  were  found,  though  some  had  been  previously 
captured  by  the.K:  Indians. 

The  expedition  under  Perry,  wliich  proceeded  north, 

"There  is  a  discrepancy  Instween  tlic  military  report,  whiiii  iimk>s  tlio 
nuinlK-r  (if  killeil  live,  uiui  Wasst'n'B,  whicli  niakcx  it  eijrht;  Imt  1  Iium'  t"!- 
liiwud  th'j  latter,  Iici'uumu  liisuoount  gives  the  oiruiiriihUiicuM ami  iiaiiii's.  'I'lio 
list  in  ixn  followH:  Killud:  Lieut  Joliii  Madigan,  liorii  in  .lerHcy  City,  N.  J.; 
8urgeaiita  ('luirleH  litiroiict,  Iwrii  in  <ieiiiiuny,  rinncrly  of  7tli  Vt  V'llinitrirs, 
Michael  M»!artt,  Ixtni  in  (Jalway,  Ireluud,  18  yearn  ii  V.  S.  A.,  luui  Ser;:';nit 
Uussler;  privateH  .lames  Lyons,  Inirn  in  I'eaoo  Uale,  &  L;  \\  ilioiiL'ihy 
Sawyer,  horn  in  Canuda  West;  (  arl  Kross,  Iwun  in  (ierniany,  lived  in  Ni'"avk, 
N.  .L;  Jumes  ('arey,  from  Ne»  Orleans.  WDiinded:  eorpwralH  McCaini.  HV 
giirty,  Kirinau;  private*  Clancy,  Fisher,  Kingston,  Mc(Jiiir»,  Kinlder,  liji''"j, 
.Sliea,  Knuer;  ami  Ijiwreiiee  Triiynor,  eiviliuii.  'I'lui  rt^muiiis  of  Lioiit  Niudi- 
uan  worn  taken  one  day's  inarch  from  the  l)attle-ticld,  and  buried  on  tiie  iM.rth 
iMiiik  of  I'it  Hiver,  about  twenty  inileH  Itelow  the  junction  ot  the  kohiIi 
branch.  The  •  ivatcH  wer-  buried  in  the  valley  of  the  south  bruti' li.  lialf* 
mill."  north  of  tiio  forts.  The  wounded  wi're  conveyed  on  mule  littrrs  to  New 
Camp  Warner.  Corr.  .S',  /'.  linll-tin,  in  I'ortinntt  Hfrmlil,  Uec.  10,  iHtlT;  •!• 
Wiuisen.  in  (trufininn,  Nov.  I'.',  ISCiT;  Uayvt'  Indian  Hcrups,  v.  141;  <»>«• 
tral  Ordir  Drpl  Columbia,  uu.  3J,  ltMi7. 


ill 


I  «< 


CAMPAIGNS  AND  DEPREDATIONS. 


SUS 


cast  of 

I      _OVll(l 

\rasst'n, 
han  til- 
ortrt'ss, 
the  two 
LUuli'd.'' 
Liflair  of 
[i  |)ul»lic 
10  laud- 
ondi'iits 
;()Uts  do 
s  tn»o|)!S 
It  ini<;iit 
vas  al)ic 
I  aimmi- 
0  sale  of 
10  north, 
ipply  of 

)Xl'S,    u\\ 

'ouml 

dioatiiiif 

loadiiiLj 

oviously 

d  iH'i  th, 

maU    ^  tllO 
I  lm\f  t.  I 
iiiii'H     Tlio 
•itv,  N.  J.J 

ViilUUtrirS, 

,ii  Si!ii:' .lilt 
»\  illiiii;;  il)y 

III  N<'«'»'l'. 

iCuii",  K»- 

IT,  Ba''".», 
li(<\it,  Niuili- 
III  tlu'  1"  rth 

till-     KIMltll 

Ln.ii,  ii..if» 

|o.  lH(l7i  .'• 
Ul;  '<'<■"• 


failed  to  find  any  enemy.  Lieutenant  Small,  how-, 
ever,  with  fifty-one  men  from  Fort  Klumath  and 
toti  Klamath  scouts,  was  more  successful,  killing 
twonty-thrce  and  capturing  fourteen  in  the  vicinity  of 
Silver  and  Abort  lakes,  between  the  2d  and  22d  of 
September.  Among  the  killed  were  two  chiefs  who 
had  signed  the  treaty  of  18G4,  and  an  influential  med- 
iiiiie-man.  Panina  havirjg  also  been  killed  by  citizens 
wiiilo  on  a  foray  on  the  Cafion  City  and  Boise  road 
ill  April,  as  will  be  remembered,  there  remained  but 
few  of  the  chiefs  of  renown  alive.* 

For  about  two  months  of  the  summer  of  18G7, 
whih'  Captain  Wildy  of  the  Gth  cavalry  was  stationed 
on  Willow  Creek  in  Mormon  Basin,  to  intercept  tho 
j)assage  north  of  raiding  parties,  the  people  along  the 
road  between  John  Day  and  Snake  rivers  «'!ij(»v»'<l 
an  uiiaccustometl  innnunity  from  depredations.  But 
early  in  September  Wildy  was  ordered  to  Fort  Crook, 
ill  California,  and  other  troops  withdrawn  from  tho 
nortii  to  strengthen  the  district  of  the  lakes.  Know- 
ing what  would  bo  the  effect  of  this  change,  the  in- 
habitants of  Baker  county  petitioned  Governor  Woods 
fur  a  permanent  military  post  in  their  midst,  but  peti- 
tioned in  vain,  because  the  governt>r  was  not  able  to 
iHisiiado  the  general  government  to  li.ston  favorably, 
nor  to  dictate  to  the  conunander  of  the  department  of 
the  ("olumi)ia  what  dis[)osition  to  make  of  his  forces. 
Wildy  s  e()iin)any  had  hardly  time  to  reaeh  Fort  Crook 
when  the  dreaded  visitations  b«'«;an."     About  the  last 

"'Oniioiiian,  Nov    4  ami  I'J,  18«7:  JaikmiivilU  Sfntinrl,  Sept.  28,  18ti7: 
Yi-i-bi  liiioii,  Oct.  ."i,  IJMIT;  A'.  F.  Aim,  !«i,.|.t.  '>H,  l««7 

•'" 'I'lio  lii'8t  aitiu-k  HU8  iiiiido  .Sfjit,  'J*.h  uixui  .1.  M.  Soott,  *ho  with  liia 
wife  aiiil  cliiliiri^n  was  driving  aluii^  t'.o  nxnl  iH'twwM,  Ryu  Viinvy  uml  tlii'ir 
liiiiiji'  (III  Burnt  Itix'cr.  Scott  with  killcil  alnumt  iiiKtHir.y,  iveriving  t\\<>  tittul 
HiiiiiiiU  at  (iiiL'O.  Tiio  wift>.  thmit^'li  Hcvorc-ly  w<mtiilt'il,  Hci/.cil  tliv  rciim  an 
tiny  It  II  n-Diii  iliu  liiinilH  of  h«-r  (U-ail  liiiHtMiiiil,  and  iir^iii^  tliu  Imrrn'M  to  a  run, 
(•.r;i|,.,l  witli  lior cliiUirt'ii,  hut  ilii^l  the  tollowiii^  iia\  ThiH  uttitck  \vn«  fi«l 
Ikui.I  liy  otlii-ra  in  (piick  Huccctitiiipii.  Om/(^ii(i»i.  Oft  *,  7,  U,  IW7:  l'm<ti%ll<t 
Cotiimliia  J'lrMM,  Oct.  r»,  1807.  On  tl»e  inurnin,;  of  tli>  3(1  of  Octolwr  a  niiiuII 
ImihI  lit  liiiliaiiH  ]ilun(l<>rMil  tiio  Iiouimi  <'t  u  Mr  Howe,  a  itiw  iniica  caM  of  Canip 
Willi,  iiiiil  ii  (lt>tiioliiii(-nt  of  Hoveii  incii  of  ooniiiaiiy  F,  8tii  cavalry,  was  atiiit 
until!  Liviit  I'iko  to  (lurHiit;  tlicin,  I'lko  uiaynavu  Ijwu  a  vtiiunble  utiiour, 
Umt.  Ub..  V'>l.  U.    M 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


i 


of  October  General  Steele  ordered  a  cavalry  company 
to  guard  the  roads  and  do  picket  duty  in  the  Burnt 
Kiver  district. 

But  dejtredations  were  not  confined  to  the  Orcn^nn 
side  of  Snake  River.  They  werfi  nntte  as  frequent  in 
Boise  and  Owyhee  districts,  where  there  was  no  lack 
of  military  cani[)S.  So  frequent  were  the  raids  ujmih 
tlie  stock-ran<jes  *-  that  the  farmers  declared  they  must 
give  up  their  improvements  and  quit  the  country 
unless  they  wore  stopped.  At  length  they  orgaiiizt d 
a  force  in  the  lower  l:Joise  Valley.  Armed  with  j^iuis 
furnisht'd  by  Fort  Boisd,  and  aided  by  a  squad  of  sol- 
diers from  that  [)ost,  they  scouted  the  surrounding' 
country  thoroughly,  retaking  some  stock  and  kiilini,'' 
two  I  ndianss,*'     But  while  they  recovered  some  of  tluir 

i>roperty,  the  stage  station  at  the  niouth  of  the 
*aycttc.'  liiver  was  roljbcd  of  all  its  horses.'*  And 
this  was  the  oft-repcatcd  cxjjerience  of  civil  and  niili- 
tarv  parti«'S.  I^lood  as  well  as  sj)oils  Jiiarked  the  course 
of  the  iiivader.s.^^     Stages,  and  even  the  Snake  llivcr 


liut  In-  was  not  exporifiiccd  in  Iiiiliiin-liuhtinu'-  Iff  was  eagerly  pushintr  for- 
wunl  iifti'i'  tliL-  giiiilt'H,  will)  liail  iliMcovcri'il  llio  i'ani|i  of  tlu!  tliit^viH,  ulicii  lie 
ini)>riiili-ntly  ^ii\<!u  xlioiit,  wliii'li  Hcnt  tliu  HavagcH  lis  in^,  leaving  a  lillc,  w  liiili 
in  tiK'ii  liuHti'  uat  fiii'^otU'ii.  I'iku  very  fitulislily  Hcizcil  it  liy  tliu  iiiu//!l'  anil 
Ktrui'k  it  on  a  ruck  to  tli-Mtroy  it,  '.viini  it  ('X|iIiiiI(mI,  >viiiMiiliiiv(  liini  f.'itiilly, 
wliii  li  Hociilciit  arrcHtcil  tluM'\|i(Hlitiiiii;  ainl  aHciiniKJ,  iiihIl'I'  Lii'iit  Kaulliiiiin, 
fuil«-<l  toovt'i'tuku  till)  iiiaraiiiU'1'8.  Urrijuiiiaii,  Nov.  4,  1807;  din.  OrUn'  llmd- 
^uarliiM  Jti/it  < '(iliiiiihid,  no.  .'Ki. 

"On  tin'  nijilit  of  Out.  .'M,  witliiii  half  a  niilo  of  Owyhco  City,  Jimrpli  F. 
Colwoll,  a  highly  ri'Hnfctcil  «'itizun,  wiih  killcil,  Mi-ilpcil,  anil  liiinicil.  On  the 
folliiv  ing  night  u  raiil  \\ii»  niiult!  on  tlin  cat  tic  iii.liiiilan  Vuilcy,  w  itiiiii  Mimlrs 
of  SiUi-r  City.  Four  Hcparatu  iiiciirsioiiH  «cro  niaiU-  into  Itomi)  Valley  ilniiii)} 
the- unttinin.  ihru  fe  A  rnliiiii/if,  Oit.  T),  1807;  JJoisi*  Sl(itrMmiiii,i)it.  Vl'.',  iKc. 
17,  lMi7;  /i'"M('  hniuxriil,  Hcc  'J I,  IH7(1. 

•*  A  fanner  who  lu'longeil  to  this  volunteer  conipniiy  of  lioisii  Valley  ntntctl 
that  one  of  the  Iniliann  killed  wax  lirantleil  witii  a  eiiclu  'iml  the  li).Mii'i'M  |s(.'i, 
■howinu  th.'it  'J'J  yeum  befuru  lie  hiiil  been  thiiH  piiniHlied  furotfunceHot  a  mini- 
lar  kimi. 

"There  woa  a  chief  known  to  liia  own  people  as  Oulnx,  and  to  thowttlfn 
M  liigftMit,  who  ItMJ  many  of  thcHu  raiilM.  llo  wax  nearly  7  feet  in  height,  ai:>l 
|i4)Merfnl!y  Iniilt,  with  u  foot  1 1^  incheH  in  length,  'I'he  tnuek  of  this  IikIiiiii 
eoiilil  not  l>e  inisUiken.  He  wan  in  ('rook'it  tii'Ht  Imltio  in  the  npring.  I'U  *l>i) 
Owjhee,  witli  (mother  eliief  known  an  l.ittlefoot.  Ynka  f'liion,  Feh.  !t,  iiiiil 
Nov.  II,  18417  HigfiMit  WI18  killed  liy  an  iiMH.'iHtsin,  who  lay  in  wait  for  liiiii, 
»nd  Ilia  uinnterer  ptomixeil  him  to  guard  from  tliu  public  tiie  levret  of  hit 
di'utli,  of  'vhieli  lii<  woa  aHlrnined, 

*'Oii  till'  'ilnt  of  October,  in  the  morning,  ocrnrred  onpof  the  mnrt  jininful 
of  the  many  harrow  ing  iiicidentM  of  the  Sliualiunu  war,     'J'mu  avrgeantj),  iiunu'ii 


STEELE  RETIRES. 


S47 


steamer  Stioshone,  were  attacked.  Letters  and  news- 
papers were  found  in  Indian  camps  clotted  with  human 
gore.  The  people,  sick  of  such  horrors,  cried  loudly 
lor  relief.  But  at  this  juncture,  wlien  their  sorvici;s 
wore  most  needed,  the  Indian  allies  were  mustcied 
out,  although  General  Steele,  in  making  his  report, 
fully  acknowledged  their  value  to  the  service,  sayiiii; 
they  had  done  most  of  the  fighting  in  the  late  expe- 
ditions, and  [)roved  efficient  guides  and  spies."* 

On  the  23d  of  November  Steele  relinquished   the 
command  of  the  department  of  the  Columbia,"  which 

Xic'hols  and  Denoille,  left  Camp  Lyon  in  a  fonr-liorse  anilmlance  to  go  to  F«irt 
ImiImi',  Uunoillo  liiiviiia  with  liini  liis  wif'i',  wlio  wuh  in  <lelicato  lu.-iiUii.  Nino 
miles  from  cump,  whiio  pasHinK through  a  roclty  ciiflon,  tlu'y  weru uttackfd  liy 
JiiiliiUiH  in  ambuHh,  nn<l  Denoille,  who  uaH  driving,  was  killed  utthelirat  lire. 
NitJiuU,  not  kuowint;  that  liiHComradii  wan  hit,  wasgiviiig  hiit  attention  to  the 
liidiiins,  when  Denoille  ftdl  out  of  t!io  wngon  dead,  and  the  lioi'xeA  heeoniing 
fivlitcned  ran  half  a  mile  at  the  top  of  their  Hpeed,  until  one  full  and  arrt'Hted 
t!i<'  llight  of  the  others.  Nichohj  now  sprung  out,  followed  hy  Mrs  lleiioilh', 
wiioiu  lio  urgetl  to  conceal  herse'if  Wforo  the  liidiuusieamcup;  hut  lieing  hereft 
iif  liiT reason  by  the  shoik  jif  the  tragedy,  she  insisted  on  returning  to  tind  Iut 
liiishand;  and  Nichols,  hiding  among  the  rocks,  escaped  to(.'arson's  larm  that 
culling.  When  a  rescuing  party  went  out  from  (Silver  City  after  Denoillc's 
lioily,  which  was  stripped  and  nnitilattul,  nothing  could  be  learned  of  the  late 
of  his  wife.  A  scouting  party  was  innnediutcly  organized  at  Camp  Lyon.  At 
the  ( >w  yheo  River  the  troops  eame  npo.i  a  camp,  frum  which  the  inmates  llcci, 
leaving  only  two  Indian  women.  These  women  declared  that  .Mrs  Deunille 
liml  not  been  liarmed,  but  was  held  for  ransom.  One  of  them  being  sent  to 
iii<|uire  what  ransom  would  bo  required,  faileil  to  return,  when  the  troops  le- 
tiiated  t<  camp  to  relit  for  a  longer  cxpr'dition.  Col  Coppinger  auil  <  apt. 
Hunt  immediately  resumed  the  pursuit,  l)ut  the  [iidians  had  escaped.  About 
tlu!  middle  of  Dec.  a  scouting  |>arty  attacked  a  camp  of  twenty  savages,  kill- 
iii„'  live  and  capturing  six.  Some  of  .Mrs  i)enoille's  clothing  was  found  on  one 
III  the  eaptui'ed  Women,  who  said  that  the  white  captive  was  taken  south  to 
Wiimeumcca  to  be  helil  for  a  high  ransom.  It  was  not  until  in  the  Hummer 
III  lS(i,Sthat  the  tiulh  was  ascertained,  when  to  a  scout  named  Micks  wms 
|H>iiilei|  out  the  plai.'e  of  the  woman's  death,  and  her  bleaching  bones.  Shu 
iiad  lieen  taken  half  a  milo  from  the  road  where  the  attack  was  made,  ilrag^ed 
hy  the  neck  to  a  convenient  block  of  stone,  her  head  laid  upnn  it,  and  eru-ihed 
\Mlii  another  stone.  The  Indian  who  descrilH'd  th(i  scene,  and  his  part  in  it, 
«iis  riddled  by  the  bullets  of  the  com|MUiy.  /{oixe  StaUKtiinii,  Oct,  -4,  '_*(»,  and 
l»iv.  17,  I«(17;  (hnjlue  Ai'itlniiihi,  Amw  l.'J,  ISliS. 

h'r/.lSer.   W,ir,  18(17 -S,  i.  7lt;  ()ri'</,>iiiiiii,  Dec.  23,  IS(I7. 

Steele  was  born  in  Delhi,  N.  V.,  graduated  at  West  I'oiut  in  184.1,  and 
rerei veil  a  commission  a.s 'Jd  lieiit  in  tlie 'Jd  reg.  U.  S.  inf.  Me  served  under 
iScott  in  Mexico,  and  was  brevetted  Istlieut,  then  captain,  for  gallant  conilucl 
ttt  the  iMittles  of  C'ontreras  and  ('liai)ulle|U'c;  and  was  present  at  the  taking 
of  the  city  of  Mexico.  After  the  .Mexican  war  he  was  stationed  in  Cal.,  on 
duty  ns  adi.  to  (Jen.  Riley.  At  the  outbreak  of  tlie  rtdiellion  he  was  ordered 
t<i  VlisHouri,  where  he  wassoun  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  in  the  llth  V. 
S.  inf.  For  gallant  services  at  Wilson's  Creek,  he  was  made  a  brig.  geu.  of 
Viilimteers;  and  for  suhscipient  services  brevetted  niiij.  gen.  On  leaving  t)re- 
K<>n  he  was  granted  an  oxtemled  leave  of  absence,  from  which  hu  uutieiputed 
iiuich  pluoaure,  but  died  suddouly  uf  apoplexy,  m  >S.  P. 


3i\ 


HI  THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 

was  assumed  by  General  L.  H.  Rosseau,  who,  how- 
ever, made  no  essential  changes  in  the  departnunit. 
Arrangements  were  continued  in  each  district  for  a 
winter  campaign  of  great  activity."  The  niilitaiy 
journals  contain  frequent  entries  of  skirmishes,  with  a 
few  Indians  killed,  and  more  taken  prisoners;  with 
acknowledgments  of  some  losses  to  the  army  in  each. 
Crook,  whose  district  was  in  the  most  elevated  por- 
tion of  the  country  traversed,  kept  some  portion  of 
the  troops  continually  in  the  field,  marching  from  ten 
to  twenty  miles  a  day  over  unbroken  fields  of  snow 
from  one  to  two  feet  in  depth.  In  February  he  was 
on  Dunder  and  Blitzen  Creek,*'  south  of  Mallioiir 
Lake,  where  he  fought  the  Indians,  killing  and  ra|)- 
turing  fourteen.  While  returning  to  Warner,  a  few 
nights  later,  the  savages  crept  up  to  his  camp,  and 
killed  twenty-three  horses  and  mules  by  shoothii; 
arrows  into  them  and  cutting  their  throats.  Cro(»k 
proceeded  toward  camp  Warner,  but  sent  back  a  du- 
tachmont  to  discover  whether  any  had  returned  to 
feast  on  the  horse-flesh.  Only  two  were  found  so  oii- 
gaged,  who  wore  killed.  Another  battle  was  fought 
with  the  Indians,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Stcen  Moun- 
tain, on  the  14th  of  April,  when  several  were  killed. 

The  troops  at  Camp  Harney  made  a  reconnois.san<  c 
of  the  Malheur  country  in  May,  wliich  resulted  iu 
surprising  ten  lodges  on  the  north  fork  of  that  river 
near  Castle  Rock,  or  as  it  was  sometimes  called,  Mal- 
heur Castle,  and  capturing  a  number  of  the  enemy, 
among  whom  was  a  notorious  subchief  known  as  E. 
E.  Gantt,  who  professed  a  great  desire  to  live  then- 
after  in  peace,  and  oftered  to  send  couriers  to  bring  in 
his  warriors  and  the  head  chief,  Wewawewa,  who,  ho 
declared,  was  as  weary  of  conflict  as  himself.*"    On 

'"Sco  general  order  No.  5  <liatrict  of  Owyhee,  in  Orfgonian,  Nor.  Wu. 

'*>S<>  named  by  Curry's  trooiM,  who  orowed  it  in  a  thuDder'itorm  in  1S()4. 
Jtept  AiljlGm.  Or,  ItMM.  41. 

^''Ounttliad  reason*  for  hit  humility.  Ho  had  been  engaeed  in  Rcvinil 
raids  duriuu  this  spring,  driving  otf  the  stocli  from  Mormon  basin  Ixitucin 
Burnt  and  Malheur  rivers,  and  unpturing  two  trains  of  wagons.  At  \v\\^i\\ 
the  farmers  organiaod  a  company,  and  in  conomrt  with  the  iroopa  front  tump 


BALLECK'S  ORDERS. 


548 


tins  promise  he  was  released,  his  family,  and  in  all 
altout  sixty  prisoners,  with  their  property,  and  the 
stock  plundered  from  the  settlers  remaining  in  the 
liiinds  of  the  troops.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  inter- 
cept General  Crook,  who,  having  been  temporarily 
assigned  to  the  connnand  of  the  department  of  the 
Columbia,  was  on  his  way  to  the  north. 

The  Indians  had  sustained  some  reverses  in  Idaho, 
among  which  was  the  killing  of  thirty-four  who  iiad 
attacked  the  lioisd  stage  in  May,  killing  the  driver 
and  wounding  several  other  persons.  Many  prisom'i.s 
had  also  been  taken  during  the  winter,  and  some  had 
voluntarily  surrendered,  llosseau  had  issued  an  (»nKr 
ill  February  that  all  the  Indians  taken  in  the  tlistri<t 
of  Owyhee  should  be  sent  under  guard  to  Vancouver, 
and  those  taken  in  the  district  of  the  lakes  ."sliould  be 
sent  to  Eugene  City,  via  Fort  Klamath,  to  be  deliv- 
ered to  the  superintendent  of  Indian  ati'airs.  Tii<tsc 
at  Jioisd  took  advantage  of  a  severe  storm,  when  the 
guards  were  less  vigilant  than  usual,  to  recover  their 
lieedom;  but  as  they  only  escaped  to  find  themselves 
<;iven  up  by  their  chiefs,  it  was  a  matter  of  less  con- 
se(|uence. 

According  to  an  order  of  Ilalleck's,  no  treaty  couKl 
he  made  with  the  Indians  by  the  ofKcers  in  his  tlivis- 
loll  without  consulting  him,  and  it  became  necessary 
for  Crook  to  wait  for  instructions  I'rom  San  Francisi-o. 
lie  repaired  in  tiie  n»ean  time  to  Camp  Jlarney,  where 

fiilfax,  inflU'tcil  Hovcre  chiiHtisoini'iit  on  n  pnrtinn  of  this  Imiicl.  lliufool,  iiNo, 
uii  tin:  oiiHt  Hiclu  of  Siiiikii  KiviT,  wim  ra|itui'('<l  liy  tin-  fiirincrM'  ('i)tii|iaiiy  ot  tlit- 
I'uvcttL'iiiiil  tlio  tn><i|mfroiii  Itoisu  tort,  U'Ii<iIi>i|i|m'Iici[  tn  i'hiik!  ii|hiii  jii.si'aMi|i  al 
till' sariiu  tiiiio,  HUi'rouiiiliiiL{  it,  ulirii  tin-  linliaiis  Mini'iiili'iol.  Oniiniiitii.  .Iiiiif 
'Jl.  ISIIS.  Mraiiwliil«>,  ill  tliu  ()\vyli''i!  <liHti'ii't  tlio  iiNiial  iiiiiiilfriMix  attackM 
lia<l  lii'i'ii  ^()iii){  on.  In  May  tint  Iniliaiix  nijain  HJiot  ami  kilUtil  tlif  iliivnr  <i|' 
till'  siaitf.  lloln'it  Dixon,  ix'twci'ii  HoisiM 'ity  anil  Silver  (  ity;  ami  sliot  ami 
uiiiiiiiU'il  the  |ia.>*H<Mi^i-rs  in  another  waKon,  In  Manli  they  hail  iiiiii'ihi't'il  ii 
fai'iiiri- iiiuikhI  .lai'vix,  near  ( 'ai'son'H  farm.  <  liri/lm'  Ariiltiinhi ,  Manli  •_'!,  ISliS, 
In  .liiric  tJK'y  Htol  <  Mtock  anil  kiii<'i|  a  yomiL;  man  iiamcil  .Imia.s  nrlkiiii|i.  in 
Mm  hinii  liiuiin,  who  wi'iit  to  I'lH'uvi-r  tho  hoi'st'.-<,  oiittiii;/  \im  Itoils  to  |ii(  ri  m, 
aii'l  Nlii'king  it  full  of  iiointcil  roilx  witii  hIIcch  of  fat  liaion  on  tlii'  iimU.  Jlinm- 
Shi/,.^,ii<iii,  •liiiiu  Ki,  ISti.S.  Tho  party  whirli  went  tu  liiid  tlicac  liuliuna  wua 
ttti^ickfil  iu  u  uuuuii,  uud  Alex.  Sullivuii  wuu  killed. 


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THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


the  principal  chiefs  of  the  hostile  bands  were  assem- 
bled, and  where  a  council  was  held  on  the  30th  of 
June. 

"Do  you  see  any  fewer  soldiers  than  two  years  ago?" 
asked  he.  "No;  more."  "Have  you  as  many  war- 
riors?" "No;  not  half  as  many."  "Very  well;  that 
is  as  I  mean  to  have  it  until  you  are  all  gone."*^  The 
chiefs  knew  this  was  no  empty  threat,  and  were  terri- 
fied. They  sued  earnestly  for  peace,  and  Crook  made 
his  own  terms.  He  did  not  offer  to  place  them  on  a 
reseivation,  where  they  would  be  fed  while  they  idled 
and  plotted  mischief  He  simply  told  them  he  would 
acknowledge  Wewawewa  as  their  chief,  who  should 
bo  responsible  for  their  good  conduct.  They  might 
return  free  into  their  own  country,  and  establish  their 
headquarters  near  Castle  Rock  on  the  Malheur,  and  so 
long  as  they  behaved  themselves  honestly  and  prop- 
erly they  would  not  be  molested.  These  terms  were 
eagerly  accepted,  and  the  property  of  their  victims 
still  in  their  possession  was  delivered  up.*^ 

Crook  had  no  faith  in  reservations,  yet  he  felt  that 
to  leave  the  Indians  at  liberty  was  courting  a  danger 
from  the  enmity  of  white  men  who  had  pcrsoiuil 
wrongs  to  avenge  which  might  provoko  a  renewal  o\' 
hoistilities.  To  guard  against  this,  '  lUsed  the  terms 
of  the  treaty  to  be  extensively  pubh.  od,  and  appealed 
to  the  reason  and  good  judgment  of  the  people,  le- 
luinding  them  what  it  had  cost  to  conquer  the  peace 
which  he  hoped  they  might  now  enjoy.*^  With  regard 
to  the  loss  of  life  by  fighting  Indians  in  Oregon  and 
Idaho  up  to  this  time,  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  it 
was  so  small.  The  losses  by  nmrderous  attacks  out  tif 
battle  were  far  greater.  From  the  first  settlement  ot' 
Oregon  to  June  18G8,  the  whole  number  of  persons 


*'Soo  letter  to  Gov.  Ballard  of  Idaho,  in  Orei)omnn,  July  20,  1808;  Oirr- 
land  Monthly,  18(J0,  102. 

*' Among  the  relies  returned  wore  articles  belonging  to  throe  dest'itiitf; 
Boldiors,  whoHO  fate  wus  tliua  usoertained. 

"  MeM*.  and  Doc»,  1UU8-0, 380-0)  JIayet'  JiuUan  Scraps,  v.  142;  Oreyoniun, 
July  13,  1UU8. 


TREATY  OF  PEACE. 


561 


known  to  be  killed  and  wounded  by  Indians  was  1,394. 
Of  these  onlyabout  90  were  killed  or  wounded  in  battle. 
The  proportio.v  of  killed  to  wounded  was  1,130  to  264, 
showing  how  certain  was  the  savage  aim.  A  mighty 
incubus  seemed  lifted  off  the  state  when  peace  was 
declared.  General  Crook,  now  in  command  of  the 
department,  was  invited  to  Salem  at  the  sitting  of 
the  legislative  assembly  to- receive  the  thanks  of  that 
body." 

The  treaty  which  had  been  made  was  with  the 
!Malheur  and  Warner  Itake  Shosliones  only.  There 
were  still  some  straggling  bands  of  Idaho  Shosliones 
who  were  not  brought  in  until  August;  and  the  troops 
still  scouting  on  the  southern  border  of  Oregon  con- 
tinued for  some  time  to  find  camps  of  Pah  Utes,  and 
also  of  the  Pit  River  Indians,  with  whom  a  council  was 
subsequently  held  in  Round  Valley,  California.  Early 
in  July  between  seventy  and  eighty  of  Winnemucca's 
])eoj)le  with  three  subchiefs  were  captured,  and  sur- 
rendered at  Camp  C.  F.  Smith,  "  where,"  said  Crook 
ill  one  of  his  reports,  "there  seems  to  be  a  disposition 
to  feed  them,  contrary  to  instructions  from  these 
headquarters." 

The  Indians  had  submitted  to  force,  but  it  was  a 
tedious  task,  subjecting  them  to  ti)e  Indian  depart- 
iiunt,  which  had  to  be  done.  Crook  had  said  to  them, 
"  Vou  are  free  as  air  so  long  as  you  keep  the  |>eace;" 
but  the  Indian  superintendent  said,  "You  signed  a 
treaty  in  18G5  which  congress  has  since  ratilied,  and 
you  must  go  where  you  then  agreed  to  go,  or  forfeit 
the  benefits  of  the  treaty;  and  we  have,  besides,  the 
power  to  use  the  military  against  you  if  you  do  not." 
This  argument  was  the  last  resorted  to.  The  tone  of 
the  Indian  department  was  conciliatory;  sometimes 
too  much  so  for  the  comprehension  of  savages.  They 
never  conceded  anything  unless  forced  to  do  so,  and 
how  should  they  know  that  the  white  race  practised 

**  ?ioo  Senate  Joint  lietolution,  no.  0,  in  Or.  Ifouae  Jour.,  ISOS,  SS-dj  Or. 
Laws,  18U8,  00-100,  102-3;  Or.  Legis.  JJocs,  1808;  Govenwr'a  Mtsnaye,  4-0. 


652 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


such  magnanimity?  Crook  cautioned  his  subordi- 
nates on  this  point,  telling  them  to  disabuse  the  minds 
of  the  Indians  of  the  notion  that  the  government  was 
favored  by  their  abstinence  from  war. 

Superintendent  Huntington,  who  had  talked  with 
Wewawewa  about  the  settlement  of  his  people,  was 
told  that  the  Malheur  Indians  would  consent  to  i^o 
upon  the  Siletz  reservation  in  western  Oregon,  Init 
that  those  about  Camp  Warner  would  not,  and  noth- 
ing was  done  toward  removing  them  in  1868.  Moan- 
time  Huntington  died,  and  A.  B.  Meacham  was 
appointed  in  his  place.  A  small  part  of  the  Wolpapo 
and  Warner  Lake  Shoshones  consented  to  go  upon  the 
east  side  of  Klamath  reservation;  but  in  18G9  most 
of  these  Indians  were  at  large,  and  sufficiently  un- 
friendly to  alarm  the  white  inhabitants  of  that  part  of 
the  state. 

And  now  the  bad  effects  of  the  late  policy  began  to 
appear.  When  the  Shoshones  were  first  conqucivd 
they  would  have  gone  wherever  Crook  said  they  must 
go.  But  being  so  long  free,  they  refused  to  bo  placet  I 
on  any  reservation.  Other  tribes,  imitating  their  ex- 
ample, were  restless  and  dissatisfied,  even  throatcniuiif, 
and  affairs  assumed  so  serious  an  aspect  that  Crook 
requested  the  commander  of  the  division  to  witlulraw 
no  more  troops  from  Oregon,  as  he  felt  assured  any 
attempt  to  forcibly  remove  the  Indians — a  measure 
daily  becoming  more  necessary  to  the  security  of  IIk' 
settlements — would  precipitate  another  Indian  war, 
and  that  the  presence  of  the  military  was  at  that  tiinu 
necessary  to  restrain  many  roving  bands  from  com- 
mitting depredations." 

About  the  20th  of  October  Superintendent  ^NFea- 
cham,  assisted  by  the  commanding  officer  at  Camp 
Harney,  held  a  council  with  the   Indians  under  \\ f- 

'•'Tho  facta  hero  stated  aro  taken  from  tlio  inilitnry  ci)rrt'8]iou(Ii'in'o  in  tliu 
dept  of  tlio  Coliunbiii,  copied  liy  pcriuiasioii  of  ( iciicral  .K'lf  ( '.  I  )iiviM,  to  w  Imso 
courtesy  1  have  been  luiicli  indebted,  For  conveuionce,  I  hIiiiII  liciviiftcr  h  lor 
to  these  letters  us  Military  ('orrrnjmiitlfiin',  with  appropriate  date.  The  aliuvo 
expreasiou  of  opuiiou  wua  dated  May  8,  1800. 


LATER  TROUBLES. 

wawewa,  which  ended  by  their  declining  to  go  upon 
the  Klamath  reservation  as  requested,  because  Crook, 
who  could  have  persuaded  them  to  it,  declined  to  do 
so,*^  for  the  reason  that  he  believed  that  Meacham 
had  promised  more  than  he  would  be  able  to  perform. 

Early  in  November  Meacham  held  a  council  with 
the  Indians  assembled  at  Camp  Warner  under  Otsehoe, 
a  chief  who  controlled  several  of  the  lately  hostile 
bands,  and  persuaded  this  chief  to  go  with  his  fol- 
lowers upon  the  Klamath  reserve.  But  the  war 
clc|)artment  gave  neither  encouragement  nor  material 
assistance,  although  Otsehoe  and  other  Indians  about 
Warner  Lake  were  known  to  Crook  to  be  amongst 
the  worst  of  their  race,  and  dangerous  to  leave  at 
large.  *^ 

True  to  his  restless  nature,  Otsehoe  left  the  reser- 
vation in  the  spring  of  1870,  where  his  pco[»le  liad 
boon  fed  through  the  winter.  They  deserted  in  de- 
tachments, Otsehoe  remaining  to  the  last;  and  when 
the  commissary  required  the  chief  to  bring  them  back, 
lie  loplied  that  Major  Otis  desired  them  to  remain  at 
Caiiij)  Warner,  a  statement  which  was  true,  at  least 
in  part,  as  Otis  himself  admitted.*^ 

Otsehoe,  how^ever,  finally  consented  to  make  his 
home  at  Camp  Yainax,  so  far  as  to  stay  on  the  reser- 


•' '  I  (lid  not  order  them  to  go  with  Mr  Meiicham,  for  the  reason  tlint  I  have 
tlii'ii'  loiitideiice  thut  I  will  do  or  order  only  what  is  best  and  right,  l)()th 
fur  Ihi'iusolvcs  and  the  government,'  Militniy  (Jorri'upondenri',  Dt'c.  7,  18()!). 

"'Among  these  bands,' says  (ien.  Crook,  'and  those  near  Harney,  ai'e 
some  lis  crafty  and  bad  as  any  I  have  ever  seen,  and  if  they  are  retained  in 
the  vicinity  of  their  old  haunts,  and  the  Indian  departinent  manages  them  as 
tlii'v  liiive  other  tribes  in  most  cases,  they  will  have  trouble  witli  them. '  Mil- 
ititri/  Ciirren/ioinli'iice,  March  4,  IM(il). 

*■■ '  I  do  not  remember  giving  any  Indians  pcrnn'asion  to  stay  here,  l)nt  I 
liavf  siiid  that  if  thoy  came  I  woidd  imt  send  them  back,  because  tlicy  said 
tJKV  i'iiiil<l  live  iiettei'  iiere.  I  shall,  however,  ad\  ise  tiie  Indians  to  go  over 
mill  SIC  Mr  Moacliam,  in  the  hope  tluit  Ik;  will  rectify  any  ncLrlcct  or  wrong 
tliiit  iiKiy  have  been  done  them.'  Otis  to  Ivan  1>.  Applcgiitc,  in  Mililiir!/  Cor- 
»'(,</)'<»(/.)((•(',  ,[uly  18.  1870.  Applcgatc,  in  reply,  says  tlmt  tlie  Iniliiins  were 
Well  fed  mid  well  treated  during  the  winter,  Imt  that  crickets  liiid  destroyed 
tlii'ir  i.'1-owing  grain,  and  Meiieham's  arrival  had  been  delayed,  owing  to  the 
tjirdincss  of  tiie  Indian  department  in  the  cast,  besides  which  reasons,  sulli- 
liciii  til  discourage  the  unstable  Indiiin  mind,  Anliie  Mcintosh,  one  of  the 
liiiis  ■  Indian  scouts,  had  been  m.iking  mischief  on  the  reservation,  by  repro- 
tit'uinig  that  Utsuhoo  wuo  wanted  with  his  people  ut  (Jump  Warner. 


654 


THE  SHOSHONE  WAR. 


vation  during  the  winter  season,  but  roving  abroad  in 
the  summer  through  the  region  about  Warner  and 
Goose  lakes.  In  March  1871,  by  executive  order,  a 
reservation  containing  2,275  square  miles  was  set 
apart,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Malheur  River,  for 
the  use  of  the  Shoshones.  In  the  autumn  of  1873  a 
portion  of  them  were  induced  to  go  upon  it,  most  of 
whom  absented  themselves  on  the  return  of  summer. 
Gradually,  however,  and  with  many  drawbacks,  the 
Indian  department  obtained  control  of  these  nomadic 
peoples,  who  were  brought  under  those  restraints 
which  are  the  first  step  toward  civilization.** 

With  the  settlement  of  the  Shoshones  upon  a  res- 
ervation, the  title  of  the  Indians  of  Oregon  to  lands 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  state  was  extinguished. 
The  Grand  Rond  reservation  in  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley was  afterward  purchased  of  the  Indians  and  thrown 
open  to  settlement.  The  Malheur  reservation  was 
abandoned,  the  Indians  being  removed  to  Washing- 
ton.^" Propositions  have  been  made  to  the  tribes 
on  the  Umatilla  reservation  to  sell  their  lands,  some 
of  the  best  in  the  state,  but  so  far  with  no  success, 
these  Indians  being  strongly  opposed  to  removal. 
Ten  years  after  the  close  of  the  Shoshone  war,  claim 
was  laid  by  a  chief  of  the  Nez  Perces  to  a  valley  in 
north-eastern  Oregon,  the  narrative  of  which  I  shall 
embody  in  the  history  of  Idaho.  Thus  swiftly  and 
mercilessly  European  civilization  clears  the  forests  of 
America  of  their  lords  aboriginal,  of  the  people  placed 
there  by  the  almighty  for  some  purpose  of  his  own, 
swiftly  and  mercilessly  clearing  them,  whether  done 
by  catholic,  protestant,  or  infidel,  by  Spaniard,  Eng- 
lishman, or  Russian,  or  whether  done  in  the  name  of 
Christ,  Job  Smith,  or  the  devil. 

**Tnd.  Aff.  Rept,  1873,  320-4;  //.  Ex.  Doc,  99,  43d  cong.  2d  seas.;  Owyhet 
Avalanche,  Oct.  11,  1873. 

'"  Wiiinemucca'8  people  refused  to  remain  at  the  Yakima  agency,  and  made 
their  exodus  a  lew  years  ago  to  Nevada,  whence  they  came. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 

1864-I>i73. 

Land  of  the  Modoct — Keintpoos,  or  Captain  Jack — Agents,  StTPEBiw- 

TE.NDENTS,  AND  TREATIES — KeINTPOOS  DECLINES  TO  Go  ON  A  RESERVA- 
TION— Raids — Troops  in  Pursuit — ^-«ck  Takes  to  the  Lava-beds — 

Al'l'OINTMENT    of    A    PkACE    CoMMJJSIONER — ASSASSINATION    OF    CaNBY, 

Thomas,  and  Sherwood— Jack  Invested  in  his  Stronghold — Hk 
KscAPEs — Crushing  Defeat  of  Troops  under  Thomas — Captain  Jack 
Pursued,  Caught,  and  Executed. 

The  Modoc  war,  fought  almost  equally  in  California 
and  Oregon,  is  presented  in  this  volume  because 
that  tribe  belonged  to  the  Oregon  superintendency, 
and  fur  other  reasons  which  will  appear  as  I  proceed. 
From  the  time  that  certain  of  Fremont's  men  were 
killed  on  the  shore  of  Klamath  Lake  down  to  18G4, 
wlion  superintendent  Huntington  of  Oregon  entered 
into  a  treaty  with  them  and  the  Klamaths,  the  Modocs^ 
had  been  the  implacable  enemies  of  the  white  race, 
and  were  not  on  much  more  friendly  terms  with  other 
tribes  of  their  own  race,  sustaining  a  warlike  char- 
acter everywhere.  They  lived  on  the  border-land  be- 
tween California  and  Oregon,  but  chiefly  in  the  latter, 
the  old  head  chief,  Sconchin,  having  his  home  on 
Sprague  River,  which  flows  into  the  upper  Klamath 
Lahi!,  and  the  subchiefs  in  different  localities. 

Keintpoos,  a  young  subchief,  had  his  headquarters 

'  Modoc,  according  to  K.  Steele  of  Yreka,  is  a  Sliastu  word  signifying 
'stniiiner,'  or  'liostilo  stranger,'  and  cauie  into  use  asa  name  by  wliite  uiiners, 
tliiougli  hearing  the  Sliastaa  use  it.  /ltd.  Ajf.  Ilept,  1804,  121.  Linsoy  Ap- 
pli'is'ate,  wlio  is  familiar  with  their  history,  uas  a  list  of  persona  killed  by 
thuin,  to  the  number  of  95.  IJivtorkal  CoriespotuieHCi',  MS. 

(SSS) 


556 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


anywhere  about  Tule  Lake,  ranging  the  country  from 
Link  River,  between  the  two  Klamath  lakes,  to 
Yreka,  in  California.  He  was  called  Captain  Jack  by 
the  white  settlers,  on  account  of  some  military  orna- 
ments which  he  had  added  to  his  ordinary  shirt,  trou- 
sers, and  cap;  was  not  an  unadulterated  savage,  having 
lived  long  enough  about  mining  camps  to  acquire  some 
of  the  vices  of  civilization,  and  making  money  by  the 
prostitution  of  the  women  of  his  band  more  than  by 
honest  labor.  Some  of  the  boys  of  this  band  of 
Modocs  were  employed  as  house-servants  in  Yreka, 
by  which  means  they  acquired  a  good  understand- 
ing of  the  English  language,  and  at  the  same  time 
failed  not  to  learn  v/hatever  of  evil  practices  they 
observed  among  their  superiors  of  the  white  race. 
During  the  civil  war  they  heard  much  about  the  pro- 
priety of  killing  off  the  white  people  of  the  north,  and 
other  matters  in  harmony  with  their  savage  instincts; 
and  being  unable  to  comprehend  the  numerical  strength 
of  the  American  people,  conceived  the  notion  that  this 
was  a  favorable  time  to  make  war  upon  them,  while 
their  soldiers  were  fighting  a  long  way  off. 

E.  Steele,  Indian  superintendent  of  California,  when 
he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in  1863,  found 
the  Klamaths  and  Modocs,  under  their  chiefs  Lalake 
and  Sconchin,  preparing  to  make  war  upon  southern 
Oregon  and  northern  California,  having  already  be- 
gun to  perpetrate  those  thefts  and  murders  which  are 
a  sure  prelude  to  a  general  outbreak.  The  operations 
of  the  1st  Oregon  cavalry  and  the  establishment  of 
Fort  Klamath  to  prevent  these  outrages  are  known 
to  the  reader.  In  February  18G4  the  Modocs  on  the 
border  of  Oregon  and  California,  who  spent  much  of 
their  time  in  Yreka,  being  alarmed  lost  punishnieiit 
should  overtake  them  for  conscious  crimes,  sought  the 
advice  of  Steele,  who,  iyfnorinif  the  fact  that  they  liud 
been  allotted  to  the  Oregon  superintendenc}^  took  tlie 
responsibility  of  making  with  them  a  treaty  of  friend- 
ship and  peace.     This  agreement  was  between  Steele 


STEELE'S  TREATY. 


657 


individually  and  Keintpoos'  band  of  Modocs.  and  re- 
quired nothing  of  them  but  to  refrain  from  quarrels 
aniongst  themselves,  and  from  theft,  murder,  child- 
selling,  drunkenness,  and  prostitution  in  the  white 
settlements.  The  penalty  for  breaking  their  agree- 
ment was,  to  be  given  up  to  the  soldiers.  The  treaty 
permitted  them  to  follow  any  legitimate  calling,  to 
charge  a  fair  price  for  ferrying  travellers  across  streams, 
and  to  act  as  guides,  if  desired  to  do  so.  On  the  part 
of  the  white  people,  Steele  promised  protection  when 
they  came  to  the  settlements,  but  advised  their  ob- 
taining passes  from  the  officers  at  Fort  Klamath,  to 
which  they  were  informed  that  they  would  be  required 
to  report  themselves  for  inspection. 

This  action  of  Steele's,  although  prompted  by  a 
desire  to  prevent  an  outbreak,  was  severely  criticised 
later.  He  was  aware  that  congress  had  granted  an 
appropriation  for  the  purpose  of  making  an  official 
treaty  between  the  superintendent  of  Oregon,  the 
Modocs,  and  the  Klamaths,  and  that  the  latter  had 
been  fed  during  the  winter  previous  at  the  fort,  in  an- 
ticipation of  this  treaty.  For  him  to  come  in  with 
an  individual  engagement  was  to  lay  the  foundation 
for  trouble  with  the  Modocs,  who  were  entirely  satis- 
fied with  a  treaty,  which  left  them  free  to  visit  the 
mining  camps,  and  to  perpetrate  any  peccadilloes  which 
they  Wf^re  cunning  enough  to  conceal,  while  a  govern- 
ment treaty  which  would  restrain  them  from  such  privi- 
leges was  not  likely  to  be  so  well  received  or  kept. 
Keintpoos  did,  however,  agree  to  the  treaty  of  Octo- 
ber 1864,  at  the  council-grounds  on  Sprague  River, 
whereby  the  Klamaths  and  Modocs  relinquished  to 
the  United  States  all  the  territory  ranged  by  them, 
except  a  certain  large  tract  lying  north  of  Lost  River 
Valley. 

Sconchin,  the  head  chief  of  all  the  Modocs,  was  now 
an  old  man.  In  his  fighting  days  he  had  given  immi- 
grants and  volunteer  companies  plenty  to  do  to  avoid 
his  arrows.     It  was  through  his  warlike  activities 


t 


658 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


that  the  rocky  pass  round  the  head  of  Tule  Lake  came 
to  be  called  Bloody  Point.  Yet  he  had  observed  the 
conditions  of  the  treaty  faithfully,  living  with  his  band 
at  his  old  home  on  Sprague  River,  within  the  Hmits 
of  the  reservation,  and  keeping  his  people  quiet.  But 
Keintpoos,  or  Captain  Jack,  as  I  shall  henceforth  call 
him,  still  continued  to  occupy  Lost  River  Meadows, 
a  favorite  grazing-ground,  where  his  band  usually 
wintered  their  ponies,  and  to  live  as  before  a  life  com- 
bining the  pleasures  of  savagery  and  civilization,  keep- 
ing his  agreement  neither  with  Steele  nor  the  United 
States,  two  of  his  followers  being  arrested  in  1867  for 
distributing  ammunition  to  the  hostile  Snakes. 

This  practice,  with  other  infringements  of  treaty 
obligations,  led  the  agent  in  charge  of  the  Klamath 
reservation  in  1868  to  solicit  military  aid  from  the 
fort  to  compel  them  to  go  upon  the  reserve,'*  wliieh 
was  not  at  that  time  granted. 

In  1869  the  settlers  of  Siskiyou  county,  California, 
petitioned  General  Crook,  in  command  of  the  Oregon 
department,  to  remove  the  Modocs  to  their  reserva- 
tion, saying  that  their  presence  in  their  midst  was 
detrimental  to  the  interests  of  the  people.  Crook 
replied  that  he  would  have  done  so  before  but  for  a 
report  emanating  from  Fort  Klamath  that  the  Indian 
agent  did  not  feed  them.*  After  some  weeks,  how- 
ever, he,  on  the  demand  of  Superintendent  A.  B. 
Meacham,  ordered  Lieutenant  Goodale,  command in;^ 
at  Fort  Klamath,  to  put  Jack  and  his  band  upon 
the  reserve  if  in  his  belief  the  Indian  department  was 
prepared  to  care  for  them  properly.  Accordingly,  in 
December,  Meacham  obtained  a  detachment  of  troops 
and  repaired  to  the  ford  on  Lost  River,  where  he  luul 
an  interview  with  Jack,  informing  him  of  the  pur|)ose 
of  the  government  to  exact  the  observance  of  the 

*  YrekaJovmal,  Nov.  15,  1807;  Woodbridge  Messenger,  Nov.  23,  ISoT;  Ii><i- 
Aff.  Rffd,  1868.  124. 

■  Military  Correspondence,  Oct.  14,  and  Dec.  7,  1869;  Ind,  Aff.  He^'',  1869, 
155;  Portland  Oregonian,  Aug.  4,  18(38. 


MEACHAM  AND  CAPTAIN  JACK. 


SS9 


treaty.  Jack  hesitated  and  prevaricated,  and  during 
the  night  fled  with  a  part  of  his  followers  to  the  lava- 
bods  south  of  Tule  Lake,  leaving  the  camp  in  charge 
of  two  subchiefs,  George  and  Riddle.  But  Moaoham 
remained  upon  the  ground,  and  after  two  or  three 
days'  correspondence  with  Jack  by  means  of  messen- 
gers, obtained  his  consent  to  come  upon  the  reservation 
with  his  people.  Jack  at  the  same  time  confiding  his 
resolve  to  George  not  to  remain  longer  than  ho  found 
it  agreeable.*  Meacham  established  Jack  comfortably 
at  Modoc  Point,  on  Klamath  Lake,  by  his  own  desire, 
wlierc  also  Sconchin  was  temporarily  located  while 
improvements  were  being  made  upon  the  lands  in- 
tended for  cultivation. 

As  I  have  intimated,  the  military  department  threw 
doubts  upon  the  manner  in  which  the  Indian  depart- 
DKMit  provided  for  the  wants  of  the  Indians;  and  to 
])revent  any  occasion  being  given  to  Jack  to  violate 
treaty  obligations.  Captain  O.  C.  Knapp  was  com- 
missioned agent,®  who  was  profuse  in  his  allowances 
to  the  Modocs  in  order  to  cultivate  their  regard.  Bat 
all  ill  vain.  Early  in  the  spring  Jack,  pretending  to  be 
starved,  but  in  reality  longing  for  the  dissipations  of 
Yreka,  and  designing,  by  drawing  away  as  many  as  pos- 
sible of  Sconchin's  men,  to  become  a  full  chief,  left  the 
reservation  with  his  band,  and  returned  to  Lost  River 
Valley,  which  was  now  being  settled  up  by  white 
cattle-raisers.  This  movement  of  Jack's  caused  Mea- 
ehain  to  accuse  Knapp  of  permitting  the  Klamaths 
to  annoy  and  insult  the  Modocs,  thus  provoking  tliem 
to  flight.  Meacham  was  a  man  with  a  hobby.  Ho 
believed  that  he  knew  all  about  the  savage  race,  and 
how  to  control  it.  Like  Steele,  when  he  accepted 
the  chieftainship  of  Jack's  band  in  18G4,  he  was  flat- 

*0.  C.  Applefjate's  Modoc  Hintorif,  MS.,  2.  This  is  a  full  and  compotent 
account  of  Mudoc  aflfairs  from  1864  to  1873.  No  one  liaaamore  tliorougli  iind 
iiitulljgent  knowledge  of  the  customs,  manners,  ideas,  and  history  of  this  tribe 
tliuu  Mr  Applegate. 

^  MiUtary  officers  were,  in  the  autumn  of  1869,  substituted  for  other  agents 
at  Mid\  of  the  reservations  iu  eastern  Oregon,  and  at  several  in  California. 
InJ.  Aff.  Rtpt,  1870,  51. 


560 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


tered  by  the  distinction  of  being  the  friend  of  these 
wild  people,  and  his  theory  was  that  he  could  govern 
them  through  his  hold  on  their  esteem.  Knapp  was 
accused  by  Jack  of  causing  his  people  to  labor  at  mak- 
ing rails  for  fencing,  with  providing  insufficient  food, 
and  with  moving  them  from  place  to  place,  although 
he  had  only  proposed  to  remove  them  to  land  more 
suitable  for  opening;  farms,  and  furnished  with  wood 
and  grass,®  and  thisTMeacham  said,  was  reason  enough 


Thk  Modoo  Countky. 

for  their  leaving  the  reservation.  He  now  called  upon 
the  commandant  of  the  fort  to  take  measures  to  return 
Jack  and  his  band  to  the  reserve,  and  also  insisted 
upon  the  relative  positions  of  the  civil  superintendent 
and  military  agent  being  made  clear  by  the  depart- 
ment at  Washington.  Having  a  military  agent  did 
not  seem  to  work  well,  since  Captain  Knapp,  through 
his  knowledge  of  aflfairs  at  the  fort,  and  the  inefficieney 
of  Goodale's  command,  refrained  from  making  a  requi- 

*  Military  Correspondence,  MS.,  March  18,  1873. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  TROUBLE. 


661 


rE  BOUNDARV  LINE. 


sition  upon  him,  when  in  his  character  of  agent  it  was 
his  tUity  to  have  done  so.  This  neglect  caused  Goodale 
to  l)c  censured,  who  promptly  placed  the  blame  upon 
Knapp,  while  admitting  the  soundness  of  his  judg- 
ment.' Owing  to  the  inferiority  of  the  force  at 
Klamath,  no  steps  were  taken  for  a  year  and  a  half  to 
bi'iiig  back  the  Modocs  under  Jack  to  the  reservation, 
during  which  time  they  roamed  at  will  from  one  re- 
sort to  another,  making  free  use  of  the  beef  of  the 
settlers  on  Lost  River,  and  by  their  insolence  each 
suiniiier  frightening  the  women  into  flight.® 

In  August  1870  General  Crook  was  relieved  from 
the  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Columbia  by 
General  E.  R.  S.  Canby,  and  sent  to  fight  the  Ind- 
ians of  Arizona,  for  which  purpose  all  the  military 
stations  in  Oregon  were  depleted.*  At  Fort  K'^n- 
ath  there  was  one  company,  K,  of  the  23d  infantry 
under  Lieuten  .;.'  Goodale,  and  no  cavalry,  while  at 
Camp  Warner,  over  a  hundred  miles  to  the  east, 
there  weiL  two  companies,  one  being  cavalry,  neither 
|X)st  being  strong  enough  to  assist  the  other,  and  both 
having  to  keep  in  check  a  large  number  of  Indians 
subdued  by  Crook,  but  not  yet  trusted  to  remain  quies- 
cent. 

There  were  certain  other  elements  to  be  taken  into 
account  in  considering  the  causes  which  led  to  the 
Mo(K)c  war.  The  Klamaths  used  formerly  to  be 
alHes  of  the  Modocs,  although  they  seem  never  to 
have  been  so  fierce  in  disposition;  but  after  being 
settled  on  the  reserve  and  instructed,  and  especially 
after  Lalake,  their  old  chief,  was  deposed,  being  sup- 
planted by  a  remarkable  young  Klamath,  named  by 


'Letter  of  Goodale,  in  Mililar}/  Correxpovdence,  MS.,  May  16,  1870. 

'Jack's  band  used  to  range  up  and  down  among  the  rancheros,  visiting 
houses  in  the  abuence  of  the  men,  ordering  tlie  women  to  cook  their  dinners, 
luungiiig  on  beds  while  the  frightened  women  complied,  and  committing  va- 
rious similar  outrages  for  two  summers  before  the  war  began,  causing  the 
settlers  to  send  tlieir  families  to  Rogue  River  Valley  for  safety.  Applegale'a 
Moilor  llhtory,  MS. 

'Kept  of  Maj.-gen.  George  H.  Thomas,  in  H.  Ex.  Doc,,  <.  pt  ii.,  114, 
4l8t  cung.  2d  sess. 

Hist.  Ob.,  Vol.  n.   M 


562 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


the  agent  Allen  David,  their  ambition  was  not  to 
fight,  but  to  lta,rn  the  arts  of  peace.  Their  advance- 
niunt  in  civilization  and  conformity  to  treaty  regula- 
tions was  a  source  of  pride  with  them,  and  of  annoy- 
ance to  Captain  Jack,  the  more  so  that  the  Klaniatlis 
had  assisted  in  arresting  the  Modocs  guilty  of  aiding 
the  hostile  Shoshones  with  ammunition.  But  Jack 
was  even  more  annoyed  with  Sconchin,  whom  he 
taunted  with  remaining  on  the  reservation  more  for 
convenience  than  care  for  his  people,^"  whom  Jack 
was  constantly  endeavoring  to  entice  away. 

In  1870,  having  been  left  so  long  to  follow  his  own 
devices,  Jack  made  a  formal  claim  to  a  tract  of  land, 
already  settled  upon,  six  miles  square,  and  lying  on 
both  sides  of  the  Oregon  and  California  line,  near 
the  head  of  Tule  Lake.  Superintendent  Meacliani, 
not  knowing  how  to  compel  Jack  to  bring  his  pt'oj)lo 
upon  the  reserve,  reported  to  the  secretary  of  the 
interior,  recommending  that  this  tract  as  desciil)e(l 
should  be  allowed  them  as  a  reserve.  A  more  unwise 
proposition  could  not  have  been  made;  for  a.side 
from  the  precedent  established,  there  was  the  conlliet 
with  the  settlers  already  in  possession  within  tlieise 
limits,  the  opposition  of  the  neighboring  fanners  to 
having  this  degraded  band  in  their  vicinity,  and  the 
encouragement  given  to  Jack,  who  was  informed  of 
the  superintendent's  action,  bearing  upon  the  future 
aspect  of  the  case. 

Previous  to  this  Knapp  went  to  Yreka  to  have  an 
interview  with  Jack,  whose  importance  increased  with 
finding  himself  the  object  of  so  much  solicitude',  and 
who  flatly  refused  to  go  with  him  to  Camp  Yainax, 
Sconchin's  home,  to  meet  the  superintendent.  1  hir- 
ing the  summer  of  1871  he  frequently  visited  tlu; 
reservation,  defying  the  military  authorities,  and 
boasting  that  in  Yreka  he  had  friends  who  gave  him 

'"  W,  V.  Rhinehart,  in  Historical  Corrmpondenee,  MS.,  agrees  witli  Jack 
about  tliiB,  But  SooQcbin  was  never  detected  in  illicit  intercuurso  \>itli  tlio 
.enemy. 


MURDER  BY  CAPTAIN  JACK. 


663 


and  his  people  passes  to  go  where  they  pleased,  which 
boast  ho  was  able  to  confirm."  At  length  Jack  pre- 
(•i|)itated  the  necessity  of  arresting  him  by  going  upon 
tlic  reservation  and  killing  a  'doctor/  who,  having  failed 
to  save  the  lives  of  two  persons  in  his  family,  was, 
a(('oiding  to  savage  reasoning,  guilty  of  their  deaths. 
It  is  doubtful  if  an  Indian  who  had  lived  so  much 
among  white  people  believed  in  the  doctor's  guilt; 
I  lilt  whether  he  really  meant  to  avenge  the  death  of 
his  relatives  or  to  express  his  defiance  of  United 
States  authority,  the  effect  was  the  same.  By  the 
ttaiiis  of  the  treaty  the  government  was  bound 
to  defend  the  reservation  Indians  against  their 
tilt  lilies.  Ivan  D.  Applegate,  commissary  at  Camp 
Yaiiiax,  made  a  requisition  upon  the  commander  at 
Fort  Klamath  to  arrest  Jack  for  murder,  the  effort  to 
do  so  being  rendered  ineffectual  by  the  interference  of 
Jack's  white  friends  in  Yreka." 

Lieutenant  Goodale  was  relieved  at  Fort  Klamath 
ill  1  S70,  by  Captain  James  Jackson,  1st  United  States 
(•a\ahy,  with  his  compan}',  B.  Knapp  had  also  been 
nlicved  of  the  agency  on  the  reservation  by  John 
Mcacliam,  brother  of  the  superintendent,  who  on  being 
iiit'orined  of  the  murder  on  the  reserve  instructed  the 
at,o'tit  to  make  no  arrests  until  a  conference  should 
have  been  had  with  Jack  and  his  lieutenants,  at  the 
same  tinie  naming  John  Meacham  and  Ivan  D.  Apple- 
^•dUi  as    his    representatives  to    confer    with  them.'* 

"  Siiy.i  .TackBon;  '  Ho  carries  itround  with  him  IcHora  from  prominent  citi- 
zens iif  \reka,  testifyinj;  to  his  good  conduct  and  good  faith  with  tiie  whites. 
Many  of  tlie  settlers  in  tlio  distriut  where  he  roams  are  opposed  to  luiv'-g  him 
iii^k'sti'il,'  Mililanj  Correxpomlence,  MS.,  Aug.  2!),  1871.  This  was  true  of 
NHiiii'  (if  the  settlers  on  the  six-milu  tract,  who  feared  to  be  massacred  should 
liit  iiiitst  1)0  attempted.     How  well  they  understuod  tho  danger  was  B(K)a 

piovi  (1, 

"  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  paper  carried  around  by  Jack:  '  Yreka, 
.Iiiui'  "Jd,  1871.  Captain  Jack  has  liceu  to  Yreka  to  know  what  tho  whites  are 
giiiii!,'  to  do  with  him  for  killing  tho  doctor.  The  white  people  should  not 
inolillc  with  them  in  their  laws  among  themselves,  further  than  to  persuade 
tlu'iii  (i\it  of  their  foolish  notions.  White  people  are  not  mad  ut  them  for 
t'M'riiting  their  own  laws,  and  should  not  be  anywhere.  Let  them  settle  all 
tht'sc  matters  among  themselves,  and  then  our  people  will  be  in  no  danger 
fnmi  X\\vm.     K.  Steele.'  Af>j)lfffate'it  i\fodoc  Hint.,  MS. 

"  l.iuut  R.  IE,  Anderson,  in  MUitary  C'orrenfomlence,  MS.,  Aug.  4,  I871> 
H.  Com.  Kept,  98,  257-07,  42d  oong.  3d  i 


W,  'i 


m. 


564 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


This  desire  havingr  been  communicated  to  Canbv,  he 
directed  Jackson  to  suspend  any  measures  h)okiiig  to 
the  arrest  of  Jack  until  the  superintendent's  order  for 
a  conference  had  been  carried  out,  but  to  hold  liis  com- 
mand in  readiness  to  act  promptly  for  the  protection 
of  the  settlors  in  the  vicinity  should  the  conduct  of 
the  Indians  make  it  necessary.  At  the  same  time  a 
confidential  order  was  issued  to  the  commandinjif  olii- 
cer  at  Vancouver  to  place  in  effective  condition  for 
field  service  two  companies  of  infantry  at  that  post." 

In  compliance  with  the  temporizing  policy  of  the 
superintendent,  John  Meacham  despatched  Soonchiii 
with  a  letter  to  John  Fairchild,  living  on  the  road 
from  Tule  Lake  to  Yreka,  a  frontiersman  well  known 
to  and  respected  by  the  Indians,  and  who  accompaMJod 
Sconchin,  and  with  him  found  Jack,  who  refused  to 
hold  a  conference  with  the  agent  and  commissary,  as 
desired. 

Among  the  settlers  in  the  country  desired  l)y  Jack 
was  Oregon's  venerable  pioneer,  Jesse  Ap[)legMto,  re- 
siding as  agent  upon  a  tract  claimed  by  Jesse  ]).  Carr 
of  California,  and  lying  partly  in  that  state  and  pai  tly 
in  Oregon.  Of  Applegate,  Jack  demanded  j)ay  for 
occupation.  On  being  refused,  one  of  Jack's  personal 
guard,  known  as  Black  Jim,  set  out  on  a  raid  aiiioin,' 
the  settlers,  at  the  head  of  fifteen  or  twenty  warriois, 
alarming  the  whole  community,  and  causing  tlioiii  to 
give  notice  at  the  agency.  These  things  hnl  to  a  I'lii- 
ther  attempt  to  gain  a  conference  with  Jack,  he  hv'w^ 
given  to  understand  that  if  he  would  consent  he  would 
be  safe  from  arrest,  and  allowed  to  remain  for  tlio 
present  in  the  Lost  River  country. 

At  length  Jack  signified  his  willingness  to  sec  the 
commissioners,  provided  they  would  come  to  him  at 
Clear  Lake,  Applegate's  residence,  attended  l»y  no 
more  than  four  men,  he  promising  to  bring  with  liiiii 
the  same  number.  Word  was  at  once  sent  by  A|)|>lo- 
gate  to  Klamath,  sixty  miles,  and  the  cummissioiiers 

^*  Military  Correitpondence,  MS.,  Aug.  6,  I871> 


A  CONFERENCE. 


565 


wore  informed.  On  arriving  afc  the  rendezvous,  they 
found,  instead  of  four  or  five  Modocs,  twenty-nine, 
in  Wiir-paint  and  feathers. 

The  conference  was  an  awkward  one,  Black  Jim 
doing  most  of  the  talking  for  the  Modocs.  Jack  was 
sullen,  but  finally  gave  as  a  reason  for  not  returning 
to  the  reservation  that  he  was  afraid  of  the  Klamath 
'medicine.'"  He  also  complained  that  the  Klani- 
atlis  exasperated  him  by  assuming  the  ownershi[)  of 
ovL'iything  on  the  reserve,  drew  an  effective  picture  of 
the  miseries  of  such  a  state  of  dependence,  and  denied 
that  his  people  had  ever  done  anything  to  disturb  the 
settlers.^'^  When  reminded  that  he  had  driven  away 
several  families,  and  that  those  who  remained  were 
assessed,  he  demanded  to  know  who  had  informed 
iii>ainst  him,  but  was  not  told."  All  tliroui^h  the  in- 
teiview  Jack  had  the  advantage.  There  were  thirty 
{unied  jNIodocs  against  half  a  dozen  white  men,  who, 
waiiie'd  by  Jack's  sullen  demeanor,  dared  not  utter  a 
word  that  might  be  as  fire  to  powder.  He  so  far 
uiil)ent  during  the  conversation  as  to  promise  not  to 
aiuioy  the  settlers,  and  not  to  resist  the  military,  and 
was  given  permission  to  remain  where  he  was  until 
the  superintendent  could  come  to  see  them;  and  upon 
this  understandinij  John  Meacham  wrote  to  that 
functionary  that  no  danger  was  to  be  apprehended 
from  Jack's  band.  Yet  tlie  commissioners  had  hardly 
set  (tilt  on  their  return  to  Yainax.  when  it  was  warndy 
(lehated  in  the  Modoc  can»p  whether  or  not  to  com- 
lutiiee  hostilities  at  once  by  murdering  Jesse  Apple- 
,ij;iite  and  the  other  settlers  about  Clear  and  Tulo 
iak.'s.'^ 


(I 


'■'  I  am  at  a  loss  for  a  word  to  givo  as  a  synonym  for  'medicine'  as  hero 
uai'd.     It  niiiilit  1)0  the  'ovil-eyo'  of  the  ancients. 

'"!!.  !''.  Miller  was  at  that  time  |)ayin<(  tlient  an  assessment.  This  man 
miiil  111  a  iieii^lilior:  '  I  favor  the  Modiw.s  lieoausc  [  iin>  oliliucil  to  do  it.  If 
tilt  V  J.'  1  til  wiir  they  will  not  kill  nie,  beciiiise  1  use  them  so  well.'  A/>itli-;fil<''s 
Mu'lnr  lli^/.,  MS.     Mark  tlio  Necniel. 

''■Inliii  Mi'aeham,  in  /listoriral  ('orri's/miidiiire,  ^^S.,  Au),'.  'Jl,  1S71. 

"Tliis  uasafterward  confessed  by  tho  Modoes  to  their  captors.  Aitjili'ijiUi'a 
MuUvc  Hid.,  MS. 


666 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


Agent  Meacham's  report  of  security  for  the  present 
was  communicated  by  the  superintendent  to  Can  by, 
who  in  turn  reported  it  to  the  division  conunander  at 
San  Francisco,  and  the  matter  rested.  Major  Luding- 
ton,  mihtary  inspector,  who  made  a  tour  of  the  sta- 
tions on  the  border  of  Cahfornia  and  Oregon,  passinj,^ 
through  camps  Bidwell,  Warner,  and  Harney,  also 
reported  the  people  on  the  whole  route  free  from  any 
fear  of  Indians,  and  that  the  rumors  of  alarm  arose 
solely  from  petty  annoyances  to  individuals  from  Ind- 
ians visiting  the  settlements/^  Fort  Klamath  was 
not  visited  by  the  inspector,  and  the  report  of  tlio 
Indian  agent  misled  the  military  department. 

But  the  settlers  in  the  Tule  and  Clear  Lake  district 
did  not  feel  the  same  security.  On  the  contrary,  in 
November  1871  they  petitioned  the  superintendent 
and  Canby  to  remove  the  Modocs  to  their  reserva- 
tion, saying  that  their  conduct  was  such  that  tlujy 
dared  not  allow  their  families  to  remain  in  the  couii- 
try.^"  Their  petition  remained  in  the  superinttHul- 
ent's  hands  for  two  months  before  it  was  submitted  to 
Canby,  with  the  request  that  Jack's  band  be  removed 
to  Camp  Yainax,  and  suggesting  that  not  less  than 
fifty  troops  be  sent  to  [)orform  this  duty,  and  that 
Connnissary  Applegate  accompany  the  expedition,  if 
not  objected  to  by  Captain  Jackson. 

Canby  replied  that  he  had  considered  the  Modoo 
question  temporarily^  settled  by  the  permission  •^ivtii 
them  by  the  connnissioners  to  remain  where  tluy  weio 
until  they  had  been  notified  of  the  determination  of 
the  government  in  regard  to  the  six  miles  S(|uaio 
recommended  by  liim  to  bo  given  them  for  a  separate 
reserve,  and  that  it  would  be  im[)olitic  to  send  a  mili- 
tary force  against  them  before  that  decision,  or  before 

^*  MiUtiiry  Correxmmlencp,  Sept.  2,  1871.  Capt.  Jackson  also  wintc,  ' I 
liiivu  iiu  (loul)t  tliiit  tiioy  uru  iiiHoloiit  Ix'ggars,  but  so  fur  us  I  can  iisucMlMin  no 
Olio  iiiis  lieeii  robbed,  or  seriously  tliroatcnuil.'  Jl.  Ex.  Doc,,  i.  pt  ii.,  1 1'l,  lUt 
ooDg.  '2tl  suss. 

^"Sue  lot  tor  of  .lesse  Applegate  to  Supt  Meaciiam,  Feb.  I,  187'2,  in  //.  /..|■• 
Ihtc,  1'2'J.  I.'),  4:i(l  eoiig.  1st  seas. ;  Military  Vorre.»i)onde.nci!,h\^.,iu,ii.'l\)A^''\ 
JaeksoiivUle  JJemocral,  March  1,  1873. 


COMPLAINTS  OF  SETTLERS. 


667 


tlicy  had  been  notified  of  the  point  to  which  they 
Avcre  to  be  removed;  but  that  in  the  mean  time  Jack- 
son would  be  directed  to  take  measures  to  protect  the 
settlers,  or  to  aid  in  the  removal  of  the  Ivlodocs  should 
force  be  required.'^* 

Alarmed  by  the  delay  in  arresting  Jack,  a  petition 
was  forwarded  to  Governor  Grover,  requesting  him 
to  urge  the  superintendent  to  remove  the  Modocs,  or 
authorize  the  organization  of  a  company  of  mounted 
militia  to  be  raised  in  the  settlements  for  three  months' 
service,  unless  sooner  discharged  by  the  governor. 
In  this  petition  they  reiterated  their  former  com- 
[daiut,  that  they  had  been  harassed  for  four  years  by 
about  250  of  these  Indians,  80  of  whom  were  figlit- 
iii'^  men.  These  latter  were  insolent  and  menacing:, 
insulting  their  families,  drawing  arms  upon  citizens, 
and  in  one  case  firing  at  a  house.  They  complained 
tliat  the  superintendent  had  turned  a  deaf  ear,  and 
unless  the  governor  could  help  them  there  was  no 
fuilher  authority  to  which  they  could  appeal.  Being 
scattered  over  a  large  area,  it  was  to  be  feared  that 
in  ease  of  an  outbreak  the  loss  of  life  would  be  heavy.^^ 
(J rover  succeeded  in  procuring  an  order  that  Major 
Otis,  with  a  detachment  of  50  cavalry  and  their  otti- 
ccis,  should  establisli  atemjiorary  cam[)  in  Lost  Kiver 
(listriet;  but  Canby  refused  to  take  any  more  active 
measures  before  the  answer  to  the  recommendation  of 
tlie  superintendent,  with  regard  to  a  reservation  in 
that  country,  should  arrive  from  Washington. 

Eaily  in  April  Meacliam  was  relieved  of  the  super- 
iiileiicleiicy,  and  T.  B.  Odeneal  appointed  in  his  ])lace. 
One  of  h"^  fi)>:t  acts  was  to  take  council  of  Otis  in 
I'cgai'd  to  I  lie  propriety  of  permitting  Jack  and  his 
I'ollowers    to  remain    any  longer    where    they    were, 


•' SoocdiTPspoiKlonw!  in  T.  I!,  (hi'  iifni'.i  .}fotlor  War;  Slafrmeiit  oj'if.i  (trit/in 
mill  ('fiiisi'n,  I'ir.;  I'ni'tliind,  1S7.S.  'I'liis  puiiiplik't  was  pvi'pared  l>y  I'l'ipu'st  of 
11.  W.  Suott,  ('.  I'.  (Jnimlali,  iJ.  Ool.lsinitli.  iiinl  Alex.  1'.  Ankency,  <.l  I'ort- 
laiHJ,  to  correct  erroneous  iinjiri'NfiioiiH  ocoiisiorioil  by  irruapoiisiblu  MtiitenicntB, 
uml  is  niuilc  up  chictly  of  otliciiil  ilocunii'iitM, 

'^^ Military  Correximmtencc,  MS.,  Jiiii.  '2U  and  Feb.  19,  \S~'2, 


668 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


when  Otis  made  a  formal  recommendation  in  writing 
that  the  permission  given  by  Meaeham  should  be 
withdrawn,  and  they  directed  to  go  upon  the  reser- 
vation, the  order  not  to  be  given  before  September; 
that  in  case  of  their  refusal  the  n)ilitary  could  ])ut 
them  upon  it  in  winter,  which  was  the  most  favorable 
season  for  the  undertaking.  Otis  further  recom- 
mended placing  Jack  and  Black  Jim  on  the  Siletz 
reservation,  or  any  other  place  of  banishment  fioni 
their  people,  giving  it  as  his  opinion  that  there  would 
be  no  peace  while  they  were  at  liberty  to  roam,  with- 
out a  considerable  military  force  to  compel  his  good 
behavior.  In  order  to  make  room  for  the  Modoes, 
and  leave  them  no  cause  of  complaint,  he  proposed  the 
removal  of  Otsehoe's  band  of  Shoshones,  together  with 
Wewawewa's  and  some  others,  to  a  reservation  in  the 
Malheur  country.^  The  same  recommendation  \v;is 
made  to  Canby  on  the  15th  of  April. 

While  these  matters  were  under  discussion,  the 
long-delayed  order  arrived  from  the  commissioner  i)t' 
Indian  affairs  at  Washington  to  remove  the  Modccs, 
if  practicable,  to  the  reservation  already  set  a[)art  li  r 
them  by  the  treaty  of  18G4,  and  to  see  that  they  weio 
protected  from  the  aggressions  of  the  Klamaths. 
Could  this  not  be  done,  or  if  the  superintendent 
should  be  unable  to  keep  them  on  the  reserve,  he  was 
to  report  his  views  of  locating  them  at  some  other 
]K)int  wliich  he  should  select. 

Odcneal  wrote  to  the  new  agent  at  Klamath,  L.  S. 
Dyar,"*  and   to   Conunissary  Applegate  to   seek   an 

'''I  make  the  above  recommendations,' he  said,  'after  commanding  the 
military  distiicts  of  Nevada,  Owyliee,  and  the  districts  of  the  lakes,'  siiuiua- 
bively  Hiiicc  December  18()7.   Odeiieal's  Modoc  War,  '22. 

"•  i)yur  was  the  fourth  agent  in  three  years.  Lindscy  Applegate  was  in- 
cumbent from  1804  to  1 80!),  when  Knapp  was  Bul)stituted  to  secure  t lie  l^iir 
trcalnient  of  the  Indians,  which  it  was  then  supposed  oidy  military  nlHicrs 
could  give.  But  Captain  Knapp  was  more  complained  of  than  Ajiplfiralc, 
because  lie  endeavored  to  get  some  service  out  of  the  Modocs  in  tlicii'  iasm 
behalf,  John  Meaeham  was  then  placed  in  ollicc  for  one  yeai',  when. I.  II. 
High,  fotiner  agent  at  Fort  Hall,  supplanted  him.  Klainalli  ageni'V  luing 
under  awsigiinu'nt  to  the  methodixt  church  for  religious  leaching,  L.  S.  \'\:\v 
was  appointed  through  this  iulluuuce.  All  of  thusu  nteu  treated  the  IiulitHiii 
well. 


FUTILE  NEGOTIATIONS. 


569 


n  writing 
liould  be 
:,lie  roser- 
jpteiubor; 

-H)uld    ])Ut 

favoral)Ie 
r  recoiH- 
he  Silotz 
lent  Iroiu 
ere  would 
am,  witli- 
liis  ^ood 
Modocs, 
posed  the 
ither  with 
ion  in  the 
ation  was 

ssion,  the 

ssionei'  of 

I  Modocs, 

apart  t'cr 

ey  wei'C 

aiuath.s. 

ntendciit 

,  ho  was 

lie  other 

til,  L.  S. 
HLok    all 

[landiiig  tlip 
\us,'  suix'ua- 

jatc  was  in- 
uro  tlio  fair 
tary  uliicci's 
Aiii)i<'.u':itts 
11  tluMr  ciwii 
wlu'ii.l.  II. 
;i'lK'V  liriiig 
L.  ,S,  n.var 
tliu  Iiuh^iiis 


interview  with  Jack,  and  endeavor  to  persuade  him 
to  go  to  live  on  the  reservation.  Major  Otis  had 
previously  made  an  attempt,  through  his  Indian  .scouts, 
to  have  a  conference,  but  had  been  repulsed  in  a 
liaui^htv  manner.  However,  after  much  neo-otiation 
it  liad  been  agreed  that  a  meeting  should  take  place 
at  Lost  Ilivcr  gap  between  Otis,  Agent  High,  Ivan 
and  Olivei  Applegate,  with  three  or  four  citizens  as 
witnesses,  and  three  or  four  Klamath  scouts  on  one 
side,  and  Jack  with  half  a  dozen  of  his  own  men  on 
till'  other.  But  .according  to  his  former  tactics.  Jack 
]insonted  himself  with  thirty-nine  fighting  men,  and 
IkuI  Otis  at  his  mercy. 

The  council  at  Lost  River  gap  w-as  productive  of  no 
good  results.  Jack  denying  any  complaints  made  by 
tlio  settlers,  and  one  of  the  witnesses,  Miller,  testifying 
that  his  conduct  was  jieaceable,  under  the  sclllsh  and 
mistaken  belief  that  he  was  insuring  his  own  immu- 
nity i'roni  harm.^^  When  Odeneal's  order  arrived  for  a 
n>uiicil  with  Jack,  that  he  might  be  informed  of  the 
decision  of  the  commissioner  of  Indian  affairs,  Scon- 
cliin  was  einplo^'ed  to  act  as  messenger  to  arrange  for 
a  meeting  at  Linkville;  but  Jack  returned  for  answer 
that  any  one  desiring  to  see  him  would  find  him  in 
liis  own  country.  After  considerable  effort,  a  meeting 
was  arranged  to  take  place  at  the  military  encainp- 
meiit  at  Juniper  Springs,  on  Lost  River.  Agents 
l)var  and  Applegate,  attended  by  some  of  Sconchin's 
head  men,  met  Jack  and  his  warriors  on  the  14th  of 
!May,  when  every  argument  and  persuasion  was  used 
to  iiiikience  him  to  conform  to  the  'reaty,  l)ut  without 
sueeess.  His  unalterable  rei)ly  was  that  he  slioukl 
stay  where  lie  was,  and  would  not  molest  settlers  if 
th(y  did  not  locate  on  the  west  side  of  Lost  River, 
Hear  the  mouth,  where  he  had  his  winter  camp.  The 
.settlers,  he  said,  were  always  lying  about  him  and 

'•'It  is  8ai(l  that  Miller  wont  to  Faircliilds  ami  complained  bitterly  of  tiie 
jiiiMiiiin  ill  wliich  Otis'  (jiicstions  licfmu  the  liulian»  hail  placed  him.  lie 
luliiiitiod  tiiat  he  had  not  told  tlio  truth,  Imt  declared  that  lie  dured  not  Hay 
ollici'wiiic.  Siskiyou  Count]/  Ajf'uin,  MS.,  u3. 


! 


I 


570 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


making  trouble,  but  his  people  were  good  people,  and 
would  not  frighten  anybody.  He  desired  only  peace, 
and  was  governed  by  the  advice  of  the  people  of 
Yreka,  who  knew  and  understood  him.*'  The  old 
chief  Sconchin  then  made  a  strong  appeal  to  Jack  to 
accept  the  benefits  of  the  treaty,  and  pointed  out  the 
danger  of  resistance,  but  in  vain. 

The  commissioners  reported  accordingly,  and  also 
that  in  casting  about  f(jr  some  locality  where  Jack's 
band  might  be  placed,  apart  from  the  Klaniatlis, 
no  land  had  been  found  unoccupied  so  good  for  the 
purpose  as  that  upon  the  reservation.  Camp  Yaiiiax 
was,  in  fact,  nearly  as  far  from  the  Klamath  agency 
as  the  Lost  River  country.  Nothing  now  remained 
but  to  prepare  to  bring  the  Modocs  on  to  the  reser- 
vation. Odeneal  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  load- 
ing men  among  them  should  be  arrested  and  banished 
to  some  distant  place  until  they  should  agree  to  abide 
bv  the  laws,  while  the  remainder  should  be  renK>ve(l 
to  Yainax,  suggesting  the  last  of  September  as  a 
proper  time  for  carrying  out  this  purpose;  and  the 
commissioner  issued  the  order  to  remove  them,  "peace- 
ably if  you  can,  forcibly  if  you  must." 

In  May,  the  Modocs  having  broken  camp  and  begun 
tlieir  summer  roaming,  Otis  reported  his  station  on 
Lost  River  unnecessary,  and  the  troops  were  with- 
drawn about  the  1st  of  June.  No  sooner,  liowever, 
were  the  troops  back  at  Fort  Klamath  than  Jack  ap- 
l)earcd  at  the  camp  of  Sconchin's  people,  away  iVnui 
Yainax  on  their  summer  furlough,  with  forty  armed 

°*  Who  besides  E.  Steele  Jack  referred  to  is  not  known.  Steele  .'uliiiits 
giving  advice  to  Jack  and  jiia  followers.  '  My  advice  to  them  was,  and  i\\\\  .lys 
lias  been,  to  return  to  the  reservation,  and  further,  that  the  olliccrs  \miu1i1 
compel  tlieni  to  go.  They  replied  that  they  would  not  go,  and  asked  why  tlie 
treaty  that  I  had  niatle  with  them  when  I  was  superintendent  of  noiiliriii 
California — they  supposing  that  our  state  line  included  their  village  ;it  tlie 
fishery — was  not  good.  .  .1  told  them  they  had  made  a  new  treaty  with  thu 
Oregon  agency  since  mine,  and  sold  their  lands,  and  that  had  done  awiiy  witli 
the  first  one.  Jacki^uid  he  did  not  agree  to  it. . .  I  have  written  several  It  tuts 
for  him  to  the  settlers,  in  which  1  stated  his  words  to  them,'  etc.  Tliesr  ex- 
tracts are  from  a  manuscript  defence  of  his  actions,  written  hy  Steele  to  his 
brother  at  Olympia,  in  my  possession,  entitled  Stedt'n  Modoc  (Question,  MS, 


STEELE'S  PLANS, 


671 


jople,  and 

[ily  peace, 

people  of 

The    old 

0  Jack  to 
d  out  the 

,  and  also 
are  Jack's 
iilaniatlis, 
d  for  tlu) 
ip  Yaiuiix 
til  agency 
remained 
the  reser- 
;  the  lead- 

1  banished 
le  to  abide 
)  removed 
Tiber  as  a 

and  the 
Li,  "peacu- 

nd  l)egun 
itation  on 
lere  witli- 

however, 

Jack  np- 
Iwav  iVoin 

t}'  armed 


Hcelc  iiilinits 

Is,  iiiiil  iiluays 

Tiliiccrs  WMulil 

■ikcil  wliy  tliu 

of  iiurllii'iii 

[illago  at  the 

lity  with  the 

liiMiWiiy  with 

3VLM';ill<  tiers 

Th.'-.'  «- 

Uct^h'  I'l  liis 

fucdiuii,  ilSi 


warriors,  conducting  himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
frighten  them  back  to  the  agency.  The  citizens  were 
hardly  less  alarmed,  and  talked  once  more  of  organiz- 
ing a  militia  company.  The  usual  correspondence 
followed  between  the  Indian  and  military  departments, 
and  the  settlers  were  once  more  assured  that  their 
safety  would  be  looked  after. ^'' 

While  the  Modoc  question  was  in  this  critical  stage, 
influences  unknown  to  the  department  were  at  work 
confirming  Jack  in  his  defiant  course,  arising  from 
nothing  less  than  a  scheme,  proposed  by  Steele  of 
Yreka,  to  secure  from  the  government  a  grant  of  the 
land  desired  by  him,  on  condition  that  he  and  his  peo- 
ple should  abandon  their  tribal  relation,  pay  taxes,  and 
improve  the  land,  which  they  promised  to  do."^  But 
no  one  knew  better  than  Steele  that  to  leave  the  Mo- 
docs  in  the  midst  of  the  white  settlements  would  be 
injurious  to  both  races,  and  most  of  all  to  the  Indians 
themselves,  who  instead  of  acquiring  the  better  part 
of  civilization  were  sure  to  take  to  themselves  only  the 
worse;  and  that  the  better  class  of  white  people  nmst 
object  to  the  contiguity  of  a  small  special  reserve  in 
their  midst.  Not  so  did  the  Modocs  themselves  rea- 
son about  the  matter.  Steele,  because  they  could 
iil)[)roach  him  with  their  troubles,  and  because  he  sim- 
ply told  them  to  go  and  behave  themselves,  without 
seeing  that  they  did  so,  was  the  white  chief  after  their 
own  mind,  and  his  word  was  law,  even  against  the 
pMwer  with  which  they  had  made  a  treaty.  They 
were  proud  of  his  friendship,  which  gave  them  im- 
portance in  their  own  eyes,  and  which  blinded  them 
to  their  inevitable  doom.  So  said  the  settlers,  with 
whom  I  cannot  always  fully  agree. 

'•Military  Correspondence,  MS.,  June  10,  15,  and  20,  1872;  OdeneaVn  Mo- 
doc  War,  31-2. 

■•"Steele  was  threatened  with  prosecution  by  Odeneal,  and  in  the  disfence 
hufore  referred  to,  after  explaining  his  acts,  says:  'At  this  laat  interview  with 
C<i|)t.  Jack  I  again  tried  to  persuade  hitn  to  go  upon  the  reservation,  but  I 
must  confess  that  it  was  as  much  to  avoid  the  trouble  and  expunso  that  would 
fall  upon  me  in  getting  the  land  grant  through  tor  tliem  as  from  any  other 
uiulive.'  Modoc  (^ueation,  MS.,  2J. 


572 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


ili,; 


It  now  being  definitely  settled  that  Jack's  band 
must  <.^()  upon  the  reservation  to  reside  before  wint(  i-, 
Odeneal  repaired  to  the  Klamath  a*;ency  Nt)venib('f 
25th,  sending  a  special  messenger,  James  Brown  of 
Salem,  and  Ivan  Applegate  to  Lost  River  to  invite 
them  to  meet  him  at  Linkville,  and  to  promise  tlniii 
the  kindest  treatment  if  they  would  consent  to  l;(> 
to  Yainux,  where  ample  provision  had  been  made  for 
their  support.  If  they  would  not  consent,  he  required 
them  to  meet  him  at  Linkville  on  the  27th  for  a  final 
understanding. 

To  the  military  authorities  a  comnmnication  was 
addressed  requiring  them  to  assist  in  carrying  out  the 
instructions  of  the  commissioner  of  Indian  affairs  by 
compelling,  if  necessary,  th  -  obedience  of  the  Modocs 
to  recognized  authorit}^  and  they  had  signified  tht'ir 
readiness  to  perform  this  duty.^  On  the  27th  Ode- 
neal and  Dyar  repaired  to  Linkville  to  meet  the  Mo- 
docs, according  to  appointment,  but  found  there  only 
the  messengers,  by  whom  they  were  apprised  of  Jack's 
refusal  either  to  go  upon  the  reservation  or  to  nicLt 
the  superintendent  at  that  place.  "  Say  to  the  supei- 
intendent,"  returned  Jack,  "that  we  do  not  wish  to 
see  him  or  talk  with  him.  We  do  not  want  any  white 
man  to  tell  us  what  to  do.  Our  friends  and  counsel- 
lors are  men  in  Yreka,  California.  They  tell  us  to 
stay  where  we  are,  and  we  intend  to  do  it,  and  will 
not  go  upon  the  reservation.  I  am  tired  of  bein^^ 
talked  to,  and  am  done  talking."  One  of  Jack's  lieu- 
tenants, commonly  known  as  Scarfaco  Charley,  from 
a  disfigurement,  would  have  taken  the  lives  of  the 
messengers  upon  the  spot,  but  was  restrained  by  Jack, 
who  preferred  waiting  until  the  superintendent  was  in 
his  power. *• 

^Odeneal'M  Modoc  War,  .33.  Capt.  Jackson  had  been  superseded  in  (lie 
command  at  Fort  Klamath  by  Maj.  G.  G.  Hunt,  who  in  turn  was  rcliivi'il 
July  17th  by  Maj.  John  (Jreen.  Major  Otis  liad  also  been  lelieved  ut  tlio 
command  of  the  district  of  the  lakes  by  Colonel  Frank  Wlieaton,  '2l8t  int. 

'"This  was  revealed  by  friendly  Indians  present  at  the  conference.  It  is 
found  iu  Dyar'a  statement. 


FORCE  TO  BE  USED. 


S73 


Being  now  assured  that  nothing  short  of  an  armed 
force  could  bring  the  Modocs  to  submission,  Odeneal 
sent  word  to  Colonel  Green,  in  command  at  Fort 
Klamath,  that  military  aid  would  be  required  in  ar- 
ivsting  Captain  Jack,  Black  Jim,  and  Scarface,  who 
should  be  held  subject  to  his  orders. 

It  had  never  been  contemplated  by  the  superintend- 
ent or  by  Canby  that  any  number  of  troops  under 
fifty  should  attempt  to  take  Jack  and  his  warriors. 
Ill  view  of  this  necessity,  Canby  had  issued  a  special 
order  early  in  September  giving  Wheaton  control  of 
the  troops  at  Klamath,  that  in  an  emergency  of  this 
kind  he  might  have  a  sufficient  force  to  make  the 
movement  successful,  and  Wheaton  had  directed 
Green  to  keep  him  fully  advised  by  courier  of  the 
attitude  of  the  Modocs.  But  now  occurred  a  fatal 
error.  Ivan  Applegate,  who  carried  Odeneal's  requi- 
•sition  to  the  fort,  supposed  that  there  was  a  sufficient 
force  of  cavalry  at  the  post  to  arrest  half  a  dozen  Ind- 
ians,"*^ however  brave  or  desperate,  and  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  no  serious  resistance  would  be  made  to 
the  troops.  Odeneal,  in  his  letter  to  Green,  said:  "I 
transfer  the  whole  matter  to  your  department,  with- 
out assuming  to  dictate  the  course  you  shall  pursue 
ill  executing  the  order."  Green,  who  was  of  Apple- 
gate's  opinion  that  the  Modocs  would  yield  at  the  ap- 
pearance of  his  cavalry,  and  thinking  it  better  to  take 
Jack  and  his  confederates  before  they  were  reenforced, 
immediately  sent  off  Captain  Jackson  with  thirty-six 
men  to  execute  the  order. ^^ 

The  troops  left  Fort  Klamath  at  noon  on  the  28th, 


"  The  order  to  arrest  did  not  include  more.  Jack  was  believed  to  have 
al)out  60  Bghting  men,  and  that  aljout  half  that  number  were  at  his  camp. 

'■''  When  the  mistake  liad  been  made,  tlicre  was  the  usual  (juarrel  between 
the  military  and  Indian  departments  as  to  which  had  been  in  the  wrong, 
(ieii.  Canby  exonerated  Odeneal  by  saying:  'The  time  and  manner  of  apply- 
ing force  rested  in  the  discretion  of  the  military  commander.'  It  is  easy  to 
8B«  that  Green  might  have  been  misled  by  Applegate's  report  that  Jack  had 
only  about  half  his  warriors  with  him,  but  he  must  have  known  tliat  he  was 
not  carrying  out  the  intentions  of  the  commanding  general  of  the  department. 
I  myself  think  that  he  wished  to  show  how  easy  a  thing  it  was  to  dispose  of 
tlie  Modoc  question  when  it  came  into  the  proper  hands. 


I  i  i: 


674 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


officered  by  Captain  Jackson,  Lieutenant  Boutellc, 
and  Dr  McEldery.  Odeneal  had  sent  Brown,  his 
special  messenger,  to  notify  the  settlers  who  weio 
hkely  to  be  endangered  in  case  of  an  engagement  with 
the  Modocs.  How  imperfectly  this  was  done  tliu 
sequel  [troved.^  The  superintendent  met  Jackson  on 
the  road  about  one  o'clock  on  the  mornini;  of  the  2J)th, 
directing  him  to  say  to  Jack  and  his  followers  that  lie 
had  not  come  to  fight,  but  to  escort  them  to  Yainax, 
and  not  to  fire  a  gun  except  in  self-defence. 

A  heavy  rain  was  falling,  through  which  the  troojjs 
moved  on,  guided  by  Ivan  Applegate,  until  daybrLak. 
when,  arriving  near  Jack's  camp,  they  formed  in  line, 
and  advancing  rapidly,  halted  upon  the  outskirts, 
calling  to  the  Modocs  to  surrender,  Applegate  acting 
as  interpreter.  The  Indians  were  evidently  surprise  <  I 
and  wavering,  a  part  of  them  seeming  willing  to  ol)(\ , 
but  Scarface  and  Black  Jim,  with  some  others,  re- 
tained their  arms,  making  hostile  demonstrations  din- 
ing a  })arley  lasting  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  Seoini,^ 
that  the  leaders  grew  more  instead  of  less  defiant, 
Jackson  ordered  Lieutenant  Boutelle  to  take  some 
men  from  the  line  and  arrest  them.  As  they  ad- 
vanced, Scarface  fired  at  Boutellc,**  missing  him.  A 
volley  from  both  sides  followed.  Almost  at  the  fii.st 
fire  one  cavalryman  was  killed  and  seven  wounded. 
The  balls  from  the  troops  mowed  down  fifteen  Indians. 

Up  to  the  time  that  firing  commenced,  Jack  had 
remained  silent  and  suFen  in  his  tent,  refusing  to  take 
any  part  in  the  proceedings,  but  on  the  opening  of  lios- 
tilities  he  came  forth  and  led  the  retr"iat  of  his  pe()[ile, 
now  numbering  t\  ice  as  many  as  on  the  visit  of  Brow  u 
and  Applegate.  n  this  retreat  the  women  and  chil- 
dren were  left  bel  \d.  It  was  now  that  the  rashness 
of  Colonel  Green     ^came  apparent.     Jackson's  force, 

"  Brown  afterward  said  i  knew  nothing  of  any  settlers  below  Crawky's 
fann,  and  that  the  men  he  i  tified  said  nothiue  about  any.  Odeneal'n  Muitoc 
War,  .3!).     The  truth  was  th  .t  none  comprehended  the  danger. 

"  Oi-egoniiin,  Dec.  12,  1872;  Yreka  Journal,  Jan.  1,  187J;  Jied  Bliiff  Sen- 
tinel, Dec.  7,  1872. 


BEGINNING  OF  HOSTILITIES. 


079 


already  too  light,  was  lessened  by  the  loss  of  eight 
men,  whom  he  dared  not  leave  in  camp  lest  the  Indian 
women  should  murder  and  mutilate  them,  and  he  was 
therefore  unable  to  pursue.  Leaving  a  light  skirmish 
line  with  Boutelle,  he  was  forced  to  employ  the  re- 
mainder of  the  troops  in  conveying  the  wounded  and 
dead  to  the  east  side  of  the  river  in  canoes,  and  thence 
jialf  a  mile  to  the  cabin  of  Dennis  Crawley,  after 
which  he  returned  and  destroyed  the  Indian  camp. 

In  the  mean  time  a  citizens'  company,  consisting  of 
0.  C.  Applegate,  James  Brown,  J.  Burnett,  D.  Craw- 
ley, E.  Monroe,  Caldwell,  and  Thurber,  who  had  gath- 
ered at  Crawley's  to  await  the  result  of  the  attempted 
arrest,  attacked  a  smaller  cam[-  on  the  east  side,  and 
lost  one  man,  Thinber.  They  retired  to  the  farm  and 
kept  up  firing  at  long  range  to  prevent  the  Indians 
crossing  the  river  and  attacking  Jackson's  command 
on  the  flank  and  rear.  While  this  was  going  on,  two 
men  fled  wounded  to  Crawley's,  one  of  whom,  William 
Nus,  soon  died.  At  this  intimation  that  the  settlers 
below  were  uninformed  of  their  danger,  Ivan  Apple- 
gate,  Brown,  Burnett,  and  other  citizens  went  in 
various  directions  to  warn  them,  leaving  but  a  small 
force  at  Crawley's  to  guard  the  wounded.  During 
their  absence  Jackson  was  called  upon  to  protect  this 
place  from  the  hostilities  of  Hooker  Jim  and  Curly- 
headed  Doctor,  two  of  Jack's  head  men  not  before 
mentioned.  As  there  was  no  ford  nearer  than  eight 
miles,  the  troops  spent  two  or  three  hours  getting  to 
Ctawlcy's,  where  they  encamped,  and  beheld  in  the 
distance  the  smoke  of  burning  hay-ricks.^^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  Captain  Jackson  hav- 
ing heard  that  a  family  named  Boddy  resided  three 
and  a  half  miles  below  Crawley's,  who  had  not  been 
warned,  despatched  a  detachment  with  a  guide  to 
ascertain  their  fate.  Finding  the  family  absent,  and 
the  premises  undisturbed,  the  troops  returned  with 
this  report,  the  guide  Crawley  coming  to  the  conclu- 

"5.  F.  Alta,  Dec.  12,  1872;  Oregon  Herald,  Dec.  14,  1872. 


w 


'] 


576 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


sion  that  they  had  Hod  south,  warning  others  on  tlie 
way.  ]^ut  in  this  he  was  niis?taken,  four  out  of  a 
family  of  six  at  this  place  having  been  killed,  and  two 
having  escaped/' 

It  was  afterward  ascertained  that  no  more  persons 
were  killed  on  the  29th;  but  on  the  following  day  a 
number  of  men  about  Tule  Lake  were  sLiin,  amoni^ 
tiiem  their  good  friend  Miller.*'  Living  within  sev- 
enty-five yards  of  Miller's  house  was  the  Brothcrtoii 
family,  three  men  of  which  were  killed.  That  tlio 
remainder  were  saved,  was  due  to  the  courage  of  ^Irs 
Brothcrton,  who  defended  her  home  for  throe  days 
before  relief  arrived.^     The  victims  in  this  collision 

"  The  men,  William  Bodily,  Nicholas  Schira,  his  son-in-law,  and  two  stop- 
sons,  \Villi!in>  and  liichard  Cravigan,  were  killed  wliile  about  their  farm  work, 
Mrs  Sohira,  seeing  tlie  team-horses  coming  home  without  a  driver,  niii  to 
them  and  found  'he  lines  hloody.  She  put  the  horses  in  the  stahle,  uiid  with 
her  mother  waL.  i  along  the  road  to  lind  her  husband.  Alniut  half  a  iiiilo 
from  tjje  house  ho  was  found  lying  on  tlie  ground,  shot  througli  the  licad. 
Remembering  her  brothers,  she  left  her  motiier  with  the  deiul  and  ran  on  alone 
to  find  them.  On  the  way  she  jiassed  Hooker  Jim,  Ciirly-headcd  Dui'tor, 
Long  .lim,  One-eyed  Mose,  Rock  Dave,  and  Humpy  .Jerry,  all  well-kiiinvn 
meMd>ers  of  Jack's  band,  who  did  not  offer  to  iutt^rcept  her.  After  liiidiiiL;  ihe 
body  of  one  brother,  Mrs  Sciiira  returned  to  her  mother,  and  toi^etlu'i-  they 
fled  over  a  tindjered  ridge  toward  Crawley's,  but  while  on  the  crest,  si'i'iiii,'  a 
number  of  persons  about  the  house,  n)ist<K>k  them  for  Indians,  and  tuiiicd 
t<.)ward  the  higliest  hills  in  the  direction  of  Linkvdle,  which  were  then  envficd 
with  snow.  Afttu"  wandering  until  the  middle  of  tho  2d  day  without  i<»n\  or 
tire,  tliey  were  met  and  conducted  to  the  bridge  on  Lost  River,  from  \\  hich 
place  tJK.'y  were  taken  to  Linkville.  On  the  '^d  of  Dec.  Mrs  Schira  rctunicd 
with  a  wagon  to  hnjk  for  her  dead,  but  found  that  JSoutclle  IhkI  gone  <iii  th» 
same  errand.  The  lioddy  family  were  from  Australia,  and  were  industrious, 
worthy  people.  Jacknoiiville  Si'iitinel,  Dec.  187'2. 

"  In  the  Yrfkit  Jour  mil  oi  Dec.  4,  187-,  is  the  following:  'In  the  massacre 
of  settlers  tluit  followed  the  attack  on  tho  Modocs,  tho  Indians  killed  noiu'  hut 
those  who  were  foremost  in  trying  to  force  them  on  the  reservation.'  On  tliii 
contrary,  it  is  remarkable  tliat  not  one  of  tliose  killed  were  signers  ot  tho 
petitions  for  their  removal,  lists  of  which  havo  Ixieu  published  in  dooiniicuts 
here  (jnoted.     Thee  '  persons  were  afraid  to  |>etition  for  Jack's  removal. 

'** Seeing  some  Indians  approaching  who  hml  her  huslmnd's  ho.ses,  Mii) 
Urotherton  took  the  alarm.  Throe  Indians  surrounded  the  himse  of  .lolni 
Shroeder,  a  neighbor,  and  shot  him  while  ho  was  trying  to  e8ca]>o  on  horse- 
back. Joseph  Brotherton,  a  boy  of  15  years,  was  in  comimny  with  this  iiaii, 
but  Ijcing  on  foot,  the  Indians  gave  no  attention  to  him  while  in  pursuit  ot  tlio 
mounted  man.  Mrs  Brotherton,  seeing  her  son  running  toward  thti  hoiiso, 
went  out  to  njcet  him  with  a  i-evolver.  Her  younger  son  called  her  hack  ;uid 
ran  after  her,  but  she  ordered  him  to  return  to  tlie  honse  ami  uet  a  Henry  i  ilio, 
telling  him  to  elevate  tho  sight  for  80()  yards  and  tire  at  tlie  Indians.  Mo 
obeyed,  his  still  younger  sister  wiping  and  handling  the  cartridges.  I'liiiiT 
cover  of  the  riile  the  mother  and  son  reached  tho  honse  in  safety,  whii  li  was 
fastened,  iNii'ricaded.  and  converted  into  a  fortress  by  making  loop-holes  Tlio 
Indians  retired  during  the  night,  but  guard  wua  luaintoiuod.     Una  Indian  waa 


THE  WAR  BEGUIf. 


577 


s  on  t1ie 
)ut  of  a 
and  two 


I  persons 
ii(T  (lay  a 
I,  anion*^ 
thin  scv- 
•othcrton 
rhat  the 
JO  of  !Mrs 
iroc  claysi 

collision 

in»l  two  step. 
ir  farm  work. 
Irivcr,  mil  to 
ilile,  ami  with 
t  half  11  mil" 
igli  tlio  hiail. 
il  ran  on  alouo 
•luUd   Uo.'tor, 

II  weU-ktinwii 
^er  riuiliii;4  tl'i' 

t<),i;ftlu'i'  tlii'V 

p,  uiiil  tmutil 

thtMl  I'oVlT'il 
thout  foo'l  oi- 
•,  from  wliii'U 
lira  ivtuniiil 
I  goiio  oil  tho 
iiuhistrioiis, 

I  the  inassatro 
illi'd  iioiw  t'lit 
lion.'  On  tlio 
iguera  nt  ilio 
ill  iloL'iiiiu'iita 
liiiiioval. 

Iiolsim,  Mih 
IniHO  of  .loliii 
IjM)  on  horso- 
ith  tliis  ii'iiii, 
j)ursiiit  ot  tlio 
III  tho  house, 
lier  hiii'U  ;iiiil 
Ilfiiry  iitli', 
liiitiaiif*  l'*^ 
Lea.  I'li'l'T 
!,  whiili  wa« 

|.hl>U'H         I'l'" 

la  luiliaii  wai 


between  Jack  and  the  troops  counted  eighteen  white 
men  and  about  the  same  number  of  Indians.*^ 

War  was  now  fairlj'  inaugurated.  Jack  had  tlirown 
down  the  gauntlet  to  the  United  States,  and  Crawley's 
cabin  in  the  midst  of  the  grassy  meadows  of  Lost  River 
had  become  the  headquarters  of  a  so  far  defeated  and 
luuniliated  military  force.  The  distance  from  Craw- 
ley's to  Fort  Klamath  was  sixty  miles,  to  the  agency 
til'ty-iive,  to  Camp  Yainax  about  the  same,  to  Link- 
ville  twenty-three  miles,  to  Ashland,  in  the  Rogue 
River  Valley,  eighty-eight  miles,  to  Camp  Warner 
about  the  same  distance,  and  to  Yreka  farther. 
There  were  no  railroads  or  telegraph  lines  in  all  the 
country,  and  a  chain  of  mountains  lay  between  tlie 
camp  and  the  post-road  to  army  headquarters.  That 
was  the  situation. 

As  soon  as  news  of  the  fight  reached  the  agency, 
Dyar  raised  a  company  of  thirty-six  Klamaths,  whom 
he  placed  under  D.  J.  Ferree,  and  sent  to  reenforco 
Jackson.  O.  C.  Applegate  hastened  to  Yainax  to 
loarn  the  temper  of  Sconchin's  band  of  Modocs,  and 
finding  them  friendly,  organized  and  armed  a  guard  of 
fifteen  to  prevent  a  raid  on  the  camp,  and  taking  witii 
liiin  nine  others,  part  Modoes  and  part  Klamaths, 
crossed  the  Sprague  River  mountains  into  Langell 
Valley,  and  proceeded  thence  to  Clear  Lake,  to  ascer- 
tain tho  condition  of  his  uncle,  Jesse  Api)legato. 
Aniving  December  2d,  ho  found  his  brother  Ivan 
had  been  there  with  .  party  of  six  citizens  and  live 
cavalrymen.  The  troo[)s  being  left  to  guard  tho 
family  at  Clear  Lake,  the  citizens  set  out  upon  a  search 
for  the  bodies  of  the  killed,  and  O.  C.  Applegate  with 
his  company  of  Indians,  hin»self  in  disguise,  immo- 

killoil  and  ono  wounded  in  tho  defence.  On  tlio  third  day  Ivan  Applegate  tamo 
tliiit  way  niul  took  tho  family  toCruwloy'H.  On';/oiiiuii,  Dec.  U,  1S7-.  lieMidcH 
tlioH<  mentioned,  the  persons  killed  were  John  Shroedcr,  Sover,  u  lierdHman, 
Adam  Sliillingbow,  Christopher  Eriisniua,  Collins,  nnd  two  truvelleis,  in  uU 
I'l  iiii'ii  and  lioys,  besides  Nus,  Thurman,  and  the  cavalryman. 

»".S',  r.  Call,  Deo.  2,  6,  8,  1872;  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Dec.  2,  3,  12,  27,  1872;  S. 
/'.  I'wt,    »ee.  0.  1872;  S<u:.  Union,  Dec.  13,  10,  1872. 

Hi«T.  Oh.,  Yol.  H.    a7  , 


I 


^ 


578 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


ill' 


diately  joined  in  the  search.  While  at  Brotherton's 
they  bad  a  skirmish  with  Scarface's  party  of  Modocs. 
Fortifying  themselves  in  a  stable,  one  of  the  friendly 
Modocs  was  sent  to  hold  a  parley  with  Scarface,  and 
to  spy  upon  him,  which  he  did  by  affecting  to  sym- 
pathize with  his  cause.  He  escaped  back  by  pre- 
tending that  he  went  to  bring  in  other  sympa+^hizers 
from  the  reservation,  but  instead  revealed  the  plan  of 
the  enemy,  which  was  to  finish  the  work  of  nmrder 
and  pillage  on  that  day.  Jack  and  eighteen  warriors 
were  to  proceed  down  the  west  side  of  Lost  River  to 
the  Stone  Ford,  and  join  Scarface.  When  they  had 
killed  the  men  who  were  searching  for  the  dead,  they 
would  return  and  attack  Jackson;  but  Applegate's 
party  prevented  the  junction.  Ferrer's  company  (jf 
Klamaths  had  also  been  on  a  scout  down  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  under  Blow,  one  of  the  head  men  on 
the  reservation,  whicli  being  observed  by  Jack,  re- 
strained his  operations  on  that  side.  They  could  not 
now  attack  without  exposing  themselves  to  the  tiro 
of  two  camps  a  short  distance  apart,  and  retired  to 
the  lava-beds. 

Entering  lower  Klamath  Lake  from  the  south  was 
a  small  stream  forking  toward  the  west,  the  southern 
branch  being  known  as  Cottonwood  Creek,  and  the 
western  one  as  Willow  Creek.  On  the  first  was  a 
farm  belonging  to  Van  Bremer,  and  on  the  other  the 
farm  of  John  A.  Fairchilds.  On  Hot  Creek,  a  stream 
coming  into  the  lake  on  the  west  side,  lived  P.  A. 
Dorris.  Between  Dorris*  and  Fairchild's  places  was 
an  encampment  of  forty-five  Indlnns  called  Hot  Crueksi, 
a  branch  of  the  Modocs,  a  squalid  company,  but  who 
if  they  joined  Jack's  forces  might  become  dangerous; 
and  these  it  was  determined  to  bring  upon  the  reser- 
vation. Being  a  good  deal  frightened  by  what  they 
knew  of  the  late  events,  they  yielded  to  argument,  and 
set  out  for  their  new  home  under  the  conduct  of  Fair- 
child,  Dorris,  and  Samuel  Culver. 


UNFORTUNATE  KUMOHS. 


579 


Dyar  had  been  notified  to  meet  them  at  Linkville, 
where  the  Indians  would  be  turned  over  to  him.  But 
now  happened  one  of  those  comphcations  hablc  to  arise 
under  circumstances  of  so  nmcli  excitement,  when 
every  one  desired  to  be  of  service  to  the  common  cause 
without  knowing  in  the  least  what  to  do.  The  same 
tliouffht  had  occurred  to  William  J.  Small,  rcsidinLf 
three  miles  below  Whittle's  ferry  on  Klamath  River, 
who  organized  a  party  among  his  neighbors  and  set 
out  for  Hot  Creek  with  the  purpose  of  removing  these 
Indians  to  the  reservation.  Knowing  that  they  were 
liable  to  fall  in  with  the  hostile  Mt)docs,  they  wont 
well  armed.  At  Whittle's  the  two  parties  met,  and  the 
conductors  of  the  Indians,  being  suspicious  of  the  in- 
tentions of  Small's  men,  opposed  their  visiting  the 
Indian  encampment,  on  which  Small  and  his  men  re- 
turned home. 

In  the  interim  four  citizens  of  Linkville,  all  good 
men,  hearing  of  Small's  enterprise,  and  anxious  for 
its  success,  started  to  reenforce  him.  On  the  way  a 
(h'unken  German  named  Fritz  attached  himself  to  the 
])iirty,  and  talked  noisily  of  avenging  the  death  of  his 
iViend  William  Nu.s.  From  this  man's  gabble  the  re- 
port spread  that  the  Linkville  men  contemjilatod  tho 
massacre  of  the  Hot  Creek  Indians.  Alarmed  by 
this  rumor,  Isaac  Harris  and  Zenas  Howard  hastened 
hy  a  shorter  route  to  the  ferry  to  warn  Fairchild,  so 
that  when  the  Linkville  men  arrived  they  found  them- 
selves confronted  by  tho  escort  of  the  Indians  with 
anus  in  their  hands.  An  explanation  ensued,  when 
the  Linkville  party  turned  off  to  Small's  place.  Fritz, 
however,  remained  at  the  ferry  and  contrived  to  alarm 
the  Indians  by  his  drunken  utterances. 

When  Dyar  reached  Linkville  he  too  hoard  tho 
rumor  afloat,  and  hastened  on  to  the  ferry,  although  it' 
was  already  night,  intending  to  thwart  any  evil  intent 
hy  moving  the  Indians  past  Linkville  before  daylight, 
lairchild  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  hastened  to 
iiilorm  the  Indians  and  explain  the  cause.     An  ur-  i 


1 


580 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


rangement  had  been  entered  into  with  Small's  party 
to  escort  them,  and  the  Indians  readily  consented, 
saddling  their  ponies,  and  the  foremost  accompanying 
Dyar  to  the  ferry.  Here  they  waited  for  some  time 
for  the  remainder  to  follow,  when  it  was  discovered 
that  they  had  fled  back  to  their  native  rocks  and  sage- 
brush. The  few  with  Dyar  soon  followed,  and  thus 
ended  a  laudable  attempt  to  lessen  the  hostile  force 
by  placing  this  band  peaceably  on  the  reserve. 

In  a  day  or  two  these  Indians  were  employed 
making  arrows  and  bullets,  in  the  midst  of  which  a 
wagon  arrived  from  the  Klamath  agency,  and  another 
attempt  was  made  to  remove  the  Hot  Creek  Indinns 
to  the  reservation,  but  they  disappeared  in  a  night, 
taking  with  them  not  only  their  own  horses  and  pro- 
visions, but  those  of  their  friend  Fairchild. 

After  the  failure  of  the  attempt  to  remove  the  Hot 
Creek  band,  an  effort  was  made  by  Fairchild,  Dorris, 
Beswick,  and  Ball,  all  personally  well  known  to  the 
Modocs,  to  persuade  Jack  to  surrender  and  prevent 
the  impending  war.  They  found  him  in  the  juniper 
ridge  between  Lost  River  and  the  lava-beds  south  ot 
Tule  Lake;  but  although  he  refrained  from  any  act  ot 
liostility  towards  them,  he  rejected  all  overtures  with 
impatience,  and  declared  his  desire  to  fight.  In  this 
interview  Jack  denied  all  responsibility  of  the  affair  of 
the  29th,  saying  that  the  Iroops  fired  first;  and  further, 
placed  all  the  guilt  of  the  murders  of  innocent  settk is 
upon  Long  Jim,  although  Scarface,  Black  Jim,  and 
hunself  had  been  recognized  among  the  murderers." 

The  effect  of  Fairchild's  visit  was  to  give  Jack  an 
opportunity  to  gain  over  the  Hot  Creek  head  men  who 

'"This  moral  obUqnity  of  Jack's  makes  it  impossible  to  heroize  him,  not- 
vittistandinff  I  recosnize  somuthing  srand  in  liis  desperate  obstinacy.  On  his 
trial  ho  said,  referruig  to  this  occasion:  'I  did  not  think  of  fighting.  <li>liii 
Fairchild  came  to  my  tent  and  asked  me  if  I  wanted  to  fight.  I  told  liiin, 
"No,  I  was  done  fighting.'"  Scarface  admitted  at  his  trial  tliat  he  killed  oim 
of  the  settlers,  and  Jack  was  with  him.  But  it  is  observable  all  through  tho 
history  of  the  war  that  Jack  denied  his  crimes,  and  endeavored  to  faatvii  the 
responsibility  upon  others,  even  upon  his  own  friends.  He  was  the  pi  im  e  of 
liars. 


MILITARY  MOVEMENTS. 


'881 


accompanied  him.  It  also  convinced  the  military  that 
no  terms  would  be  accepted  by  the  Modocs  excej)t 
such  as  they  were  able  to  enforce.  All  the  families 
in  this  region  were  immediately  sent  to  Yreka,  and 
men  in  isolated  places  surrounded  themselves  with 
stockades. 


The  courier  of  Colonel  Green  found  the  commander 
of  the  district  of  the  lakes  confined  to  his  bed  with 
(luinsy.  He  trusted  there  would  be  no  serious  diffi- 
culty, but  advised  Green  to  use  all  the  force  at  his 
command,  and  sent  him  Captain  Perry's  troop  F,  of 
the  1st  cavalry,  and  also  a  small  detachment  from 
Fort  Bidwell  under  Lieutenant  J.  G.  Kyle,  which  he 
said  would  give  him  a  force  of  seventy-five  cavalry- 
men in  addition  to  Jackson's  company,  or  a  hundred 
and  fifty  completely  equipped  troops."  Before  VVhea- 
ton's  order  reached  Fort  Klamath  the  mischief  had 
been  consummated.  On  news  of  the  disaster  being 
received  at  Camp  Warner,  Perry's  troops  set  out  by 
way  of  Yainax,  to  join  Jackson,  and  Captain  K.  F. 
Bernard  was  ordered  from  Bidwell  by  the  southern 
immigrant  road  to  the  same  destination.  They  were 
directed  to  make  forced  marches,  the  supply-trains  to 
follow.  But  the  condition  of  the  roads  made  travel- 
ling slow,  and  a  week  had  elapsed  after  Jackson's  fight 
before  he  was  reiinforced. 

In  order  to  protect  the  roads  between  the  settle- 
ments, and  to  keep  o[)en  the  route  to  Yreka,  Bernard's 
troops  were  stationed  at  Louis  Land's  place  on  the 
east  shore  of  Tule  Lake,  on  the  borders  of  that  vol- 
canic region  popularly  known  as  the  lava-beds,  in 
whose  rocky  caves  and  canons  Jack  had  taken  refug(; 
with  his  followers.  From  Bernard's  cimp  to  Jack's 
stronghold,  as  reported  by  the  scouts,  was  a  distance 
nf  thirteen   miles,  or   two  miles  fron)    the    western 


H    ' 


*'  //.  Ex.  Doc. ,  122,  40,  4.1(1  coiij{.  iHt  hosr.  Tliis  remark  of  Wlientoii'a  hIiows 
that  lie,  118  well  UHOilenoal  uiiil  A[ipl(!gatu,  tiioiight  tliiTc  iinist  Ik;  at  Klaiiiatli 
lioiit  (K)  to  70  cavuhyiiiuu — twiuti  uh  luuiiy  wuru  Hcut  tu  unoat  thu  ^luduca. 


882 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


border  of  the  lava-fields.  The  trail  thence  was  over 
and  among  rocks  of  every  conceivable  size,  from  a  pebble 
to  a  cathedral.  The  opportunity  afforded  for  conceal- 
ment, and  the  danger  of  intrusion,  in  such  a  region 
was  obvious. 

At  Van  Bremer's  farm,  distant  twelve  miles  from 
the  stronghold  on  the  west,  was  Perry's  command, 
while  Jackson  remained  at  Crawley's,  where  Green 
had  his  headquarters.  As  fast  as  transportation  could 
be  procured,  the  material  of  war  was  being  concen- 
trated at  this  point.  General  Canby,  on  receiving  in- 
formation of  the  affair  of  the  29th,  at  once  despatched 
(xenoral  E.  C.  Mason  with  a  battalion  of  the  21st  in- 
fantry, comprising  parts  of  C  and  B  companies,  num- 
bering sixty-four  men,  to  join  Wheaton's  forces.  A 
special  train  on  the  3d  of  December  conveyed  Mason, 
Captain  George  H.  Burton,  and  lieutenants  V.  M. 
C.  Silva,  W.  H.  Boyle,  and  H.  De  W.  Mo^.3  to 
Roseburg,  then  the  terminus  of  the  Oregon  and 
(yaliiornia  railroad.*^  The  remainder  of  the  mareli, 
to  Jacksonville  and  over  the  mountains  through  rain 
nnd  snow,  occupied  two  weeks,  making  it  the  middle 
of  December  before  the  infantry  reached  Crawley'^!. 
It  was  not  until  about  the  same  time  that  Wheaton 
reached  Green's  headquarters,  where  he  fonud  the  am- 
munition nearly  exhausted  by  distribution  among  the 
'^''ttlers,  necessitating  the  sending  of  Bernard  to  Camp 
J^idwell,  ninety  miles,  with  w^agons,  for  a  supply. 

The  governors  of  both  California  and  Oregon  had 
been  called  upon  by  the  people  of  their  respective 
states  to  furnish  aid.  Governor  Booth  of  California 
responded  by  sending  to  the  frontier  arms  out  of  date, 
and  ammunition  too  large  for  the  guns;*^  Governor 
Grover  forwarded  a  better  equipment.     The   Wash- 

*'  Boyle's  Perwnal  OhHcrvafionH  on  the  Conduct  of  the  Modor  War,  a  iniiiiii- 
Boript  of  40  pages,  hus  been  uf  great  service  to  me  in  enabling  mo  to  give  ii  omi- 
iiucted  licoount  of  that  renmrkublo  campaign.  Hoyio  wus  post  (jnai'ternia'ttcr. 
Hi!  relates  tiiat  the  ttilk  of  the  officers  at  V^ancouver  was  that  'when  (Jiceii 
goes  after  those  Moilocs  he  will  clean  them  out  sooner  than  a  man  could  wiy 
Jack  Robinson,'  anil  that  he  tho'tght  so  himself. 

"  Yreka  DeHpalcheg,  in  OrtyoiUan,  Doc.  21, 1S72;  S.  F.  Alta,  Deo.  13, 1S7'.'. 


PREPARATIONS. 


583 


ington  Guards  of  Portland  offered  their  services, 
which  were  declined  only  because  the  militia  general, 
John  E.  Ross  of  Jacksonville,  and  captain  O.  C. 
Applegate  of  Klamath,  had  tendered  and  already  had 
their  companies  accepted.**  Applegate's  company  was 
made  up  of  seventy  men,  nearly  half  of  whom  were 
picked  Klamaths,  Modocs,  Shoshones,  and  Pit  River 
Indians  from  the  reservation.  In  the  interval  before 
the  first  pitched  battle  they  were  occupied  scout- 
ing, not  only  to  prevent  fresh  outrages,  but  to 
intercept  any  of  Jack's  messengers  to  Camp  Yainax, 
and  prevent  their  drawing  off  any  of  the  Sconchiu 
band,  whom,  although  they  declared  their  loyalty  to  be 
unimpeachable,  it  was  thought  prudent  to  watch. 
Another  reason  for  surveillance  was  that  Jack  had 
threatened  Camp  Yainax  with  destruction  should 
these  Modocs  refuse  to  join  in  the  insurrection,  and 
they  were  exceedingly  nervous,  being  unarmed,  except 
the  guards.  To  protect  them  was  not  only  a  duty, 
but  sound  policy. 

In  the  mean  time  neither  the  troops  nor  the  Ind- 
ians were  idle.  Perry  was  still  at  Van  Bremer's,  with 
forty  cavalrymen.  Ross  was  near  Whittle's  ferry,  at 
Small's  place.  On  the  1  Gth  of  December  detachments 
from  both  companies  made  a  reoonnoissance  of  Jack's 
jtosition,  approaching  within  half  a  mile  of  the  strong- 
hold, and  from  their  observations  being  led  to  believe 
that  it  was  possible  so  to  surround  Jack  as  to  compel 
his  surrender,  although  one  of  his  warriors  shouted  to 
them  defiantly  as  they  turned  back,  "  Come  on  !  Come 
on!"  This  exploration  revealed  more  perfectly  the 
difficult  nature  of  the  ground,  broken  by  fissures, 
some  a  hundred  feet  in  depth  and  as  many  in  width; 
and  it  revealed  also  that  in  certain  places  were  levd 
fiiits  of  a  few  acres  covered  with  grasses,  and  furnished 
with  water  in  abundance,  where  the  Indian  horses 
grazed  in  security.  Nothing  could  bo  better  chosen 
tlian  the  Modoc  position;  and  should  their  ammuiii- 

**  Oregonian,  Deo.  3,  1872;  Applegate'*  Modoc  War,  MS.,  17. 


:■ 


584 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


tion  become  exhaused,  nothing  was  easier  for  them 
than  to  steal  out  unobserved  through  the  narrow 
chasms,  while  watch  was  kept  upon  one  of  the  many 
lofty  pinnacles  of  rock  about  them.  But  they  were 
not  likely  to  be  soon  forced  out  by  want,  since  they 
had  taken  $700  in  money  at  one  place,  and  $3,000 
worth  of  stores  at  another,  besides  a  large  amount  of 
ammunition  and  a  few  rifles,  in  addition  to  their  own 
stock  on  hand.  Everything  indicated  that  hard  fight- 
ing would  be  required  to  dislodge  the  Modocs.  An- 
other delay  now  ensued,  caused  by  sending  to  Van- 
couver for  two  howitzers,  to  assist  in  driving  them 
out  of  their  fastnesses. 

Both  the  regular  troops  and  militia  were  restive 
under  this  detention.  The  23d  infantry  had  just 
come  from  fighting  Apaches  in  Arizona,  and  were 
convinced  that  subduing  a  band  of  sixty,  or  at  the 
most  eighty,  Modocs  would  be  a  trifling  matter  if 
once  they  could  come  at  them;  and  the  state  troops, 
having  only  enlisted  for  thirty  days,  saw  the  time 
slipping  away  in  which  they  had  meant  to  distinguisli 
themselves.  The  weather  had  become  very  cold,  and 
the  militia  were  ill  supplied  with  blankets  and  certain 
articles  of  commissariat.  Another  difficulty  now  pre- 
sented itself  They  had  enlisted  to  fight  in  Oregon, 
whereas  the  retreat  chosen  by  the  enemy  lay  just  ovi  r 
the  boundary  in  California;  but  General  Wheaton 
overcame  this  last,  by  ordering  Ross  to  pursue  and 
fight  the  hostile  Indians  wherever  they  could  be 
found.*'^ 

Actual  hostilities  were  inaugurated  December  22(1, 
by  Captain  Jack  attacking  Bernard's  wagon-train  as 
it  was  returning  from  Bidwell  with  a  supply  of  aniuiii- 
nition,  guarded  by  a  small  detachment.  The  attack 
was  made  a  mile  from  camp,  on  the  east  side  of  tlio 
lake,  by  firing  from  an  ambuscade,  when  one  soldier 
and  six  horses  were  killed  at  the  first  tire.  Lieuten- 
ant Kyle,  hearing  the  noise  of  shooting,  hastened  to 

"  Boyk'a  Conduct  (\fUie  Modoc  War,  MS.,  9. 


READY  TO  FIGHT. 


685 


'or  them 
narrow 
ho  many 
ley  were 
nee  they 
1  $3,000 
mount  of 
heir  own 
ird  fight- 
cs.  Au- 
to Van- 
ng  them 

e  restive 

had  just 

ind  were 

or  at  the 

matter  if 

be  troops, 

the  time 

stinguish 

cold,  and 

d  certain 

now  pre- 

Oregou, 

ust  over 

heatou 

Irsuo  aud 

iould  be 

iber  22tl, 
-train  as 
[f  anunu- 
le  attack 
]e  of  the 
|e  soldier 
jieutou- 
tened  to 


the  rescue  with  nearly  all  the  troops  in  reserve,  but 
ten  having  had  time  to  mc  Jnt,  and  in  this  unprepared 
manner  fought  the  Indians  the  remainder  of  the  day. 
In  this  skirmish  the  long  range  of  the  United  States 
arms  seemed  to  surprise  the  Modocs,  as  it  saved  the 
train.  The  Indians  failed  to  capture  the  ammunition, 
but  lost  their  own  horses,  and  four  warriors  killed  and 
wounded.  A  bugler  whom  they  pursued  escaped  to 
headquarters,  when  Jackson's  troops  were  sent  to 
roenforce  Bernard;  but  before  his  arrival  the  Modocs 
had  retreated.**  About  the  same  time  they  showed 
themselves  on  Lost  River,  opposite  headquarters,  in- 
viting the  attack  of  the  soldiery;  and  also  near  Van 
Bremer's,  where  Perry  and  Ross  were  encamped  to- 
gether. 

On  the  25th  of  December  Wheaton  ordered  the 
volunteers  to  the  front,  and  word  was  sent  to  Langell 
Valley,  where  five  families  still  remained,  to  fortify. 
Preferring  to  go  to  Linkville,  they  set  out  in  wagons, 
and  were  fired  upon  from  an  ambush  near  the  springs 
on  Lost  River,  but  were  relieved  and  escorted  to  their 
destination  by  a  scouting  party.  A  supply-train  iVoni 
Klamath  was  also  attacked,  and  a  part  of  the  escort 
wounded,  being  relieved  in  the  same  manner  by  the 
volunteers. 

Colonel  Green,  who  still  retained  the  immediate 
command  of  the  troops,  was  now  ordered  to  attack 
the  Indians  whenever  in  his  judgment  sufficient  mate- 
rial of  war  was  on  hand.  "With  the  howitzers  and 
one  snow-storm  I  am  ready  to  begin,"  had  been  his 
asseveration.  On  the  5th  of  January  another  recon- 
noissance  was  made,  by  Captain  Kelly  of  Ross'  bat- 
talion, with  a  detachment  of  twelve  men,  with  the 
object  of  finding  a  more  practicable  route  than  the 
one  iu  use  from  Van  Bremer's,  where  Green  had  taken 
up  his  headquarters,  to  the  IModoe  stronghold.     On 

"Reptof  Gen.  Wheaton,  in  IT.  Ex.  Doc,  122,  48-9,  43(1  cong.  1st  sess.; 
BoijIiiH  Conduct  of  the  Modoc  War,  MS.,  7-9;  Jied  Bluff  Sentind,  B'eb.  1, 
1S73. 


!  .  i. 


n 


686 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


the  way  they  had  a  skirmish  with  twenty  of  Jack's 
people,  who  retreated  toward  camp,  but  being  pursued, 
dismounted  and  fortified.  The  firing  brought  a  reijii- 
foreement  from  Jack's  camp,  when  the  volunteers 
retreated  to  an  open  field,  while  the  Indians,  not  car 
ing  to  engage  again,  returned  to  the  lava- beds.  A 
scout  by  Applegate  with  twenty  men  revealed  the 
fact  that  the  high  ridge  between  Van  Bremer's  and 
the  lava-field,  known  as  Van  Bremer's  Hill,  was  used 
as  an  observatory  by  the  Modocs,  who  kept  them- 
selves informed  of  every  movement  of  the  troops. 

On  the  12th  of  January  an  expedition  consisting 
of  a  detachment  of  thirteen  men  under  Perry,  a 
handful  of  scouts  under  Donald  McKay,  and  thirty 
of  Applegate's  mixed  company,  the  whole  under  Colo- 
nel Green,  made  a  reconnoissance  from  headquar- 
ters to  ascertain  whether  wagons  could  be  taken  to  a 
position  in  front  of  the  Modoc  stronghold.  Green 
was  fired  on  from  a  rocky  point  of  the  high  bluti'  on 
the  verge  of  and  overlooking  the  lava-field.  Perry 
returned  the  fire,  driving  in  the  Modoc  sentinels,  and 
shooting  one  of  the  Hot  Creek  Indians  through  the 
shoulder.  Applegate  came  up  in  time  to  observe 
that  the  Modocs  were  dividing  into  small  parties  to 
ascend  the  hill  and  get  on  the  fiank  of  the  troops, 
when  he  stretched  a  skirmish-line  along  the  blulf 
for  a  considerable  distance  to  intercept  them.  Sear- 
face,  who  was  stationed  on  a  high  point  in  the  lava- 
bed,  cried  out  in  stentorian  tones  to  his  warriors,  "Keep 
back,  keep  back;  I  can  see  them  in  the  rocks!"*^ 

The  Modoc  guard  then  fell  back  half-way  down  the 
hill,  where  they  made  a  stand  and  defied  the  soldiers, 
but  made  strong  appeals  to  the  Indian  allies  to  f'or- 

*'  ApplegcUe'ii  Modoc  Hist.,  MS.  Another  instance  of  the  wonderful  vnice- 
power  of  Scarfacc  is  mentioned  by  a  writer  in  the  Portland  Herald,  niul  in 
l^rly  Affairs  in  Siskt'iou  County,  MS.  '  We  distinctly  heard,  incredible  as  it 
may  seem,  above  the  distant  yells  and  cries  of  the  camp  below,  three  or  Imir 
miles  away  a  bis  basso  voice,  that  sounded  like  a  trumpet,  and  that  .si'i'iiicd 
to  give  command.  The  big  voice  was  understood  and  interpreted  as  saying: 
"  There  are  but  few  of  them,  and  they  are  ou  foot.  Get  your  horses !  Uet 
your  horses  I " ' 


HEAP  BIG  TALK. 


1167 


sake  the  white  men  and  join  their  own  race  to  fight. 
The  leaders  were  very  confident.  Hooker  Jim  said 
once  he  had  been  for  peace,  but  now  he  was  for  war, 
and  if  the  soldiers  wished  to  fight,  they  should  have 
the  opportunity,  while  Jack  and  Black  Jim  challenged 
the  troops  to  come  down  where  they  were. 

A  medicine-woman  also  made  an  address  to  the 
Khimath  and  Modoc  scouts,  saying  that  were  all  the 
Indians  acting  in  concert  they  would  be  few  enough, 
and  entreating  them  to  join  Jack's  force.  Donald 
MeKay  answered  in  the  Cayuse  tongue  that  their 
hands  were  reddened  with  the  blood  of  innocent 
white  people,  for  which  they  should  surely  be  pun- 
ished, when  Jack,  losing  patience,  replied  that  he  did 
not  want  to  fight  Cayuses,  but  soldiers,  and  he  invited 
the  in  to  come  and  fight,  and  he  would  whip  them  all. 
The  Klamaths  asked  permission  to  reply,  but  Colonel 
Green,  thinking  the  communication  unprofitable,  for- 
bade it.*« 

It  not  being  Green's  intention  to  fight  that  day, 
a  ictreat  was  ordered.  To  this  the  Klamaths  were 
o])|)()sed,  saying  he  had  the  advantage  of  position,  and 
cDuUl  easily  do  some  execution  on  the  Modocs.  As 
(ireen  withdrew*,  the  Modocs  resumed  their  position 
on  the  hill,  and  the  Klamaths,  being  then  on  the  crest 
of  the  second  hill,  wished  to  open  on  them,  but  were 
restrained. 

There  was  much  discussion  about  this  time  away 
fi'om  the  seat  of  war  concerning  the  causes  which  led 
to  it,*"  and  much  dissatisfaction  was  felt  that  nothing 
had  been  done  to  restrain  Jack's  band,  which  still 


*"  It  waa  certainly  unsafe  allowing  tiie  Indian  allies  to  converse  with  the 
liostilo  Modocs,  who  appealed  to  them  so  strongly  for  help.  The  regular  offi- 
cers afterward  entertained  the  belief  that  the  Klamaths  acted  deceitfully, 
iiiul  )ii'oiiiised  Jack  help,  in  the  Modoc  tongue.  But  Applegate's  confidence 
\v.i8  iiuver  shaken,  and  he  trusted  them  in  very  great  emergencies.  Modoc 

*"  It  was  intimated  in  Cal,  that  speculation  in  Oregon  had  much  to  do 
with  it,  to  wliich  a  writer  in  the  Oreyonian,  Jan.  18,  1873,  retorted  tliat  he 
agriMil  with  Gov.  Booth  in  that  respect,  for  citizens  of  Cal.  had  for  years 
enouuraged  the  Modocs  in  refusing  to  go  upon  the  reservation,  for  no  other 
reutiuu  tuau  to  secure  their  trade,  etc. ;  wbicli  the  facts  seem  to  show. 


688 


THE  MODOC  WAlL 


JO 


made  predatory  excursions  away  from  their  strong, 
hold.  It  was  now  the  middle  of  January.  The  set- 
tlers in  Klamath  Valley  remained  under  cover.  The 
road  from  Tule  Lake  southward  was  closed.  Fairchild 
and  Dorris  had  converted  their  homes  into  fortified 
camps.  There  was  much  uneasiness  in  northern  Cal- 
ifornia, and  talk  of  forming  companies  of  home-guards, 
Dorris  being  selected  to  visit  Booth  to  obtain  aid. 
But  Booth  had  other  advisers,  and  instead  of  furnish- 
ing arms,  made  a  recommendation  to  the  government 
to  set  apart  five  thousa'^d  acres  of  land  where  Jack 
desired  it,  as  a  reservation  for  his  band,  all  of  whicli 
interference  only  complicated  affairs,  as  will  be  seen. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  everything  being  in  readi- 
ness, and  the  weather  foggy,  which  answered  in  place 
of  a  snow-storm  to  conceal  the  movements  of  the 
troops,  the  army  marched  upon  Jack's  stronghold.' 
The  regulars  in  the  field  numbered  225,  and  the  vol- 
unteers about  150.  In  addition  to  the  companies 
already  mentioned  was  one  of  twenty-four  sharp- 
shooters under  Fairchild.  Miller  of  the  Oregon  mi- 
litia had  been  ordered  to  the  front  by  Governor 
Grover,  but  took  no  part  in  the  action  which  followed. 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  Colonel  Green,  with 
Perry's  troops,  moved  up  to  the  bluff  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Tule  Lake  to  clear  it  of  Modoc  pickets, 
and  cover  the  movements  of  the  main  force  to  a  camp 
on  the  bluff  three  miles  west  of  Jack's  stronghold,  so 
located  as  to  be  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy.  By  three 
in  the  afternoon  the  whole  force  was  in  position,  con- 
sisting of  two  companies  ot  Infantry  under  Captain 
Burton  and  Lieutenant  Moore,  a  detachment  of 
another  company  under  Bergeant  John  McNamara, 

•"  Wheaton  wrote  to  Canby  on  the  15th  that  all  things  were  in  excollent 
condition,  the  most  perfect  understanding  prevailed  of  what  was  expected  uf 
each  division,  and  the  troops  were  in  the  most  exuberant  spirits.  'If  the 
Modocs  will  only  try  to  make  goo<l  their  boast  to  whip  1,000  soldiers,  all  will 
be  satisfied.  Our  scouts  and  friendly  Indians  insist  that  the  Motlocs  will 
fight  us  desperately,  but  I  don't  understand  how  they  can  think  of  attempt- 
ing any  serious  resistance,  though  of  course  we  are  prepared  for  their  light  or 
flight.'  H.  Ex.  Doc.,  122,  49-50,  43d  cong.  1st  sesa. 


ATTACK  ON  THE  LAVA-BEDS. 


689 


Ross*  volunteers  imder  Hugh  Kelly  and  O.  C.  Apple- 
gate;  the  howitzer  battery  under  Lieutenant  W.  H. 
Miller,  and  Fairchild's  sharp-shooters;  all,  but  some  of 
the  scouts,  dismounted,  furnished  with  a  hundred 
rounds  of  ammunition,  with  fifty  in  close  reserve,  and 
cooked  rations  for  three  days.  A  line  of  pickets  was 
thrown  out  along  the  edge  of  the  bluff  and  another 
around  the  camp. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  lake  were  Bernard's  and 
Jackson's  companies,  and  twenty  regularly  enlisted 
Klamath  scouts  under  the  chief  David  Hill,  all  com- 
manded by  Bernard,  who  had  been  directed  to  move 
up  to  a  point  two  miles  from  the  Modoc  position,  to 
l)e  in  readiness  to  attack  at  sunrise;  but  proceeding  in 
ignorance  of  the  ground,  and  contrary  to  the  advice  of 
his  guide,  he  came  so  near  to  the  stronghold  that  he 
was  attacked,  and  compelled  to  retreat  with  four  men 
wounded,'^  which  unfortunateerror  greatly  embarrassed 
him  next  day. 

As  the  troops  looked  down,  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th,  from  the  high  bluff,  the  fog  which  overhung  the 
lava-bed  resembled  a  quiet  sea.  Down  into  it  they 
wore  to  plunge  and  feel  for  the  positions  assigned 
them.  Mason  with  the  infantry  had  his  position  at 
the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  resting  on  the  lake,  with 
Fairchild's  sharp-shooters  flanking  him.  On  his  right 
were  the  howitzers,  in  the  centre  General  Wheaton 
and  staff,  and  generals  Miller  and  Ross  of  the  militia; 
on  the  right  of  these  Kelly  and  Applegate  wiiih  their 
companies,  and  on  the  extreme  right  Perry's  troop, 
dismounted.®' 

Descending  the  bluff  by  a  narrow  trail,  surprised  at 
meeting  no  Modoc  picket,  the  troops  gained  their  po- 
sitions, in  the  order  given,  about  seven  in  the  morning. 
It  was  the  design  to  move  the  line  out  on  the  right 
until  it  met  Bernard's  left  in  front  of  the  Modoc  posi- 


"  Boyle't  C&ndtict  of  the  Modoe  War,  MS.,  11. 

'"■  Boyle  places  Perry  in  the  centre,  but  he  waa  not  on  the  fleld,  and  Oreen 
ud  Applegate  were,  whoac  reports  I  follow. 


690 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


tion,  where  three  shots  were  to  be  fired  by  the  howit- 
zers to  announce  a  parley,  and  give  Jack  an  opportu- 
nity to  surrender. 

But  the  accident  of  the  previous  afternoon  having 
put  the  Modocs  on  their  guard,  hardly  had  the  line 
formed  wh^n  the  Indians  opened  fire,  and  instead  (if 
surrounding  them  and  demanding  their  surrender,  the 
troops  found  that  they  must  fight  for  every  foot  of 
ground  between  them  and  the  fortress.  The  fog,  too, 
now  became  an  obstacle  instead  of  an  aid  to  success. 
Unable  to  discern  their  course,  the  troops  were  com- 
pelled to  scramble  over  and  amongst  the  rocks  as  best 
they  could,  at  the  risk  any  moment  of  falling  into  am- 
bush, making  the  movement  on  the  right  painfully 
slow.  Nevertheless  it  was  steadily  pushed  forward, 
all  caution  being  used,  the  men  often  lying  flat  and 
crawling  over  rocks  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Indians, 
who  could  be  heard  but  not  seen.  The  howitzers, 
which  had  been  relied  upon  to  demoralize  the  Indians, 
proved  useless  so  long  as  the  enemy's  position  was 
concealed  from  view.  The  line,  after  advancinuj  a 
mile  and  a  half,  was  halted  and  a  few  shells  thrown, 
causing  the  Indians  some  alarm,  but  through  fear  of 
hitting  Bernard's  command  the  firing  was  soon  sus- 
pended. Again  the  line  was  pushed  on  another  iiiilo 
and  a  half  by  a  series  of  short  charges,  jum[iing 
chasuiS  and  sounding  the  war-whoop. 

About  one  o'clock  the  extreme  right  of  the  line, 
which  now  enveloped  the  stronghold  on  the  we-^-t  and 
south,  was  brought  to  a  halt  by  a  deep,  wide  gorge  in 
the  lava,  which  could  not  be  crossed  without  sacrilieu 
of  life,'"'  as  it  was  strongly  guarded,  and  in  close  migli- 
borhood  to  the  main  citadel.  On  consultation  with 
Wheaton  and  other  oflScers,  Green  determined  to  niovo 
the  west  line  by  the  left  and  connect  with  Bernaril  by 
the  shore  of  the  lake. 

At  this  point  some  confusion  occurred  in  the 


uno. 


"  The  reader  should  not  forget  that  Green  intended  to  capture  Juck  with- 
out a  Bcrioua  liglit,  if  poasible. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  FIGHT. 


601 


III  the  skirmishing  and  clambering  among  the  rocks, 
and  the  bewilderment  of  the  fog,  the  volunteers  had 
changed  places  with  Perry's  troop,  and  were  now  on 
the  extreme  right.  They  had,  in  fact,  charged  down 
tlic  ravine,  and  Applegate's  company  had  gained  a 
position  on  the  sage  plain  beyond  where  they  lay  con- 
cealed. Then  came  an  order,  "Look  out  for  Bernard !" 
and  a  volley  which  mowed  down  the  sage  over  their 
heads,  so  near  were  they  to  a  junction  with  him. 
While  the  volunteers  were  preparing  to  charge  on  the 
stronghold  the  regular  troops  had  begun  to  withdraw, 
seeing  which,  they  were  for  a  time  puzzled,  until  near- 
iiig  the  Modoc  position,  it  was  discovered  that  most 
of  the  troops  were  passing  to  the  left  under  the  bluffs 
on  the  west  side  of  the  lake;  soon  after  which  an  or- 
der reached  the  volunteers  to  report  to  headquarters, 
where  they  found  a  portion  of  Perry's  troop  and  a  re- 
serve of  infantry  under  Lieutenant  Ross. 

Meanwhile  Mason  and  Green  were  endeavoring  to 
make  the  junction  by  the  left,  the  troops  encountering 
a  destructive  fire  as  they  plunged  into  a  ravine  on  the 
siiore  of  the  lake  nearly  as  dangerous  to  cross  as  that 
on  the  route  first  pursued.  By  pushing  forward  the 
sharp-shooters  and  a  detachment  of  Burton's  company 
to  cover  the  troops  as  they  piissed,  the  crossing  was 
eftected.  But  as  Wheaton  afterwards  said,  "There 
was  nothing  to  fire  at  but  a  puff  of  smoke  issuing  from 
cracks  in  the  rock;"  while  the  Modocs  were  stationed 
at  the  most  favorable  points  foi  picking  off  the  men 
as  they  hurried  past,  crawling  '^  ver  the  sharp  rocks 
on  their  hands  and  feet,  sufFi  ring  terribly. 

After  Green  had  passed  the  first  ravine,  Bernard 
was  heard  to  say  that  ho  was  within  four  or  five  hun- 
dred yards  of  the  stronghold,  and  Green  resolved  if 
possible  to  join  him,  and  make  a  charge  before  dark. 
Jiut  after  sustaining  a  fire  from  the  Modocs  stationed 
ill  tlie  cliffs  •  rhanging  the  lake  shore  utitil  he  had 
nhnost  made  the  junotiou,  he  found  himself  confronted 
by  another  deep  caflon,  so  well  defended  that  he  '^aa 


692 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


unable  to  effect  a  crossing,  and  was,  besides,  compelled 
to  defend  himself  from  a  flank  movement  by  the  Mo- 
docs  on  his  left.  While  in  this  discouraging  position 
the  fog  lifted,  and  a  signal  was  recti  /ed  from  Wheaton 
to  cowe  into  camp,  established  in  a  small  cove  on  the 
lake  shore,  if  he  thought  best.  But  fearing  to  expose 
his  men  a  second  time  to  the  peril  of  passing  the  Mo- 
doc position.  Green  declined,  and  when  night  had 
fallen,  commenced  a  march  of  fourteen  miles,  over  a 
trail  fit  only  for  a  chamois  to  travel,  passing  the 
dreaded  ravine,  carrying  the  wounded  in  blankets  or 
on  the  backs  of  ponies  captured  during  the  day.  Their 
sufferings  were  severe.  One  man,  belonging  to  Fair- 
child's  company,  rode  the  whole  distance  with  his 
thigh-bone  broken  and  his  leg  dangling. **  When  a 
halt  was  called,  the  men  fell  asleep  standing  or  riding. 
Their  clothing  was  in  shreds  from  crawling  among 
the  rocks;  their  shoes  were  worn  off  their  feet.  A 
month  in  the  field  would  not  have  brought  them  to 
such  a  state.  It  was  not  until  past  noon  of  the  18th 
that  Green's  command  reached  Bernard's  camp  on 
the  east  side  of  the  lake.  After  making  arrangements 
for  the  removal  of  the  wounded  to  Fort  Klamath, 
seventy  miles  away,  over  a  rough  road,  three  miles  of 
which  was  over  naked  bowlders,  Green  and  Mason, 
with  an  escort  of  ten  Indian  scouts,  returned  to  head- 
quarters that  same  night  by  the  wagon-road  around 
the  north  side  of  the  lake. 

When  the  volunteer  captains  reported  to  Wheaton, 
they  were  ordered  to  take  their  men  to  the  lake  tor 
water,  and  then  to  take  up  a  position  in  the  crags, 
and  extend  a  skirmish  line  to  the  left.  While  in  this 
position,  the  Modocs  not  being  far  off,  Hooker  Jim 
was  heard  to  call  the  attention  of  the  other  leaders 
to  the  separation  of  the  volunteers  from  the  regular 
troops,  and  that  by  moving  around  to  the  right  of  the 
Volunteers  they  could  cut  them  off,  and  also  cut  off 

** Boyle'a  Cmduet  qftht  Jiodoe  War,  MS.,  18-19.  This  wm  Jerry  Crook, 
H«  died  in  February. 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  SOLDIERS. 


593 


communioation  between  Wheaton's  camp  by  the  lake 
and  his  supplies  on  the  hill,  which  were  left  in  char<^e 
of  only  ten  men.  Signal-Hres  were  already  springing 
up  in  that  direction. 

This  deterinintid  Wheaton  to  fall  back  to  camp,  and 
h(^  again  signalled  to  Green  his  change  of  plan,  author- 
i/ing  him  to  withdraw  to  Bernard's  camp,  as  just  re- 
lated. At  dark  the  retreat  to  camp  began,  Applegate 
leading,  the  wounded  in  the  centre,  and  Kelly's  com- 
pany, with  the  detachment  under  Ross,  skirmishing 
ill  the  rear.  As  the  evening  advanced  the  Modocs 
withdrew,  and  the  stumbling  and  exhausted  men 
reached  camp  a  little  before  midnight. 


The  loss  sustained  in  the  reconnoissance  of  the  17th — 
^  could  hardly  be  called  a  battle — was  nine  killed 
;L.-i  thirty  wounded.'^''  Among  the  latter  were  Ca[)- 
tain  Perry  and  Lieutenant  Kyle  of  the  regular  ser- 
vice, pnd  Lieutenant  George  Roberts  of  the  sharp- 
sliooters.  The  dead  were  left  upon  the  field,  where  if 
liCo  were  not  extinct  the  M(*doc  women  soon  despatched 
them.  The  high  spirits  of  the  morning  were  sunken 
ill  a  lethargy  of  mingled  sorrow  and  exhaustion  at 
nij^ht.  Every  officer  who  had  taken  part  in  the  o|)er- 
ations  of  the  1 7th  was  surprised  at  the  result  of  six 
weeks'  pn^paration  for  this  evtait,  and  it  became  evi- 
dent that  a  KiMch  larger  force  would  be  required  to 
(•ai>ture  tlu-  I'To docs  in  their  stronghold — the  strongest 
natural  j.^ysi^^i-  •>  ctver  eiicountered  by  the  army,  if  not, 
in(l(\>d   til-  'itnsrigest  possible  to  find  on  earth.'''' 

The  ioss  "f  iii'e  on  the  side  of  the  Modocs  was  not 
thought tu  *i  r-  at.  The  arms  ami  annnunition  cap- 
tured on  the  persons  of  the  fallen  soldiers  made  good 
imuh  of  their  loss  in  material.  They  were,  in  fact, 
scouting  within  six  miles  of  Lost  River  on  the  li)th, 
Lieutenant  Ream  with  twenty-five  volunteers  having 

^'This  is  tlie  ofFioial  count.  Apnlegnte  snys  tho  loss  was  41,  of  whom  1 1 
\«t'ix'  liillui'  Hh  iiiuy  oouiitBoino  wiio  did  nut  die  uu  tUo  fivld,  but  livud  a 
few  (liiy? 

^"lUvi'      «^on.  Whoaton,  in  //.  Ex  Doc.,  122,  43d  oong.  Ist  seaa. 
>K     On.,  Vol.  U.    38 


m 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


encountered  some  of  them  as  he  was  on  his  way  to 
Bernard's  with  the  horses  of  Fairchild's  <  ompany,  and 
Applegate  was  sent  to  guard  the  settlements. 

The  time  for  which  the  Jacksonville  volunteers  en- 
listed having  expired,  they  were  now  anxious  to  return 
to  their  homes  and  business,  which  had  been  hastily 
left  at  the  call  of  their  fellow-citizens.  Applegate,  too, 
fearing  the  effect  of  the  late  defeat  on  the  reservation 
Modocs,  wished  to  return  to  camp  Yainax.  In  con- 
sideration of  these  circumstances,  Wheaton  sent  a  de- 
spatch to  Portland,  by  way  of  Yreka,  asking  Canby  for 
three  hundred  foot-troops  and  four  mortars,  and  sug- 
gesting that  che  governor  of  California  should  l)e 
called  upon  t  '  militia  to  guard  that  portion  of 

his  state  open  t(.  .rsions  from  the  Modot  4.  Canl)y 
immediately  respoi.aed  by  ordering  two  companies  of 
artillery  and  two  of  infantry  to  the  seat  of  war,  and 
as  the  inhabitants  of  Surprise  Valley  apprehended  an 
upri.sing  of  the  Shoshones  on  account  of  the  Modoc 
excitement,  a  company  of  cavalry  was  sunt  to  their 
defence,  making  the  number  of  troops  in  the  Modoc 
region  six  hundred,  exclusive  of  the  garrisons  at  the 
several  posts  in  the  district  of  the  lakes.  But  even 
with  these,  the  country  being  in  part  inadequately 
guarded,  the  general  sent  a  recommendation  to  army 
headquarters  at  Washington,  that  conditional  author- 
ity should  be  given  him  to  call  upon  the  governors  of 
Oregon  and  California  for  two  companies  of  volun- 
teers from  each  state. 

On  the  23d  the  encampment  at  Van  Bremer's  was 
broken  up,  the  troops  and  stores  removed  to  Lost 
River  ford,  and  a  permanent  camp  established,  where 
preparations  wore  carried  on  for  attacking  Jack  in  his 
stronghold,  when  two  mortar-boats  should  have  been 
constructed,  by  which  his  position  could  be  siuHed 
from  the  lake  side — a  plan  which,  if  it  had  been  put  in 
execution,  would  have  ended  the  war. 

But  uovv  again  outside  interference  with  the  ^lodoc 


A  PEACE  COMMISSION. 


595 


question  was  productive  of  the  worst  results.'^  It  hap- 
jic.ied  that  E.  L.  Applegate,  brother  of  O.  C.  and 
Ivan  Applegate,  cinnmissaries  on  the  reservation,  was 
ill  Washington  as  a  commissioner  of  immigration; 
but  the  legislature  of  Oregon  having  failed  to  furnish 
funds  for  his  purposes,  he  was  in  need  of  some  other 
commission.  Meacham,  ex-superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs,  was  also  there,  and  these  two  men  proposed  to 
the  perplexed  secretary  of  the  interior  a  plan  of  settle- 
1111  lit  of  the  Modoc  difficulty  in  harmony  with  his 
prejudices.'*  When  the  scheme  was  ripe,  Attorne}'- 
gtiieral  Williams  arranged  an  interview,  and  the  thing 
was  accomplished.  Other  politicians  made  the  appeal 
ill  favor  of  a  pt^ace  co;  mission,  and  closed  their  argu- 
iiuMit  by  recommending  Meacham  as  a  commissioner, 
being  a  man  "in  whom  they  have  great  confidence" — 
meaning  the  Modocs.  All  this  seems  very  singular, 
when  it  is  remembered  that  Jack  would  have  none  of 
Meacham's  advice  when  he  was  superintendent.  It 
was  not  less  singular  that  E.  L.  Applegate  should 
liave  consented  to  act  directly  in  opposition  to  the 
opinions  of  his  family,  gained  by  a  liarassing  experi- 
ence; but  the  fact  remains  that  Meacham  returned  to 
Oregon  as  chairman  of  a  peace  commission.** 

On  the  30th  of  January  the  secretary  of  war  di- 
rected General  Sherman  to  notify  Canby  that  offens- 
ive operations  against  the  Modocs  should  cease,  and 
tlie  troops  be  used  only  to  repel  attacks  and  protect 
tbe  citizens.  Wheaton  was  also  relieved  of  his  com- 
mand,*' which  was  assumed  by  Colonel  A.I  vin  C.  Gillem 

'•'  See  remarks  of  N.  Y.  Tribune,  in  S.  F.  JuUelin,  Jan.  25,  1873,  and  Sac. 
Union,  Jan.  H\,  1873. 

•'"*Soe  //.  Ear.  Doc.,  122,  2.39-40,  43d  cong.  let  sess. 

''"  The  Washington  correspondent  of  the  S.  F.  liulletin  names  the  Orcgo- 
iiiiiiis  in  Washington  who  were  tiie  authors  of  the  peace  commission.  They 
«('ii!  A.  B.  Meacnam,  E.  L.  Applc^mte,  S.  A.  Clarke,  D.  F.  Thompson,  M. 
I'.  Herry,  R.  H.  Kincaid,  Daniel  Chaplin,  and  a  'few  other  Oregon  gentle- 
iiiin.'  Jacob  Stitzel  should  have  been  added.  Meacham  was  the  elector 
uliiiHen  to  carry  the  vote  of  Oregon  to  Washington  on  Grant's  reelection,  and 
Ns  ax  in  a  position  to  have  his  rctjuests  granted. 

""  There  was  a  general  protest  against  Wheaton 's  removal,  it  being  con- 
ceiled  by  those  who  knew  the  ditHcuIties  to  be  encountered,  that  he  had  done 
as  well  aa  could  be  done  with  bis  force. 


IH 


696 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


of  the  1st  cavalry.  Canby  also  felt  that  the  new  or- 
der of  the  war  department  implied  censure  of  himself, 
and  wrote  to  Sherman  that  liostiHties  could  not  have 
been  avoided,  as  the  Modocs  were  determined  to  re- 
sist; that  he  had  taken  care  that  they  should  not  be 
coerced  until  their  claims  had  been  decided  upon  by 
the  proper  authorities;  and  that  there  would  be  no 
peace  on  the  frontier  until  they  were  subdued  and 
punished  for  their  crimes.  Sherman  replied  to  Can- 
by 's  protest:  "Let  all  defensive  measures  proceed, 
but  order  no  attack  on  the  Indians  until  the  former 
orders  are  modified  or  changed  by  the  president,  who 
seems  disposed  to  allow  the  peace  men  to  try  their 
hands  on  Captain  Jack." 

The  commissioners  first  named  to  serve  with 
Meacham  were  Superintendent  Odeneal  and  Parson 
Wilbur,  agent  at  Simcoe  reservation;  but  jVIeachaui 
refusing  to  .serve  with  either,  Jesse  Applegate  and 
Samuel  Case  were  substituted.  Canby  was  advised 
of  the  appointments,  and  also  that  the  comniissioneis 
were  to  meet  and  confer  with  him  at  Linkville  t)n  the 
loth  of  February;  but  the  meeting  did  not  take  place 
until  the  18th,  on  account  of  Meacham's  I'aihue  to 
arrive. 

In  the  interim  Jack  kept  up  the  excitement  ly 
attacks  now  and  then  on  the  troops,  in  which  cases 
they  also  fought  vigorously.  On  the  25th  of  Jiiiiu- 
ary  an  attack  was  made  on  the  rear-guard  of  the  train 
of  Bernard,  who  was  moving  camp  from  the  south-cast 
corner  of  Tulo  Lake  to  Clear  Lake.  They  had  ca[)- 
tured  one  wagon,  when  Bernard  returned  and  fous^lit 
them,  taking  nearly  all  their  horses,  and  depriving 
them  of  the  means  of  making  forays  through  the  sin- 
rounding  country.  In  the  various  encounters,  eight 
Modocs  had  been  killed  and  as  many  wounded. 

Being  shorn  of  a  part  of  his  strength.  Jack  resorted 
to  savage  wiles,  and  allowed  it  to  go  out  that  he  was 
tired  of  war,  keeping  up  a  constant  communication, 
which  the  armistice  permitted  him  to  do,  with  his 


INDIAN  DIPLOMACY. 


597 


former  friends,  and  even  with  the  camp  of  Gilleni, 
through  the  visits  to  these  places  of  the  Modoc 
women,  Thej'  quickly  came  to  understand  that  they 
were  to  be  visited  by  a  peace  commission;  and  not  to 
he  behind  the  United  States  in  humanity,  they  also 
])ro tended  to  a  peace  party  among  themselves,  and 
oven  that  Jack  had  been  wounded  by  his  own  men 
for  not  fighting  on  the  17th. 

This  familiar  phase  of  Indian  diplomacy  did  not 
deceive  any  one.  Fairchild  endeavored  to  gain  an 
interview,  but  was  refused.  After  a  quiet  interval 
of  nearly  a  fortnight,  some  of  their  scouts  again 
ventured  out  as  far  as  Crawley's  house,  which  they 
burned. 


When  the  people  whose  relatives  had  been  killed 
in  the  massacre  of  the  29th  and  30th  of  November 
lioard  of  the  peace  commission,  they  took  steps  to 
liave  eight  of  Jack's  band  indicted  before  the  grand 
jury  of  Jackson  county,  in  order  to  forestall  the  pos- 
sihle  action  of  the  commissioners,  and  secure  the  pun- 
ishment of  the  murderers.^^  Governor  Grover  also 
filed  a  protest  with  the  board  against  any  action  of 
the  commission  which  should  purport  to  condone  the 
(limes  of  the  Modocs,  who,  he  claimed,  should  be 
ii'lven  up  and  delivered  over  to  the  civil  authorities 
for  ti-ial  and  punishment,  and  insisting  that  they  would 
have  no  more  authoi'ity  to  declare  a  reservation  on 
the  settled  lands  of  Lost  River  than  on  the  other 
settled  portions  of  the  state. 

To  this  protest,  which  was  forwarded  to  the  secre- 
taty  of  the  interior,  Delano  replied  that  the  commis- 
sii)ii  should  proceed  without  reference  to  it;  that  if 
til'!  authority  of  the  United  States  were  defied  or 
Insisted,  the  government  would  not  be  responsible  for 
(lie  results;  and  that  the  state  niiijht  be  left  to  take 

''  'riicso  S  wciT  SoarfiK'o  Clmili'y,  Hooknr  Jim,  \jxi\^  Jitn,  One-cycd  Moso, 
(llil  DiH'tiii'  llu;iii(lnvy,  Little  .li:i  ,  KnstDii  (Jluirlcy,  iiiul  Dave.  Oreyouiun, 
I'Vli.  I,"),  KST-'i;  //.  J^-t^.  JJoc,  122,  '..'U3,  43*1  cung,  lut  iiusa. 


598 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


care  of  the  Indians  without  the  assistance  of  the 
government;  the  United  States  in  this  case  being 
represented  by  a  coterie  of  poHticians  who  were  simply 
experimenting  with  a  contumehous  band  of  spoiled 
savages,  without  regard  to  the  rights  of  the  white 
people  of  the  state.®''  To  this  haughty  and  overbear- 
ing message  the  people  could  only  reply  by  still  pro- 
testing. 

The  commissioners,  after  meeting  at  Linkville,  re- 
paired to  Fairchild's  place  on  Willow  Creek,  to  l)e 
nearer  all  points  of  communication  with  the  govern- 
ment, the  army,  and  the  Modocs.  The  services  were 
secured  of  Whittle  and  his  Indian  wife  Matilda, 
who  were  to  act  as  messengers  and  interpreters.  The 
first  work  of  the  board  was  to  investigate  the  causes 
of  the  hostile  attitude  of  the  Modocs,  during  which 
the  facts  already  presented  in  this  chapter  weie 
brought  out;"^  and  while  this  was  in  progress  Whittle 
made  a  visit  to  the  Modocs  to  learn  how  Jack  would 
receive  the  peace  commissioners. 

On  the  2ist  of  February  Meacham  telegraphed  to 
Washington  that  he  had  a  message  from  Jack,  who 
declared  himself  tired  of  living  in  the  rocks  and  desir- 
ous of  peace;  that  he  was  glad  to  hear  from  Wash- 
ington, but  did  not  wish  to  talk  with  any  one  wlio 
had  been  engaijed  in  the  war;  and  that  he  would  meet 
Meacham  and  Case  outside  the  rocks  without  harm- 
ing them." 

This  was  not  an  honest  report.  What  Jack  did 
say  to  Whittle  was  that  he  would  consent  to  a  coii- 
fenniee  with  Steele,  Roseborough,  and  Fairchild,  iuit 
declined  to  meet  the  commissioners.*''  The  picsi- 
(lent  had  already,  by  the  advice  of  Canby,  appoiiitcil 
lioseborough  as  one  of  the  board,  who  in  company 

'■ntcd  Bluff  Sentinel,  Feb.  2*2,  1873;  New  York  Herald,  Feb.  17  and  .hi  no 
2,  1S73. 

• '  Jesse  Applegate  resigned  rather  than  '  investigate '  his  brotlitr  ;iii(l 
nephews. 

'*.See  telegram  in  //.  Ex.  Doc,  122,  2."i.i,  43<1  cong.  Ist  sess. 

"  Yreka  desimtches,  iu  Oreyonian,  Feb.  20,  1873. 


NEGOTIATIONS  WITH  THE  SAVAGES. 


599 


with  Steele,  who  it  was  thought  might  be  useful  in 
coimnunieating  with  Jack,  was  then  on  his  way  to  the 
iiont.  Before  his  arriva;l,  however,  Whittle  had  a 
second  interview  with  Jack,  whom  he  met  a  mile 
t'roni  the  lava-beds  with  a  company  of  forty  warriors 
heavily  equipped  with  needle-guns  and  small  arms, 
but  asserting  that  he  only  wanted  peace,  to  prove 
which  he  pointed  to  the  fact  that  the  houses  of  Dorris, 
Fuirchild,  Van  Bremer,  and  Small  were  still  left  stand- 
ing, and  again  consenting  to  talk  with  the  men  before 
named.  Growing  impatient,  he  expressed  a  desire  to 
have  the  meeting  over,  and  Dave,  one  of  his  company, 
returned  to  camp  with  Whittle,  and  carried  back 
word  that  Fairchild  would  make  a  preliminary  visit 
on  the  2Gth  to  arrange  for  the  official  council.^" 

Accordingly,  on  that  day  Fairchikl,  accompanied, 
not  by  Whittle  and  Matilda,  but  by  T,  F.  Riddle  and 
his  Indian  wife,  Toby,®'  as  interpreters,  repaired  to 
the  rendezvous.  He  was  charged  to  say  that  the 
funimissioners  would  come  in  good  faith  to  make 
jKiice,  and  that  he  was  delegated  to  fix  upon  a  place 
and  time  for  tlie  council.  But  the  only  place  where 
Jack  would  consent  to  i  leetthem  was  in  the  lava-beds; 
and  as  Fairchild  would  not  agree  that  the  commis- 
sioners should  go  unarmed  into  the  stronghold,  ha 
returned  to  camj)  withe  it  making  any  appointm>jnt. 
With  him  were  allowed  to  come  several  well-known 
murderers,  Hooker  Jim,  Curly-headed  Doctor,  and 
the  chief  of  the  Hot  Creeks,  Sliacknasty  Jim.  They 
'•ame  to  make   terms  with    Lalake,  a   chief  of  tho 


""  One  cf  tlio  surfieons  in  camp  stnted,  concerninj?  the  second  interview 
with  .luck,  that  10  of  liis  followers  weie  for  peace  ami  10  against  it,  wliilo 
till-  others  were  inilitl'erent.   Vrekn  despatches,  in  Orcijoiiinn,  Feb.  2't,  lH~'i. 

'''  Whittle  and  Riddle  belon(,'ed  to  that  class  of  vliite  men  known  on  tl.o 
frontier  as  '  s(iuaw  men.'  They  were  not  necessarily  had  or  vicious,  lint  in 
all  distnrhances  of  the  kind  in  which  the  peojile  were  then  plunj;ed  were  an 
ilcineiit  of  mischief  to  Injth  sides.  Having  Indian  wives,  they  were  foi'ceil  to 
kee|)  on  terms  of  friendship  with  the  Indians  whatever  tiieir  character;  and 
owing  allegiance  to  the  laws  of  the  state  and  their  own  race,  they  had  at 
least  to  pretend  to  he  obedient  to  them.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  their  encour- 
agement of  the  Modocs,  direct  or  indirect,  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  bring- 
ing un  and  lengthening  the  war. 


600 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


Klamaths,  for  the  return  of  sixty  horses  captured  Jur- 
iiig  the  war,  with  which  transaction  there  was  no  iu- 
t(!rference  by  the  mihtary.®® 

On  the  arrival  of  Steele,  the  board  of  coniniissiontrs 
hi'ld  a  meeting,  and  decided  to  ofi'er  the  Modocs  a  gen- 
eral amnesty  on  condition  of  a  complete  surrender,  and 
consent  to  remove  to  a  distant  reservation  within  tlii; 
limits  of  Oregon  or  California,  Canby  to  conclude  tin; 
iinal  terms.  Against  this  protocol  Meacham  voted, 
bein<jf  still  inclined  to  gfive  Jack  a  reservation  of  his 
choice.  On  the  5th  of  March  Steele  proceeded,  in 
company  with  Fairchild,  Riddle,  and  Toby,  and  a 
new.s[)aper  reporter,  li.  H.  Atwell,  to  visit  the  Mo(l(»c 
stronghold,  and  make  known  to  Jack  the  terms  oticnd. 
A  singular  misunderstanding  resulted.  Steele,  wlio 
was  but  little  acquainted  with  the  language  of  the 
Modocs,  reported  that  Jack  had  accepted  the  offer  of 
the  commissioners,  and  Fairchild  that  he  had  nnt. 
lliddle  and  Toby  were  the  best  of  interpreters;  Se.ii- 
face  spoke  English  very  well,  and  Jack  but  little 
if  at  all.  Steele  and  Fairchild  were  equally  well 
acquainted  with  Indian  manners,  making  their  dill'ei- 
ence  of  opinion  the  more  unaccountable. 

When  Steele  handed  in  his  report  there  was  a  feel- 
ing of  relief  experienced  in  camp,  and  the  comniis- 
'sioners  set  about  preparing  despatches,  only  to  he 
thrown  into  confusion  by  the  contradictory  statement 
of  Fairchild.  So  confident  was  Steele,  that  he  decidtd 
u|)on  returning  for  verification  of  his  belief;  but  F.iir- 
child  declined  to  expose  himself  to  the  rage  of  the 
]\Iodocs  when  they  should  find  they  had  been  misin- 
terj)reted.  In  view  of  these  conflicting  opinion^, 
jNIeacham  cautiously  reported  that  he  had  reason  In 
believe  that  an  honorable  and  permanent  peace  wonid 
be  (,'oncluded  within  a  few  days.®* 

On  i-eturniuLj  that  eveniner  to  the  Modoc  stron.;- 
hold,  Steele  found  the  Indians  in  much  exciteim  iit. 

*"  Vrt'kii  ilcspatclii!s,  in  Onqonimi,  Miirch  1873;  Ind.  Aff,  IL^it,  IST^,  "j- 
""y/.  Ex  Doc,  122,  2U0,  43d  ooiig.  lat  bubs. 


CAPTAIN  JACK  DEFIANT. 


eoi 


Tlicy  had  been  reenforced  by  twenty  warriors. 
Scniieliin'"^  was  openly  hostile,  Jack  still  prot'essini^  to 
cUsire  peace.  The  evidences  of  blood-thirstiness  were 
so  plain,  however,  that  Steele's  confidence  was  much 
shaken,  and  he  slept  that  night  guarded  by  Scarface. 
Ill  the  morning  Jack  wore,  instead  of  his  own,  a 
woman's  hat — supposed  to  indicate  his  peace  prin- 
cipk's;  and  Sconchin  made  a  violent  war  speech. 
A\'lion  he  had  finished.  Jack  threw  off  his  woman's 
liat  and  hypocrisy  together,  declaring  that  he  would 
never  go  upon  a  reservation  to  be  starved.  When 
tdld  by  Steele  of  the  futility  of  resistance,  and  the 
power  of  the  American  people,  he  listened  with  com- 
posure, replying:  "Kill  with  bulk^ts  don't  hurt  much; 
starve  to  death  hurt  a  heap."  "^  No  full  report  of  this 
interview  was  made  public.  It  was  undei'stood  that 
a  eom[)Iete  amnesty  had  been  ofi'ered,  proviiKMl  the 
^lodocs  would  surrender,  and  ijfo  to  Anijfel  Island  in 
the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  until  a  reservation  could  l)e 
I'l/imd  for  them  in  a  warm  climate.  They  were  to  be 
comfortably  fed  and  clothed  where  they  were  until  re- 
iiio\ed  to  Angel  Island,  and  Jack  was  offered  permis- 
sitiii  to  visit  the  citv  of  Washinu'ton  in  company  with 
a  few  of  his  head  men.  Jack  made  acouiiter-proj)osi- 
tioii,  to  be  forgiven  and  left  in  the  lava-beds.  He  do- 
sired  Meacham  antl  Applegate,  with  six  men  unaniu'd, 
tn  come  on  the  following  day  and  shake  hands  with 
111  ill  as  a  token  of  [)eace. 

On  returning  from  the  conference,  Steele  advised 
the  commissioners  to  cease  negotiations  until  tlie  Ind- 
ians should  themselves  make  overtures,  saying  that 
tin-  ^[odocs  thouixht  the  soldiers  afi'aio  of  them,  and 
carritMl  on  negotiations  st)lely  in  the  hope  of  getting 
Canby,  Gillein,  Meacham,  and  Applegate  into  their 


""Sconchin  of  Jack's  band  was  a  brother  of  the  chief  Sconchin  at  Yaiiiax, 
ami  III!  iiitulligunt  thotigli  unruly  Iiiiliun. 

"  Slcilr'n  Mnilor.  Qiiedinn,  MS..  '25.  It  is  noticeable  that  in  all  Stc'i'I('"s  in- 
ti'iv  ii'ws  witii  Jack  ho  never  made  any  attcinpt  to  inipre.sa  upon  his  niiml  the 
lniM  viilcnt  intentions  of  tlie  government,  but  only  ita  coercive  power,  v. liieh 
lif  knew  Jack  detied. 


:» 
I 


602 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


power  to  kill  them.     As  for  himself,  he  would  take 
no  more  risks  among  them. 

Meacham  then  telegraphed  the  secretary  of  the 
interior  that  the  Modocs  rejected  peace,  and  meant 
treachery  in  proposing  to  shake  hands  with  the  com- 
missioners unarmed;  but  Delano,  with  the  theoretical 
wisdom  of  the  average  politician,  replied  that  he  did 
not  so  believe,  and  that  negotiations  were  to  be  con- 
tinued. Canby  telegraphed  Sherman,  March  5th,  that 
the  reports  from  the  Modocs  indicated  treachery  and 
a  renewal  of  hostilities,  to  which  Sherman  replied 
that  the  authorities  at  Washington  confided  in  him, 
and  placed  the  matter  in  his  hands.'''* 

It  was  not  until  this  intimation  of  a  clianije  in  tho 
board  was  made  that  the  commissioners,  liaving  ci»m- 
pleted  their  examination  of  the  causes  which  led  to 
hostilities,  presented  their  report.  The  conclusions 
arrived  at  were  that  in  any  settlement  of  the  exist  in;,' 
hostilities  it  would  be  inadmissible  to  return  thf 
Modocs  to  the  Klamath  reservation,  the  Khiuiath;, 
having  taken  part  in  the  war  against  them;  or  t(j  set 
apart  a  reservation  on  Lost  River,  the  scene  of  their 
atrocities.  They  also  objected  to  a  general  animsty, 
which  would  bring  the  federal  government  in  coidhrt 
with  the  state  governments,  and  furnish  a  preeedt  iit 
calculated  to  cause  misconduct  on  the  reservatiniis, 
besides  greatly  offending  the  friends  of  the  niuidt  led 
citizens.  It  was  their  opinion  that  the  eight  Indians 
indicted  should  be  surrendered  to  the  state  authorities 
to  be  tried.  Should  the  Modocs  accept  an  amnesty, 
they  should,  with  the  exception  of  the  eight  incheted, 
be  removed  at  once  to  some  fort,  other  than   loit 

'''  The  despatch  read:  'All  parties  here  have  absolute  faith  in  you,  Imt  uiis- 
tnist  tlie  coniiiiiasioners.  If  that  Moduc  affair  can  be  torniinated  pt'i)<  rtnlly 
by  you  it  will  be  accepted  by  the  secretary  of  the  interior  as  well  as  llu'  |iifs- 
ident.  Answer  immediately,  and  advise  the  names  of  one  or  two  gocul  mt'ii 
with  whom  you  can  act,  and  they  will  receive  the  necessary  authority;  m,  if 
you  can  effect  the  surrender  to  you  of  the  hostile  Motlocs,  do  it,  and  n  iiidve 
them  under  guard  to  some  safe  place,  assured  tliat  the  government  will  ileal 
by  them  liberally  and  fairly.' 


PROMISED  SUBMISSION. 


m 


Klamath,  until   their  final  destination  was   decided 
upon.'" 

To  this  report  Greneral  Canby  gave  his  approval, 
except  that  he  held  the  opinion  that  the  Indians,  by 
surrendering  as  prisoners  of  war,  would  be  exempt 
from  process  of  trial  by  the  state  authorities  of  Oreg()r» 
or  California.  From  this  opinion  Roseborougli  dis- 
sented, but  thought  neither  state  would  interfere  if 
satisfied  that  the  murderers  would  be  removed  to 
some  distant  country  beyond  the  possibility  of  return. 

Applegate  and  Case  having  resigned,  the  former 
with  a  characteristic  special  report  to  the  acting  com- 
missioner of  Indian  aftairs,  H.  R.  Clum,  in  which  he 
alluded  to  the  peace  commission  as  an  "expensive 
blunder,"  and  rejected  his  pay  of  ton  dollars  a  day,  it 
iiiijjjht  be  said  that  after  the  Gth  of  March  no  board 
really  existed,  and  everything  was  in  the  hands  of 
Canby.  Jack,  who  kept  himself  informed  of  ;)M  that 
was  transpiring,  and  fearful  lest  the  commissioners 
should  yet  slip  through  his  fingers,  sent  his  sister 
^lary,  on  the  day  following  Steele's  final  departure,  to 
Canby,  to  say  that  he  accepted  the  terms  oflfered  on 
the  3d,  of  present  support  and  protection,  with  re- 
moval to  a  distant  country;  asking  that  a  delegation 
of  his  people  might  be  permitted  to  accompany  the 
government  officers  in  search  of  a  new  home,  while  the 
rrmainder  waited,  under  the  protection  of  the  military, 
and  proposed  that  the  surrender  should  be  made  on 
the  1 0th. 

To  this  proposition  Canby  assented,  and  word  was 
sent  to  Jack  that  he  and  as  many  of  his  })e()ple  as 
were  able  to  come,  should  come  into  camp  that  even- 
iii!4',  or  next  morning,  and  that  wagons  would  be  sent 
ti)  the  edge  of  the  lake  to  fetch  the  others  on  Monday. 
But  Jack  did  not  come  as  expected,  and  the  messen- 
gers sent  to  him  returned  with  the  information  that 
they  could  not  yet  leave  the  lava-beds,  as  they  were 

'^Portland  Bulletin,  March  13,  1873;  Jnrhwjtvillf  Sentinel,  Marcli  8,  15, 
187:!;  (Jold  ma  New»,  March  15,  1873;  S.  F.  Vail,  March  5,  6,  7,  I'i,  13, 1873. 


I 


604 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


interring  their  dead,  but  wcnild  soon  heop  tlieirpi^  i;i- 
ise.  Canby  then  sent  warning  that  unless,  tlii'V  sui- 
rendered  at  once  the  troo|).s  would  be  sent  jigninst 
them,  .'Uid  Mary  was  sent  once  more  to  eonvt'V  nic- 
sages  from  Sconchin  and  Jack.  Tlie  former  allVctc.  1 
surprise  that  the  white  officers  should  so  soon  lie 
offended  with  them,  and  wished  to  know  the  naiU'SMt" 
those  who  sent  the  warniuLf  messa-'e;  and  Jaeli  Ar- 
clared  he  desired  peace  or  war  at  once,  but  jirefenv,! 
])eace.  There  was  little  in  his  message,  however.  \n 
indicate  auvdcijfree  of  humility.  On  the  eontrai\ ,  lif 
dictated  the  terms,  which  would  leave  him  niaslci  it' 
the  hituation,  his  people  fed  and  cl<)thed,  and  allowi  ,1 
to  remain  on  Lost  liiver,  while  he  went  I'oilh  lin  . 
Kiddle  and  Toby,  who  interpretetl  the  messages  fmiii 
the  Modocs,  saw  in  them  a  sinister  meaning,  and  cau- 
tioned Canby. 

Tlio  general,  finding  himself  forced  into  a  position 
uhere  lie  must  vindicate  the  power  and  rightet»usiii>s 
of  the  government,  and  obey  oiders  fiom  tlie  depart- 
ments, had  little  choice.  Eith.ci  he  must  make  w.ir 
on  the  JModocs,  which  ho  was  forbidden  to  do,  oi  lie 
must  make  peace  with  them,  which  was  still  doubt  I'lil. 
lie  chose  to  accept  as  valid  the  excuses  for  tlieii'  want 
of  faith,  and  went  on  making  preparations  for  tlhir 
rece[)tion  at  his  camp  on  the  10th.  Tents  were  put 
up  to  shelter  them,  hay  })rovided  for  beds,  and  W'W 
blankets,  with  food  and  tire-wood  i\nnished,  be>i(lis 
uiaiiv  a(!tual  luxuries  for  the  head  men.  On  the  dav 
a}>pointed  fV)ur  wagons  were  .sent,  under  the  chai^cot 
Steele  and  David  Horn,  a  teamster,  to  Peint  h| 
Kocks  on  Klamath  Lake,  the  rendezvous  agreed  uimii; 
but  no  Indians  appearing,  after  four  hour.s  ot  wail  in:,' 
the  expeilition  returned  and  reported.  >,ol\\itli 
standing  this,  Canby  telegraphed  that  he  did  mt  iv- 
gard  the  last  action  of  the  Modocs  as  fmal,  and  w  'ull 
spare  no  pains  to  bring  about  the  result  desired :  I'H' 
migiit  be  compelled  to  make  some  movement  ol  tn'iijis 
to  kee[)  them   under  observation.      This  was  sat  l>lar- 


CONTINUED  SUSPENSE. 


flOV 


tory  to  the  secretary  of  the  interior,  but  not  quite  so 
to  (xcneral  Sherman,  who  had  somewhat  different 
views  of  the  Modoc  question.'* 

On  the  11th  a  reconnoissance  of  the  lava-beds,  by  a 
cavalry  company  under  Colonel  Biddle,  was  ordered, 
I'lit  lie  saw  nothin<;  of  the  JModocs.  Accordiiiij  to  a 
jd'rviously  ex})ressed  desire  of  Jack's,  a  messentjer 
had  been  sent  to  Yainax  to  invite  old  Sconchin  and  a 
suit-chief,  Riddle,  to  visit  him,  a  proposition  favored  by 
the  general,  who  hoped  the  iriendly  chiefs  might  inilu- 
ciR(j  him  to  make  peace.  Sconchin  came  reluctantly, 
and  after  the  interview  assured  the  general  that  all 
future  negotiations  would  be  unavailing. 

On  the  13th  Biddle,  while  reconnoitring  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  liwa-beds,  captured  thirty-four  horses  belong- 
ing to  the  Modocs — a  measure  thought  necessary  to 
lesson  their  means  of  escape.  Two  days  afterward 
headquarters  were  moved  to  Van  Bren)er's,  and  the 
ti'oo[is  drawn  closer  about  Jack's  position.  On  the 
IDih  Meacham  wrote  that  he  had  not  entirely  aban- 
doned hope  of  success;  but  the  ^lodocs  were  deterrt^l 
bv  a  I'ear  that  the  Orejj^on  authorities  would  tlunumd 
the  eight  indicted  men  to  be  tiied.  In  this  letter  ho 
advocated  a  meeting  on  Jack's  ovvu  terms,  and  said  if 
left  to  his  own  judgment  he  should  have  visited  the 
strongliold ;  even  that  he  was  ready  to  do  so  nt.w, 
hut  was  restrained  byCanby;  though  itdid  notajijtear 
that  anything  had  transpired  to  change  his  mind  since 
he  liatl  written  that  the  Modocs  meant  treachery. 
Canhy  himself  could  not  make  his  reports  agree,  for 
on  one  day  he  thought  the  Modocs  would  consent  to 
go  to  Yainax,  and  on  the  next  that  they  were  not  favor- 
able to  any  arrangement.     On  the  22d,  while  Canby 


'S'lorman's  telegram,  after  counaclling  patience,  closcil  witli  tliis  pfira- 
grnpli;  '  ])ut  aliould  tlii-He  peaceful  iiieosurus  fail,  aiul  hIiluM  the  ModocH  pre- 
siiiiK.'  too  far  on  the  fi)rht'arnnco  of  the  government,  und  ttn.iiu  resort  to  tlcct'lt 
aiiil  treachery,  I  trust  you  will  make  such  ubo  of  the  militaiy  {i-n'v  that  no 
utiii  I'  Indian  tribe  will  imitate  their  example,  and  thut  no  reaervution  for  them 
will  be  uQcesaary  except  graves  among  their  chuscu  luva-LteilB.' 


606 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


i: 


and  Gillem  were  making  a  reconnoissanco  with  a  cav- 
alry company,  an  ancidontal  meeting  took  place  with 
Jack  and  a  party  of  his  warriors,  at  which  a  conference 
was  agreed  upon  between  Jack,  Sconchin,  and  the  two 
generals;  but  when  the  meeting  took  place  it  was 
Scarfaco,  the  acknowledged  war-chief,  instead  of 
Sconchin,  who  accompanied  Jack.  These  provoca- 
tions caused  Canby  to  tighten  more  and  more  the 
cordon  of  soldiery,  and  to  remove  headquarters  to 
the  foot  of  the  high  bluff  skirting  the  lake,  within 
three  miles  of  the  Modoc  position. 

The  peace  commission,  which  had  been  reoront)- 
ized  by  the  appointment  of  E.  Thomas,  a  metii.xhst 
preacher  of  Petaluma,  California,  and  L.  S.  Dyar  of 
the  Klamath  agency,  in  place  of  Applegate  and  Case, 
resigned,  arrived  at  headquarters  on  the  24(]i  of 
March,  and  also  Captain  Applegate  with  five  icsci-- 
vation  Modocs  sent  for  by  Canby  to  assist  in   Iho 

f)eace  negotiations.  On  the  2Gth  Thomas  and  (Jil- 
em  had  an  interview  with  Bogus  Charley,  aiiothtr 
of  the  Modoc  warriors,  who  passed  freely  between  the 
stronghold  and  the  military  camp,  carrying  news  (A' 
all  he  saw  to  his  loader.  In  this  interview  it  was 
once  more  agreed  upon  that  on  the  following  day 
Jack  and  his  head  men  should  meet  these  two  in  con- 
ference; but  instead,  a  message  "of  a  private  nature" 
was  sent  by  a  delegation  consisting  of  Bogus  Chatlcv, 
Boston  Charley,  Mary,  and  Ellen,  another  Aloiloe 
woman. 

In  this  way  the  time  passed  until  the  last  of  Mairh 
was  reached,  and  fear  was  entertained  that  with  the 
return  of  warm  weather  the  Modocs  would  escupe  to 
the  Shoshones,  and  that  together  they  would  join  in 
a  war  on  the  outlying  settlements.  Hooker  Jim  had 
indeed  already  made  a  successful  raid  into  Lan.;ell 
Valley,  driving  off  a  herd  of  horses;  and  on  njorc  I  h.m 
one  occasion  Jack's  lieutenants  had  ventured  as  far 
as  Yainax,  laboring  to  induce  Sconchin's  band  to  join  in 
a  confederacy  of  five  tribes,  which  he  said  were  leady 


A  CONFEPENCE. 


607 


to  take  the  war-path  as  soon  as  he  should  quit  the 
liiva-becls;  and  these  occurrences,  becoming  known, 
caused  much  alarm. 

On  the  31st  a  movement  by  the  troops  in  force  was 
made,  three  hundred  marching  to  the  upper  end  of 
Klamath  Lake,  and  thence  on  the  1st  of  April  to  Tule 
Lake  and  the  lava-beds,  Mason's  position  being  two 
miles  from  the  stronghold,  on  the  east  side.  On  the 
2(1  the  Modocs  signified  their  willingness  to  meet  the 
peace  commissioners  at  a  point  half-way  between  head- 
(piarters  and  the  stronghold;  but  Jack  only  reiterated 
his  terms,  which  were  a  general  anmesty,  Lost  River, 
and  to  have  the  troops  taken  away.  The  only  con- 
cession made  was  his  consent  to  having  a  council-tent 
erected  at  a  place  on  the  lava-field  a  mile  and  a  quar- 
ter from  the  camp  of  the  commissioners. 

Again  on  the  4th  a  request  was  made  by  Jack  for 
an  interview  with  Meacham,  Roseborough,  and  Fair- 
child  at  the  council-tent.  They  went,  accompanied 
hy  Riddle  and  Toby,  and  found  Jack,  with  six  warriors 
and  the  women  of  his  family.  Again  Jack  and  Scon- 
cliin  demanded  the  Lost  River  country  and  their  free- 
(li'ni.  He  was  assured  that  it  was  useless  talking 
nlniut  Lost  River,  which  they  had  sold,  and  which 
could  not  be  taken  back.  When  reminded  of  the  kill- 
in;^-  of  the  settlers.  Jack  declared  that  if  the  citizens 
luid  taken  no  part  in  the  fight  of  the  29th  the  niiir- 
deis  would  not  have  taken  place;  and  finally  said  that 
he  would  say  no  more  about  Lost  River  if  ho  could 
liavi>  a  reservation  in  California,  including  Willow, 
Cottonwood,  and  Hot  creeks,  with  the  lava-beds;  but 
this  also  was  pronounced  impracticable.  The  council, 
wliich  lasted  five  hours,  was  terminated  by  the  Indians 
suddenly  retiring,  saying  if  their  minds  were  changed 
on  the  morrow  they  would  report. 

On  the  following  morning  Boston  Charley  brought 
a  message  from  Jack  to  Roseborough,  asking  for  an- 
other interview,  to  which  cons«  nt  was  refused  until 
Jack  should  have  made  up  his  mind;  when   Boston 


M 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 

cunningly  remarked  that  the  Modocs  might  surrender 
that  day.  Roseborough  being  deceived  into  thinkiii ;»• 
that  tliey  so  intended,  Toby  Riddle  was  immediately 
sent  to  Jack  with  a  message  encouraging  him  in  this 
l)Urpose.  The  proposition  was  not  only  declined,  but 
in  such  a  manner  that  on  her  return  Toby  assured 
the  conunissioners  and  General  Canby  that  it  would 
not  be  safe  for  them  to  meet  the  jSIodocs  in  council. 
This  information  was  lightly  treated  by  Canby  and 
Thomas,  but  was  regarded  as  of  more  consequence  by 
Meacham  and  Dyar.  Jack  had  succeeded  in  allaying 
the  apprehensions  of  treachery  once  entertained  \>y 
Canb}^  by  his  apparently  weak  and  vacillating  course, 
which  appeared  more  like  the  obstinacy  of  a  spoiled 
child  than  the  resolution  of  a  desperate  man.  'J  lie 
military,  too,  were  disposed  to  regard  Jack's  attach- 
ment to  the  region  about  Tule  Lake  as  highly  patri- 
otic, and  to  see  in  it  something  romantic  and  touchiiiij. 
These  influences  were  at  that  critical  juncture  of  airaiia 
undermining  the  better  judgment  of  the  army."'* 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  April  Jack  sent  a 
messenger  to  the  commissic^ner  to  request  a  meeting  at 
the  council-tent,  the  former  to  be  accompanied  by  six 
unarmed  Modocs.  But  the  signal-ohicer  at  the  stat  inn 
overlooking  the  lava-beds  reporting  six  Indians  at  the 
council-tent,  and  twenty  more  armed  in  the  meks 
behind  them,  the  invitation  was  declined.  Jack  un- 
derstood from  this  rejection  of  his  overtures  that  he 
was  suspected,  and  that  whatever  he  did  nuist  he 
done  quickly.  If  the  truth  nmst  be  told,  in  point  o( 
natural  sagacity,  diplomatic  ability,  genius,  this  savaeo 
was  more  than  a  match  for  them  all.     His  [)lans  so 

"  In  Mcacham's speciiil  renort  ho  points  out  tlmt  Thomas  was  indiscii  1 1  in 
his  inturuourso  with  the  Moiiocs.  ilutiucstionvd  one  of  them  us  to  tlic  tiiidi 
of  Toby's  report  that  it  wouhl  not  bo  safe  for  tho  conimiss'oners  toinrii  .Ink, 
wiiich  was  (k-nicd;  and  on  hoin^  asked  in  turn  who  told  iiini,  ho  Hiiid  r<'l>y 
RitUUe— tt  dangerous  breach  of  trust,  exposing  Toby  to  the  wrutii  of  tlic  Mo- 
docs. Gilleni  also  informed  this  same  Indian  'that  unless  peace  waHUiiul'  very 
soon  lie  would  move  up  near  the  Modoc  stronghold,  and  that  one  liiiinli'i'd 
Warm  Spring  Indians  would  be  added  to  the  anny  within  a  few  dn.VH.'  l-'t, 
Ajf.  licpt,  1673,  77. 


PRECAUTIONS  NEGLECTED. 


609 


'render 

idiatrly 
i:\  this 
ed,  l»nt 
assui'cd 
t,  would 
council, 
iby  and 
enec  Uy 
allayin;^ 
inod  l)y 
;  course, 
L  spoiled 
n.     The 
5  attach- 
ly  patii- 
ouchiiiLj. 
ofidUiirs 

I  sent  a 
L!etin;j,at 
id  by  six 
estaliiiii 
IS  at  the 
le  rocks 
ack  »ni- 
that  he 
nust  l)e 
point  of 
Is  savage 
[)luns  «o 

Indiscfi'vt  ill 
1(0  thr  truth 
I)  iiu'i'l  .l:ii'k, 
1\  Hliiil    1  "''>' 

ji  (if  til. Mil- 
ls iiiixl'  vfi-y 
W  liiniiln'il 
dftja.'   I''l> 


far  had  been  well  devised.  His  baffling  course  had 
secured  him  the  delay  until  spring  should  open  suffi- 
ciently to  allow  him  to  fly  to  the  Shoshones,  when, 
by  throwing  the  army  into  confusion,  the  opportunity 
should  be  afforded  of  escape  from  the  lava-beds  with' 
all  his  followers. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  Boston  Charley, 
Hooker  Jim,  Dave,  and  Whim  visited  headquarters, 
bringing  a  proposition  from  Jack  that  Canby,  Gillem, 
and  the  peace  commissioners  should  meet  the  Modocs 
in  council.  He  was  answered  by  a  "proposition  in 
writing,  which  Riddle  read  to  them,  containing  the 
former  terms  of  a  general  amnesty  and  a  reservation 
in  a  warmer  climate.  Jack's  conduct  was  not  encour- 
aging. He  threw  the  paper  upon  the  ground,  saying 
lie  had  no  use  for  it;  he  was  not  a  white  man,  and 
could  not  read.  Light  remarks  were  uttered  concern- 
ing the  commissioners.  Beef  was  being  dried,  and 
breastworks  thrown  up,  strengthening  certain  points, 
all  of  which  indicated  preparations  for  war  rather 
than  peace.  Jack,  however,  agreed  to  meeting  the 
conmiissioners  if  they  would  come  a  mile  beyond  the 
council-tent. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  ominous  signs,  and  the 
advice  of  Riddle  to  the  contrary,  it  was  finally  sot- 
tied  at  a  meeting  of  the  peace  commissioners,  Tliomas 
in  the  chair,  that  a  conierence  should  take  place  be- 
tween them  and  Canby  on  one  side  and  Jack  and  five 
Modocs  on  the  other,  both  parties  to  go  without  arms. 
The  11th  was  the  day  set  for  the  council,  and  the 
place  indicated  by  Jack  accepted.  After  this  decis- 
ion was  arrived  at,  Riddle  still  advised  Canby  to  send- 
twenty-five  or  thirty  men  to  secrete  themselves  in  the 
rocks  near  the  council-ground,  as  a  guard  against  any 
treacherous  movement  on  the  part  of  the  Indians. 
But  to  this  proposal  Canby  replied  that  it  would  bo 
an  insult  to  Captain  Jack  to  which  he  could  not  con- 
sent; and  that  besides,  the  probable  discovery  of  such 
a  movement  would  lead  to  hostilities.     lu  this  he  was . 

Hm.  Om..  Vol.  II.    W 


•     '9 


(HO 


THE  MODOC  WAR, 


not  mistaken,  for  Bogus  Charley  and  Boston  Charley 
spent  the  night  in  Gillem's  camp,  remaining  until 
after  the  commissioners  had  gone  to  the  rendezvous. ' 

The  place  chosen  by  Jack  was  a  depression  among 
the  rocks  favorable  to  an  ambuscade,  and  Meachaiii, 
who  had  not  been  present  when  the  meeting  was  de- 
termined upon,  strenuously  objected  to  placing  the  com- 
mission in  so  evident  a  trap,  but  yielded,  as  did  Dyar, 
to  the  wishes  of  Canby  and  Thomas,  one  of  whom 
trusted  in  the  army  and  the  other  in  God  to  see  them 
safiuiy  through  fvith  the  conference.'"  So  earnest  was 
Riddle  not  to  be  blamed  for  anything  which  might 
happen,  that  he  requested  all  the  commissioners  and 
Canby  to  accompany  him  to  Gillem's  tent,  that  officftr 
being  ill,  where  he  might  make  a  formal  protest; 
and  where  he  plainly  admitted  that  he  consented  to 
make  one  of  the  party  rather  than  be  called  a  cow- 
ard, and  advised  that  concealed  weapons  should  be 
carried.  To  this  proposition  Canby  and  Thomas 
punctiliously  objected,  but  Meacham  and  Dyar  con- 
cealed each  a  small  pistol  to  be  used  in  case  of  an 
attack. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  peace  commissioners  re- 
paired to  the  rendezvous,  Meacham,  Dyar,  and  Toby 
riding,  and  the  others  walking,  followed  by  Bogus 
and  Boston  from  the  military  camp,  which  gave  Jack 
just  double  the  number  of  the  commissioners,  of  wlioni 
Canby  was  to  be  considered  as  one.  All  sat  down  in 
a  semicircular  group  about  a  camp-fire.  Canby  of- 
fered the  Modocs  cigars,  which  were  accepted,  and 
all  smoked  for  a  little  while.  The  general  then 
opened  the  council,  speaking  in  a  fatherly  way:  say- 

'•  //.  Ex.  Doc.,  122,  139,  43d  cong.  Ist  bcbs. 

"Canby  said  that  the  MckIocs  daio  not  attack  with  Mason's  force  v'.<re 
it  could  bo  thrown  into  tlio  stronghold  befoi'e  the  Mudocs  could  return  to  it. 
Thoniiia  said  tliat  Uod  alniiglity  would  not  lot  any  such  body  of  men  l)e  hurt 
that  wua  on  as  good  a  mission  as  that.  'I  told  him,' says  Riddle,  'tlint  lie 
nnuht  trust  in  God,  but  that  I  didn't  trust  any  of  them  Indians.'  Kltuchaiii, 
in  liis  Wiijwam  and  Warp<Uh,  published  two  or  three  years  after  the  wur,  nays 
that  the  Moilocs,  perceiving  the  diKtor's  religious  bent,  pretended  to  iiiivo 
their  hearts  softened  and  to  desire  peace  from  gooil  motives,  which  hyintciisy 
deceived  hiiii.     i  du  uut  liud  any  thing  anywhere  else  tu  suscaiu  this  assurtiuu. 


THE  FINAL  CONFERENCE. 


611 


larley 

until 
;ous.'' 
i,mong 
chain, 
as  de- 
ecotn- 
Dyar, 
whom 
e  them 
;st  was 

might 
rs  and 
,  officer 
)rotest ; 
nted  to 

a  coNV- 
luld  be 
Ihomas 
ar  con- 
of  an 

Iners  re- 
Id  T()l)y 
Bogus 
e  Jack 
f  whom 
own  in 
Inby  of- 
jed,  and 
ill  then 
,y:  say- 


kfcc  V  .^re 

turn  to  it. 

|en  l)C  hurt 

'tlmt  lio 

J  Mi'Ui'liaiii, 

|o  wur,  says 

\n\  to  liavo 

liypicrisy 

I  uasertiou. 


ing  he  had  for  many  years  been  acruainted  with 
Indians;  that  he  came  to  the  council  to  have  a 
kindly  talk  with  them  and  conclude  a  peace,  and  that 
wliatever  he  promised  them  they  could  rely  upon. 
Meacham  and  Thomas  followed,  encouraging  theiu  to 
look  forward  to  a  happier  home,  where  the  bloody 
scenes  of  Lost  Kiver  could  be  forgotten. 

In  reply,  Jack  said  he  had  given  up  Lost  River, 
but  he  knew  nothing  of  other  countries,  and  he  re- 
quired Cottonwood  and  Willow  creeks  in  place  of  it 
and  the  lava-beds.  While  the  conftlrence  had  been 
going  on,  several  significant  incidents  had  occurred. 
Seeing  another  white  man  approaching  along  the  trail 
from  camp,  and  that  the  Indians  appeared  uneasy, 
Dyar  mounted  and  rode  out  to  meet  the  intruder  and 
turn  him  back.  When  he  returned  he  did  not  rejoin 
the  circle,  but  remained  a  little  way  behind,  reclining 
upon  the  ground,  holding  his  horse.  While  Meacham 
was  talking  and  Sconchin  making  some  disrespectful 
comments  in  his  own  tongue,  Hooker  Jim  arose,  and 
going  to  Meacham's  horse,  took  his  overcoat  from  tho 
liorn  of  the  saddle,  putting  it  on,  and  making  some 
mocking  gestures,  after  which  he  asked  in  English  if 
he  did  not  resemble  "old  man  Meacham." 

The  affront  and  all  that  it  signified  was  understood 
hy  every  man  there;  but  not  wishing  to  show  any 
alarm,  and  anxious  to  catch  the  eye  of  Canby,  Mea- 
cham looked  toward  thp  general,  and  inquired  if  ho 
hud  anything  more  to  say.  Calmly  that  officer  arose, 
and  related  in  a  pleasant  voice  how  one  tribe  of  Ind- 
ians had  elected  him  chief,  and  given  him  a  name  sig- 
nifying "Indian's  friend;"  and  how  another  had  made 
iiim  a  chief,  and  given  him  the  name  of  "The  tall 
man;"  and  that  the  president  of  the  United  States 
iiad  ordered  him  to  this  duty  he  was  upon,  and  ho 
liad  no  power  to  remove  the  troops  without  authority 
from  the  president. 

Sconchin  replied  by  reiterating  the  demand  for 
Willow  and  Cottonwood  creeks,  and  for  the  removal 


S12 


THE  MODOC  WAR, 


of  the  troops.  While  Sconchin's  remarks  were  being 
interpreted,  Jack  arose  and  walked  behind  Dyar's 
horse,  returning  to  his  place  opposite  Canby  a  moment 
later.  As  he  took  his  position,  two  Indians  suddenly 
appeared,  as  if  rising  out  of  the  ground,  carrying  each 
a  number  of  guns.  Every  man  sprang  to  his  feet  as 
Jack  gave  the  word,  "all  ready,"  in  his  own  tongue, 
and  drawing  a  revolver  from  his  breast  fired  at  the 
general.  Simultaneously  Sconchin  fired  on  Meachani, 
and  Boston  Charley  on  Thomas.  At  the  first  motion 
of  Jack  to  fire,  Dyar,  who  was  a  very  tall  man  and 
had  the  advantage  of  a  few  feet  in  distance,  started 
to  run,  pursued  by  Hooker  Jim.  When  he  had  gone 
a  hundred  and  fifty  rods,  finding  himself  hard  pressed, 
he  turned  and  fired  his  pistol,  which  checked  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy.  By  repeating  this  manoeuvre 
several  times,  he  escaped  to  the  picket-line.  Riddle 
also  escaped  by  running,  and  Toby,  after  being  given 
one  blow,  was  permitted  to  follow  her  husband. 
General  Canby  was  shot  through  the  head.  Thomas 
was  also  shot  dead;  and  both  were  instantly  stripped 
naked.  Meacham  had  five  bullet- wounds,  and  a  knife- 
cut  on  the  head.  He  was  stripped  and  left  for  dead, 
but  revived  on  the  arrival  of  the  troops. 

While  the  commissioners  were  smoking  and  con- 
versing with  the  Mcxlocs,  a  preliminary  part  of  the 
tragedy  was  being  enacted  on  another  part  of  the  field. 
An  Indian  was  discovered  by  the  picket  about  Ma- 
son's camp  carrying  a  white  flag,  a  sign  of  a  desire  to 
see  some  of  the  officers,  and  Lieutenant  W.  L.  Sher- 
wood, officer  of  the  day,  was  sent  by  the  colonel  to 
meet  the  bearer  and  learn  his  errand.  Sherwood 
soon  returned  with  the  report  that  some  Modocs  de- 
sired an  interview  with  the  commander  of  the  post; 
when  Mason  sent  them  word  to  come  within  the  linos 
if  they  wished  to  see  him.  Lieutenant  Boyle,  wlio 
happened  to  be  present,  asked  permission  to  accom- 
pany Sherwood,  when  the  two  officers  walked  out  to 
Dieet  the  flag-bearer,  half  a  mile  outside  the  pickets. 


MURDER  OF  THE  COMMISSIONERS. 


CIS 


On  the  way  they  encountered  three  Indians,  who  in- 
quired if  Boyle  was  the  commanding  officer,  and  who 
invited  them  to  go  on  to  where  the  flag-bearer  aWaited 
them.  Something  in  their  manner  convincing  the 
officers  of  treachery,  they  declined,  saying  that  if  the 
Indians  desired  to  lalk  they  must  come  within  the 
lines,  and  turned  back  to  camp.  The  Indians  then 
commenced  firing,  Sherwood  and  Boyle  running  and 
dodging  among  the  rocks,  being  without  arms.  Sher- 
wood soon  fell,  mortally  wounded,  but  Boyle  escaped, 
being  covered  by  the  guns  of  the  pickets. 

The  officer  at  the  signal-station  overlooking  Mason's 
camp  immediately  telegraphed  General  Gillem  what 
had  occurred,  and  preparations  were  at  once  made  to 
send  T.  T.  Cabanias  to  warn  General  Canby,  but  be- 
fore the  message  was  ready  the  signal-officer  reported 
firing  on  the  council-ground. 

At  this  word  the  troops  turned  out,  Sergeant 
Wooton  of  company  K,  1st  cavalry,  leading  a  detacli- 
ment  without  orders.  The  wildest  confusion  })re- 
vailed,  yet  in  the  sole  intent,  if  possible,  to  save  the 
life  of  the  general  whom  they  all  loved  and  veneratoil, 
there  was  unity  of  purpose.  Before  the  troo))^ 
reached  the  council-ground  they  were  met  by  Dyar, 
with  the  story  of  the  fatal  catastrophe,  and  on  arriv- 
ing at  the  spot,  Meacham  was  discovered  to  be  alive. 
Jack  had  retreated  to  his  stronghold,  the  troops  fol- 
lowing for  half  a  mile,  but  finally  retreating  to  camp 
for  the  night.^* 

As  might  have  been  expected,  a  profound  excite- 
ment followed  upon  the  news  of  the  disastrous  wind- 
ing-up of  the  peace  commission.  At  Yreka  Delano 
was  hanged  in  effigy.    At  Portland  the  funeral  honors 


^'Cabaniss,  who  was  personally  strongly  attached  to  Canby,  wrote  an  iii- 
torcsting  and  highly  colored  account  of  tlto  incidents  just  |)nor  to  ami  sue- 
ccpiliug  the  massacre,  for  the  Eureka,  Cal.,  Went  C<xtHt  iSij/iial,  April  I!*,  1S7H. 
Vurious  accounts  appeared  in  the  newspapers  of  that  date,  and  iu  FiUi/'rakr^ 
C'll.  Skelchen,  140;  Simpnon's  Meetimj  the  Sua,  330-88;  and  Meac/mni'H  UV,;- 
mini  and  Warpath,  written  to  justify  bis  own  want  of  judgment  and  conceal 
Ilia  want  of  honesty. 


614 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


paid  to  Canby  were  almost  equal  to  those  paid  to 
Lincoln.^' 

One  general  expression  of  rage  and  desire  for  revenge 
was  uttered  over  the  whole  country,  east  as  well  as 
west;  and  very  few  shrank  from  demanding  extermi- 
nation for  the  murderers  of  a  major-general  of  the 
United  States  army  and  a  methodist  preacher,  though 
little  enough  had  been  the  sympathy  extended  by  the 
east  to  the  eighteen  hard-working,  undistinguished 
citizens  of  the  Oregon  frontier  **"  massacred  by  these 
same  Modocs. 

The  president  authorized  Sherman  to  order  Selio- 
field,  commanding  the  division  of  the  Pacific,  "to  make 
the  attack  so  strong  and  persistent  that  their  fate 
may  be  coumiensurate  with  their  crime;"  to  which 
Sherman  added,  "You  will  be  fully  justified  in  their 
utter  extermination."     Many  expedients  were   sug- 

'•  Edward  R.  S.  Canby  was  bom  in  Kentucky  in  1817,  and  appointed  to 
tlie  military  academy  at  West  Point  from  Indiana.  He  graduated  in  lS,T.t, 
tind  was  made  '2d  lieut.  He  served  in  the  Florida  war,  and  removed  the  iiKi- 
iuus  to  Arkansas  in  1842.  From  1846  to  1848  he  served  iu  Mexico,  uml 
was  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  and 
Cliurulmsco,  where  he  was  brevetted  major  for  gallant  conduct;  was  at  tliua.s- 
eault  and  capture  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  where  ke  was  brevetted  lieutcol;  was 
commander  of  the  division  of  the  Pacific  from  1849  to  1851,  after  which  he  wu.i 
four  years  in  the  adj. -gen.  office  at  Washington.  From  1855  to  the  breukin<,' 
out  uf  tlio  rebellion  lie  wau  on  frontier  duty.  He  served  through  the  civil  war 
aa  colonel  of  the  19th  inf.  in  the  dep.  of  New  Mexico;  was  made  brig. - 
gun.  of  U.  8.  volunteers  in  March  18G2;  was  detached  to  take  commuiul  of 
the  city  and  harbor  of  New  York  to  suppress  draft  riots;  was  made  niuj.-gvn. 
of  volunteers  in  1804,  in  command  of  the  military  division  of  west  Mi.ssiK- 
sippi;  was  brevetted  brig. -gen.  of  the  U.  8.  army  in  1805  for  gallant  conduct 
at  the  battle  of  Valvcrile,  New  Mexico;  and  was  brevetted  maj.-gen.  U.  S. 
army  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Blakely  mid 
Mobile.  He  commanded  the  military  district  of  North  and  South  Camliiia 
from  September  1807  to  September  1808,  and  was  afterward  placed  in  chip 
maud  of  Texas,  and  then  of  Va,  where  he  remained  until  transferred  to  Or. 
in  1870.  He  was  tall  and  soldierly  in  appearance,  with  a  benuvoliut 
countenance.  Ho  had  very  little  money  saved  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
and  a  few  citizens  of  Portland  gave  live  thousand  dollars  to  his  wiilow. 
It  is  stated  tliat  a  iirother  was  stricken  with  sudden  insanity  on  licariiig 
of  his  fate.  Sniita  liarlmra  Index,  July  17,  1873.  Rev.  E.  Thomas  w.-w 
a  minister  in  the  methodist  denomination.  He  was  in  charge  of  a  Niag- 
ara-street church  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  1853;  came  to  Cal.  in  180."),  where 
he  was  agent  for  the  Methotlist  Book  Concern;  for  several  years  wa.s  editor 
of  the  Cal.  Christian  Advocate,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  presi<liiig 
el>ler  of  the  Petalunia  district  of  the  Cal.  M.  E.  Conference.  He  left  a  wife 
and  three  children.  Oregonian,  April  14,  1873. 

*"  See  Washington  despatches,  in  Portland  Orvfjoiiian,  April  15,  1873;  A". 
r.  Herald,  April  20,  1873;  London  Timet,  April  10,  1873. 


HOSTILITIES  RESUMED. 


«tt 


gcsted  ih  the  public  prints  to  force  the  Modocs  out  of 
their  caves  in  the  lava-beds,  such  as  sharp-shooters  to 
pick  them  off  at  long  range;  steel  armor  for  the  sol- 
diers; the  employment  of  blood-hounds,  and  of  sulphur 
smoke."  But  fortunately  for  the  reputation  of  the 
American  people,  none  of  these  methods  were  resorted 
to,  the  public  being  left  to  exhaust  its  hostility  in 
harmless  suggestions.^*^ 

The  troops  had  at  no  time  regarded  the  peace  com- 
mission with  favor,  any  more  than  had  the  people 
best  acquainted  with  the  character  of  the  Modocs. 
Those  who  fought  on  the  17th  of  January  were  dis- 
pleased with  the  removal  of  Wheaton  from  the  com- 
mand, and  had  seen  nothing  yet  in  Gillem  to  lessen 
their  dissatisfaction.  They  were  now  anxious  to. fight, 
and  impatiently  awaiting  the  command,  which  they 
with  other  observers  thought  a  long  time  coming. 

On  the  day  after  the  massacre  Mason  moved  to  the 
south  of  the  stronghold  six  miles.  His  line  was  at- 
tacked by  the  Modocs,  forcing  the  left  picket  to  give 
way,  which  position  was,  however,  retaken  by  Lieu- 
tenant E.  R.  Thellar  with  a  portion  of  company  I  of 
the  21st  infantry.  Skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  day 
and  a  part  of  the  13th.  At  length,  on  the  14th,  Gil- 
lem telegraphed  to  Mason,  asking  if  he  could  be  ready 
to  advance  on  the  stronghold  on  the  next  morning; 
to  which  Mason  replied  that  he  preferred  to  get  into 
position  that  night.  To  this  Gillem  consented,  order- 
ing him  not  to  make  any  persi&^tent  attack,  but  to 
shelter  his  men  as  well  as  possible.  Donald  McKay's 
company  of  Warm  Spring  scouts,  engaged  by  Canby 
wlien  it  began  to  appear  that  hostilities  would  be  re- 
sumed, had  arrived,  and  was  posted  on  Mason's  left, 
with  orders  to  work  around  toward  Green's  right. 

The  movement  began  at  midnight,  and  before  day- 

*'Sce  letter  of  A.  Hamilton  to  the  secretary  of  the  interior,  in  //.  Jix, 
Dor..  122,  287,  43d  cong.  Ist  seas. 

"'Portland  liuUetiii,  March  o  and  15.  and  April  2,  4, 19,  28,  1873;  Jaciumn- 
ville  SetUiiiel,  May  3,  1873;  lijcebiiry  IHaindealer,  May  2  and  June  27,  187JL 


616 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


1:  < 


light  the  troops  were  in  position,  about  four  hundred 
yards  east  of  the  stronghold,  the  right  of  the  infantry 
under  Captain  Burton  resting  on  the  lake,  and  Ber- 
nard's troop  dismounted  on  the  left,  with  a  section  of 
mountain  howitzers,  held  subject  to  order,  under  Lieu- 
tenant E.  S.  Chapin.  Breastworks  of  stone  were 
thrown  up  to  conceal  the  ^xact  position  of  the  troops. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  lake  Perry  and  Cresson  moved 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  a  point  beyond  the 
main  position  of  the  Modocs  on  the  south,  where  they 
concealed  their  troops  and  waited  to  be  joined  at  day- 
light by  the  infantry  and  artillery  under  Miller  and 
Throckmorton,  with  Colonel  Green  and  staff.  Miller 
had  the  extreme  right,  and  the  cavalry  the  extreme 
left  touching  the  lake,  while  Throckmorton's  artillery 
and  two  companies  of  infantry  were  in  the  centre. 

The  day  was  warm  and  still,  and  the  movement  to 
close  in  began  early.  The  first  shots  were  received  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  Jack's  stronghold  on  the  west, 
while  the  troops  were  advancing  in  open  skirmish  or- 
der along  the  lake  eihore,  sheltering  t  uemselves  as  best 
they  could  under  cover  of  the  rocks  in  their  path. 
On  reaching  the  gorge  under  the  bluff  a  galling  fire 
was  poured  upon  them  from  the  rocks  above,  where  a 
strong  party  of  Modocs  were  stationed.  Mason  was 
doing  all  that  he  could  to  divide  the  attention  of  the 
Indians  while  the  army  passed  this  dangerouc.  point, 
and  the  reserves  coming  up,  a  charge  was  made  wliich 
compelled  the  Modocs  to  retire,  and  their  position 
was  taken. 

At  two  o'clock  the  order  was  given  to  advance  the 
•mortars  under  Thomas  and  Cranston,  and  Howe  of  the 
4th  artillery.  By  half-past  four  they  were  in  position, 
and  the  left  of  the  line  on  the  west  had  reached  a 
point  opposite  the  stronghold.  By  five  o'clock  the 
mortars  began  throwing  shells  into  the  stronufh-'ld, 
which  checked  the  Modoc  firing.  So  far  all  wnit 
well.  The  bluff  remained  in  the  possession  of  Milhi  s 
men,  between  whom  and  the  main  plateau,  or  mesU;  in 


nOHT  IN  THE  LAVA-BEDS. 


«T 


III  ^^^ 
icrc  a 

»n  was 
f  the 
point, 
wliicli 

3sitioii 

ce  the 
of  the 

sitioii, 
hod  a 
:k  the 

ijrhnld, 

went 

;.llrr's 

;ba,  ill 


which  the  caves  are  situated,  only  twi>  ledges  of  rock 
intervened.  On  Mason's  side,  also,  the  outer  line  of 
the  Modoo  defences  was  abandoned.  At  six  o'clock 
the  mortars  were  again  moved  forward,  and  by  night- 
fall the  troops  in  front  of  the  stronghold  were  ready 
to  scale  the  heights.  At  midnight  Mason's  troops 
took  up  the  position  abandoned  by  the  Modocs,  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  their  defences. 

Their  last  position  was  now  nearly  surrounded,  but 
they  fought  the  troops  on  every  side,  indicating  more 
strength  than  they  were  supposed  to  possess.  The 
troops  remained  upon  the  field,  and  mortar  practice 
\vas  kept  up  throughout  the  night  at  intervals  of  ten 
minutes.  In  the  njorning,  Mason's  force  with  the 
Warm  Spring  scouts  uoing  found  in  possession  of  the 
mesa,  the  Modocs  abandoned  their  stronghold,  passing 
out  by  unseen  trails,  and  getting  on  Mason's  left, 
prevented  his  joining  with  Green's  right.  Subse- 
(|uently,  he  was  ordered  to  advance  his  right  and  join 
(jiroen  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  which  cut  the  Indians 
(»fF  'V  >ni  water. 

By  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  Green's  line  had 
rcauiied  the  top  of  the  bluff  nearest  the  stronghold, 
meeting  little  opposition,  but  il  was  decided  not  to 
]iiish  the  troops  at  this  point,  as  there  might  be  heavy 
loss  without  any  gain,  and  the  want  of  water  must 
soon  force  the  Modocs  out  of  their  caverns  and  de- 
Itiices,  while  it  was  not  probable  they  could  find  a 
stronger  position  anywhere.  The  day's  work  consisted 
simply  of  skirmishings.  No  junction  was  effected 
hctween  Mason  and  Green  on  the  west;  the  principal 
resistance  offered  being  to  this  movement. 

In  the  evening  Thomas  dropped  two  shells  into  the 
Modoc  camp-fire,  causing  cries  of  rage  and  pain. 
After  this  the  Indians  showed  themselves,  and  chal- 
leiii^ed  the  soldiers  to  do  the  same;  but  the  latter  were 
hidden  behind  stone  breastworks,  five  or  six  in  a  place, 
with  orders  not  to  allow  themselves  to  be  surprised  in 
thuse  little  forts,  built  at  night ;  they  also  caught  a  littlo 


618 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


sleep,  two  at  a  time,  while  the  others  watched.™  The 
second  day  ended  with  some  further  advances  upon 
the  stronghold,  and  with  the  batteries  in  better 
position.  The  blaze  of  musketry  along  the  lake  shore 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  the  Modocs 
endeavored  to  break  through  the  lines  to  get  to  water, 
was  like  the  flash  of  flames  when  a  prairie  is  on  tiro. 
The  troops  remained  again  over  night  on  the  field, 
having  only  coffee  served  hot  with  *^hoir  rations. 

Oil  the  morning  of  the  17th  Green's  and  Mason's 
lines  met  without  impediment,  and  a  general  move- 
ment was  made  to  sweep  the  lava-beds,  the  Indians 
seeming  to  rally  about  eleven  o'clock,  and  to  oppose 
the  approach  to  their  famous  position.  But  this  was 
only  a  feint,  and  when  the  troops  arrived  at  the  caves 
tlie  Modocs  had  utterly  vanished.  Then  it  appeared 
wjjy  they  had  so  hotly  contested  the  ground  between 
Mason  and  Green.  An  examination  showed  a  fissuie 
ill  the  pedregal  leading  from  the  caverns  to  the  distant 
hills,  which  pass  had  been  so  marked  that  it  could  be 
followed  in  the  darkness,  and  through  it  had  been 
conveyed  the  families  and  property  of  the  Modocs  to 
a  place  of  safety. 

The  loss  of  the  army  in  the  two  days'  engagements 
was  five  killed  and  twelve  wounded.  On  the  third 
day  a  citizen  of  Yreka,  a  teamster,  was  killed,  and 
his  term  captured.  Seventeen  Indians  were  believed 
to  be  killed. 


The  consternation  which  prevailed  when  it  became 
known  that  Jack  had  escaped  with  his  band  was  e(|iial 
to  that  after  the  massacre  of  the  peace  commissioners; 
but  the  worst  was  yet  to  come.  From  the  smoke  of 
larg«5  fires  observed  in  the  south-east, it  was  conjectured 
that  the  Indians  were  burning  their  dead,  an»l  flceini,' 
ill  that  direction,  and  the  cavalry  was  ordered  ti> 
pursue.  Perry  sotting  out  the  18th  to  make  a  eireiiit 
of  the  lava-beds,  a  march  of  eighty  miles.     The  Warm 

u  Uoyle'a  Conduct  qf  Ike  Modoc  War,  MS.,  28. 


ESCAPE  OP  THE  INDIANS. 


619 


Spring  scouts  also  were  scouring  the  country  toward 
the  east.  In  the  mean  time  Mason  was  ordered  to 
liold  the  Modoc  fortress,  while  his  camp  at  Hospital 
Rock  was  removed  to  the  camp  at  Scorpion  Point,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  lake.  This  left  tlie  trail  alon^ 
the  south  side  exposed  to  attack  from  the  enemy's 
scouts.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  18th  they  appeared 
on  a  ridge  two  miles  oft',  atid  also  at  nearer  points 
(luring  the  day,  firing  occasional  shots.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  1 9th  they  atti,cked  a  mule  ,mck- train  on 
its  way  from  Scorpion  Point  to  supply  Mason  at  the 
stronghold,  escorted  by  Lieutena»»t  Howe  wit!i  twenty 
men,  and  were  repulsed.  lieutenant  P.  L'^ary,  in 
coining  to  meet  the  train  with  an  escort,  had  jne  man 
killed  and  one  wounded;  and  Howe,  on  entering  the 
lava-beds,  both  coming  and  returning,  was  fired  on. 
A  shell  dropped  among  them  dispersed  th  jin  for  that 
day;  but  on  the  20th  they  again  show*  i  themselves, 
Hoing  to  the  lake  for  water,  and  fired  on  the  Warm 
Spring  scouts,  who  were  burying  one  of  their  company 
killed  on  the  17th.  They  even  bathed  themselves  in 
the  lake,  in  plain  view  of  the  astonished  soldiery  iu 
camp.  After  two  days,  Perry's  and  McKay's  com- 
iiiaiids  came  in  witiiout  having  seen  a  Modoc. 

Meanwhile  Gillem  was  waiting  for  two  companies 
cif  the  4th  artillety,  en  route  from  San  Francisco, 
under  captains  John  Mendenhalland  H.C.  Hasbrou<di, 
to  make  another  attempt  to  surround  the  Modocs  in 
tlioir  new  position,  which  he  reported  as  being  about 
four  miles  south  of  their  former  one.  In  their  im- 
patience, the  troops  went  so  far  as  to  say  that  it 
was  concern  for  his  personal  safety  which  deternMl 
^lillem,  who  had  not  stirred  from  camp  duving  the 
three  days'  fight,  but  had  all  the  troops  that  couKl  be 
spared  posted  at  his  camp. 

l''rom  the  20th  to  the  25th  nothing  was  done  except 
to  keep  the  scouts  moving.  On  the  night  of  the  22d 
McKay  discovered  a  camp  of  forty  Modocs  in  a  ridg^ 
at  the  suuthern  cud  of  the  lava-beds,  known  aa  tlio 


620 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


Black  Ledge.  Its  distance  from  headquarters  was 
about  four  miles,  with  a  trail  leading  to  it  from  the 
lake,  which  was  practicable  for  light  artillery.  For 
two  days  after  its  discovery  no  Indians  were  seen 
coming  to  the  lake  for  water,  and  the  opinion  prevailed 
that  they  had  left  the  lava-beds,  in  which  case  tliey 
were  certain  either  to  escape  altogether  or  to  attack 
the  settlements. 

In  order  to  settle  the  question  of  their  whereabouts, 
a  reconnoissance  was  planned  to  take  place  on  tlio 
2Gth,  to  extend  to  the  Black  Ledge.  In  arranging 
this  scout  G'llem  consulted  with  Green.  It  was 
decided  to  send  on  this  service  Thomas,  witli  Howe, 
Cranston,  and  Harris  of  the  artillery,  and  Wright  of 
tlie  infantry,  with  a  force  of  about  seventy  men,  and 
a  part  of  Donald  McKay's  scouts,  making  about  eighty- 
five  in  all. 

Some  anxiety  was  felt  as  the  expedition  set  out  at 
eiglit  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  a  watch  was  kept 
upon  tlieir  movements  as  they  clambered  among  the 
rocks,  until  they  passed  from  view  behind  a  hir^j;^ 
sand-butte,  a  mile  and  a  half  away.  Before  pus.slng 
out  of  sight,  they  signalled  that  no  Indians  liad  been 
found.  As  no  official  account  of  what  transpired 
tht.eafter  could  ever  be  given,  the  facts,  as  gathered 
from  the  soldiers,  appear  to  have  been  as  follows: 

Thomas  advanced  without  meeting  any  opposition 
or  seeing  any  Indians  until  he  reached  the  point  ties- 
ignated  hi  his  orders,  keeping  out  skirmishers  on  tlio 
march,  with  the  Warm  Spring  scouts  on  his  extreme 
left,  that  being  the  direction  from  which  it  was  thought 
the  Indians  might  atttick  if  at  all.  But  none  being 
discovered,  and  the  field  appearing  to  be  clear,  a  halt 
was  callod  about  noon,  when  men  and  ofhccrs  (hrew 
thonmelves  carelessly  Uj)on  the  ground  to  rest  and 
take  their  luncheon. 

While  in  this  attitude,  and  unsuspicious  of  danger, 
u  volley  of  rifle-bnlls  was  pourod  in  amorg  them.  It 
would  bo  impossible  to  describe  the  scone  whieh  tul- 


DEFEAT  OF  THOMAS. 


621 


lowed.  When  the  troops  were  attacked  they  were  in 
open  ground,  from  which  they  ran  to  take  shelter  in 
the  nearest  defensible  positions.  Many  of  them  never 
stopped  at  all,  or  heeded  the  word  of  command  of 
their  officers,  but  kept  straight  on  to  camp.  "Men, 
we  are  surrounded;  we  must  fight  and  die  like  sol- 
diers," cried  Thomas;  but  he  was  heeded  by  few,  fully 
two  thirds  of  the  men  being  panic-stricken,  and  nearly 
one  half  running  away. 

The  amy  shelter  that  presented  itself  from  the  bul- 
lets of  the  concealed  Modocs  was  one  large  and  sev- 
eral smaller  basins  in  the  rocks.  In  these  the  re- 
mainder of  the  command  stationed  themselves,  but 
this  defence  was  soon  converted  into  a  trap  in  which 
tlie  victims  were  the  more  easily  slaughtered.  The 
Indians,  who  from  the  first  aimed  at  the  officers, 
were  now  able  to  finish  their  bloody  work.  In  what 
order  they  were  killed  no  one  could  -afterward  tell ; 
hut  from  the  fact  that  only  Thomas  and  Wright  were 
remembered  to  have  said  anything,  it  is  probable  the 
others  fell  at  the  first  fire,  and  that  it  was  their  fall 
whieh  demoralized  the  men  so  completely.  Thomas 
received  several  wounds.  Wright  was  wounded  in 
the  hip,  in  the  groin,  in  the  right  wrist,  and  through 
the  body.  Ho  was  in  a  hole  with  four  of  his  men, 
when  a  sergeant  attempted  to  bring  him  some  water, 
and  was  also  shot  and  wounded  in  the  thigh.  Soon 
after  Wright  died,  and  the  remaining  three,  all  of 
whom  were  wounded,  were  left  to  defend  themselves 
and  protect  the  body  of  their  dead  commander. 
About  three  o'clock  nn  Indian  crept  up  to  the  edge 
of  the  basin,  calling  out  in  English  to  the  soldiers  if 
they  were  not  wounded  to  leave  for  camp,  as  ho  did 
not  wish  to  kill  all  of  them,  at  the  same  time  tbrow- 
injjf  stimes  into  the  pit  to  cause  some  mf'ement  if  any 
tliere  were  really  alive.  Hearing  no  sound,  he  crept 
closer  and  peered  over,  with  two  or  three  others,  when 
tile  soldiers  sprang  up  and  fired.  The  Indians  then 
loft  them,  whether  wounded  or  not  the  soldiers  could 


622 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


not  tell.  Similar  scenes  were  being  enacted  in  other 
parts  of  the  field.  As  soon  as  it  was  dusk  those  <»f 
the  wounded  who  could  move  began  crawling  over 
the  rocks  toward  camp. 

Out  of  sixty-five  enlisted  men,  twenty-two  were 
killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  a  loss  of  over  three  fit'ths 
of  the  force;  of  the  five  commissioned  officers,  iidt 
one  escaped,  though  Harris  lived  a  few  days  aftur 
being  mortally  wounded;  Surgeon  Semig  recovered 
with  the  loss  of  a  leg;  making  the  total  loss  of  twen- 
ty-seven killed  and  seventeen  wounded,  besides  a  citi- 
zen shot  while  going  to  the  relief  of  the  wounded. 
"Where  were  the  Warm  Spring  scouts  ?"  asked  the 
horrified  critics  of  this  day's  work.  They  were  in  tlie 
rear  and  to  the  left  of  Thomas,  and  after  the  attack, 
could  not  get  nearer  because  the  soldiers  would  mis- 
take them  for  the  Modocs,  not  being  in  uniform.*'^ 

According  to  scmic  witnesses,  help  was  very  tardily 
rendered  after  the  attack  on  Thomas'  command  be- 
came known,**'  which  it  soon  was.  Althougli  the 
stragglers  began  lo  come  in  about  half-past  one  o'eloeii, 
it  was  not  until  night  that  a  rescuing  force  was  ready 
t  *  go  to  Thonms'  ndief  When  they  did  move,  there 
were  three  detachments  of  cavalry  under  captiuiis 
Trimble  and  Croswm,  and  two  others  under  Jaeivsoii 
and  liernard  with  two  companies  of  artillery  under 
Throckmorton  and  Miller.  In  two  lines  they  moved 
t)ut  over  the  lavabe<Is,  soon  lost  to  sight  in  the  gloom 
of  night  and  tempest,  a  severe  storm  having  come  on 
at  the  close  of  a  firie  day.  A  large  fire  was  buih  mi 
a  high  i)oint,  which  gave  but  little  guidance  on  aecount 

**nofile'H  Conduct  of  the  Modoc  War,  MS.,  41-2;  Corr.  S.  F.  Chrnnvlr,  in 
Portland  (trtgonian.  May  0,  1«73;  6',  F.  Call,  April  30,  IN?;*;  S.  I'.  Alia, 
April  ;K),  1873;  Sac.  /{nonl-Uiiioti,  April  30,  1S73;  .S'.  /'.  Fo»f,  April  'J!t,  ls7;l; 
.S'.  F.  fliillrttn,  April  '29,  1873;  Aiiiivnl  Itcimrt  of  Maj.-Gni.  Jrft'.  C.  lutvh, 
1873,  II.  fl-0;  Or.  Deuhck  Xfilunii,  May  3,  1873;  A'.  F.  AV.  wi<oc,'Muy  3,  l.>>7;i. 

**lwylo  siiyR  tliftt  tlio  firing,  whiili  Xm^Aw  aljout  noon,  eouKl  Itis  iiiniiinily 
lioan\  at  camp.  (/itlmniiH  tostifioil  the  Httnic  Tlic  correspondent  of  tlu^  V.  F. 
(Vmmile.  suitl  that  no  flrinj;  wui  kcurd,  but  that  lie  coulii  sou  tliroii^'ii  liin 
l^luu,  from  tho  signul-Ktation,  tlio Holdiers  runiiin)^  wiUlly  about  and  rni\vliii){ 
over  tho  rocks,  cvidrntly  pmic-strickon.  (Joi  Uit'ocu,  ho  wyo,  wcut  ininiudi- 
ately  tu  tli«ir  aMiattutco;  but  thia  waa  falw. 


CONTINUED  DISASTER. 


of  the  weather.  When  found,  the  whole  extent  of 
ground  covered  by  the  dead  and  wounded  was  coin- 
jtrised  within  a  few  hundred  feet,  showing  how  little 
time  they  had  in  which  to  move. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  bring  in  all  the  dead,  the 
bodies  of  the  soldiers  were  piled  together  and  covered 
with  sage-brush,  which  the  Indians  subsequently  fired. 
The  wounded,  and  the  dead  officers,  were  carried  on 
stiotchers,  lashed  upon  the  backs  of  mules,  and  the 
gliastly  procession  returned  through  the  storm  to 
camp,  where  it  arrived  at  half-past  eight  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  27th. 

The  loss  of  so  many  officers  and  men  deeply  affected 
the  whole  army.  Soldiers  who  had  been  in  the  ser- 
vice all  their  lives  wept  like  children.*"  The  discon- 
tent which  had  prevailed  since  the  command  devolved 
U[)on  Gillem  became  intensified,  and  officers  and  men 
did  not  hesitate  to  say  that  had  an  experienced  Indian 
tighter,  in.:tead  of  young  officers  just  from  the  east, 
hoen  sent  upon  this  reconnoissance,  or  had  these  young 
otHcers  received  the  proper  orders,  the  disaster  need 
not  have  occurred.  The  effect  on  the  public  mind 
was  similar,  which  was  at  first  incredulous,  then 
stunned.  "Whipped  again  I  whipped  again  1"  was  the 
universal  lament.**' 

'°  'Especially  waa  this  the  case  as  regards  Lieut  Harris  of  the  4tli  art., 
whose  "ottttery,  K,  perfectly  idolized  him.'  S.  F,  Call,  April  30,  1.S73.  '  Tliat 
nii^lit'a  inarch  iiiaue  many  a  young  man  old.'  Boyle'H  Conduct  of  the  Atodoo 
liru-.  MS.,  4. 

"Evan  ThomaB  was  a  son  of  Lorenzo  Thomas,  formerly  adj. -gen.  of  tho 
anny,  He  waa  appointed  'id  licut  of  tho  4th  art.  April  I),  1801,  front  the  dia- 
tiictof  Columbia;  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy  on  the  14th  of  May 
ISCd.ond  made  capt.  Aug.  .SI,  18C4,  though  brevttted  capt.  in  Dec.  1802, 
and  lircvettcd  maj.  in  July  18U3,  honors  won  on  tho  tleld  of  liattle.  Ho  loft 
a  widow  and  two  children  at  San  Frunciaco.  After  receiving  his  death 
Wound  Thomas  buried  his  goUl  watch  and  chain,  in  the  hope  it  might  escape 
(liscitvt  vy  by  the  Modoca,  and  be  recovered  by  his  friends.  But  the  watchful 
foi'  did  not  nermit  this  souvenir  to  reach  tlu-m. 

Thomas  F.  Wright  was  a  soii  oi  (Jen.  Oeorgo  Wright,  formerly  in  command 
of  the  department  of  the  Columbia,  lie  wa,snppoiuted  totiie  Wost  Point  mili- 
tiny  academy  in  1858,  and  served  h'ib8e«iuently  as  Ist  licut  in  the  '.'d  (  al. 
cavalry,  but  resigned  in  I8(i,'<,  and  wi.a  reapjiointcd  with  the  rank  of  maj.  in 
Otii  Cul.  inf.  He  was  transferred  tu  Iho  'id  Cal.  inf.  with  the  ruik  of  col 
until  he  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  Mith  thu 
rank  of  brevet  brig. -gen.  Ho  was  appointed  Ist  lieu^  of  the  3'2d  inf.  in  July 
180G.    In  Jou.  18«0  Vie  waa  uaiugacil  tu  the  \'i.i\x  \x\i,  at  Caukp  Gaatou,  CaL* 


( 


624 


THE  MODOC    'ML 


On  the  2d  of  May  Colonel  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  who 
had  succeeded  Canby  in  the  command  of  the  depart- 
ment of  the  Columbia,  arrived  at  headquarters,  where 
the  army  had  lain  inactive  and  much  dispirited  since 
the  26th.  Davis  sent  for  Wheaton,  to  whom  he 
soon  restored  the  command  of  the  troops  in  the  field, 
and  Mendenhall's  command  having  arrived,  the  army 
was  to  some  extent  reorganized,  Davis  taking  a  few 
days  to  acqu&int  himself  with  the  country. 

During  this  interval  the  Modocs  were  not  idle. 
Their  fires  could  be  seen  nightly  in  the  lava-beds,  and 
on  the  7th  they  captured  a  train  of  wagons  between 
Bernard's  old  camp  and  Scorpion  Point,  wounding  two 
soldiers.  Two  Indian  women,  sent  on  the  same  day 
to  reconnoitre  the.  last  position  of  the  Modocs,  re- 
ported none  in  the  lava-beds,  a  statement  verified  by 
AlcKay.  Hasbrouck't;  light  battery,  serving  as  cav- 
alry, and  Jackson's  cavalry  were  immediately  ordered 
to  prepare  for  an  extended  reconnoissance  on  the  9th 
to  make  sure  that  no  Indians  were  secreted  in  any 
part  of  the  lava-field.  On  the  night  of  the  9th  Has- 
brouck  encamped  at  Sorass  Lake,  south-east  of  the 
pedregal  on  the  road  to  Pit  River,  but  the  water  be- 
mg  unfit  for  use,  a  detachment  was  sent  back  seven- 
teen miles  to  procure  some.  While  the  detacliment, 
which  was  escorted  by  the  Warm  Spring  scouts,  was 
absent,  a  company  of  thirty-three  Miodocs,  headed  by 
Jack,  in  the  uniform  of  General  Canby,  attacked  tlie 


whence  after  the  battle  of  the  17th  of  Jan.  he  waa  ordered  to  the  Modoo 
country.  Albian  Howe  wai  appointed  2d  lieut  in  1866,  having  eorved  as  innj. 
of  volunteers  during  the  war.  Ue  waa  promoted  to  a  lat  lieut  in  Nov.  hSGU, 
and  bi'ovetted  capt.  in  March  1807.  He  was  the  son  o!  Col  H.  S.  Huwe, 
formerly  of  the  U.  S.  army,  but  on  the  retimd  list.  He  had  but  a  short  time 
liefore  his  doath  married  a  daughter  of  W.  F.  Barrv,  colonel  of  the  Ut  nrtil- 
lury,  and  commander  of  the  artillery  school  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Arthur 
Cranston  waa  a  native  of  M.iss.,  30  voars  of  age.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  in  1807,  and  was  appointed  2d  lieut  in  the  4th  art.  He  had  servcil  in 
the  7th  reg.  Ohio  vol.  betoro  entering  the  military  academv,  and  was  pro- 
motod  to  A  lieutenancy  in  the  65th  Ohio  reg.  which  served  in  weBtoni  V. 
Ho  loft  a  widow  and  one  child  in  Washington.  Oeorgo  M.  Harris  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pa,  27  yean  of  age,  and  m  graduate  of  West  Point  of  the  class  of  I8(i8. 
Ho  was  appointed  2d  lieut  of  the  10th  infantry  in  1868,  and  Maigned  to  tha 
4th  artUlerjr  in  1869.  8.  F.  CaU,  April  30,  18V3. 


A  SLIGHT  VICTORY. 


camp,  stampeding  their  horses  and  leaving  the  com- 
mand on  foot. 

While  the  troops  were  getting  under  arms,  the  Mo- 
docs  continued  to  charge  and  fire,  killing  four  soldiers 
and  one  scout,  and  wounding  seven  other  men,  two 
mortally.  Hasbrouck  rallied  his  command  and  charged 
the  Indians  at  the  very  moment  the  detachment  re- 
turned, which  joining  in  the  fight,  the  Modocs  were 
pursu>.d  three  miles  and  driven  into  the  woods,  with 
a  loss  of  twenty-four  pack-animals,  their  ammunition, 
one  warrior  killed,  and  several  disabled,  who  were 
carried  off  on  horses  toward  the  mountains  on  Pit 
River,  McKay's  scouts  following. 

This  was  the  first  important  advantage  gained  since 
the  beginning  of  the  war.  The  amount  of  ammuni- 
tion captured  led  to  the  conviction  that  Jack  was  re- 
ceiving aid  from  some  unknown  source,  a  suspicion 
which  he  afterward  attempted  to  fix  upon  the  Klam- 
atlis,  against  whom  no  evidence  was  ever  shown,  all 
the  proofs  going  to  show  that  the  assistance  came 
from  Yreka.'* 

On  news  of  the  attack  on  Hasbrouck  reaching  head- 
quarters, Mason  was  sent  to  reonforce  him  with  a 
hundred  and  seventy  men,  and  take  the  connnand  of 
an  expedition  whose  purpose  was  to  capture  Jack. 
On  arriving  at  Sorass  Lake,  Mason  received  in- 
formation from  McKay  that  Jack  was  occupying  a 
fortified  position  twenty  miles  south  of  the  original 
stronghold.  He  proceeded  with  three  hundred  men 
to  invest  this  position,  and  keep  a  watch  upon  the  Mo- 
docs until  the  batteries  should  come  up  to  shell  them 
out  of  it.  But  when  the  attack  was  made  on  the 
13th  Jack  had  again  eluded  his  pursuers.  Has- 
brouck's  command,  which  had  been  again  mounted, 
was  ordered  to  give  chase  toward  the  south,  while 
Mason  remained  in  camp,  and  Perry's  troop  made  a 

"Boyle  WM  of  opinion  that  in  the  fight  of  the  17th  the  Klamath  scouta 
gave  their  ammunition  to  the  Modocs,  but  Applegate,  who  waa  in  commanil, 
■trongly  rei)ellcit  the  suspicion,  anil  there  waa  evidenoo  enough  of  illicit  com* 
inerce  with  persons  in  or  about  Yreka. 
UuT.  Ob.,  Vol.  II.    M 


4  ii 


820 


THE  MODOC  WAB. 


dash  along  the  southern  border  of  the  lava-beds  to 
beat  up  Indians  in  ambush.  A  thorough  scouting  of 
the  whole  region  resulted  in  surprising  a  party  of  tlu- 
Cottonwood  Creek  band,  killing  one  warrior  and  two 
armed  women,  who  were  mistaken  for  warriors.  All 
the  rest  of  the  men  escaped,  leaving  five  women  and 
as  many  children,  who  were  taken  prisoners. 

From  these  women  intelligence  was  gained  that 
after  the  defeat  at  Sorass  Lake  two  thirds  of  Jack's 
following  had  deserted  him,  declaring  a  longer  contest 
useless,  and  that  he  had  now  no  ability  to  fight  exoe{)t 
in  self-defence.  At  the  last  stormy  conference  Jack 
had  reluctantly  consented  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities, 
and  the  advocates  of  peace  had  retired  to  their  bods 
among  the  rocks  satisfied;  but  when  morning  ciune 
they  found  their  captain  gone,  with  his  adherents  ami 
all  the  best  horses  and  arms,  as  they  believed,  toward 
Pit  River  Mountains.  The  intelligence  that  the  Mo- 
docs  were  roaming  at  will  over  the  country  caused  tho 
adjutant-general  of  th o  militia  of  California  to  order 
to  be  raised  a  company  of  fifty  sharp-shooters,  under 
the  captaincy  of  J.  C.  Burgess  of  Siskiyou  county, 
which  was  directed  to  report  to  Davis. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  Hasbrouck  brought  his  pris- 
oners in  to  headquarters,  at  Fairchild's  farm,  deliv- 
ering them  to  the  general,  who  immediately  despatelied 
two  Indian  women,  Artena  antl  Dixie,  formerly  em- 
ployed as  messengers  by  the  peace  conmiissionors,  to 
find  the  remainder  of  the  Cottonwood  band  and  invito 
tliem  to  come  in  and  surrender  without  conditions. 
Artena  had  no  confidence  that  the  Modocs  woiiM 
surrender,  because  of  their  fear  that  the  soldiers  would 
fall  upon  them  and  slaughter  them  in  revenge  for 
their  atrocities.  But  Davis  succeeded  in  convimini,' 
her  that  he  could  control  his  men,  and  she  in  turn, 
after  several  visits,  convinced  the  hesitating  Indians 
so  far  that  they  consented,  especially  as  Davis  had  ;it 
last  sent  them  word  that  if  they  again  refused  tliey 


SURRENDER  OF  THE  WARRIORS. 


827 


would  be  shot  down  wherever  found  with  a  gun  in 
their  iiands. 

About  sunset  on  the  22d  the  cry  was  heard  in 
camp,  "Here  they  come  I  Here  they  are!"  Every 
man  started  to  his  feet,  and  every  camp  sound  was 
hushed.  In  front  of  the  procession  rode  Blair,  the 
superintendent  of  Fairchild's  farm,  who  sharply  eyed 
the  strolling  soldiers.  Fifty  yards  behind  him  rode 
Fairchild;  behind  him  the  Modoc  warriors,  followed 
by  the  women  and  children,  all  mounted,  or  rather 
piled,  upon  a  few  gaunt  ponies,  who  fairly  staggered 
under  them.  All  the  men  wore  portions  of  the 
United  States  uniform,  and  all  the  women  a  motley 
assortment  of  garments  gathered  up  about  the  settk)- 
iiients,  o"  [dundered  from  the  houses  pillaged  in  the 
bou^inningf  of  the  war.  Both  men  and  women  had 
tlieir  faces  daubod  with  pitch,  in  sign  of  mourning, 
giving  them  a  hideous  appearance.  Among  theiu 
were  the  lame,  halt,  and  blind,  the  scum  of  the  tribe. 
Slowly  and  silently  they  filed  into  camp,  not  a  word 
Itt'ing  uttered  by  any  one.  Davis  went  forward  a 
little  way  to  meet  them,  when  twelve  warriors  laid 
down  their  Springfield  rifles  at  his  feet,  these  being 
but  about  a  third  of  the  fighting  strength  of  this  band. 
Among  them,  however,  were  Bogus  Charley,  Curly- 
luaded  Doctor,  Steamboat  Frank,  and  Shacknasty 
Jim,  four  notorious  villains.  When  asked  where  were 
lioston  Charley  and  Hooker  Jim,  Bogus  answered 
that  Boston  was  dead,  and  Hooker  Jim  was  searching 
lor  his  body,  neither  of  which  stories  was  true.  Con- 
scious of  his  deserts.  Hooker  was  skulking  outside  the 
guard,  afraid  to  come  in,  but  perceiving  that  the 
others  were  unharmed,  he  finally  presented  himself  at 
camp  by  running  ^  the  top  of  his  speed  past  the  sol- 
diers and  throwing  liimself  on  the  floor  of  Davis's  tent. 
The  surrendered  band  numbered  sixty-five  in  all. 

The  captive  Modocs  now  endeavored  by  their  hu- 
niility  and  obedience  to  deserve  the  confidence  of  the 
commander,  and  if  possible  to  secure  immunity  froui 


THE  modcm:  war. 


punishment  for  themselves,  and  Davis  thought  best 
to  make  use  of  this  truckling  spirit  in  putting  an  end 
to  the  war.  From  the  information  imparted  by  them 
in  several  interviews,  it  was  believed  that  Jack  was 
on  the  head-waters  of  Pit  River  with  twenty-five  war- 
riors and  plenty  of  horses  and  arms,  and  it  was  deter- 
mined that  a  scouting  expedition  should  take  the  field 
in  that  direction.  On  the  23d  of  May,  Jackson  left 
Fairchild's  with  his  cavalry,  marching  by  the  Lost 
River  ford  to  Scorpion  Point,  where  the  artillery  com- 
panies were  encamped.  On  the  25th  Hasbrouck 
marched  to  the  same  rendezvous.  Perry  following  on 
the  28th,  and  with  him  went  the  expedition  and  dis- 
trict headquarters. 

Three  day^  previous  to  the  removal  of  headquar- 
ters, the  commander,  with  five  soldiers,  two  citizens, 
and  four  armed  Modocs,  made  a  reconnoissance  of  the 
lava-beds,  the  Modocs  behaving  with  the  most  perfect 
fidelity,  and  convincing  Davis  that  they  could  be 
trusted  to  be  sent  on  a  scout.  Accordingly,  on  the 
27th,  they  were  furnished  with  rations  for  four  days, 
and  sent  upon  their  errand.  Soon  they  returiietl, 
having  found  Jack  east  of  Clear  Lake,  on  the  old  im- 
migrant road  to  Goose  Lake,  preparing  to  raid  Ap[»le- 
gate's  farm  on  the  night  of  the  28th. 

Jackson's  and  Hasbrouck's  squadrons,  and  the  Warm 
Springs  scouts  were  at  once  ordered  to  Aj)plegate's 
and  to  take  the  trail  of  the  Modocs  toward  Willnw 
Creek  canon,  a  despatch  being  sent  to  notify  the 
troops  en  route  from  Fairchild's  under  Wheaton  t«» 
hasten  and  join  headquarters  at  Clear  Lake.  Eialto- 
rate  preparations  were  made  for  the  capture,  skirmish 
lines  being  formed  on  each  side  of  Willow  Creek,  and 
all  the  prominent  points  in  the  vicinity  held  by  de- 
tachments. 

When  all  these  preparations  had  been  completed 
for  investing  the  Modoc  camp,  a  number  of  the  Indians 
appeared,  calling  out  to  the  officers  that  they  did  not 
want  to  fight,  and  would  surrender,  when  orders  were 


IN  PURSUIT  OP  JACK. 


629 


(IL- 


)letctl 

r»(liuiis 

litl  not 

wo  10 


p^iven  not  to  fire.  Boston  Charley  then  came  forward 
and  gave  up  his  arms,  stating  that  the  band  were 
hidden  among  the  rocks  and  trees,  but  would  surrender 
W  he  were  allowed  to  bring  them  in.  At  this  moment 
the  accidental  discharge  of  a  carbine  in  the  hands  of 
one  of  the  scouts  caused  the  Indians  on  the  north 
side  of  the  creek  to  disappear;  but  Boston  offered  to 
undertake  gathering  them  in,  if  permitted  to  do  so, 
which  permission  was  given  by  Green.  It  happened, 
however,  that  after  crossing  to  the  other  side  of  tue 
canon  for  that  purpose,  Boston  was  captured  by  Has- 
brouck's  troops  coming  up  that  side,  and  sent  to  the 
rear  under  guard,  and  tliat  Green  did  not  become 
aware  of  this  fact  for  two  hours,  during  which  he 
waited  for  Boston's  return,  and  the  Modoc  warriors 
<  scaped,  though  some  women  and  children  were 
captured.  It  being  too  late  to  follow  the  trail  of  the 
fugitives,  the  troops  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th  Hasbrouck's  scouts 
discovered  the  trail  on  the  north  side  of  Willow  Creek, 
liading  toward  Langell  Valley.  Owing  to  the  broken 
surface  of  the  country,  it  was  not  until  late  in  the  day 
that  the  foremost  of  the  troops  under  Jackson,  who 
had  crossed  the  creek  and  joined  in  the  pursuit, 
reached  the  crest  of  the  rocky  bluff"  bounding  Langell 
\'alley  on  the  east,  and  where  the  Modocs  were 
discovered  to  be.  When  the  skirmishers  had  advanced 
to  within  gun-shot,  Scarface  Charley  came  forward 
with  several  others,  offering  to  surrender,  and  was 
litrmitted  to  return  to  the  band  whom  he  promised  to 
i>ring  in.  Jack's  sister  Mary,  being  with  the  troops, 
Went  with  Scarface,  as  did  also  Cabaniss,**  to  both  of 
whom  Jack  promised  surrender  in  the  morning.  But 
when  morning  came,  true  to  his  false  nature,  he  had 
again  disappeared  with  a  few  of  his  followeis. 

The  news  of  Jack's  escape  being  sent  to  head- 
quarters. Perry  was  ordered,  on  the  morning  of  the 

"Eurela  West  Cotut  Signal,  March  1, 1876;  Corr.  Ortgonian,  Jane  3, 1873. 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 

Sl.st,  to  take  guides  and  join  in  the  pursuit.*'  About 
liuir-[)a*it  one  o'clock  on  tiie  niornin<r  of  June  Ist 
I'ciry  stiuck  Jack's  trail  Hve  niilcs  east  of  Aj)|ilf- 
gate's,  and  at  lialf-|>ast  ten  lie  was  surroucdcd.  lie 
came  cautiously  out  of  liis  liidin.<^-[)lace,  glanced  un- 
easily about  him  for  a  moment,  then  assuming  a 
cwnlident  air,  went  forward  to  meet  Perry  and  the 
oflicers  jnesent  with  him,  Trimble,  Miller,  and  J)c 
Witt,  with  whom  he  shook  hands,  lie  apologized 
for  being  caf)tured  by  saying  "  his  legs  had  given 
out.""'  The  troops  were  all  called  in,  and  the  woild 
was  allowed  to  know  and  rejoice  over  the  surremler 
of  this  ledoubtable  chieftain  to  a  military  force  of  'J.s J 
regulars  and  71  Indian  allies. 

The  number  of  Jack's  wairioi*s  at  the  outset  was 
estimated  to  be  sixty.  By  the  addition  of  the  Hot 
Ciiek  band  he  acquired  about  twenty  more.  When 
thi'  Modocs  surrendered  there  were  tifty  lighting  men 
and  boys,  over  fifty  wotnen,  and  more  than  sixty 
children.  The  loss  on  the  side  of  the  army  was  eiic 
hundred  in  killed  and  woujided;  forty  one  being  kilKd, 
of  whom  seven  were  commissi(Mie«l  otHcers.  Adding 
the  number  of  citizens  killed,  and  the  jieace  commis- 
sioners, the  list  of  killed  reached  sixty-three,  besides 
two  Indian  allies,  making  sixty-five  killed,  and  sixty- 
three  wounded,  of  whom  some  «lied.  Thus  the  actual 
loss  of  the  army  was  at  least  eijual  to  the  loss  of  the 
]\I<)docs,  leaving  out  the  wounded;  and  the  number  i>f 
white  persons  killed  more  than  double."^ 

Now  that  Captain  Jack  was  no  more  to  be  feared, 
a  feeling  of  professional  pride  caused  the  army  t<> 
make  uiUv  ii  of  the  man  who  with  one  small  coni|iany 
armed  with  rifles  had  battled  ami  defeated  a  whole 
regiment  of  trained  soldiers  with  al!  the  appliances  uf 
modern  warfare.     But  there  was  nothii»g  in  the  ap- 

•"  Henry  Applvgutc,  son,  and  Churles  Putimm,  graiidsou,  of  Jesse  Apiile- 
gate,  were  tlie  giiitlcH  m'Iio  led  Perry  to  Jack's  Uuit  retreat. 

^'AiniwU  /{f/il  of  Jif.  ('.  JJaiis,  18TU. 

*'Tlie  Ynku  Untou  uf  May  17,  1873,  luakea  tlie  uuinber  of  killed  71,  iiud 
wounded  07. 


CAPTURE  OP  CAPTAIN  JACK. 


631 


!      1st 

lle 

I  un- 


iiiiis- 
•sitlcs 
^i\ty- 
•tual 
■  the 
nv  i»t 

•aivtl, 
iiy  to 

will  lie 

ces  <it 
iL'  ap- 

Tl.aud 


pearance  of  Jack  to  indicate  the  military  genius  that 
>vas  there.  Ho  was  rather  small,  weighing  about  145 
])()unds,  with  small  hands  and  feet,  and  thin  arms. 
His  face  was  round,  and  his  forehead  low  and  square. 
His  expression  was  serious,  almost  morose,  his  eyes 
black,  sharp,  and  watchful,  indicating  cunning,  caution, 
and  a  determined  will.  His  age  was  thirty-six,  and 
he  looked  even  younger.  Clad  in  soiled  cavalry  pan- 
taloons and  dark  calico  shirt,  his  bushy,  unkempt  hair 
out  square  across  his  forehead,  reclining  negligently 
on  his  elbow  on  the  ground,  with  a  pipe  between  his 
teeth,  from  which  smoke  was  seldom  seen  to  issue,  his 
face  motionless  but  for  the  darting  of  his  watchful 
eyes,  he  looked  almost  like  any  other  savage.®' 

As  to  the  manner  in  which  the  war  was  protracted, 
the  cause  is  apparent.  Had  Wheaton  boon  permitted 
to  build  his  mortar-boats,  he  would  have  shelled  the 
Modocs  out  of  their  caves  as  easily  as  did  Gillem,  and 
it  being  winter,  they  would  have  had  to  surrender. 
The  pec  ^e  commission  intervened,  the  Modocs  were 
l)crmitted  to  go  where  they  would,  and  to  carry  all 
the  plans  of  the  campaign  to  the  stronghold  to  study 
liow  to  defeat  tlie?.:.  The  catting-off  of  Thomas'  com- 
iiiaiul  could  only  have  happened  through  a  kiiowlecige 
<»f  the  intended  recoimoissance.  Davis'  plan  was  to 
occupy  the  lava-beds  as  the  Modocs  had,  which  was 
u  wise  one,  for  as  soon  as  they  were  prevented  from 
ri'turning,  it  was  only  a  matter  of  a  few  days'  scout- 
ing to  run  them  down. 

There  remains  little  to  be  told  of  the  Modoc  story. 
The  remainder  of  the  band  was  soon  captured.  Ow- 
ing to  the  alarm  felt  after  the  massacre  of  the  peace 

**  Many  laudatory  descriptions  of  .fack  appeared  in  print.  Sec  <S'.  /'.  Cull, 
.Iiuu!  7,  1H73;  I'ortland  Ortfjuman,  June  .H,  I87S;  IM  liluff  Seiil'uifl,  .Inly '>, 
IkT:).  Sconohin  was  even  mure  striking  in  appearance,  with  a  liiglicr  frontal 
liiuin,  au<l  a  sensitive  face,  siiowing  in  its  changing  expression  that  he  noteil 
and  felt  all  that  was  jjastiing  about  him.  Had  he  not  been  di«ply  wrinkled, 
though  not  over  4<j  years  old,  his  uountenunuc  would  have  lieen  rather  pleas- 
iiijL!.  Scarfoce,  Jack's  high  counsellor,  was  an  ill-looking  savage;  and  as  for 
tilt-  others  who  Mere  trieti  i^t  murder,  they  were  simply  exprvBttiouless  aud 
ubHulutely  iudilTereut. 


M 


632 


THE  MODOC  WAB. 


commissioners  and  subsequent  escape  of  the  Indians 
from  the  lava-beds,  a  battalion  of  tliree  companies  of 
volunteers  was  organized  by  authority  of  Governor 
Grover  to  keep  open  the  road  from  Jacksonville  to 
Linkville,  and  to  carry  to  the  settlers  in  the  Klaniatii 
basin  some  arms  and  ammunition  issued  a  month  pre- 
vious, in  anticipation  of  the  failure  of  the  peace  com- 
mission, and  which  were  stored  at  Jenny  Creek,  on 
the  road  to  Linkville;  and  Ross  had  his  headquaiters 
in  Langell  Valley. 

Owing  to  the  alarm  of  the  settlers  in  Chewaucan, 
Silver  Lake,  and  Goose  Lake  valleys,  Hizer's  com- 
pany had  marched  out  on  the  Goose  Lake  road,  win  rn 
thoy  were  met  by  a  company  of  fifty  men  from  that 
region  under  Mulholland,  coming  in  for  arms  and  ain- 
nmnition.  These,  after  being  supplied,  turned  back, 
and  Hizer's  company,  reentering  Langell  Valley  just  as 
(ireen's  squadrons  were  scouting  for  Jack,  joined  in 
the  chase,  and  after  Green  had  rt turned  to  camp  on 
the  night  of  June  3d,  captured  twelve  Modocs,  anuuig 
whom  were  two  of  the  most  noted  braves  of  the  band. 
Koss  sent  a  telegram  to  Grover,  who  ordered  him  to 
deliver  them  to  the  sheriff  of  Jackson  county,  and  to 
turn  over  the  others  to  General  Wheaton. 

But  news  of  the  capture  being  conveyed  to  head- 
quarters at  Clear  Ijake,  an  escort  was  sent  to  ovir- 
takc  the  j)risoner8  at  Ijinkville  and  bring  them  back, 
Ijindisay  of  tiie  volunteers  surren«lering  them  to  tlio 
United  States  officer  under  protest,  upon  being  as- 
sured thai  Davis  intended  hanging  those  convicted  of 
murder.  Such,  indeed,  was  his  design,  having  sent 
to  LinUville  for  witnesses,  among  whom  were  the 
women  of  the  Boddy  family.**     Before  the  time  ar- 

•*  Hdokor  Jim  and  Stenmlwat  Frank  »dniittc<l  Ving  of  the  party  "lio 
killi'il  iiml  rul)lH'(t  this  family,  relHting  HoniiMtf  tliviiiciiifnta,  nn  hearing  wliuli 
tlio  two  wiimun  lost  nil  <u)ntnil  of  tlininM'lvcs,  and  with  »  |wMiunatv  litiiMt  uf 
team  and  rugu  uunimingleil,  dorilicd  at  Hooker  and  StaainlKNit,  one  witliu 
piMtol  un>l  tliu  otiitir  with  a  knifo.  Davis  intorpoool  aii>i  ■ecurt'd  the  wi'U|»>iih, 
ri't  living  a  nlight  cut  on  ouo  of  his  hands.  During  Uiis  t-kvittng  iiokhul;!'  iK<tli 
tlio  Indians  stood  like  statues,  without  ntt«ring  a  word.  S.  f.  Vail,  Juik'  'J, 
1873. 


RED  TAPE  AND  FOOLISH  14ERCY. 


638 


tho 

ro(i..f 

the 
10  ar- 


rived which  had  been  set  for  the  execution,  Davis 
received  such  instructions  from  Washington  as  arrested 
the  consummation  of  the  desigrn. 

This  interference  of  the  government,  or,  as  it  was 
understood,  of  the  secretary  of  tho  interior,  so  exas- 
perated certain  persons  whose  identity  was  never  dis- 
covered,"' that  when  seventeen  Modoc  prisoners  were 
en  route  to  Boyle's  camp  at  Lost  River  ford,  in  charge 
of  Fairchild,  they  were  attacked  and  four  of  theni 
killed.  The  despatch  which  arrested  the  pr  jparationa 
(jf  Davis  proposed  to  submit  the  fate  of  t!.'*  Modocs 
to  the  decision  of  the  war  office,  Sherman  giving  it  as 
his  opinion  that  some  tf  them  should  be  trietl  by 
court-martial  and  shot,  others  delivered  over  to  the 
civil  authorities,  and  the  remainder  dispersed  among 
other  tribes.  This  was  a  sort  of  compromise  with  the 
])eace-commission  advocates,  who  were  still  afraid  the 
Modocs  would  be  harmed  by  tho  settlers  of  the  Pa- 
cific frontier.  So  strong  was  the  spirit  of  accusation 
ULjainst  the  people  of  the  west,  and  their  dealings  with 
Indians,  that  it  brought  out  a  letter  from  Sherman, 
in  which  he  said:  "These  peojile  are  the  same  kind 
that  settled  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Iowa;  they  are  as 
jf(K)d  as  we,  and  were  we  in  their  stead  we  should  act 
just  as  they  do.  I  know  it,  because  I  have  been  one 
of  them." 

The  whole  army  in  the  fi"1d  protested  against  delay 
and  red  tape,*"  but  the  Modoc  apologists  had  their  way. 

*''  Vi-eka  reports  charged  tais  act  upon  tlio  Oregon  volunteera,  though  thry 
wri'c  not  within  8  miluB  of  the  nia«8at.ru.  Two  nittn  only  were  uonuunu'ii.  A. 
It.  Mi-miham  otrurcd  hia  aid  to  tlio  ncci  ut  serviuu  de{)artniunt  to  tind  the  umub- 
aiiis    //.  A'j;.  Doc,  l'i'2,  .127,  4.1d  cong.   Int  hubs. 

*" '  I  have  no  douht  of  the  propriut)  and  tho  ncioMity  of  oxrcuting  them 
(III  till!  snot,  nt  once.  I  had  no  doubt  of  niv  authority,  as  d('|)artiii<Mit  coiit- 
iiuiiidur  in  the  tlehl,  to  thus  execute  a  ImuuI  of  outlaws,  robl>oi-H,  and  niunlerura 
hkc  those,  under  the  circumstances,  Your  despatch  indicates  a  long  delay  of 
tlir  I'uses  of  those  red  devils,  which  1  regret.  Delay  will  destroy  tiic  moral 
cHt'c't  which  their  prompt  execution  would  have  U|mhi  iither  triU-s,  as  alwj  the 
iii'<|iiriiiK  effect  upon  the  troo|M.'  Telegram,  ilatud  <lunu  Ath,  in  //.  A'r. 
/''"'.,  \T2,  p.  87,  43<l  cong.    1st  seas,     liavia  rofer<".'.t  here  to  tho  ileHire  of 


til*'  Iroopa  to  avenge  tho  slaughter  of  (Janhy  and  Thomas'  oommand  -  a  desire 
>»  lii>'li  had  animated  them  to  endure  the  three  days'  tight  in  the  lavalM*ds,  and 
tliv  uluveu  days'  uuiutaut  aouutiug.  J'orttuml  (JityoHitui,  Juuu  7i  1873. 


6M 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


After  wearisome  argument  and  a  decision  by  At- 
torney-general Williams,"^  a  military  eommission  was 
ordered  i'or  the  trial  of  "Captain  Jack  and  siieh  otlicr 
Indian  captives  as  may  be  properly  brought  bdoic 
it."  Those  who  might  be  properly  tried  were  nanxd 
by  the  war  department  as  the  assassins  of  Caiiliy, 
Thomas,  and  Sherwood,  and  "  no  other  cases  what- 
ever," notwithstanding  Grover  had  telegraphed  to 
the  department  to  turn  over  to  the  state  of  Oregon  tl;o 
slayers  of  her  citizens,  whom  the  government  refused 
to  try,  or  allow  to  be  tried,  thus  saying  in  effect  that 
the  victims  had  deserved  their  fate.  At  tiie  same  tiim; 
a  petition  was  addressed  to  Secretary  Delano,  hy  iv 
Steele,  William  11.  Morgan,  John  A.  Fairchild,  and 
H.  W.  Atwell,  asking  that  Scarface  Charley,  Jlodkrr 
Jim,  Bogus  ChaiK'V,  Stcuimhoat  Frank,  Shackiiasty 
.lim,  an«l  Miller's  Charlt'y  (should  be  peruiittitl  to 
remain  in  Siskiy(»u  county,  where  it  was  proposi-d  t<i 
employ  them  on  a  farm  near  Vreka.  J)elano  was 
constantly  in  receipt  of  letters  in  behalf  of  the  Modocs. 

On  the  14th  of  June  the  Aftuloi's,  150  in  nuiidur, 
were  n'nii»ved  to  Fort  Klamath,  and  imprisoned  in  ii 
stockade,  after  whieh  a  large  force'  of  euvali y,  iindtr 
(Ji'eeii,  and  (d'  infantry,  under  Alason,  made  a  nianh 
of  000  miles  tiirou;;h  eastern  Ore<j[(»n  and  VVashiiiutnii 
to  oveiawe  those  tribes  ?-i'ndei-ed  restless  and  thttat- 
ening  by  the  tmparaljelcd  successes  of  the  Modocs. 
On  the  .'{0th  of  .lune,  in  ttbedieiiet;  to  instruetiuiis 
from  Washington,  J  )u vis'*  appointed  a  juilitary  (mii- 

»'  //.  /•>.  />or  .  I-J-J.  KS  i»0,  4:»<1  rnrnf.  M  ncmh.  ;  .S'.  /•'.  Citll,  Jtlll.i  0,  1^7.1; 
K.   Y    Tiihiiiif,  m  n,,;ii>iil.iii,  .Uitw,  IxT.'l;  A'.  )'.  /AciA/,  .luiio '.'-'.  Is7:i 

•^  l>ll\■i^^  (lit'il  Nov,  'M),  \H'\).  lie  Mitri  Itiii'ii  in  lu<l.,  itii'l  aiipninliil  iViHii 
tliut  Ht4tt<t  til  Wi'hI  I'oilit;  I'liiiiiniHNiciiK'il  'Jil  Ijciit  IhI  urtiUt  iv  'lillii!  17.  I'<>''^! 
iMt  liiiit  I'Mi.  •_»(»,  |H.V.»;  <'u|>tiiiii  Miiy  !♦.  If^ll;  ..ilimcl  •-'•-'il  IikI.  voU  ^^■ 
1'),  \m\;  hvin.-nvw.  voIn  IM'c.  is,  \m\;  Itn  V(  t  iniij.  Miiith  !),  IMI'J,  i"\  u'ai- 
liiiitiiiiil  tiifi'itoiiiiUHHcrvii't'Nut  tile  iMillIt!  of  IVa  liiil^c,  Aik.;  In  r  vet  li<'iii  (ul 
Miiy  I'l,  Isiil,  fur  Kullimt  hihI  iiK'i'itdriiitiHi'iiiiiliit't  in  llii>  iNitlliMil  lli'wir.t,  li'i; 
Ini'Vi't  I'ol  Miiy 'i<>,  IMII,  fur  tfalliint  iiml  iiinitiii'loiii  xci'vii'i'it  in  tlir  rii|itniu 
iif  |{Mni«',  (lu;  Im'Vi't  rniij.-^rcn.  nf  voU  Aii>;.  H,  |s*U;  iiii'vct  liii]i{.->;<'n    Minvli 

l.'i,  IH<l,'i,  fiiruullttnt  uMil  niciiloriou!*  onhihu't.  in  llu'  lmtt.lt>  ol  K*'ti<'!wi\i  h n- 

tain,  Oii;  Iti'fvi't  Miuj.  xm.  f<ir  wr\  icru  in  tln'  ImHU'of  .liini'ulMirnuKli,  <i.i:  mi'l 
«'(i|i>n«'l  of  tln<  'J.'lil  infiintry  .liilyJS,  IS4HI  lli-  ciinii'  l<>  tin'  I'lu'llii'i'dUHi  ii^  "'"•• 
inan<li  r  (if  (lut  ilr|Nii'lnH'iil  of  Alaika,  iiml  uux  aftrrwanlN  ansi^ni'ii  totli'iu'- 
parlimiutof  Oruguii.  llanurHly't  Army  Hij./or  One  Hundred  I'tar*,  I771I  l''71'. 


TRIAL  OF  THE  MURDERERS. 


635 


mission,  consisting  of  Colonel  Ellioti,  captains  Mcn- 
(icnliull,  Hasbroufk,  and  Pollock,  and  Lieutenant 
Kinjjfsbury.  Major  Curtis  was  appointed  judgt!-ad- 
\()('ute.  The  trial  hemin  on  the  5th  of  Julv.  The 
witnesses  for  the  prosecution  wt»rc  Meachani,  J)yar, 
l^idcry,  Anderson,  four  of  the  Modocs  who  had  turm  d 
.state's  evidence,  and  the  interpreters.  Jack  made 
U.St!  of  his  witnesses  only  to  try  to  fix  the  blame  of 
collusion  u|)on  the  Klamaths.  Three  of  his  witne.sMi'.s 
iillcujed  thi't  the  Klamaths  assisted  them,  and  that 
Alh'U  i)avid  had  sent  them  messa»;es  advisinyf  them 
to  hostilities;  but  this,  whether  true  or  false,  did  not 
jitfcct  their  case.  When  he  came  to  address  the  com- 
iiiission,  he  said  that  he  had  never  done  anythinjj^ 
wroii;^'  !)efore  killinj^  (ieneral  Canby.  Nobody  had 
t M-r  .said  anythiniL^  aiufainst  him  except  the  Klamaths. 
lie  had  always  taken  the  advice  of  j^ood  men  in 
^  ri'ka.  He  had  never  ojtposed  the  settlement  t»f  the 
couiitry  by  white  people;  on  the  contrary,  he  liked 
I.;  i;ave  them  there,  .lack.son,  he  said,  came  to  Lost 
lliver  and  be^aii  lirint,'  when  he  only  I'Xpected  a  talk; 
mid  that  even  then  he  I'an  off  without  fi^jhtiiij;.  ile 
went  to  the  lava-beds,  not  intendiiii,'  to  tij^dit,  and  did 
lint  know  that  the  settlers  were  killed  until  Hooker 
•lim  told  him.  Hi;  di'uitjd  that  Canby '.s  munler  wa.-< 
cnncei'ted  in  his  tent,  accusin;^  tho.si!  whom  (Icneral 
I  )jivis  had  emplnycd  as  .■scouts.  If  he  could,  he  would 
ii.ivt!  denied  killinij^  (\inby,  as  in  his  last  speech  he  did, 
.s;ivin<r  it  was  Shacknasty  Jim  who  killed  him. 

Only  six  of  the  MimIocs  were  tiied,  and  four  woro 
li'inijed,  namely,  ffack,  Sconchin,  JMack  Jim,  and  ii<»s- 
t'ln  Chai'ley.  Jack  asktnl  for  mole  time,  and  said 
that  Scarface,  who  was  a  relative,  and  a  worso  man 
than  lie,  ou<{'ht  to  iWv  in  his  stea<l.  Sconchin  made 
>nnie  n'»|Uests  coiu'crnin^  tlu'  care  of  his  children, 
iiiid  said,  although  he  did  not  wish  to  die,  he  would 
Mi|ip(».vie  the  juduce  had  decided  rij.'htly.  HIack  Jim 
s.iicastically  remarked  that  he  did  not  boast  of  his 
good  lieurt,  but  of  his  valor  in  war.     He  did  not  try 


C36 


THE  MODOC  WAR. 


to  drag  others  in,  as  Jack  had  done,  he  said,  and  spoke 
but  little  in  his  own  defence.  If  it  was  decided  that 
he  was  to  die,  ho  could  die  like  a  man.  Boston 
Charley  was  coolly  indifferent,  and  affected  to  despiso 
the  otliers  for  showing  any  feeling.  "I  am  no  half 
woman,"  he  proclaimed.  "I  killed  General  Canhy, 
aHsistLid  by  Steamboat  Frank  and  liogus  Charley." 

On  the  3d  of  October  the  tragedy  culminated,  and 
the  four  dusky  souls  were  sent  to  their  happy  hunting- 
ground,  nevermore  to  be  molested  by  white  men.*" 
By  an  order  from  the  war  department,  the  remaimKr 
of  the  band  were  removed  to  Fort  D.  A.  Kussoll  in 
Wyoming,  and  subsequently  to  Fort  McPherson  in 
Nebraska,  and  lastly  to  the  Quapaw  agency  in  tlie 
Indian  Territory;  but  the  lava-beds,  which  can  never 
be  removed  or  changed,  will  ever  be  inseparably  con- 
nected in  njen's  minds  with  Captain  Jack  and  the 
M<kIc»cs  in  their  brave  and  stubborn  fight  for  their 
native  land  and  liberty — a  war  in  some  respects  the 
most  remarkable  that  ever  occurred  in  the  history  of 
aboriginal  extermination. 


*»ll.  Ex.  Dof.,  122,  290-.328,  4M  cong.  lit  mm.;  S.  F.  Cn'l,  Oct.  4, 1«73; 
Hed  mnjf  SeiUinel,  Oct.  11,  1873;  S.  F.  liulUliH,  Out.  4,  13,  2U,  1673. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


POLITICAL.  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 

1862-1887. 

Repitblican  Loyalty— LBoisLATrRE  ok  1862— Lboal-tendkr  and  SrKcinc 

CONTKACT— FCBLU;   BriLDINdS— SrKVEYH   AND    lJ(irNDARrKH- MlLlTAll  ' 

Roau— Swamp  and  AtiRicM-LiiRAi.   Lands — Civii.  Codk— Tiu;  Nkoro 

QlTtU^TION— LaTKR    LkcISLATION— (tOVKRN(lK«   tilllDS,    Wo<tU.S,    (jiUUVKR, 
CltAUWIUK,    TlIAVlCR,    ANI»    MooUY  —  MliMlUiHS    OF  CoNUKESiJ. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  18G2,  the  repubUcans  of  Oregon 
met  in  convention,  and  adopting  union  principles  as 
the  test  of  fitness  for  othce,  nominated  John  II. 
^[cBride  for  representative  to  congress,  Addison  C. 
(iil)l)s  for  governor;  Samuel  E.  May  for  secretary  of 
state;  K.  N.  Cooke,  treasurer;  Harvey  Gordon,  state 
printer;'  E.  D.  Shattuck,'  S.  C.  judge  from  4th  judicial 

'  Harvey  Gonlon  was  a  native  <if  Oliio,  and  a  surveyor.  Ho  Hr«t  ori;uge<l 
ill  iKililicH  ill  l>StiU,  wlieii  lie  UMsociutud  hiiiiHL'lt  with  tlic  StnliMUKiii,  ii>  wiiioli 
III'  ;;uvi>,  th«)Ugii  a  duiiKtorut,  a  <lui'iik'ill^  luyul  tom^  Ilu  dieil  of  i-oii8uiii|iti(iii, 
u!  Vi)Uoulla,  u  fuw  iiiuiUliM  uftor  liis  uleutiuii,  iiuiuli  rugi-utttid.  Siu:  (hiioii, 
July  ISO.*. 

'  I  liavo  innntioiicd  Sliattuck  in  connoction  with  the  Paoifio  ITnivoreity. 
Ill'  WiiH  Ixtrii  ill  liukcrsliuld,  l>uc.  'M,  IS'Ji,  and  rccuived  a  cla.ti)iual  I'diicutidii 
lit  ISurliiigtuii.  After  gruduatiiig  iti  IH4S,  hu  taiiglit  \\\  MirioiiH  Heiiiinari>'S 
until  IM*>I,  when  hu  lM>gaii  to  luttii  law,  and  wuh  udiiiittod  to  the  l)ur  in  Ni-w 
\iiik  city  in  Nov.  'SiiJ.  Thcnco  lu'  inticvudi'd  tu  Oregon  in  l'\'li.  IN.');{,  trai'li- 
\\\^  '1  yiWH  ill  the  Paoilic  L'nivcrHity.  In  IS,'KI  he  was  elccteil  prolxitc!  jii>l>{e 
ill  W.mhiiiglun  eo.,  in  I8.~>7  wuh  a  nieiiiher  of  the  tonstitiitioiial  ooiiveiitinii,  and 
ii<i<)ii  after  lorniod  a  hiw  ]Mirtiieiahi[>  with  David  liOgun;  watt  a  iiuinlor  of  the 
lugialtttuni  ill  IH.'>8,  and  held  iiiiiik'I'oiih  noNitioiis  nf  honor  iiiul  tniHt  friMU  tinia 
til  tiiiiu.  He  wai  elected  judge  in  l8tS2,  and  hehl  tho  olhoc  hve  year^;  wciii 
ataiii  eloetud  juilge  in  IHV4,  and  held  until  IN7S.  He  received  a  thittnriiig 
viit' for  aunroine  judge  and  U.  S  xcn.itiir.  In  every  po-tition  Shiittink  lian 
lii'cn  II  iiiodust,  eiiriie.it,  and  pure  iiiaii.  Hia  lioiiio  wa<  in  Portland.  AVjxr. 
Mi.i.iiitr  Men  <\f  Or.,  Ifl8. 

\V.  I'lirt.'y  .TohiiMon  was  horn  in  H<m»  co.,  (>hio,  Oct.  27,  1S.'W,  and  oatiic  to 
(Jir^iin  with  \\M  father,  He/ekiah,  in  IS4.'>.  After  learning  ninling  he  Hti, died 
litu ,  aud  wiw  udiiiitted  tu  praciicu  iu  1600.     Uu  wm  «lcctcu  pioNeeutiiig  attor- 

IW7) 


!• 


038 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


district;  W.  Carey  Jolinaon,  pro^ecutinj^  attorney  of 
the  sanio;  Joseph  (r.  Wilson,  prosecuting  attorney  I'nr 
the  3d  judicial  district,  Andrew  J,  Thayer  for  the  "Jd, 
and  J.  F.  Gazley  lor  the  4th. 

The  nominees  of  the  anti-administration  party  were 
A.  IC.  Wait,  who  resigned  his  jilace  upon  th*-  otiK  li 
to  run  for  congressman;  John  Y.  Miller  for  governor; 
(Jeorge  T.  Vining  for  secretary  of  state;  J.  13.  Greer, 
state  treasurer;  A.  Noltner,  state  printer;  W.  W. 
Page,  judge  from  the  4th  judicial  district;  prosecut- 
ing attorney  of  tiiat  district,  W.  L.  McEwan. 

The  majority  for  all  the  principal  union  candidates 
was  over  3,000,  with  a  corresponding  niajority  for  the 
lesser  ones.'  (iibbs  was  installed  Se{)ten)ber  10th  at 
the  methodist  church  in  Suleni,  in  the  [)resence  of  thi; 
legislative  assend^y.*  IJy  act  of  June  2,  1859,  tin; 
oflicial  term  of  the  governor  began  on  the  second 
Monday  of  Septend^'r  IHO.'},  and  every  four  3'caivs 
thereafter.  This,  b^ing  the  day  fixed  for  the  meetiii.,' 
of  the  legislature,  did  not  allow  time  for  the  graceful 

ncy  of  Oregon  City  in  IS.^S,  city  recorder  in  ISflS,  and  prosecuting  nttornry  fur 
till'  4lli  (listiict  ill  |.S(i-J.  In  I8(j.')-(t  \w  iiuld  tliu  I'lOHitiun  of  spetiiul  altoiiicy 
uiiiifr  Ciik'li  C'lmliing  tu  inM-stigatu  und  st-tllo  lite  llndsun'H  Bay  Co.'s  claims. 
Ill  LSlili  111!  \vu8  I'lijcted  Htiite  Mcnator,  and  in  IHH'J  run  for  U.  S,  sunator.  liu 
ri'tiidi'il  ill  Ori-'giii:  ( 'ity,  wucre  ha  pruc'titiuii  law.  liiit  wifu  waa  •)<is)i-i>liiiir, 
duilgilter  of  .1.  F.  ilevoro. 

'(.(W(.-i'  Aoles'iii  <_>r.  Hut.,  MS.,  lit;  Vi-ihuiie  Almanac,  180.1,  TiT;  Or.  .!/• 
{/Ml,  .Iiiiii)  M,  IMi'J;  O;'.  SidliHiiiaii,  .liiiii'  V.'l.  INOH. 

MliiiiNt':  JacliHon,  Limlsoy  AppUu'ati',  S.  |).  \  an  I>yke;  .Insepliiiii'  I  I'. 
Fiiv;  Itoiigiiis,  l{.  Nlalloiy,  J  unit's  WatHini;  riiip<|iia.  W,  li.  WiUoii;  i  (hi* 
aiMlCmiy,  .Aroliiliahl  Steven,  ini;  l,aiii,  \'.S.  \Ie(  liiu.  .V.  .\.  lieiii.iiwav ,  M, 
WilKinsi'lleiitoii,  A.  .\I.  \\itliaii.  C.  P.  ni,m;  L.nii.  II  M.  iJi.wn.'.lHlni 
SmiUi,  Will  .M.  MeCoy,  A  .\.  Mei  ally;  Marion.  I.  U  .Mooicb.  .Iimep!)  Kii.lu, 
v..  .'\.  Kuol,  Joliii  .Miiito;  I'olk,  li.  Mni|i!«iu,  4.  \\ .  Uielianimjii;  N  anil. ill, 
.liH'l  I'aliiiei,  .iolin  l'iiiiiiiiiii>;  WaMliiiig.on,  Ralpli  Ui'cox;  V»  aHliin^tciii  iiinl 
( '.iluiiiliia,  M.  \\  .  t'liiiyeis;  rlinkaiiiaM,  I'.  .\.  Collaiil,  M  KainHiiy. 'I  l\e,iiii»; 
Miiltiioiiiali,  .\..l.  iMilur.  I'.  WiiH.ieiiiiaii;  ( 'latsop  ami  rillanionk,  1*.  U  (iil- 
lelu,  W  a»eo,  ( t.  lllllliatiiili;  upcaker,  'iK-l  I'aliiier  leiks,  S.  T.  «"'iiiivll, 
U> my  riiiitniinN.  Paul  1  raiidill;  HcrgHunt-at-uniiB,  II  li  Parker;  iIihi  -keeiii-r, 
Jiwi'|i|!  MycrH. 

JS'imte:  .luokium.  -1  Warner;  Josephine.  I).  S.  llolton;  iVmnlaM,  •<.  Kit/- 
kvifk.  I'll'  jit»,  t  <»>«,  and  ( 'liny,  .1.  \\'  Orew;  l.ane,  .laiiieH  Mnnroi.  t '.  K. 
<'iirK««NMi:  liMiton,  A.  <•.  Ilov'ey:  Linn.  I(.  Curl,  |).  W.  liallurl:  Marion, 
.loiui  U.  (<:tBi,  \\  illiuni  *iifniiwi)i>d:  I'kIU,  Williiiii  Taylor;  \  aniliill.  I'  lui 
IL  SMh'ide;  (  laekan>a.->i<H.t  WiiNeo,  .1.  K  Kelly:  Miiltiioiiiiili,  .1.  II.  .MuikII; 
WiMMli|i%Mi,  ('oiiiiilua.  <  larttoii,  and  TillaiiiiNik.  W.  liuulliy;  preHidi  n'  U. 
Hnulltv:  »*itirk»,  S  .V.  <  jaike,  \V.  II.  hmiitlH,  Wiley  CliUpniiuii  «fryeuul'«t' 
M'HM^k.  ▲.  Miti'hwii  4iMit'-k«)e;)or,  U.  M.  FiulUa. 


OFFICIALS  OF  1803. 


cm 


retirement  of  one  executive  before  the  other  came 
into  office.  Wliiteaker  took  notice  of  this  fault  in  h'jjis- 
lation,  by  remiruHng  the  representatives,  in  liis  bien- 
nial message,  that  should  it  ever  happen  that  there 
should  not  be  preseiit  a  quorum,  or  from  any  cause 
the  orjjfanization  of  both  branches  of  the  lejjislature 
should  fail  to  be  perfected  on  the  day  fixi.'d  by  law, 
the  Icixislature  could  not  count  the  vote  for  jjovernor 
and  declare  the  election,  and  that  conse(|Uently  tiie 
new  governor  could  not  be  inaugurated.  This,  he 
said,  would  open  the  question  as  to  whether  the  gov- 
eiiior  elect  could  qualify  at  .some  future  <lay.  'fhis 
pal[)able  hint  was  di.sregarded.  The  second  Monday 
in  September  fell  on  the  Hth,  tlie  organization  was 
not  conq)leted  until  the  9th,  and  the  iiiaugiuation 
fujiowed  on  the  lOtli,  no  one  raising  a  doubt  of  tlie 
It'galit}'  of  the  proceedings.  On  the  1 1th,  nominations 
weie  made  in  joint  convention  to  elect  a  successor  to 
Stark,  whose  senatorial  term  would  soon  expire,  and 
]>enjanun  ¥.  Harding  of  Marion  county  was  chosen.' 

*Tlio  nomiimtinns  made  wero  B.  F.  Harding,  (liMirKt)  II.  WillianiM,  K.  L, 
A|iiili;gut<!,  O.  .Jucobs,  TIioh  11.  l'<.ari.  •  K.  F.  Miiury,  .1.  II.  Willmr,  A.  Hoi- 
liiiKik,  II.  L.  I'rcstDK,  W.  T.  Mnttuek,  II.  W.  ('orljutt,  and  .lalm  WliiiuakiT. 
S.'iVH  lli'iidy:  '  Iknjiiinin  K.  llui'ilin)(,  or,  um  wo  cuininonly  call  iiitn,  lion.  Ilurd- 
in^;,  in  ai>out  40  yours  of  agv,  ami  a  luwyor  l>y  prxt'oNHinn.  llu  \\i\s  lutrn  in 
tusiorn  l'onn«ylvanitt.  wlioro  ho  grow  up  to  man's  ostato,  vlion  In-  drifiod  ti.it 
wi'st,  and  attor  a  Ui'iot'  Hojourn  in  tliono  part.H,  o;ano  to  Oroyoii  in  the  snmnior 
111  IS,">(),  and  sottlod  noar  Salem,  whore  lio  ha*  .  v»r  sinvo  roHidotI,  lli'  was 
Nil  rotaiy  of  tlie  territory  Hdnio  voarM,  and  han  Ihou  a  nionil»  r  t)t  lioth  state 
and  territorial  Icgislatnroa.  lie  wasi  in  the  aasein^h  that  olootod  Nosniitli 
and  li.ikor,  mid  was  iiiinoipal  <<|h  rator  in  the  niaiii|'MlationH  that  |iri>iltiooit 
tli.it  result.  Ho  is  ilosceniled  from  (^ood  old  ledci  il  iiiMfHtorn,  and  ot  o.iniso 
in  doun  i>n  tliix  roUdlion  and  the  no.\t  one  on  Komial  ]irir.oi|)loH.  Following 
tlir  (  xanijdo  of  hisi  hoiiMdiold,  ho  t;ro»  up  a  whi;;,  luit  <  ntoi  iui.;  the  poiitiral 
til  Id  first  in  Oregon,  whore  at  that  time  doniooraoy  m.is  nun  h  iii  vo;,'mo,  !;<; 
I""U  that  Hide,  anil  stuck  to  ilnuxloiatoly  until  the  (.oneial  diHsnintion  iii  iMiiO. 
Ill'  li  It  the  static  just  hetoro  the  ]iro-o<lrntiul  olootion,  and  did  not  \uto.  It 
III'  had,  although  rutud  as  a  |l(>'i^las  ilonnK'nir,  the  proliahiiity  is  he  wi>ul<l 
have  voteil  tor  Lincidn.  He  is  devuid  of  uU  iwt<  iitAtion  oc  Hporiiil  aeeoni- 
]ili>hnioiil,  lint  huH  (I  liig  huid,  full  of  hard  lonininii  sense,  uad  niiiih  of  tho 
r. Ill  gift  of  keeping  cool  and  hoMiiig  his  t4^>ngiie.  lie  is  of  exiidlent  haliits, 
1^  thrifty,  indiiHtrimiH,  and  iie\or  furgets  No  I.  In  itllnsion  to  Iiim  ropotnl 
ii'iworof  nndorground  Hchrming  antl  nianageinent  umong  Iiin  oronios,  In  Iia8 
I' :i'.;  heen  known  oa  'Snliteiranean  Hon."'  'I'hot.  s  II.  I'earne,  one  nf  the  ax- 
]oi:ints  for  the  senatorial  position,  pivaehoi ,  and  editor  of  t\u' l''irtiir  Chrin- 
Il  i'(  Adriicdtr,  hatl,  uh  loiild  lie  exjieoted,  a  larKo  following  ot  the  inothoditit 
I'liiiroli,  which  was  a  power,  and  (he  frieiidsliip  of  <  <iiverniir  (iililw,  who  wim 
liiiiiself  n  niutlioditit.  Hilt  he  had  no  piiiiiiur  IiIucim  fur  the  place,  uud  r«> 
CI  i\ed  much  I'diuule  from  fiivudit  of  Utudui|{. 


POUnCAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 

Strong  union  sentiments  prevailing,  disloyalty  to 
the  federal  government  in  any  form  was  out  of  fash- 
ion. None  but  the  loyal  could  draw  money  from  the 
state  treasury.  But  the  most  stringent  test  was  thu 
passage  of  an  act  compelJiug  the  acceptance  of  United 
States  notes  in  payment  of  debts  and  taxes,  as  well  us 
an  act  providing  for  the  payment  of  the  direct  tax 
levied  by  act  of  congress  in  August  18GI,'  amou!itiii«,' 
to  over  $35,000,  seven  eighths  of  the  annual  reveiue 
of  the  state." 


The  legal-tender  question  was  one  that  occasioned 
much  discussion,  some  important  suits  at  law,  and  <'<)n- 
sideruble  disturbance  of  the  business  of  the  Pacific 
coast.  The  first  impulse  of  a  loyal  man  was  to  declare 
his  willingness  to  take  the  notes  of  the  government  at 
par,  and  in  Oregon  many  ho  declared  themselves.  The 
citizen.^  of  The  Dalles  held  a  meeting  and  pledged 
thomsclvos  to  tra<le  only  with  persons  *'[)atriotic 
enough  to  take  the  faith  of  the  government  at  |)ar." 
The  treasurer  of  Marion  coU!»tv  refused  to  n.'ccivti 
legal-tenders  at  all  for  taxes;  while  Linn  received  tlitin 
for  county  but  rejected  them  for  state  tax;  Clackamas 
received  them  for  both  state  and  county  tax;  and  Co- 
lund)ia  at  first  received  and  then  rejected  them.**  The 
state  treasurer  refustjd  tc  receipt  for  legal-tenders, 
which  subjected  the  cou'.ties  to  a  forfeiture  of  twenty 

5>er  cent  if  the  coin  was  noi.  paid  within  a  certain  tiine. 
[n  1H().'{,  when  greenbacks  were  W(»rth  forty  cents  on 
a  dollar,  Jackson,  Josej)hine,  Douglas,  Lane,  Benton, 

•Tho  internal  rcvenno  law  took  effect  in  Au^^ust  1SG2.  Ijiwrenco  W.  Coe 
of  'I'lio  DiiliuH  wiiH  u|>]Miinteil  collt'ctor,  luul  Tlionias  Krn/.ior  oaMcaHor.  W.  S. 
Muthuik  wiw  u|)|M>inU^<l  U.  S.  iK'|MMitary  for  Oregon  to  procuro  U.  S.  revi-iiuo 
■tanina,  Or.  SliUfumnii,  Aug.  II  nn<l  Nov.  3,  1S<)J. 

'  Acuonling  to  the  inciwiiKu  of  (>ov.  Whituakor,  there  were  940,>31 1  )iti  in 
the  treaniiry  on  thu  7ili  of  S«>|>t.,  \HH'2.  To  driiw  tho  entire  nnunint  <lii<'  iliu 
r.  S.  on  tilt)  levy  would  have  ii  huui  insutiicient  to  curry  on  tho  iitati'  pivt, 
thorefore  AIO.IMK)  wiih  nrdoruil  to  In^  {laid  nt  any  time  m  hen  railed  for,  uikI  tliu 
rcniaininK  fJ.'t,(NIO  any  time  after  the  I  at  of  March,  IMK):  and  th"  ^nasuirr 
•hoiild  nuy  tho  whulu  akxount  anpronriatcd  iu  uoin.  Or.  SlataiiAttH,  Oct.  '.!', 

•.S'.  /.'.  niilUii,,,  Deo.  18,  1802:  S.  F.  Attn,  N'\v.  18.  1862;  Or.  Aryu»,l)w. 
0,  ltiU2i  Or.  StaUmiiuii,  Due.  t2,  imi;  Or.  UtH.  Jmw»,  92. 


THE  GREENBACK  QUESTIDN. 


641 


and  Clatsop  tendered  their  state  tax  in  this  currency, 
which  the  state  treasurer  refused  to  receive.  Tliese 
counties  did  not  pav  their  taxes. 

It  was  contended  by  some  that  the  constitution  of 
Oro«^on  prohibited  the  circulation  of  paper  in«)ney. 
It  did,  in  fact,  declare  that  the  legislative  asHenil)ly 
should  not  have  power  to  establish  or  incorporate  any 
hunk;  and  forbade  any  bank  or  company  to  exist  in 
the  state  with  the  privilege  of  making,  issuing,  or 
putting  into  circulation  any  notes  or  papers  to  circu- 
lute  as  money.  Such  a  confliict  of  opinions  could  not 
but  disturb  business.' 

In  an  action  between  Lane  county  and  the  state  of 

'Place  avarice  and  patriotism  in  opposition  among  the  masses,  and  the 
latter  is  sure  in  time  to  give  way.  Throughont  all,  California  li<-I<l  stcudily, 
uiul  loyally  withal,  to  a  metallic  currency.  Business  was  done  upon  honor; 
hut  tlierc  were  those  both  in  C'*lifoniia  und  Oregon  who,  if  |Mitriotiu  on  no 
otliir  occasions,  took  advantage  of  the  law  to  pay  debts  contracted  at  gohl 
prices  with  ureenlNvcks  purchased  for  40  or  UO  cents  on  a  dollar  with  coin. 
Afler  much  discussing  and  experimenting,  Oregcm  finally  foUoHetl  the  exitni- 
[ili>  of  California.  In  California  and  Oregon  no  public  banks  had  over  existed, 
all  being  owned  by  private  individuals,  Iming  simply  Iranks  of  dejiosit, 
where  the  proprietors  loaned  their  own  capital,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  tiiut 
of  their  de]K)8itorR.  They  issued  no  'tills,  and  bunked  alone  u|M)n  gold  or  its 
i'r|iiivulent.  They  therefore  refused  to  receive  greenltacks  on  general  de- 
|Hi.sit;  and  these  notes  were  thrown  upon  the  market  to  be  bought  ami  sohl 
ut  their  value  estimated  in  gold,  exactly  reversing  the  money  operations  of 
tile  east.  In  New  York  gold  was  purchased  at  a  premium  with  greenbacks; 
ill  Califonua  and  Oregon  greenluicks  were  purchased  at  a  discount  with  gold; 
in  New  York  paper  money  was  bankable,  and  gohl  was  not  otl'ered,  iH'iPig 
withdrawn  from  circulatiim;  in  Sun  Frunciaeo  ami  I'ortland  gold  only  was 
Ixuiknble,  and  pa|>cr  money  was  otl'eretl  in  trade  at  current  rates,  and  not  de- 
niit'ii  except  by  those  who  hud  bills  to  {)ay  in  New  York.  In  Jan.  IHii.'i  the 
luiiki't'D  and  business  men  of  Portland  niet  and  agreed  to  receive  legulten- 
iltNH  at  the  rates  current  in  San  Francisco,  as  published  from  time  to  time  in 
till'  ilaily  papers  of  Portland  by  Ladd  and  Tifton,  bankers.  The  nKTchaiita 
iif  Salem  soon  followed;  then  those  of  The  Dalles.  Fiitally  the  merchants 
|iul>li!<hed  a  black-list  containing  the  names  of  those  who  paid  tiebts  in  legal 
tiiidcrs,  to  be  circulated  among  business  men  for  their  information.  Or. 
Shthsnnni,  Jan,  .'»,  180.T;  PoHland  Ornjoiiinn,  Auu.  .*W,  1H04;  and  iiill.s  of 
giKiils  were  headed  'Payable  in  U.  S.  gold  coin.'  These  methods  protected 
iiit'ii'hants  in  general,  but  did  not  keep  the  sul.ject  out  of  the  courts.  .Able 
ar^iiiinents  were  advanced  by  leading  lawyers  to  prove  that  the  treasury  notes 
NveiT  not  money,  as  the  constitution  gave  no  authority  for  the  issuance  of  any 
Inn  j^iild  and  sdver  coin.  To  these  arguments  were  opjMsed  others,  (Miuully 
hIiIi',  that  the  government  had  express  power  to  coin  money,  and  that  money 
ini^'lit  bo  of  any  material  which  might  bo  deemed  most  (it,  as  the  word 
'iiiuncy  '  did  not  necessarily  moan  gohl,  silver,  or  any  metal.  James  Lick  vs 
\\  iHiam  Faulkner  and  others,  in  Or.  SlaleMman,  Hec.  29,  1862.  The  supreme 
Kiiirt  of  California  liehl  that  legal-tenders  were  lawful  money,  but  that  it  tlid 
■Kit  follow  that  every  kind  of  lawful  money  could  Im  tendered  in  the  payment 
of  t'Miy  obligation.  Portland  OrtyoniaH,  Aug.  IW.  1804. 
Hist,  Oa.,  Vui.  U.    41 


!l! 

I 


i'l 


mt 


•12 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


Oregon,  the  court,  Judge  Boise  presiding,  held  that 
the  act  of  congress  authorizing  the  issue  of  treasury 
notcK  did  not  make  them  a  legal  tender  for  state  taxt  m, 
and  did  not  affect  the  law  of  the  state  requiring  state 
taxes  to  be  paid  in  coin.  In  another  action  betwct  n 
private  parties,  the  question  being  on  the  powtr  of 
congress  to  make  paper  a  legal  tender,  the  court  ru ltd 
in  favor  of  congress.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  de- 
cided by  Judge  Stratton  that  the  law  of  congress  of 
February  25,  18G2,  was  unconstitutional.  This  law 
made  treasury  notes  a  legal  tender  for  all  debts,  duis, 
and  demands,  which  included  the  salaries  of  judges, 
■which  were  paid  from  the  state  treasury.  Hence,  it 
was  said,  came  the  decision  of  a  supreme  judge  of  Ore- 
gon against  the  power  o(  congress. 

Turn  and  twist  the  subject  as  they  would,  the  (mr- 
renoy  question  never  could  be  made  to  adjust  itst  If 
to  tlio  eonvenience  and  profit  of  all;  because  it  was  a 
war  measure,  and  to  many  meant  present  self-sacii- 
fico  and  loss.  For  instance,  when  greenbacks  were 
worth  no  n»ore  than  tliirty  or  forty  cents  on  the 
dollar  in  the  dark  days  of  the  spring  of  18G3,  fe«l(  ral 
officers  in  California  and  Oregon  were  compelled  tn 
accept  them  at  par  from  the  government,  and  t«>  |tay 
for  evervtliing  bouyfht  on  the  Pacific  coast  at  *ii>l\ 
prices,  greatly  advanced  by  the  eastern  inflation.  Tlie 
merchants,  however,  profited  largely  by  the  ex«'liaii;,fe 
and  the  advanced  prices;  selling  for  gold  and  Imy- 
ing  with  greenbacks,  having  to  some  ei.tent  and  lor  a 
time  the  benefit  of  thediflereiiee  between  g(jld  and  Ir^al 
tenders.  To  prevent  those  who  contended  for  tlie  roii- 
stitutionality  of  the  act  of  congress  from  contest itl^' 
cases  in  court,  California  passed  a  specific  contract 
law  providing  for  the  payment  of  debts  in  the  kind 
of  money  or  property  specified  in  the  contract,  tims 
practically  repudiating  paper  currency.  But  it  (luicttd 
the  consciences  of  really  loyal  people,  who  were  un- 
wilUng  to  seom  to  be  arrayed  against  the  govern- 


CURRENCY  AND  CAPITAL. 


643 


mcnt,  and  yet   were  opposed  to  the  introduction  of 
jijipcr  currency  of  a  fluctuating  value.'" 

The  Oregon  legislature  of  18G4  followed  the  exam- 
ple of  California,  and  passed  a  specific-contract  law. 
No  money  should  be  received  in  satisfaction  of  ii^ 
jiidgment  other  than  the  kind  specified  in  such  judg? 
iiiont;  and  gold  and  silver  coins  of  the  United  Stsites. 
to  the  respective  amounts  for  which  they  were  legal 
tenders,  should  be  received  at  their  nominal  values  in 
payment  of  every  judgment,  decree,  or  execution.  A 
law  was  enacted  at  a  special  session  of  the  legislature 
ill  18G5,  called  to  consider  the  thirteenth  amendment 
to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  making  all 
state,  county,  school,  and  military  taxes  payable  iu 
the  current  gohl  and  silver  coin  of  the  goveriunent, 
ixcept  where  county  orders  were  offered  for  county 
taxes.  This  law  removed  every  im()ediment  to  the 
exclusive  use  of  coin  which  could  be  removed  under 
the  laws  of  congress,  and  was  in  accordance  with  the 
jMtpular  will,  which  adhered  to  a  metallic  currency. 

By  the  constitution  of  Oregon,  requiring  that  at 
tin?  first  regular  session  of  the  legislature  after  its 
adoption  a  law  should  be  enacted  submitting  the 
(HU!stion  t)f  the  location  of  the  seat  of  governintiit  to 
the  vote  of  the  people,  the  assembly  of  18G0  had 
passed  an  act  calling  for  this  vote  at  the  election  of 
1SG2.'*  The  constitution  deelared  that  there  must 
he  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  and  owing  to  the 
fact  that  almost  every  town  in  the  state  receivecl 
some  votes,  there  was  tjo  majority  at  this  election; 
hut  at  the  election  of  I8G4  Salem  n-'ci-ived  seventy- 
nine  over  all  the  votes  cast  upon  the  h)cation  of  the 
capital,  and  was  offieially  ileclured  the  seat  of  govern- 
int'iit.  As  the  constituti(»n  din-lared  that  no  tax 
should  be  levied,  or  money  of  the  state  expended,  or 

'"See  opinion  of  the  Hupromo  court  of  ('ul.  on  the  specific-contract  twt,  in 
Porflnml  Oiff/oHian^  Aug.  -JO anil  Sept.  '2,  1804;  Or.  SlaUitmaii,  July  22,  lbU4| 
H.  r.  Alia,  Jan.  *J0,  IMM. 

"Ur.  0«H.  Lam,  94;  Or.  Law$,  1800,  08-8. 


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ft44 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


debt  contracted,  for  the  erection  of  a  state-house  prior 
to  the  year  1865,  this  decision  of  the  long-vexod 
question  of  the  location  of  the  capital  was  timely. 
Ten  entire  sections  of  land  had  been  granted  to  the 
state  on  its  admission  to  the  union,  the  proceeds  of 
which  were  to  be  devoted  to  the  completion  of  the 
])ublic  buildings,  or  the  erection  of  others  at  the  seat 
of  government;  said  lands  to  be  selected  by  the  gov- 
*trnor,  and  the  proceeds  expended  under  the  direction 
of  the  legislature.  Owing  to  the  obstacles  in  tlie 
way  of  locating  the  public  lands,  the  public-buildings 
fund,  intended  to  be  derived  therefrom,  had  not  yet 
begun  to  accumulate  in  1864,  nor  was  it  until  1872 
that  the  legislature  appropriated  the  sum  of  $100,000 
for  the  erection  of  a  capitol.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  penitentiary  building  at  Portland  had  from 
the  first  been  unnecessarily  expensive,  and  ill-adapted 
to  its  purpose,  and  that  the  state  had  leased  the 
institution  for  five  years  from  the  4th  of  June,  1859, 
to  Robert  Newell  and  L.  N.  English.^^ 

Governor  Gibbs,  in  a  special  message  to  the  legis- 
lature of  1862,  proposed  a  radical  change  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  penitentiary."     He  suggested  that 

''Ljven  N.  English,  bom  near  Baltimore,  in  March  1792,  removed  whin 
a  child  to  Ky.  He  was  a  volunteer  in  the  -wnr  of  1812,  taking  part  in 
■everal  battles.     On  the  restoration  of  pen  oinoved  to  111.,  then  a  wilder- 

tieas,  where  the  Black  Hawk  war  again  i  upon  him  to  volunteer,  tliis 

time  as  capt.  of  a  company.  In  183((  li<  tt  to  Iowa,  where  he  erected  a 
flouring  mill;  and  in  1840  he  came  to  Oregon,  settling  near  Salem.  En^lisli's 
Mills  of  that  place  were  erected  in  184({.  On  the  breaking-out  of  the  Cayuau 
war,  English  and  two  of  his  sons  volunteered.  He  had  12  children  by  his 
first  wife,  who  died  in  ISfil.  By  a  second  wife  he  had  7.  Ho  died  March  5, 
1875.  Snn  Jo»i  Pioneer,  Sept.  2,  1877;    Travs.  Or.  Pioneer  Ahso.,  IST.VO. 

"  Ah  it  was  the  practice  of  the  lessees  of  the  penitentiary  to  work  the  cmiviota 
outside  of  the  enclosure,  the  most  dosporato  and  deserving  of  punishment  (if  ten 
found  means  of  escape.  Twenty-five  prisoners  had  escaped,  twelve  had  lieeii 
pardoned  in  the  last  two  years  of  Whiteaker's  administration,  and  five  liiul 
ttniahed  the  terms  for  which  tlicy  were  sentenced,  leaving  twenty-five  Htill  in 
confinement.  The  crimes  of  which  men  had  l)een  convicted  and  incarcerated 
in  the  penitentiary  since  1853  wore,  arson  1,  assault  with  intent  to  kill  15, 
aasault  with  intent  to  commit  rape  1,  rape  1,  assisting  prisoners  to  cHcupo  11, 
burglary  8,  forgery  3,  larceny  58,  murder  1,  murder  in  the  second  degree  VI, 
manslaughter  6,  perjury  1,  receiving  stolen  goods  1,  riot  1,  robbery  3,  thrcut 
to  extort  money  1,  not  certified  7 — 123,  making  an  average  of  ISJ  commitiiientD 
annually  during  a  period  of  0  years.  For  the  |)eriod  from  Sept.  18((2  to  Sept. 
1804  there  was  a  marked  increase  of  crime,  consequent  upon  the  immiurntinn 
from  Uio  southern  states  of  many  of  the  oriminal  clasaes,  who  thus  avoided  the 


PENITENTIARY. 


645 


the  working  of  convicts  away  from  the  prison  grounds 
should  be  prohibited,  and  a  system  of  manufactures 
introduced,  beginning  with  the  making  of  brick  for 
the  public  buildings;  and  advised  the  selection  of 
several  acres  of  ground  at  the  capital,  and  the 
erection  of  temporary  buildings  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  convicts.  The  legislature  passed  an  act  making 
the  governor  superintendent  of  the  penitentiary,  with 
authority  to  manage  the  institution  according  tt)  his 
best  judgment.  Under  the  new  system  the  expenses 
of  the  state  prison  for  two  years,  from  November  1, 
18G2,  to  September  1,  1864,  amounted  to  |25,000, 
about  $16,000  of  which  was  earned  by  the  convicts." 
As  soon  as  the  seat  of  government  was  fixed,  the  legis- 
lature created  a  board  of  connnissioners  for  the  loca- 
tion of  lands  for  the  penitentiary  and  insane  asylun),  of 
which  board  the  governor  was  chairman ;  and  who  pro- 
ceeded to  select  147  acres  near  the  eastern  limits  of  the 
town,  having  a  good  water-power,  and  being  in  all  re- 
spects highly  eligible.'^  At  this  place  were  constructed 
temporary  buildings,  as  suggested  by  Governor  Cibbs, 
and  during  his  administration  the  prisoners  were  re- 
moved from  Portland  to  Salem.  Under  his  successor 
still  further  improvements  were  made  in  the  condition 
and  for  the  security  of  the  prisoners,  but  it  was  not  until 
1 871  that  the  erection  of  the  present  fine  structure  was 
begun.    It  was  finished  in  1872,at  acost  of  $160,000.'» 

(haft.  In  these  2  years  .S3  convicts  were  sent  to  the  penitentiary,  12  for  Uir- 
ccny,  n  intent  to  kill,  4  burglary,  3  murder  in  the  1st  dugrue,  '2  niansluuf^'htur, 
1  rape,  I  seduotion,  1  arson,  1  receiving  stolen  yoods.  The  county  of  SVusi'O 
fiiniishcd  just  ^  of  these  criminals,  showing  the  direction  of  the  drift.  Or. 
Jmirtiul  lioiiKC,  1804,  an.  iV)-r).S. 

"The  warden  who,  directed  by  the  governor,  produced  these  satisfactory 
results  was  A.  C.  K.  Shaw,  who,  by  the  consent  of  the  legislutuie,  was  siibse- 
qiK'ntly  apiminted  superintendent  by  the  governor. 

'•' 'I'he  land  was  purchased  of  Morpm  L.  iSiivage,  at  $4.')  per  acre,  and  tiie 
water-power  of  the  vVillametto  WooMcn  Manufacturing  CotnpaMy  for  S'J.OOO. 
(icorge  H.  Atkinson  was  employed  to  visit  some  of  the  western  states,  and  to 
visit  the  prisons  for  the  purpose  of  observing  the  liest  methods  of  building, 
hikI  laying  out  the  grounds,  with  the  arrangement  of  indutstrii^s,  and  all  mat- 
tciM  pert^iining  to  the  most  approved  modern  penitentiaries.  Or.  Jour. 
1  louse,  18(15,  ap.  7-1*2. 

^HlM.H'XokMn)i  Or.  Hist,  MS.,  20-22;  Or.  Cmif,  1802,  ap.  71-:i:  Or.  Lmri>, 
lS(i(l,  l».-|-8;  Or.  L<(iis.  fhrx,  1808,  7-10,  14;  f.  S.  Kditv.  i:<i>l,  .-)48-.'}7,  4lBt 
Cling.  3d  sess.    Sue  description  in  Murphy'H  Urc\iun  Directory,  1873,  1U7-8, 


646 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


Previous  to  1862  no  proper  provision  had  been 
made  for  the  care  of  the  insane.  The  legislature  in- 
vested Governor  Gibbs  with  authority  to  select  land 
for  the  erection  of  an  asylum  at  Salem,  and  to  contract 
for  the  safe-keeping  and  care  of  the  patients;  but  the 
state  not  yet  being  able  to  appropriate  money  for  suit- 
able buildings,  the  contract  was  let  to  J.  C.  Hawthorne 
and  A.  M.  Loryea,  who  established  a  private  asylum 
at  East  Portland,  where,  until  a  recent  date,  all  of 
these  unfortunates  were  treated  for  their  mental  ail- 
ments." It  was  not  until  about  1883  that  the  state 
asylum,  a  fine  structure,  was  completed. 

The  legislature  of  1862  passed  an  act  for  the  loca- 
tion of  the  lands  donated  to  the  state,  amounting  in 
all  to  nearly  700,000  acres,  besides  the  swamp-lands 
donated  by  congress  March  12,  1860,  and  Governor 
Gibbs  was  appointed  commissioner  for  the  state  to  lo- 
cate all  lands  to  which  the  state  was  entitled,  and  to 
designate  for  what  purposes  they  should  be  applied/'* 

A  similar  act  had  been  passed  in  1 800,  empowering 
Governor  Whiteaker  to  select  the  lands  and  salt  springs 
granted  by  act  of  admission,  by  the  donation  act  of 
1850  for  university  purposes,  and  by  the  act  of  Marcli 
12,  1800,  donating  swamp  and  overflowed  lands  to  tlio 
state,  which  the  failure  of  the  commissioner  of  the 
general  land-office  to  send  instructions  had  rendered 
inoperative.  The  legislature  of  1860  had  also  provided 
for  the  possessory  and  preemptory  rights  of  the  500,- 
000  acres  donated  to  the  state,  by  which  any  person, 

"  In  1860  the  insane  in  Orep;on  were  twenty-three  in  number,  ora  pcrcont 
of  0.438;  in  1804  there  were  tifty-ono  patients  in  the  asylum  from  a  popiila- 
tion  of  80,000,  giving  a  percent  of  0.038.  Tlio  percentoge  of  cures  was  itlTiO. 
Or.  Jour.  lloiiM,  1802,  an.  40;  Or.  Jour.  Ilou^e,  1804,  up.  7-8.  In  S(|it. 
1870  the  asylum  containeu  122  persons,  87  mules  and  35  females.  Of  the 
wliolo  number  admitted  in  1870-2,  over  42  per  cent  rocoveroil,  und  7  per  ci'iit 
diid.  Tiie  huihling  un<l  grounds  there  were  ndt  of  n  character  or  extent  to 
nifot  the  requirements  of  the  continually  increasing  number  of  patients,  (iov- 
ernor's  message,  in  Portlnnd  Ore<joiiiivi,  Sept.  13,  1800;  Nanh'H  Or.,  I4!l;  Or. 
Iiixnm  AHjilitm  lifpt,  1872;  Portiaiid  Wmt  Shore,  March  1880.  The  nniiilwr 
of  patients  in  1878  was  2.1.3,  of  wliom  100  were  males.  Ilept  o/C.  C,  iitrumj, 
\'iaitiii(j  I'liyiiicinii,  1878,  0. 

"Or.  Code,  1802,  106-7;  Zuhriskiet  Land  Law,  050-03. 


STATE  LANDS. 


64:( 


being  a  citizen,  or  having  declared  his  intention  of 
becoming  such,  might  be  entitled  to,  with  the  right 
to  preempt,  any  portion  of  this  grant,  in  tracts  not 
less  than  40  nor  more  than  320  acres,  by  having  it 
surveyed  by  a  county  surveyor;  the  claimants  to  pay 
interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent  per  annum  upon 
the  purchase  money,  at  the  rate  of  $1.25  an  acre,  the 
fund  accruing  to  be  used  for  school  purposes.  Wheur 
ever  the  government  survey  should  be  made,  the 
claimant  might  preempt  at  the  general  land-office, 
through  the  agency  of  a  state  locating  agent.  By 
this  act  the  state  was  relieved  of  all  oxpense  in  select- 
ing these  lands;  but  Governor  Whiteaker  gave  it  as 
his  opinion  that  the  act  was  in  conflict  with  the  laws 
of  the  United  States,  in  so  far  as  the  state  taxed  the 
public  lands,  which  opinion  was  sustained  by  the  geni- 
eral  land-office,  as  well  as  that  the  state  could  have 
no  control  over  the  lands  intended  to  bo  granted  until 
after  their  selection  and  approval  at  that  office.**  Th^ 
act  was  accordingly  repealed,  after  the  selection  of 
about  22,000  acres,  and  another  passed,  as  abovQ 
stated. 

Much  difficulty  was  experienced  in  finding  enough 
good  land  subject  to  location  to  make  up  the  amount 
to  which  the  state  was  entitled  for  the  benefit  of  cont- 
nion  schools  and  the  endowment  of  an  agricultural 


college,'^"  on  account  of  the  neglect  of  tiie  government 
to  have  the  lands  surveyed,  the  surveys  having  been 


"Or.  Jour.  House,  1862,  ap.  27:  Or.  FItatemian,  Sept.  15,  1802. 

'^'^Or.  Code,  1862,  ap.  100-10.  Tlie  U.  8.  law  nmking  granta  to  ngricul- 
tural  colleges  apportioned  the  land  in  quantities  equal  to  liO.OOO  aces  fur  each 
senator  and  representative  in  congress  to  wliich  the  status  were  respectively 
entitled  by  tiic  apportionment  of  1860.  By  this  rule  Oregon  was  granted 
IKI.OOO  acres.  /(/.,  00-4.  Tlio  selections  made  previous  to  (iihbs' administra- 
tion were  taken  in  the  Willamette  and  Umpquu  valleys.  To  socuro  the  full 
amount  of  desirable  lands  recpiircd  much  careful  examination  of  the  country, 
'riiengricultural-collego  grant  was  taken  between  1802  and  1864  in  the  Klam- 
ntli  Valley,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  common-school  lands  also. 
I'ustcrn  Oregon,  in  the  valley  of  the  Columbia,  was  also  searched  for  goml 
loiaticna  for  tho  state.  D.  P.  Thompson  and  George  H.  Belden  were  tlio 
principal  surveyors  engaged  in  making  selections.  Iklden  made  a  complete 
map  of  Oregon  from  tho  best  authorities.  Previous  to  this  tho  maps  were 
vrvy  impcrfuct,  the  best  being  one  made  by  Preston,  aud  the  earliest  by  tT. 
W.  Trutoh  in  1805. 


•48         POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


much  impeded  by  Indian  hostilities,  and  the  high 
prices  of  labor  consequent  on  gold  discoveries.  Upon 
the  petition  of  the  Oregon  legislature,  congress  had 
extended  the  surveying  laws  to  the  country  east  of 
the  Cascades,  and  preparations  were  making  to  extend 
the  base  line  across  the  mountains  east  from  the  Wil- 
lamette meridian,  with  a  view  to  operations  in  the 
county  of  Wasco  and  the  settlements  of  Umatilla, 
Walla  Walla,  John  Day,  and  Des  Chutes  valleys."' 
But  congress  failed  to  make  an  appropriation  for  the 

f)urpo8e,  contracts  already  taken  were  annulled,  and 
ittle  progress  v/as  made  for  two  years,  during  which 
the  squatter  kept  in  advance  of  the  surveys  upon  the 
most  valuable  lands.  During  the  year  ending  June 
30,  1860,  the  service  was  prosecuted  along  the  Co- 
lumbia River  in  the  neighborhood  of  The  Dalles,  iti 
the  Umatilla  Valley,  and  also  in  the  Klamath  coun- 
try, near  the  California  boundary,  which  was  not  yet 
established. 

An  act  was  passed  by  congress  June  25,  1 8G0,  for 
the  survey  of  the  forty-sixth  parallel  so  far  as  it  con- 
stituted a  boundary  between  Oregon  and  Washington, 
which  work  was  not  accomplished  until  1864,  althoui^^h 
the  length  of  the  line  was  only  about  100  miles,  from 
the  bend  of  the  Columbia  near  Fort  Walla  Walla  to 
Snake  River  near  the  mouth  of  the  Grand  Rond 
River. ^'    There  was  much  delay  in  procuring  the  ser- 

•■"  Land  Off.  Rept,  1858,  29-30. 

'''  While  tliis  matter  waa  under  consideration  in  congress,  it  was  propoaed 
in  the  senate  that  a  committee  should  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  nniiiit- 
ing  Washington  to  Oregon.  Sen,  Mine,  Doc,,  II,  30th  cong.  2d  soss.,  a  inop- 
osition  which,  so  far  as  the  Walla  WuUa  Valley  was  concerned,  would 
have  been  received  with  great  favor  by  the  state,  the  natural  boundary  "f 
which  is  indicated  by  the  CX)lumbia  and  Snake  rivers.  This  was  the  boumiaiy 
fixed  in  the  constitution  of  Oregon,  from  which  congress  had  departt'd.  A 
motion  was  made  in  the  legislature  to  annex  at  several  different  times.  Sui'^r. 
Jour,  Home,  18C5,  CO-73;  Memorial  of  Or.  leg.  in  1870,  in  U.  S.  II.  Mi'x: 
J)oe.,  23,  i,,  41st  cong.  :<d  sess.;  Or.  Lawn,  1870,  212-13;  Or.  Jour.  Sen.,  ISGS; 
U.  S.  ,S-n.  Mixc,  Dor.,  27,  4'?d  cong.  .3d  sees.;  Salem Stnlrxvinii,  Feb.  14,  ISTI; 
Salem  Mirriirif,  March  18,  1871.  As  late  as  1873  Senator  Kelly  introituiod 
A  bill  to  annex  Walla  Walla  county  to  Oregon,  so  oa  to  conform  the  boiiinliiry 
to  that  named  in  the  constitutional  convention.     On  the  other  hand,  the  |n'o- 

lie  of  Washington  would  have  been  unwilling  to  resign  this  choice  ro^itm. 

'he  matter  was  revived  in  1875-0,  when  a  committee  Jf  the  U.  8.  house  rep. 


^ 


BOUNDARY  SURVEYS. 


649 


Tices  of  an  astronomer  and  surveyor  who  would 
undertake  this  survey  for  the  small  amount  appro- 
priated, the  country  being  exceedingly  rough,  and 
including  the  crossing  of  the  Blue  Mountains.**  The 
contract  was  finally  taken  by  Daniel  G.  Major  late  in 

18^4.'* 

By  the  time  the  northern  boundary  was  completed, 
the  mining  settlements  of  eastern  Oregon  demanded 
the  survey  of  the  eastern  boundary  from  that  point 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Owyhee  where  it  leaves  Snake 
River  and  continues  directly  south.  The  same  ne- 
cessity had  long  existed  for  the  survey  of  the  42d 
parallel  between  California  and  Oregon,  which  was 
not  begun  till  1867,  when  congress  made  an  appro- 
priation for  surveying  the  Oregon  and  Idaho  boun- 
daries as  well,  Major  again  taking  the  contract.'"'^ 
Owing  to  the  continuous  Indian  wars  in  eastern  Ore- 
gon, as  late  as  1867  it  was  necessary  to  have  a  mili- 
tary escort  to  protect  the  surveying  parties  and  their 
supply  trains;  and  it  often  happened  that  the  forces 
could  not  be  spared  from  the  scouting  and  tigliting 
which  kept  them  actively  employed.  But  in  spite  of 
these  obstacles,  in  1869  there  had  been  surveyed  of 
the  public  lands  in  Oregon  8,368,564  out  of  tlie 
60,975,360  acres  which  the  state  contained;  the  sur- 
veyed portions  covering  the  largest  areas  of  good  lands 
in  the  most  accessible  portions  of  the  state;  leaving 
at  the  same  time  many  considerable  bodies  of  equally 

reported  favorably  to  tlie  rectification  of  the  Oregon  boundary,  but  the  change 
Miis  not  made.  11.  Misc.  Doc,  '23,  44th  cong.  2(1  seas.;  CoiKf.  (Jlobe,  I87.J- 
«,  300,  4710;  //.  Com.  liept,  704,  44th  cong.  Ist  sess. 

'•'^Tho  amount  provided  was  $1,500.  Sur.-gcu.  I'cngra  recommended  J.  W. 
I'orrit  Huntington,  a  Connecticut  man,  an  immigrant  ot  184'.).  Alter  ii  brief  res- 
ick'Muo  in  Oregon  City  ho  settled  in  I'olk  county,  I'armiug  and  teaching  school, 
hut  removing  to  Yoncalla  subsequently,  wiiero  ho  married  Mary,  a  daughter 
(if  Ciiarles  Applegate,  and  where  ho  followeil  tanning  and  Hurvcying.  Ho 
was  a  man  of  ability,  with  some  eccentricities  of  cliaracti'r.  lie  was  elected 
to  the  legislature  in  1800,  and  was  one  of  the  most  earnest  of  the  republicans, 
la  KSO'i  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  Indian  ali'airs,  and  iigain  by  Au- 
(hvw  Johnson  in  1807.  He  died  ut  his  home  in  Salem  Juno  3,  I8(i0.  Salem 
Uiiioiiint,  in  llnKfburtj  Enniijti,  Juno  I'i,  1801);  Dcadif.^  S<-rn))-liooh,  'JO. 

"  LaiidOff.  Rvpt,  1804,  i);  Portlnml  Urnioniaii,'  Oct.  13,  1804. 

"'Or.  Jour.  House,  1804,  4'2;  Ov.  AryiM,  June  '22,  1803;  Land  Of.  Itcpt, 
1807,  113-14. 


eso 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


good  land,  which  would  at  a  later  period  be  required 
for  settlement.*" 

The  first  sale  of  public  lands  in  Oregon  by  procla- 
mation of  the  president  took  place  in  1857.  Only 
ten  or  eleven  thousand  acres  were  sold,  netting  the 
government  little  more  than  the  expenses  of  survey- 
ing its  lands  in  Oregon.''^  The  homestead  law  of 
1862  conferred  benefits  on  actual  settlers  nearly  equal 
to  those  of  the  donation  law,  though  less  in  amount. 
The  later  arrivals  in  Oregon  had  only  begun  to  avail 
themselves  of  its  privileges,  when  the  president  again 
offered  for  sale,  in  October  1862,  400,000  acres,  by 
which  act  the  public  lands  were  temporarily  with- 
drawn from  preemption  and  homestead  privileges,  and 
preemptors  were  forced  to  establish  their  claims  and 
pay  the  price  of  their  lands  immediately  in  order  to 
secure  them  against  the  danger  of  being  sold  at  auc- 
tion by  the  government.  This  was  felt  to  be  a  hard- 
ship by  many  who  had  before  the  passage  of  the 
homestead  law  been  glad  to  preempt,  but  who  now 
were  desirous  of  recalling  their  preemption  and  claim- 
ing under  the  homestead  act;  especially  as  the  more 
honest  and  industrious  had  put  all  their  money  into 
improvements,  and  could  only  meet  the  new  demand 
by  borrowing  money  at  a  high  rate  of  interest.  But 
as  only  about  13,500  acres  were  sold  when  offered, 

"ZoMd  Off.  Rept,  1869,  225.  There  were  surveyed,  up  to  June  1S78, 
21,127,802;  there  remaining  of  unsurveyed  public  lands  and  Indian  reserva- 
tions 30,849,408  acres.  In  the  remainder  was  included  tht  state  swamp-laiuls, 
of  which  only  a  portion  had  been  selected.  U.  S.  II,  Ea:  Doc,  ix.  18,  4oih 
cong.  3d  scsH.  Of  the  surveyed  lauds,  1.39,597  acres  were  either  sold  or 
taken  under  the  homestead  or  timber-culture  acts  from  June  30,  1877.  to 
July  1,  1878.  Ibid.,  146-160.  Dept  Aijric.  Rept,  1874-5,  07;  see  also  /Aihm- 
kle's  Public  Land  Laws  of  the  United  States,  containing  instructions  fi)r  ol)- 
taining  lands,  and  laws  and  decisions  concerning  lunds,  where  are  to  be  foiiiul 
many  descriptions  of  the  country,  with  the  resources  of  the  Pacific  states, 
collected  from  ofiicial  reports.  San  Francisco,  1870.  Compare  U.  H.  II.  A'f. 
Doc,  i.  pt4,  vol.  iv.,  pt  i.,  32-0,  loO-OO,  290-319,  452-8,  504-8,  4lst  coii!,', 
3d  sess.;  U.  S.  Sec  Int.  Rept,  pt  i.,  44,  58,  208-76,  42d  cong.  2(1  i  -'s.; 
U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc,  170,  X.,  42d  cong.  2d  sess.;  U.  S.  Sec  Int.  Rept,  >t  i. 
11,  16-17,  226-37,  280-99,  313-14;  Salem  WiUamette  Farmer,  Aug.  2,  I  73; 
Salem  Unionist,  Dec.  17,  1866. 

''The  expenses  of  the  year  1857,  for  surveying  tlie  public  lands,  w(ro 
$11,746.66,  and  the  returns  from  their  sale,  #13,233.82.  Land  Of.  Rqt, 
1858,  43-9. 


PUBLIC  ROADS. 


851 


iquired 

procla- 

Only 
ng  the 
survey- 
law  of 
y  equal 
imouiit, 
to  avail 
it  again 
cres,  by 
y  with- 
cjes,  and 
ims  and 
larder  to 
at  auc- 
a  hard- 
1  of  the 
ho  now 
d  claiui- 
e  more 
ley  into 
idemand 
It.     But 
offered, 

Tune  1S78, 
in  rescrva- 
lamp-liuuU, 
Ix.  18,  4jth 
Tier  sold  or 
1877,  to 
Iho  Zahris- 
ms  for  ol)- 
[o  be  foiiml 
litio  states, 
S.  U.  I^j:. 
|41st  L'oiig. 

'ill    i^'S.i 

iept,    it  1. 
•2.  '  .73; 

tinds,  wire 
Of  licit, 


few  claims  could  have  lapsed  to  the  government,  even 
if  their  preemptions  were  not  paid  up. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  during  the  public  surveys 
certain  individuals  should  seize  the  opportunity  to  se- 
cure to  themselves  large  bodies  of  land  by  appearing 
to  assume  necessary  enterprises  which  should  only  be 
undertaken  by  the  government;  and  it  might  be  ques- 
tioned whether  the  legislature  had  a  proper  regard  to 
the  interests  of  the  state  in  encouraging  such  enter- 
prises. By  an  act  of  congress,  approved  July  2,  1864, 
there  were  granted  to  the  state,  to  aid  in  the  construc- 
tion of  a  military  wagon-road  from  Eugene  City  across 
the  Cascade  Mountains  by  the  way  of  the  middle 
fork  of  the  Willamette,  near  Diamond  peak,  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  state,  alternate  sections  of 
the  public  lands  designated  by  odd  numbers,  for  three 
sections  in  width,  on  each  side  of  said  road.  When 
the  legislature  met,  two  months  after  the  passage  of 
this  act,  it  granted  to  what  called  itself  the  Oregon 
Central  Military  Road  Company  all  the  lands  and 
right  of  way  .already  granted  by  congresr,  or  that 
might  be  granted  for  that  purpose;  with  no  other  pro- 
vision than  that  the  lands  should  be  applied  exclu- 
sively to  the  construction  of  the  road,  and  that  it 
should  be  and  remain  free  to  the  U.  S.  government  as 
a  military  and  post  road.  It  was,  however,  enacted 
that  the  land  should  be  sold  in  quantities  not  exceed- 
ing thirty  sections  at  one  time,  on  the  completion  of 
ton  continuous  miles  of  road,  the  same  to  be  accepted 
by  the  governor,  the  sales  to  be  made  from  time  to 
time  until  the  road  should  bo  completed,  which  must 
be  within  five  years,  or,  failing,  the  land  unsold  to  re- 
vert to  the  United  States.'^" 

What  first  called  up  the  idea  was  the  report  of 
Drew  on  his  Owyhee  reconnaissance  in  18G4,  showing 
that  a  road  might  be  made  from  Fort  Klamath  to  the 

^*0r.  Jour.  Sen.,  1804;  Special  Laws,  30-7;  Jackaonvtlle  Seiitiiiel,  May  3, 
1804;  Zabrutkie'tt  Land  Laws,  03U-7. 


862 


POUTICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


Owyhee  mining  country  at  no  great  expense,  and  pass- 
ing through  a  region  rich  in  grass,  tiraber,  minerals, 
and  agricultural  lands.  The  grant  amounted  to  1,920 
acres  for  each  mile  of  road  built,  less  the  lands  already 
settled  on.  The  distance  was  about  420  miles.  Of 
this  enormous  grp.nt,  exceeding  all  granted  to  the 
state  on  its  admission  to  the  union  by  150,000  acres, 
excepting  the  swamp-lands,  whose  extent  was  un- 
known, about  one  half,  it  was  expected,  would  be 
available.  At  the  minimum  price  of  $1.25  an  acre, 
the  one  half  would  amount  to  $1,008,000.  Along  the 
first  twenty  miles  of  the  road,  from  Eugene  City  to 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  the  best  lands  were  taken  up; 
upon  representing  which  to  congress,  other  lands  were 
granted  in  lieu  of  those  already  claimed,  to  be  selected 
from  the  public  lands.  The  law  allowed  a  primary 
sale  of  thirty  sections,  or  19,200  acres,  with  which  to 
begin  the  survey,  which  land  was  offered  for  sale  in 
March  18G5.  With  its  own  and  the  capital  accruing 
from  sales  of  land  and  stock,  the  company — consisting 
at  first  of  seventeen  incorporators^^ — pushed  the  road 
to  the  summit  of  the  Cascade  Mountains  in  the 
autumn  of  1867.  This  was  the  most  difficult  and  ex- 
pensive portion  of  the  work,  and  though  by  no  means 
what  a  military  road  should  be,  was  accepted  by  the 
governor.  It  was  never  much  used,  and  was  almost 
entirely  superseded  in  1868  by  a  wagon-road  from 
Ashland  to  the  Klamath  Basin,  by  the  old  Scott  and 
Applegate  pass  of  the  Cascades,  discovered  in  184G. 

A  few  months  after  the  act  authorizing  a  rotid 
through  their  country,  Huntington,  superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs,  succeeded  in  treating  with  the  Klamath 
and  Modoc  tribes,  and  a  portion  of  the  Shoshones,  by 

»  W.  H.  Hanchett,  Martin  Blanding,  A.  W.  Patterson,  J.  G.  Gray,  K. 
F.  Skinner,  Joel  Ware,  D.  M.  Risdon,  S.  Ellsworth,  J.  B.  Underwood,  A.  ?<. 
Patterson,  T.  MulhoUan,  Harvey  f^nmll,  A.  S.  Powers,  J.  L.  Brondiy,  .1.  H. 
McClung,  Henry  Parsons,  and  IJ.  J.  Pengra.  Their  capital  stock  was  tiist 
$30,000,  but  subsequently  raised  to  $100,000;  shares  $'250  each.  For  particu- 
lars, see  Peiigni'ii  kept  Or.  Cent.  Military  lioad,  a  pampldet  of  03  pages,  ml- 
vertising  the  enterprise  and  giving  a  description  of  the  country.  Eiuji-ne  ('i/y 
Journal,  July  U,  21,  28,  and  Aug.  4,  11,  imi;  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Sept.  20,  IStiJ. 


~~1 


RESERVATIONS. 


699 


which  a  reservation  was  set  off,  of  a  considerable  ex- 
tent of  country  between  the  point  where  any  road 
crossing  the  mountains  near  Diamond  peak  must  strike 
the  plains  at  their  eastern  base  and  Warner's  Moun- 
tain. The  right  of  the  government  to  lay  out  roads 
through  the  reservation  was  conceded  by  the  Indians, 
hut  it  was  not  in  contemplation  that  the  government 
should  have  the  power  to  grant  any  of  the  reserva- 
tion lands  to  any  company  constructing  such  a  road; 
the  treaty  having  been  made  before  the  company  wL<i 
formed.  Nevertheless,  as  the  survey  of  the  reserva- 
tion lands  proceeded,  which  was  urged  forward  to  en- 
able the  company  to  secure  its  lands,  the  odd  sections 
along  the  line  of  the  military  road  where  it  crossed  the 
reservation  were  approved  to  the  state  to  the  extent  of 
over  93,000  acres.  The  Indians,  or  their  agents,  held, 
very  properly,  that  their  lands,  secured  to  them  by 
treaty  previous  to  the  survey  of  the  military  road,  were 
not  public  lands  from  which  the  state  or  the  company 
could  select;  and  also  that  the  state  would  have  no 
right  to  violate  the  conditions  of  the  treaty  by  bring- 
ing settlers  within  the  limits  of  the  reservation.  By 
an  act  amendatory  of  the  first  act  granting  the  lands 
to  the  state,  congress  indemnified  the  state,  and 
through  the  state  the  company,  by  allowing  the  defi- 
cit to  be  made  up  from  other  odd  sections  not  reserved 
or  appropriated  within  six  miles  on  each  side  of  the 
road.**  The  Oregon  Central  Military  Road  Company, 
after  doing  what  was  necessary  to  secure  their  grant, 
and  finding  it  inconvenient  to  be  taxed  as  a  private 
corporation  on  so  large  an  amount  of  property  that  had 
never  been  made  greatly  productive,  sold  its  lands  to 
the  Pacific  Land  Company  of  San  Francisco,  in  1873, 

">/«(/.  Af.  Rept,  1874,  75;  Cortfj.  Globe,  1866-67,  pt  iii.,  app.  179,  39th 
cong.  2cl  sess.  It  would  aeem  from  the  fact  that  in  1878-0  a  bill  was  before 
congress  asking  for  a  float  on  public  lands  in  exchange  for  those  embraced 
within  the  reservation  and  claimed  by  the  0.  0.  M.  R.  Co.,  that  the  bill  of 
1806  was  not  intended  to  indemnify  for  tiiese  lands,  though  the  language  is 
Buuh  as  to  lead  to  that  understanding.  The  bill  of  1878-9  did  not  pass;  and 
if  the  first  is  not  an  indemnity  bill,  then  the  Indian  lands  are  in  jeopardy.  S. 
V.  e'hadwick,  in  HxHtoricnl  Correopondenee,  MS.;  AthUmd  Tidings,  Feb.  14, 
1879;  S.  F.  Bulletin,  July  U,  1872. 


654 


POIJTICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


and  thus  this  magnificent  gift  to  the  state  passed  with 
no  adequate  return  into  the  hands  of  a  foreign  private 
corporation. 

In  the  matter  of  the  swamp-lands,  nothing  was 
done  to  secure  them  during  a  period  of  ten  years,''  it 
being  held  that  the  right  to  them  had  lapsed  through 
neglect,  and  Gibbs  having  had  enough  to  do  to  secure 
the  other  state  lands.  George  L.  Woods,  who  in  1 8G6 
succeeded  Gibbs  as  governor,  made  some  further  se- 
lections for  school  purposes.  Not  all  of  his  selections 
had  been  approved  when,  in  1870,  L.  F.  Grover  was 
elected  governor.  The  agricultural-college  lands  which 
had  been  selected  in  tlie  Klamath  Lake  basin  had 
been  declared  not  subject  to  private  entry  by  the  land- 
office  at  Roseburg,  within  which  district  the  lands  lay, 
and  that  office  had  refused  to  approve  the  selection. 
The  Oregon  delegation  in  congress  procured  the  pas- 
sage of  an  act  confirming  the  selections  already  made 
by  the  state  where  the  lists  had  been  filed  in  the  proper 
land-office,  in  all  cases  where  they  did  not  conflict 
with  existing  legal  rights,  and  declaring  that  the  re- 
mainder might  be  selected  from  any  lands  in  the  state 
subject  to  preemption  or  entry  under  the  laws  of  the 
United  States;  with  the  qualification  that  where  tlie 
lands  were  of  a  price  fixer  by  law  at  the  double  mini- 
mum of  $2.50,  such  land  8:.liould  be  counted  as  double 
the  quantity  towards  satisfying  the  grant.  This  was 
followed  by  the  establishment  of  another  land-office, 
called  the  Linktor.  district,  in  the  Klamath  country, 
and  the  approval  of  the  agricultural-college  selections.  ^^ 
The  internal  improvement  granf  was  also  fully  se- 

*'  The  legislature  in  1870  memorialized  congress  for  an  extension  of  time 
for  locating  the  salt-lands  grant.  Or.  Jour.  Sen.,  1870,  211;  U.  S.  Mine.  D'^c, 
20,  1.,  41st  cong.  3d  sess. ;  but  it  was  permitted  to  lapse.  Meiwage  of  Gov. 
Thayer,  1882,  19. 

^^Grover'a  Afeasage,  1872,  p.  12-13;  C<mg.  Olobe,  1871-2,  app.  702;  Zabrii- 
iie's  Land  Lawn,  sup.  1877,  27,  73. 

'"  See  Appendix  to  Oovemor'n  Mesitoffe/or  187S,  which  contains  the  officinl 
correspondence  on  the  confirinatiim  of  the  state  lands,  and  is  an  interesting 
document;  also  Jachoiusville  SeiUinel  from  Oct  14  to  Deo.  9,  1871. 


SWAMP  LANDS. 


655 


cured  to  the  state  during  the  administration  of  Gov- 
ernor Grover. 

From  the  time  when  the  swamp-land  grant  was 
supposed  to  have  lapsed  through  neglect,  as  decided 
by  Whiteaker,  and  apparently  coincided  in  by  his  suc- 
cessors, up  to  August  1871,  no  attention  was  given  to 
the  subject.  Grover,  however,  gave  the  matter  close 
scrutiny,  and  discovered  that  the  same  act  which  re- 
quired the  state  to  select  the  swnmp-lands  then  sur- 
veyed within  two  years  from  the  adjournment  of  tlie 
legislature  next  follovAing  the  date  of  the  act,  and 
which  requirement  had  been  neglected,  also  declared 
that  the  land  thereafter  to  be  surveyed  sh'  r.M  be 
chosen  within  two  years  from  the  adjournment  <  i'  the 
legislature  next  following  a  notice  by  the  secretary  of 
the  interior  to  the  governor  that  the  surveys  "ad  bf  on 
completed  and  confirmed.  No  such  notice  having 
been  given,  vhe  title  of  the  state  to  the  swamp  labels 
was  held  to  be  intact,  and  a  complete  grant  aud  inde- 
fea  iole  title  were  vested  in  the  state  by  the  previous 
acts  of  congress,  which  could  not  be  defeated  by  any 
failure  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  to  perform 
an  official  duty.  The  small  amount  of  swamp-lands 
surveyed  in  1860,  and  which  were  lost  by  neglect, 
could  not  much  affect  the  grant  should  it  never  be  re- 
covered. 

In  pursuance  of  these  views,  the  legislature  of  1870 
passed  an  act  providing  for  the  selection  and  sale  of 
the  swamp  and  overflowed  lands  of  the  state.^*  This 
act  made  it  the  duty  of  the  land  commissioner  for 
Oregon,  to  wit,  the  governor,  to  appoint  persons  to 
make  the  selections  of  swamp  and  overflowed  lands, 
and  make  returns  to  him,  when  they  would  be  mapped, 

'*  The  first  clause  of  this  sentence  is  a  quotation  from  a  letter  of  Oovernor 
Grover  to  the  secretary  of  the  interior,  dated  Nov.  9,  1871,  a  year  after  the 
paasage  of  the  act,  but  only  three  months  after  ascertaining  from  \V.  H.  Odell, 
then  surveyor-general  anil  successor  to  E.  L.  Applegate,  that  no  correspond- 
ence whatever  was  on  file  in  the  survey or-gontral's  office  concerning  the 
swamp-lands.  Therefore  the  legislature  must  iiav'3  passed  an  act  in  pursu- 
ance of  information  received  nine  months  after  its  psb-  <go.  See  Or.  Uovemor't 
Message,  app.,  1872,  21-32;  Or.  laws,  1870,  5^7. 


656 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


described,  and  offered  for  sale  at  not  less  than  one 
dollar  per  acre;  twenty  per  cent  of  the  purchase 
money  to  be  paid  within  ninety  days  after  the  publi- 
cation of  a  notice  of  sale,  and  the  remainder  when  the 
land  had  been  reclaimed.  Reclamation  was  defined 
to  consist  in  cultivating  on  the  land  in  question  for 
three  consecutive  years  either  grass,  cereals,  or  vege- 
tables, on  proof  of  which  the  remainder  of  the  purchase 
money  could  be  paid,  and  a  patent  to  the  land  ob- 
tained, provided  the  reclamation  should  be  made  within 
ten  years.  No  actual  survey  was  required,  but  only 
that  the  tract  so  purchased  should  be  described  by 
motes  and  bounds;  therefore,  the  twenty  per  cent 
which  constituted  the  first  payment  was  a  conjectural 
amount.  The  law  had  other  defects,  which  operated 
against  the  disposal  of  the  lands  to  non-speculativo 
purchasers  who  desired  to  obtain  patents  and  have 
their  titles  settled  at  once.  It  was  discovered,  also, 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  that  draining  the  land, 
which  the  law  required,  destroyed  its  value.  The 
law  simply  gave  the  opportunity  to  a  certain  class  and 
number  of  men  to  possess  themselves  of  large  cattle- 
ranges  without  anything  like  adequate  payment. 

The  intention  of  the  original  swamp-land  act  of 
congress,  passed  September  28,  1850,  was  to  enable  a 
state  subject  to  overflow  from  the  Mississippi  River 
to  construct  levees  and  drain  swamp-lands.  Tlie 
benefits  of  this  grant  were  afterwards  extended  to 
other  states,  including  Oregon.  But  Oregon  had  no 
rivers  requiring  levees,  and,  strictly  speaking,  no 
swamp-lands.  It  had,  indeed,  some  small  tracts  of 
beaver-dam  land,  and  some  more  extensive  tracts  sub- 
ject to  annual  overflow,  on  which  the  best  of  wild 
grasses  grew  spontaneously.  To  secure  these  over- 
flowed lands,  together  with  others  that  were  not  sub- 
ject to  inundation,  but  could  be  embraced  in  metea 
and  bounds,  was  the  purpose  of  the  framers  and  friends 
of  the  swamp-land  act  of  1870  in  the  Oregon  legisla- 


LAND  SPECULATORS. 


689 


ture.""  It  was  a  flagrant  abuse  of  the  trust  of  the 
people  conferred  upon  the  legislative  body,  and  of  the 
j)o\vers  conferred  upon  the  officers  of  the  state  by  the 
constitution.^"  It  was  a  temptation  to  speculators, 
who  rapidly  possessed  themselves  of  extensive  tracts, 
and  enriched  themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  state, 
besides  retarding  settlement. 

O'.ie  efl^ect  of  the  swamp-land  act  was  to  bring  in 
conflict  with  the  speculators  actual  settlers  who  had 
s(juatted  upon  some  unsurveyed  portions  of  these 
liinds,  and  cultivated  them  under  the  homestead  law. 
If  it  could  bo  proved  that  the  land  settled  on  belonged 
to  the  state  under  the  swamp-land  act,  the  settler 
was  liable  to  eviction.  Wherever  such  a  conflict  ex- 
isted, appeal  was  had  to  the  general  land-oftice,  the 
case  was  decided  upon  the  evidence,  and  sometimes 
worked  a  hardship,  which  was  contrary  to  the  spirit 
and  intention  of  the  government  iu  granting  lands  to 
the  state. 

The  legislature  of  1872  urged  the  Oregon  delega- 
tion to  secure  an  early  confirmation  of  title,  no  patent, 
however,  being  required  to  give  the  state  a  title  to 
what  it  absolutel}'  owned  by  law  of  congress.  It  also 
})assed  an  act  to  provide  for  the  sale  of  another  class 

'^It  was  saiil  that  some  of  the  members  who  took  an  active  part  in  tho 
passage  of  the  bill  liad  prepared  their  notices  and  maps  to  sci/o  the  vahiai>Ie 
portions  of  tlie  swamp-lands  before  voting?  on  it.  Two  nieinl)er8  ma<lo  out 
their  maps  covering  tlie  same  ground,  and  it  depended  on  jirecedence  in  tiling 
iidticcs  nlio  should  secure  it.  ()iie  of  them  calk  1  on  the  secrcUiry  after  niujiit- 
fall  to  lilo  ills  notice  and  maps,  but  was  told  tiiat  the  governor  iiad  nut  yet 
siijned  tlie  hill,  on  which  iiu  retireil,  satislied  tiiat  on  the  morning  ho  could 
rcjieat  his  ajiplication  suceessfuUy.  I'he  bill  wiis  si','ned  by  tiie  governor  tiiat 
evening,  and  his  rival,  who  was  nioi'e  i)er8islent,  iniinediately  preseMittd  Ills 
notice  and  maps,  which  being  filed  at  once,  eeeured  tiie  coveted  land  to  him. 
Jitck'ioiiville  SeiiliiK'l,  Dec.  1((,  1871;  Sarrnmi'iito  (Iiiioii,  ,fai\.  l.'i,  I87-.  See 
rcnuu'ks  on  swamp-lands,  in  (Jov.  ChwIwick'A  M('xs(i<ji\  187S,  ,'{,")-40. 

'"Tiio  board  of  swamp-land  con'uussioners  consisted  of  L.  F.  tJrovcr,  gov- 
ernor, S.  F.  Ciuidwick,  eecretaiy,  Jj.  Fleisclmer,  treasurer,  tu\d  T.  11.  Cann, 
cKric  of  tho  state  land  department.  Section  (t  of  the  swamp-hind  l.iw  de- 
I'liiies  that,  'as  the  state  is  lik'-'y  to  suffer  loss  by  further  delay  in  taking  ixis- 
session  of  the  swamp-lands  within  its  limits,  this  act  shall  tiike  eilcct  anit  bo 
ill  force  from  and  after  its  approval  by  the  governor;  provicU^d,  that  i'l  case 
till'  ollico  of  commissioner  of  lands  is  not  created  by  law,  the  provisions  of 
tills  act  shall  be  executed  by  tho  board  of  eoinmissioners  for  the  sale  of  school 
and  university  lands' — that  is,  tho  ubuvc-uamed  otlicera  of  the  stute.  Or, 
Laws,  1870,  5(1-7. 

UuT.  Ob.,  Vol..  U.    a 


658 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


of  overflowed  lands  on  the  sea-shore;  and  another 
act  appropriating  ten  per  cent  of  all  moneys  received 
from  the  sale  of  swamp,  oversowed,  and  tide  lands  to 
the  school  fund. 

The  swamp-lands  which  offered  the  greatest  induce- 
ment to  speculators  were  found  in  the  Klamath  Lake 
basin,  wnich  was  partially  surveyed  in  1858.  A  lo- 
survey  in  1872  gave  a  greatly  increased  amount  of 
swamp-land,  and  changed  the  character  of  the  surveys 
njateriall}'.^'  This  was  owing  to  a  decision  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  that  the  shores 
of  navigable  waters,  and  the  soils  under  them,  were 
not  granted  by  the  constitution  to  the  United  States, 
but  were  reserved  to  the  states  respectively.^*  The 
amount  selected  and  surveyed  as  swamp-land  in  1874 
was  nearly  107,000  acres.  In  1876  it  was  over  300,- 
000,  with  a  large  amount  remaining  unsurveyed.  A 
considerable  proportion  of  these  selections  were  made 
in  the  Linkton  district,  about  Lower  Klamath,  Tule 
(tooso,  and  Clear  lakes,  and  about  the  other  numerous 
lakes  in  south-eastern  Orego!i,  and  they  led  finally  to 
the  settling-up  of  that  whole  region  with  stock-raisors, 
who,  when  they  have  exhausted  the  natural  grasses, 
will  dispose  of  their  immense  possessions  to  small  farm- 
ers who  will  cultivate  the  soil  after  purchasing  the 
lands  at  a  considerable  advance  on  the  price  paid  by 
the  present  owners. 

As  late  as  1884,  swindlinsf  schemes  on  a  vast  scale 
were  still  being  attempted.*'  The  history  of  the  land 
grants  shows  that  the  intention  of  congress  was  to 
benefit  the  state,  and  encourage  immigration,  but thtso 
benefits  were  all  diverted,  brintjinj?  incalculable  iiiiiuv 
to  the  community.  Seldom  was  a  demand  of  tho 
legislature  refused.*''     In  1864  congress  passed  an  ait 


»'  Or.  Laim,  1872, 129-33,220-21, 128-0;  U.S.  Sen.  Mine.  /)oc. , 22, 42(1  n,iig. 
3d  seas;  I'ortlandOreqoniitUy.'iim.  '21, 1873;  lie))/ Sve.  Int.,  1873,2'.'3-:t.'>,  v!.i7  '''I. 

""Sue  Or.  Lri/kt.  bocM,  1874,  p.  17-18;  S.  F.  j!:xnmiim;Ovt.  18,  \»14;>S<dvm 
Merrufu,  Ftb.  5,  187');  Alhnny  S/ntr  R'Kihtn  Dcmocrnt,  Jun.  22,  1875. 

»«Hu.iA'.  /■'.  Chronicle,  Feb.  21),  1884'. 

•"Ill  1864  tlie  U.  S.  Bcncite  coin,  on  land  grants  refused  a  grant  of  Iniul  to 
construct  a  road  fruui  Portlaud  to  The  Dulles.  Htn,  Cum.  Rept,  'iA,  38tli  uoug. 
iBt 


DONATION  CLAIMS. 


9QII 


amending  the  act  of  September  27,  1850,  commonly 
called  the  donation  law,  so  as  to  protect  settlers  who 
had  failed  to  file  the  required  notice,  and  allowing 
them  to  make  up  their  deficiencies  in  former  grants. 
A  large  amount  of  land  was  taken  up  under  this  act," 
In  the  same  manner  the  state  was  indemnified  for  the 
school  lands  settled  upon  previous  to  the  passage  of 
the  act  donating  the  sixteenth  and  thirty-sixth  sec- 
tions for  the  support  of  schools.  In  187G  congress 
])as.sed  an  act  for  the  relief  of  those  persons  whose 
donation  claims  had  been  taken  without  compensation 
for  military  reservations,  which  reservations  were 
afterward  abandoned  as  useless.  The  settlers  who 
had  continued  to  reside  on  such  lands  were  granted 
patents  the  same  as  if  no  interruption  to  their  title 
had  occurred. 

According  to  the  act  of  admission,  five  per  cent  of 
the  net  proceeds  of  sales  of  all  public  lands  lying  within 
the  state  which  should  be  sold  after  the  admission  of 
the  state,  after  deducting  the  expenses  incident  to  the 
sales,  was  granted  to  the  state  for  the  construction  of 
})ublic  roads  and  inxprovements.  The  first  and  only 
l)ublic  improvement  made  with  this  fund  was  the  con- 
struction of  a  canal  and  locks  at  the  falls  of  the  Wil- 
lamette River  opposite  Oregon  City,  begun  in  1870 
and  completed  in  1872.  After  this  use  of  a  portion  of 
the  public-improvement  fund,  the  five-per-cent  fund 
was  diverted  from  the  uses  indicated  by  law,  and  by 
consent  of  congress  converted  to  the  common-school 
fund,  to  prevent  its  being  api)ropriated  to  local  schen)es 
of  less  importance  to  the  state. ''^ 

//craZrf,  Feb.  28,  1871;  See. 


1S7'2,  7.1-4;    Drndi/s 


*^Zuhrhh('»  Land  Laws,  0.16-7;  Portland  Or. 
Jut.  licjit,  77-80,  44tli  cong.  Istsoss. 

*'^0r.  Lmrn,  1870,  14;  Goivnior's  MfKifa>ji>,  app. 
Jfitt.  Or.,  M.S.,  52;  Portland  Slandurd,  Jan.  7,  1«81.  Tlio  liiKt  cmUv.rAu- 
iiii-'nt  of  public  money  in  Oregon  wus  from  tlie  live-per-ccnt  fund,  ainoiiiitiiig 
t'<  6r),424.'2.").  The  drafts  wore  stolon  by  Sam.  E.  May,  Bccretary  of  «ttito,  and 
!i|>plieil  to  his  own  use.  Or.  Oori'rnor'K  Mrmatje,  app.,  70-1111;  Woodii'  liicol- 
lotinnx,  MS.,  7-0.  It  was  this  crime  that  brought  ruin  on  Jesse  Applo{.-ate, 
one  of  the  V)ondsmen,  whoBO  liomo  was  sold  at  forced  sale  in  18811,  after  long 
litigation.  8.  E.  May  was  a  young  man  of  uood  talents  and  fine  personal  up- 
pi'iiranco,  thougii  with  a  skin  as  dark  as  iiis  ciiuructer,  and  wLiuh  iniglit 
tusily  have  belonged  to  i^  mulatto  or  meitizu. 


Il'l 


660 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


The  same  disposition  was  made  of  the  fund  arising 
from  the  sale  of  the  500,000  acres  to  which  the  state 
was  entitled  on  admission,  by  the  act  of  September  4, 
1841.  When  the  state  was  organized,  the  framers  of 
the  constitution  offered  to  take  this  grant  in  addition 
to  the  common-school  lands,  instead  of  for  public  im- 
provements ;  but  on  accepting  the  Oregon  constitu- 
tion, congress  said  nothing  concerning  this  method  of 
ap[)ropriating  the  lands,  from  which  it  was  doubtful 
whether  the  law  of  congress  or  the  law  of  the  state 
should  govern  in  this  case.  But  as  the  lands  belonged 
absolutely  to  the  state,  it  was  finally  decided  to  devote 
them  to  school  purposes. 

By  1885  half  of  the  500,000-acre  grant  was  sold, 
and  the  remainder,  most  of  which  was  in  eastern  Ore- 
gon, was,  some  time  previous,  offered  at  two  dollars 
an  acre.  From  this,  and  the  sale  of  the  sixteenth  and 
thirty-sixth  sections,  the  five-per-cent  fund,  money 
accruing  from  escheats,  forfeitures,  and  all  other 
sources  provided  by  law,  the  school  fund  amounted  in 
1 88 1  to  about  $000,000,  which  was  loaned  on  real  estate 
security  at  ten  per  cent  per  annum.  The  number  of 
acrn  actually  a[)propriated  by  congress  for  common 
schools  amounted  to  ,3,250,000,  of  which  about  500,- 
000  had  been  sold,  the  minimum  price  being  §1.25 


an  acre. 


43 


The  legislature  of  18G8  passed  an  act  creating  a 
board  of  commissioners  for  the  location  of  the  90,000 
acres  appropriated  by  congress  for  agricultural  col- 
leges, and  to  establish  such  a  college.  By  this  act  a 
school  already  existing  at  the  town  of  Corvallis  was 
adopted  as  the  Agricultural  College,  in  which  students 
sent  under  the  provision  of  the  act  should  ree(;ive  a 

**  Portland  StnviJin'd,  Jan.  7,  1881.  The  fund  does  not  seem  proportii^icd 
to  the  nniount  of  land.  At  the  lowest  price  tixcd  by  law,  tlic  lands  sold  iinist 
have  ngercgated  $!)'2u,000  np  to  the  date  just  mentioned.  Out  of  this,  al'ti'i' 
taking  tliu  cost  of  the  canal  and  locks  at  Oregon  City,  $"200,000,  there  \\<im1(1 
1)0  a  considerable  amount  to  bo  accounted  for  more  than  should  be  credilcil  to 
the  account  of  cxpeuaes.  But  the  liguroa  are  drawu  from  tho  best  authority 
obtainable. 


SCHOOL  LANDS. 


m 


collemate  education  in  connection  with  an  aofricultural 
one.  Each  state  senator  was  authorized  to  select  one 
student,  not  less  than  sixteen  years  of  aj>e,  who 
sliould  be  entitled  to  two  years'  tuition  in  this  college; 
and  the  [)resident  of  the  college  was  permitted  to  draw 
iijion  the  state  treasurer  for  eleven  dollars  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  quarter  for  each  student  so  attending; 
the  money  to  be  refunded  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the 
agricultural  lands  when  selected. 

This  was  done  because  the  act  of  congress  making 
grants  for  the  establishment  of  state  colleges  of 
agriculture  required  these  schools  to  l)e  in  operation 
ill  18G7.  The  time  was  subsequently  extended  five 
years.  Meanwhile  the  board  of  commissioners,  John 
F.  Miller,  I.  H.  Douthit,  and  J.  C.  Avery,  proceeded" 
to  locate  the  agricultural-college  lands,  chiefly  in 
Lake  county.  In  1881,  23,000  acres  had  been  sold 
at  ii^2.50  an  acre,  giving  a  fund  of  $60,000  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  agricultural  department  of  this  school. 

Of  the  state-university  lands,  about  16,000  acres  re- 
mained unsold  in  1885  of  the  46.000  acres  belonging 
to  tliis  institution.  This  remainder,  located  in  the 
Willamette  Vallev,  was  held  at  two  dollars  an  acre. 
An  act  locating  the  state  university  at  Eugene  City 
was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  1872.  The  people  of 
]^ane  county,  in  consideration  of  the  location  being 
niade  in  their  midst,  made  a  gift  to  the  state  of  the 
grounds  necessary,  and  the  building  erected  upon  it, 

**  No  building  was  erected,  nor  waa  the  location  of  the  college  secured  to 
Coi'vallis.  Hy  simply  adopting  the  Corvallis  institution  as  it  stood,  agient 
tliliiculty  was  removed,  and  expense  save<l,  while  the  land  grant  was  secured. 
Twenty-two  students  were  entered  in  ISG8.  In  1871  the  people  of  Jtentouco. 
presented  ,H.")  acres  of  land  to  the  collegi!  to  make  a  farm,  on  which  the  agricul- 
tiiral  students  labored  a  short  tinio<  ,oh  day  of  the  school- week,  receiving  com- 
pi'iisatio  tirTof.ir.  AVheat  and  fruit  were  cultivate<l  on  the  farm;  fertilizers 
are  teat.  ,,  .1  soils  analyzed.  Lectures  are  given  on  meteorology,  botany, 
fruit-culture,  chemistry,  and  assaying.  The  building  was  enlarged,  and  the 
H|iparatusincreasi'il  from  time  to  time,  with  collections  of  minerals.  Tlu!  farm 
was  valued  at  lo.tKK),  the  buildings  at  .¥0,(K)0.  In  1S7(J  about  100  students 
tiiiik  the  agricultural  course,  all  of  whom  were  reciuk'ed  to  perform  a  small 
amount  of  labor  on  the  farm,  and  to  practise  a  uiilitury  drill.  The  state 
iiiiikea  an  ainiual  appropriation  of  8.>,000  toward  the  current  expenses  of  the 
college.  Ihpt  Auric.  Jtept,  1871-'-',  325;  1875,  .H97,  49'2;  Or.  Law^,  1808, 
40-H;  Or.  I.etiUl.  Dof*,  1870,  app.  l-'-lO;  Or.  Liws,  1872,  l33-5j  Uovem- 
or'H  Memaje,  1872,  12-13;  I'vrtland  Went  Hfiore,  Oot,  1880. 


ee-: 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


amounting  in  value  to  $52,000.  The  university  school 
v\:is  opened  in  1876,  when  the  fund  arising  from  the 
sale  of  its  lands  reached  $75,000,  nearly  $10,000  of 
Mliich  sum  arose  from  sales  of  the  Oregon  City  claim, 
piTvions  to  the  legislative  act  which  restored  that  prop- 
eitv  to  tlic  heirs  of  John  McLoughlin." 

The  land  appropriated  to  the  erection  of  public 
bi'iMings  having  been  all  sold  and  the  funds  applied 
to  these  purposes,  there  remained,  in  1885,  unsold  of 
the  state  lands  of  the  above  classes  some  three  mil- 
lion a/res,  then  held  at  from  $1.25  to  $2.50  an  acre, 
besides  such  of  the  swamp-lands  as  might  revert  to  the 
state,  the  tide  and  overflowed  lands  of  tiie  sea-shore, 
and  the  salt-springs  land.  (3wing  to  the  greater  ease 
with  which  the  level  lands  were  cultivated,  the  prairies 
were  first  selected,  both  by  private  claimants  and 
government  agents.*"  The  princi[»al  amount  of  the 
state  lands  still  unsold  in  1885  were  the  brush  lands 
of  tlu!  foot-hills  and  ridges  of  western  Oregon,  the 
timbered  lands  of  the  mountains,  and  the  high  tabK- 
lands  {){'  eastern  Oregon,  which,  compared  with  tlie 
fertile  and  level  valley  lands  of  the  state,  were  once 
esteemed  comparatively  valueless.  This,  however, 
was  a  hasty  conclusion.  The  brush  lands,  when 
cleared,  proved  to  be  superior  fruit  lands;  the  high 
plateaus  of  eastern  Oregon,  owing  to  a  clayey  soil  not 
found  in  the  valleys,  produced  excellent  wheat  crops, 
and  the  timbered  lands  were  prospectively  valuable 
lor  lumber.  In  fact,  it  became  necessary  for  the  gov- 
ernment, in  1878,  to  impose  a  fine  of  from  $100  to 
$1,000  lor  trespassing  on  the  forest  lands,  for  their 
protection  from  milling  companies  with  no  right  to 
the  timber.     At  the  same  time  the  government  ol- 

*>'0r.  Laws,  1872,  47-53.  06-7;  Nash'K  Or.,  102:  Vktor'i>  Or.,  178.  Much 
infornmtiun  may  bo  cleaned  concerning  the  status  of  scliooU  und  the  comliiiou 
of  the  public  funds  From  Or.  School  Land  Sales  liept,  1872'.  Or.  Leg'inl.  Doa, 
1808.  <loc.  4,  41-.S. 

*•  I  find  tiie  principal  Rtatements  here  set  down  collected  by  tlio  cltik  »( 
the  board  of  land  oommisaionera,  M.  E.  P.  McCormac,  for  the  Portlaml  Sinn- 
dard,  Jan.  7,  188!;  AMand  Tidings,  Jan.  29,  1877;  Sac.  Union,  Jau.  15,  ISTH; 
S.  F.  Post,  Sept.  9,  1873. 


CJIVIL  CODE. 


68S 


fered  to  sell  its  timber,  in  tracts  of  160  acres,  at  $2.50 
an  acre;  and  lands  containing  stone  quarries  at  the 
same  price.  The  total  number  of  acres  of  timber  in 
the  state  is  estimated  at  761,000,  or  a  little  over 
thirty-one  per  cent  of  the  whole  area. 

As  it  became  a  known  fact  that  the  cultivation  of 
timber  tended  to  produce  a  moisture  which  was  lack- 
ing in  the  climate  and  soil  of  the  high  central  plains, 
congr^^ss  passed  an  act  by  the  provisions  of  which  a 
quarter-section  of  land  might  be  taken  up,  and  on  a 
certain  portion  of  it  being  planted  with  timber,  a  pat- 
ent might  be  obtained  to  the  whole.  Under  this  act, 
passed  in  1873  and  amended  in  1874,  between  18,000 
and  19,000  acres  were  claimed  in  the  year  ending 
July  1,  1878,  chiefly  in  eastern  Oregon;  while  in  the 
same  year,  under  the  homestead  act,  nearly  86,000 
acres  were  taken  up,*^  the  whole  amount  of  govern- 
ment land  taken  in  Oregon  in  1878  being  139,597 
acres.  The  rapid  settlement  of  the  country  at  this 
period,  together  with  the  absorption  of  the  public 
lands  by  railroad  grants,  seems  likely  soon  to  termi- 
nate the  possessory  rights  of  the  government  in  Ore- 
gon, the  claims  of  settlers  still  keeping  in  advance  of 
the  United  States  surveys. 

To  the  legislature  of  1862  was  submitted  a  Code  of 
Civil  Procedure,  with  some  general  laws  concerning 
corporations,  partnerships,  public  roads,  and  other 
matters,  prepared  by  a  commission  consisting  of 
Dcady,  Gibbs,  and  Kelly,  which  was  accepted  with 
some  slight  amendments;  and  an  act  was  then  pas.sed 
authorizuig  Deady  to  complete  the  code  and  re[)ort 
at  the  next  session.  This  was  done,  and  the  code 
completed  was  accepted  in  1864,  but  four  members 
voting  against  it  on  the  final  ballot,  and  they  upon 
the  ground  of  the  absence  of  a  provision  prohibiting 

"//.  Ex.  Doc,  i.,  pt  6,  140-60,  45th  cong.  3d  sess  ;  Victor' »  Or.,  98; 
JV.M/t'.s  Or.,  103;  NorJhoff,  K  Cat.,  211;  Dept  Aijrir.  Rfjit,  1875,  331;  Ash- 
land TidiiiyH,  Nov.  10,  1877;  Cong.  Globe,  1870-7,  137;  1877-8,  32. 


60* 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


persons  other  than  white  men  from  giving  evidence 
in  the  courts. 

The  subject  of  the  equality  of  the  races  had  not 
lost  its  importance.  The  legislature  of  1862,  accord- 
ing to  the  spirit  of  the  constitution  of  Oregon,  which 
declared  that  the  legislative  assembly  should  provide 
by  penal  codes  for  the  removal  of  negroes  and  mulat- 
toes  from  the  state,  and  for  their  eflfectual  exclusion, 
enacted  that  each  and  every  negro,  Chinaman,  Ha- 
waiian, and  mulatto  residing  within  the  limits  of  the 
state  should  pay  an  annual  poll-tax  of  five  dollars,  or 
failing  to  do  so  should  be  arrested  and  put  to  work 
upon  the  public  highway  at  fifty  cents  a  day  until  the 
tax  and  the  expenses  of  the  arrest  and^^  collection 
were  discharged.** 

By  the  constitution  of  Oregon,  Chinamen  not  resi- 
dents of  the  sscate  at  the  time  of  its  adoption  were 
forever  prohibited  from  holding  real  estate  or  mining 
claims  therein.  By  several  previous  acts  they  had 
been  "taxed  and  protected"  in  mining  as  a  means  of 
revenue,  the  tax  growing  more  oppressive  with  each 
enactment,  and  as  the  question  of  Chinese  immigra- 
tiou'''  was  more  discussed,  the  law  of  18G2  being  in- 
tended to  put  a  check  upon  it.  All  former  laws 
relating  to  mining  by  the  Chinese  having  been  re- 
pealed by  a  general  act  in  1864,  the  legislature  of 
1866  passed  another,  the  general  features  of  which 
were   that   no  Chinamen   not   born   in  the    United 

"Or.  Gen.  Laws,  1845,  64;  Or.  Code,  1862,  app.  76-7. 

**  Since  the  Chinese  question  is  presented  at  length  in  another  portion  of 
this  work,  it  will  not  be  considereil  in  this  place.  In  Oregon,  an  in  Califoiiiia, 
there  was  much  discussion  of  the  problem  of  the  probable  cflfcct  of  Cliiiu  .so 
immigration  and  labor  on  the  iiflFairs  of  the  western  side  of  the  continent;  anil 
occasionally  an  outbreak  against  them  occurred,  though  no  riots  of  importiiiice 
have  taken  place  in  this  state.  During  the  period  of  railway  building  thiy 
were  imported  in  larger  numbers  than  over  before.  Tlie  Oregon  newspapers 
have  never  earnestly  entered  into  the  arguments  for  and  against  Chinese  iiii- 
n^igration,  as  the  California  papers  have  done.  The  Or.  DeiUnche  Zeiluinj  lias 
published  some  articles  in  favor  of  it,  and  an  occasional  article  in  opposition 
has  ajipeared  in  various  journals:  but  there  had  not  been  any  violent  auitii- 
tiou  on  the  subject  up  to  the  year  1881.  See  Bois6  Statesman,  April  20,  lS(i7; 
Or.  Lfqisl.  Doc.n,  1870,  doc.  11,  5-9;  Or.  Laws,  1870,  103-5;  Eugetie  i'Uy 
JonrmI,  March  14,  18G8;  S.  F.  Call,  Oct.  21,  1868;  McMinnville  Courier, 
Sept.  18,  1868;  S.  F.  Times,  Sept.  2, 18G8,  Jan.  18, 18tii>;  Or.  DeutaclieJitUmg, 
July  17,  1869. 


CHINAMEN  AND  NEGROES. 


665 


States  should  mine  in  Oregon,  except  by  paying  four 
dollars  per  quarter,  upon  receiving  a  license  from  the 
sheriff;  failing  in  the  payment  of  which  the  sheriff 
might  seize  and  sell  his  property.  Any  person  em- 
jiloying  Chinamen  to  work  in  the  mines  was  liable  for 
this  tax  on  all  so  employed.  Chinamen  complying 
with  the  law  should  be  protected  the  same  as  citizens 
of  the  United  States;  and  twenty  per  cent  of  such 
revenue  should  go  to  the  state."  * 

With  the  laws  against  negroes  the  hand  of  the  gen- 
eral government  was  destined  to  interfere,  first  by  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  all  United  States  territory,  and 
finally  when  citizenship  and  the  right  of  suffrage  were 
extended  to  the  colored  race.  The  resolution  of  con- 
gress providing  for  the  amendment  to  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States  abolishing  slavery  was  passed 
February  1,  1865.  By  the  23d  of  September  seven- 
teen states  had  adopted  the  amendment.  Secretary 
Seward  wrote  to  Governor  Gibbs  asking  for  a  decis- 
ion, to  obtain  which  the  legislature  was  convened  at 
Salem  on  the  5th  of  December  ^^  by  a  call  of  the 

'^  Or.  Laws,  1866,  41-6.  In  1861  the  revenue  to  the  state  from  the  tax  on 
Chinamen  waa  S^-'O-'-J,  collected  in  the  counties  of  Jauksou  and  Josephine;  or 
a  total  of  $10,785,  which  shows  a  mining  population  in  those  two  counties  of 
about  900.  Or.  Jour.  House,  1802,  ap.  05-6. 

"'This  was  the  same  elected  in  1864,  and  had  held  their  regular  session  in 
September  and  October  of  that  year.  It  consisted  of  the  following  members — 
(Senate:  Baker  and  Umatilla  counties,  James  M.  I'yle;  Benton,  A.  O.  Ilovey; 
Coos,  Curry,  and  Douglas,  G.  S.  Hinsdale;  Clatsop,  Columbia,  Washington, 
and  Tillamook,  Thos  K.  Cornelius;  Clackamas,  H.  \V.  Eddy;  Douglas,  James 
Watson;  Jackson,  Jacob  Wagner;  Josephine,  C.  M.  Caldwell;  Lane,  C.  E. 
Clirisman  and  S.  B.  Cranston;  Linn,  Bartlctt  Curl  and  D.  W.  Ballard;  Marion, 
John  W.  Grim  and  William  Greenwood;  Multnomah,  J.  H.  Mitchell;  Polk, 
John  A.  Frazer;  Wasco,  L.  Donnel;  Yamhill,  Joel  Palmer. 

House:  Baker  county,  Samuel  Colt  and  Daniel  Chaplin;  Benton,  J.  Quinn 
Thornton  and  James  Gingles;  Coos  and  Curry,  Isaac  Hacker;  Clatsop,  C'o- 
lunibia,  and  Tillamook,  P.  \V.  Gillette;  Clackamas,  E.  S.  .S.  Fisher,  H.  W. 
Shipley,  and  Owen  Wade;  Douglas,  E.  W.  Otey,  P.  C.  Parker,  ami  A. 
Iieland;  Jackson,  James  D.  Fay,  T.  F.  Beall,  and  vV.  F.  Songer;  Josephine, 
Isaac  Cox;  Lane,  G.  Callison,  J.  B.  Underwood,  and  A.  McCornack;  Linn, 
Robert  Glass,  J.  N.  Perkins,  J.  P.  Tate,  and  H.  A.  McCartney;  Marion,  I. 
R.  Moores,  J.  C.  Cartwright,  J.  J.  Murphy,  and  H.  L.  Turner;  Multnomah, 
1*.  Wasserman,  L.  H.  Wakefield,  and  John  Powell;  Polk,  James  S.  Ilolman, 
('.  LafoUet;  Umatilla,  L,  F,  Lane;  Wasco,  A.  J.  Borland;  Washiugton, 
W.  Bowlby  and  D.  O.  Quick;  Yamhill,  Geo.  W.  Lawson  and  H.  Warren. 
The  place  of  Wade  was  filled  in  1865  by  Arthur  Warner;  the  place  of  Lafol- 
li  t  by  Isaac  Smith;  the  place  of  Henry  Warren  by  J.  M.  Pierce.  Borland 
V  as  absent,  and  had  no  substitute.  Or.  Jour.  IJowte,  1864  and  1865;  Or.  Jour, 
Hciuite,  1864;  NcUiotial  AluMuac,  1864. 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


executive.  The  mcssaj;e  of  Governor  Gibbs  was  din^- 
nified  and  argumentative  in  favor  of  the  abolition  of 
slavery.  It  was  impossible  to  get  a  unanimous  vote 
in  favor  of  the  measure,  on  account  of  the  democratic 
members  who  had  been  elected  by  the  disunion  ele- 
ment. The  amendment  was,  however,  adopted,  with 
only  seven  dissenting  votes  in  both  houses,"  by  a  joint 
resolution,  on  the  11th  of  December,  and  the  decision 
telegraphed  to  Washington. 

When  the  fourteenth  amendment  was  presented  to 
another  Oregon  legislature  in  the  following  year,  it  was 
adopted  with  even  less  debate,  and  the  clauses  of  tlie 
constitution  of  Oregon  which  discriminated  against 
the  negro  as  a  citizen  of  the  state  were  thereby  made 
nugatory.*^ 

The  remainder  of  the  political  history  of  Oregon 
will  be  brief,  and  chiefly  biographical.  The  republican 
party  of  the  United  States  in  1864  again  elected 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  be  president.  Oregon's  majority 
was  over  fourteen  hundred.  At  the  state  election  of 
this  year  J.  H.  D.  Henderson^  was  elected  re[)re- 

" Gibbs  says,  in  hia  Notes  on  Or.  Hut.,  MS.,  25,  that  'every  republican 
except  one  voted  for  it,  and  every  democrat  againat  it.' 

^*See  Or.  Jour.  Semite,  1800,  -Jj,  20,  27,  31,  34,  3J,  56,  58,  61.  Tbe  state 
senate  in  1806,  in  addition  toCranaton,  Cornelius,  DonncU,  llinsdalo,  I'aliiur, 
Pyle,  and  Watson,  who  held  over,  consisted  of  the  following  newly  rlictcd 
members:  Benton  county,  J.  R.  Bayley;  Baker,  S.  Ison;  Clackamas,  W.  ('. 
Johnson;  Grant,  L.  O.  Sterns;  Linn,  R.  H.  Crawford,  William  Cyrus; 
Lane,  H.  C.  Huston;  Marion,  Samuel  Brown,  J.  C  Cartwright;  Mnltnojiiali, 
J.  N.  Dolph,  David  Powell;  Polk,  W.  D.  Jeffries;  Umatilla,  N.  Ford. 
House:  Baker,  A.  0    Loring;  Baker  and  Union,  VV.  C.  Hindman;   Benton, 

F.  A.  Chcnoweth,  James  Gingles;  Clackamas,  J.  D.  Locey,  J.  D.  Garrett,  \V. 
A.  Starkweather;  Clatsop,  Columbia,  and  Tillamook,  Cyrus  Olney;  Coos  iind 
Curry,  F.  G.  Lockliart;  Douglas,  B.  Herman,  James  Cole,  M.  M.  Alelvin;  Jack- 
eon,  E.  D.  Fouilray,  Giles  Welles,  John  E.  Ross;  Josephine,  Isaac (.!ox;  Mult- 
nomah, W.  W.  Upton,  A.  Rosenheim,  J.  P.  Garlick,  John  S.  Wiiitc;  M.i:  i.ui, 
J.  I.  O.  Nicklin,  W.  E.  Parris,  C.  B.  Roland,  B.  A.  VVitzel,  L.  S.  Davis;  Pok, 
J.  Stouffer,  J.  J.  Dempsey,  William  Hall;  Grant,  Thos  H.  Brents,  M.  M. 
McKean;  Union,  James  Hcndershott;  Umatilla,  T.  W.  Avery,  H.  A.  (lilir; 
Wasco,  O.  Humason,  F.  T.  Dodac;  Yamhill,  J.  Lamson,  R.  B.  Lau!,'li!iii; 
Lane,  John  Whiteakcr,  J.  E.  P.  Withers,  R.  B.  Cochran;  Linn,  E.  B.  Mooie, 

G.  R.  Helm,  J.  Q.  A.  Worth,  J.  R.  South,  W.  C.  Baird;  Washington,  G.  0. 
Day,  A.  Hinman.  Or.  Jour.  Henate,  1863. 

**  Henderson  was  a  Virginian  aiul  a  Cumberland  presbyterian  minister,  a 
modest  and  sensible  man  of  brains.  Ho  came  to  Oregon  in  1851  or  1852,  and 
resided  at  Eugene,  where  he  was  principal  of  an  academy  and  clerk  iu  the 
surveyor-general's  office.  Deady's  Scrap-Book,  77. 


DEMOCRATS  AND  REPUBLICANS. 


667 


sentative  to  congress ;  J.  F.  Gazloy,  George  L.  Woods, 
ami  H.  N.  George,  presidential  electors.  The  sen- 
ate chose  George  H.  Williams  tor  the  six  years'  terra 
in  the  United  States  senate,  bemniiing  in  March  18G5. 

With  the  close  of  the  war  ibr  the  union  the  |)oliti- 
cal  elements  began  gradually  to  reshape  themselves, 
many  of  the  union  party  who  had  been  Douglas  deuio- 
crats  before  the  war  resuming  their  place  in  the  demo- 
cratic ranks  when  the  danger  of  disunion  was  [)ast.  To 
the  returning  ascendency  of  the  democratic  [)arty  the 
rei)ublicans  contributed  by  contests  for  place  among 
themselves.  In  18GG  A.  C.  Gibbs  and  J.  li.  Mitch- 
ell were  both  aspirants  I'or  the  se!Kitorshi[),  but 
Gibbs  received  the  nomination  in  the  caucus  of  the 
republican  members  of  the  legislature.  Opposed  to 
him  was  Joseph  S.  Smith,  democratic  nominee.  The 
balloting  was  long  continued  witliout  an  election, 
owing  to  the  defection  of  three  members  whose  votes 
had  been  pledged.  When  it  became  apparent  that 
no  election  could  be  had,  the  name  of  H.  W,  Cor- 
bett  was  substltued  for  that  of  Gibbs,  and  Corbett 
was  elected  on  the  sixteenth  ballot.  Corbett  was 
not  much  known  in  i^olitics  except  as  an  unconditional 
union  man.  Personally  he  was  not  objectionable.  He 
labored  tor  the  credit  of  his  state,  and  endeavored 
to  sustain  republican  measures  by  introducing  and 
laboring  for  bills  that  promoted  public  improvements." 

In  18G8  the  legislature  had  returned  to  something 
like  its  pre-rebellion  status,"*  passing  a  resolution  in 
both  houses  requesting  senators  Williams  and  Cor- 
bett to  resign  for  having  supported  the  reconstruc- 
tion acts.*^  The  senate  of  the  United  States  returned 
the  resolution  to  both  houses  of  the  Oregon  legisla- 

** Henry  W.  Corlwtt  was  bom  at  Westboro,  Mass.,  Feb.  18,  1827;  received 
an  academic  cihication,  and  engaged  in  niercantilo  pur.uiits,  first  in  New  York, 
and  then  in  Portland  in  1S4!>,  where  he  acquired  a  handsome  fortune.  He 
was  an  ardent  unionist  from  the  first.  Conrf.  JJirrctory,  31,  40th  cong.  '2d  sess. 

*" There  were  1.3  democrats  and  J)  republicans  in  tho  senate,  and  17  republi- 
cans and  30  democrats  in  the  house.  Camp's  Vear-Bojk,  1809,  T.'jS. 

"See  Williams'  speech  of  Feb.  4, 1868;  Or.  Jour.  Howte,  1868, 123-5;  Or. 
Laws,  1868,  97-8. 


668 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRLAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


ture  by  a  vote  of  126  to  SS.**  Williams  and  his  col- 
league secured  a  grant  of  land  for  the  construction  of 
a  railroad  from  Portland  to  the  Central  Pacific  rail- 
road in  California,  for  which  they  received  the  plaudits 
of  the  people,  and  especially  of  southern  Oregon. 
When  the  senatorial  term  of  the  former  expired  he 
was  appointed  attorney-general  of  the  United  Statos, 
and  afterward  chief  justice,  but  withdrew  his  name, 
and  retired  to  private  life  in  Portland. 

In  18G6  George  L.  Woods  was  elected  governor  in 
opposition  to  James  K.  Kelly.  To  avenge  this  injury 
to  an  (ild-line  democrat,  the  legislature  of  1868  ""  con- 
spired to  pass  a  bill  redistricting  the  state  so  as  to 
increase  the  democratic  representation  in  certain  sec- 
tions and  decrease  the  republican  representation  in 

"The  resolution  of  censure  just  mentioned  originated  in  the  house.  The 
senate  ut  t!ic  same  session  passed  a  resolution  rescinding  the  action  of  t.ie 
lur^itihiturc  of  13(i(>  assenting  to  tlio  fourteenth  amendment,  whicli  resolution 
was  adopted  by  the  huuse.  Or.  Jour.  Senate,  1SC3,  3i-6.  The  net  was  oiu;  of 
political  eumiuy  merely,  as  the  legislature  of  18GS  had  no  power  to  annul  :v 
compact  entered  into  for  the  state  by  any  previous  legislative  body.  Tlie 
senate  of  Oregon  assumed,  however,  than  any  state  had  a  right  to  withdraw 
ii;)  to  the  moment  of  ratilication  by  three  foui'ths  of  all  the  states;  and  that 
the  states  of  Arkan.'wis,  P'hirida,  Louisiana,  Alabama,  South  Carolina,  and 
Georgia  were  created  by  a  military  despotism  against  the  will  of  the  lc,;,':d 
voters  <jf  those  statos,  and  consef|ueutly  that  the  acts  of  their  legislatures 
were  not  legal,  and  di<l  not  ratify  the  fourteenth  amendment.  The  secretary 
of  state  for  Oiegoii  was  directed  to  forward  certified  copies  of  the  resoluti(JU 
to  the  p'/esidcnt  and  secretary,  and  both  houses  of  congress.  But  nothing 
appeal's  i;i  the  proceedings  of  either  to  sliow  that  the  document  ever  reached 
its  destination. 

'"Senate:  liaker  county,  S.  Ison;  Washington,  Columbia,  Clatsop,  and 
Tillamook,  T.  R.  Cornelius;  Benton,  J.  R.  Bayley;  Umatilla,  N.  Ford; 
Clackamas,  I).  P.  Thompson;  Union,  James  Hcndershott;  Douglas,  Coos, 
and  Curry,  B.  Herman,  C.  M.  Pershbaker;  Josephine,  B.  F.  Holtzclaw; 
Yamhi.l,  S.  C.  Adams;  Jai^kaon,  J.  N.  T.  Miller;  Lane,  H.  C.  Huston,  R.  li. 
Cochran;  Linn,  Wm  Cyrus,  R.  H.  Crawford;  Marion,  Samuel  Miller,  Sam- 
uel Brown;  Alultnomah,  Liinsing  Stout;  Polk,  B.  F.  Burch,  president. 

Houac:  Baker,  R.  Beers;  Benton,  J.  C.  Alexander,  R.  A.  Bensal;  Baker 
and  Union,  D.  P  Benson;  Clackamas,  J.  Vv'.  Garrett,  D.  P.  Trullingci-; 
Coos  and  Curry,  R  -.hard  Pendergast;  Columbia,  Clatsop,  and  Tillamook,  \V. 
I).  Hoxtcr;  Dougl  «,  John  G.  Flook,  James  F.  Gaziey,  James  Applegate; 
Grant,  R.  W.  Ncl'  Thomas  E.  Gray;  Jackson,  J.  B.  White,  Thomas  Smith, 
J.  L.  Louden;  Josi  ine,  Isaac  Cox;  Lane,  John  Whitoaker,  H.  H.  Gilfrcv, 
E.  N.  Tandy;  Linn  ^ohn  T.  Crooks,  John  Bryant,  B.  B.  Johnson,  W.  F. 
Alexander,  T.  J.  Sti  ■';  Marion,  John  F.  Denny,  J.  B.  Lichtenthaler,  T.  W. 
Davenport,  John  Mi  o,  David  Simpson;  Multnomah,  W.  W.  Chapman,  T. 
A.  Davis,  James  Po  ell,  J.  S.  Scoggins;  Polk,  R.  J.  Grant,  F.  Waymiie, 
Ira  S.  Townsend;  U  atilla,  A.  L.  Kirk;  Union,  H.  Rhiueliart;  Wasco,  D. 
W.  Butler,  George  J.  Ryan;  Washington,  John  A.  Taylor,  Edward  Jackson; 
Yamhill,  W.  W.  Brown,  G.  W.  Burnett;  speaker,  John  Whiteaker.  Or. 
Jour.  HeiicUe,  1868,  4-5;  Or.  Jour.  Home,  1808,  4-5. 


LEGISLATURE  AND  ELECTIONS.  tMI 

others,  having  for  its  object  the  election  of  a  demo- 
cratic United  States  senator  in  1870;  and  further,  to 
recount  the  gubernatorial  vote  of  18GG,  to  count  out 
Woods  and  place  Kelly  in  the  office  of  governor. 
This  return  to  the  practices  of  the  'political  zouaves' 
of  the  days  of  the  Salem  clique,  amounting  in  this 
case  to  revolution,  was  thwarted  by  the  republican 
minority  under  the  direction  of  Woods.  In  order  to 
carry  their  points,  the  democrats  endeavored  to  pro- 
long the  session  beyond  the  constitutional  forty  days, 
by  deferring  the  general  appropriation  bill,  and  did  so 
prolong  it  to  the  forty-third  day,  when  fifteen  rej)ub- 
licans  resigned  in  a  body,  leaving  the  house  without 
a  quorum,  and  unable  to  pass  even  a  bill  to  pay  their 
])er  diem.  In  this  dilemn)a,  they  demanded  that  the 
governor  should  issue  writs  of  election  to  make  a 
quorum ;  but  this  was  refused  as  unconstitutional  after 
tlie  forty  days  were  passed,  and  the  house,  without 
the  power  even  to  adjourn,  fell  in  pieces.** 

The  representative  to  congress  elected  in  18G6  was 
Rufus  Mallory,  republican,  who  defeated  his  opponent, 
James  D.  Fay,  by  a  majority  of  six  hundred.*^ 

In  1868  the  republican  candidate,  David  Logan, 
was  beaten  by  Joseph  S.  Smith,  whose  majority  was 
nearly  twelve  hundred,"'' owing  partly  to  the  unpop- 
ular standing  of  Logan  even  with  his  own  party,**  as 

^'>0r.  Jour.  House,  1868,  527-54;  Wood's  Recollecliom,  MS.,  35-8. 

*' Rufus  Mallory  was  a  native  of  Coventry,  N.  Y.,  born  January  10,  1831. 
He  received  an  academic  education,  and  studied  and  practised  law.  lie  waa 
(list  atty  in  the  Ist  jud.  dist  in  Oregon  in  18G0,  and  in  the  .3d  jiid.  dist  from 
1;5C2  to'lSCO;  and  was  a  member  of  the  state  leg.  in  18G2.  ('on(jr'.s.i.  JJimiori/, 
40th  conj^.  2d  sess.,  p.  31.  James  D.  Fay  married  a  daugliter  of  Jesse  Apple- 
gate.  His  habits  were  bad,  and  he  committed  suicide  at  Coos  Bay.  He  waa 
talented,  erratic,  and  unprincipled. 

"'Smith  came  to  Oregon  in  1847,  and  preached  as  a  minister  of  the  meth- 
odist  church.  After  the  gold  discoveries  and  the  change  in  the  condition  of 
tlio  country,  ho  abandoned  preaching  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
1852.  He  was  in  1864  ag'>nt  for  the  Salem  Manufacturing  Company,  in 
which  ho  was  a  large  stockholder.  He  is  described  as  a  reserved  man,  not 
much  read  in  elementary  law,  but  an  acute  reasoner  and  subtle  disputant. 
Jh'udji's  Scrap- Book,  81. 

•''The  federal  officers  in  Oregon  in  1868  were:  district  judge,  Matthew  P. 
Deady;  marshal,  Albert  Zeiber;  clerk,  Ralph  Wilcox;  collector  of  the  port 
of  Astoria,  Alanson  Hinman;  surveyor-general,  Elisha  Applegate;  register  of 
laud-ofiice,  Roseburg,  John  Kelly  (A.  R.  Flint,  receiver);  register,  Oregon 


670 


POUTICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


was  shown  Lj  the  presidential  vote  in  the  followlnt^ 
November,  which  gave  a  democratic  majority  of  only 
IGO  for  presidential  electors  out  of  22,000  votes  cat«t 
by  the  state. 

Ill  1870  L.  F.  Grover,  who  ever  since  1864  had 
been  president  of  the  democratic  organization  of  the 
state,  was  elected  governor  of  Oregon,  with  S,  F. 
Ciiadwick  as  secretary."* 

The  legislature  of  1870,  following  the  example  of 
its  immediate  predecessor, rejected  thefifteenth  amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  which 
extended  the  elective  franchise  to  negroes.  Uie  man- 
ner of  the  rejection  was  similar  to  that  of  the  rescind- 
ing resolutions  of  1808,  and  like  them,  a  mere  impo- 
tent expression  of  the  rebellious  sentiments  of  the 
ultra-democratic  party  in  Oregon.®^  It  had  no  effect 
to  prev  'nt  negroes  in  Oregon  from  voting,  of  whom 
there  vvere  at  this  time  less  than  350.  It  also,  in 
obedience  to  party  governnjent,  provided  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  three  connnissioners  to  investigate  tlio 
official  conduct  of  the  state  officers  of  the  previous  ad- 
ministration, succeeding  in  discovering  a  defalcation 
by    Secretary    IMay    of    several    thousand    dollars,"" 

City,  Owen  Wailo  (Henry  Warren,  receiver);  supt  Ind.  aff.,  J.  W.  !'. 
Hiiiitinyton;  chief  clerk  Iiul.  dept,  C  >S.  Wooilworth;  assessorint.  rev.,Tlii>iii.i.s 
Frazur;  collector  int.  rev.,  Medoruni  Crawford;  deputy  assessor,  Willi„iii 
Grooms;  deputy  col.,  Kdwin  IJackenstos. 

The  dLstrict  judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  Oregon  nt  this  time,  l>cy;iiiniii^' 
•with  the  northern  districts,  were:  4tli  dist,  W.  W.  Upton;  r)th  (list,  ,1.  (1. 
Wison  (east  of  the  Cascade  nite);  Sd  tlist,  11.  P.  IJoisc;  '2d  dist,  A.  .\. 
iSkinner;  1st  dist,  l*.  1*.  I'rini.  The  dist  attys  in  the  same  order  wise 
M.  1''.  Mulk(!V,  James  11.  Slater,  P.  (.'.  Sullivan,  J.  F.  Watson,  J.  ]{.  Nid. 
iUcC<)rmirlc'.t  'I'orllniid  J)ii:,  1S08,  100;  Cnm/i'M  Yin r- Honk;  1801),  4:14. 

"'  L.  Flei.schner  was  elected  treasurer,  W.  P.  Boise  was  reelected  ju.l;.'i', 
and  A.  .1.  Ti.  .yer  and  L.  L.  AleArthur  to  succeed  Skinner  anil  Wilson.  M., 
app.  II. 

^Oi:  Lmrt,  1870,  190-1;  Sen.  MUc  Dock,  50,  4l8t  cong.  .3d  sess.;  (.mc. 
Iiltx'nqc,  in  i>i\  Lfijin.  Dorn,  1870,  doc.  II,  p.  !(. 

■"•Tlie  investigation  lasted  a  year,  at  $5  jier  day  each  to  the  commissioui'in 
for  the  time  necessarily  employed  in  making  the  investigation.  They  hroimlit 
iu  a  report  against  May,  and  also  some  absurd  charges  that  the  governor  li.iil 
made  more  visits  to  the  penitentiary  than  his  duty  re(]uircd,  at  the  cxpciiso 
of  the  state,  with  other  insignificant  matters.  They  discovered  that  ('.  A. 
liced,  the  adjutant-general  of  the  militi'i  organization,  had  purchaseil  two^^nlil 
pens,  not  needed,  his  ollice  being  abolisiied  by  the  same  body  which  idin- 
luis.Mioned  them,  at  iin  expense  of  $|.")  a  <lay,  to  discover  these  two  pens, 

Legislati^"  ussendily  of    1870— Senate:    Bukur  county,    A.    II.    Uruwit; 


FINANCES. 


671 


tbrou^ii  embezzlement  of  the  five-per-cent  fund  before 
meutioned. 

When  Governor  Grover  came  into  office  he  found 
the  treasur}^  containing  sufficient  funds,  loss  some 
$G,000,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  state's  affiiirs  for 
the  next  two  vears.  The  legislature  at  once  made  an 
appropriation  to  build  the  penitentiary  in  a  permanent 
form,  and  appropriated  money  from  the  five-i)cr-cciit 
I'lmd  for  the  construction  of  a  steamboat  canal  with 
locks,  at  the  falls  of  the  Willamette.  A  small  amount 
was  also  devoted  to  the  orijanization  of  the  aijricultu- 
ral  college,  thereby  securing  the  land  grant  belonging 
to  it.  The  legislature  of  1872  passed  an  act  provid- 
ing for  the  construction  of  a  state  capitol,  and  appro- 
priated $  I  Ovl.OOO  to  be  set  apart  by  the  treasurer, 
to  be  designated  as  the  state-house  building  fund ;  but 
for  the  purpose  of  providing  funds  for  immediate  use, 
the  treasurer  was  authorized  to  transfer  $50,000  from 
the  soldiers'-bounty  fund  to  the  building  fund,  that 
ihc  work  might  be  begun  without  delay.  The  some 
logi.ilature  passed  an  act  organizing  and  locating  the 
state  university  at  Eugene  City,  on  condition  that  a 
site  and  building  were  furnished  by  the  Union  Uni- 

Donglas,  L,  F.  Mosher;  Coos  and  Curry,  C.  M.  Poralibaker;  Jackson 
Jiiinea  D.  Fay;  Josephine,  15.  F.  HoUzclaw;  Lniic,  A.  \V.  I'attcrson,  li. 
IS.  Coeliran;  Linn,  Lnooh  Hoiilt,  II.  11.  Crawfonl;  Marion,  Siininul  llrown, 
JoliM  II.  Moorcs;  Mul/nouiali,  Lansing  Stout,  Daviil  I'owcU;  (Jlackanias,  I). 
I'.  'I'lionipson;  I'olk,  K  F.  Hiirch;  (.Jrant,  J.  W.  Iklilwin;  I'niatilla.  T.  T. 
LiiMiallcn;  Union,  J.  ilondcniliotti  \Va«co,  Victor  Trevitt;  Washington,  ('o- 
luiubia,  Clatsop,  ami  Tilhuncmk,  T.  R.  Cornelius;  Vanihill,  W.  'I'.  Ncwhy; 
lionlon,  K.  S.  Strahan.  I'resiiU'nt,  Junies  D.  Fay;  clerks,  Syi.  C.  Simpson 
and  Orlando  M.  I'ackurd. 

House:  Ilakcr,  II.  I'orter;  liidter  and  Union,  J.  R.  Mcl.rfiin;  Benton,  I>. 
Carlish!,  W.  U.  Calloway  ClacUat>ii)s,  I'l^ter  I'atjiu't,  \V  A.  JStarkwcather,  .1. 
'1'.  Appcrson;  Clatsop,  Colnndjiu,  and  'i'iilaniook,  ('yrua  Ulncy;  Coos  and 
Curry,  F.  C  Lockhart;  Douglas,  .Ianii,<C.  Hutchinson,  (!.  M.  Caldwell,  .I.C. 
l>rain;  Crant,  J,  M.  McCoy,  W.  II.  Clark;  Jackson,  Jackson  Kader,  James 
Wells,  A.  J.  Burnett;  Lane,  John  AVhitcaker,  (J.  H.  l>orris,  James  F.  Amis; 
Liim,  W.  F.  Alexander,  (i.  U.  Helm,  Thomas  Munkers,  Joim  Ostrander,  VV. 
S.  Flkins;  Marion,  T.  W.  l)a\cnport,  I*.  1'.  Karhart,  J.  M.  Harrison,  (J.  1*. 
llolman,  W.  R.  Dunbar;  MuUnonnth,  J.  W.  Whalley,  Dan.  O'Kegan,  \j.  P. 
W.  Quimby,  John  C.  Carson;  I'olk,  B.  Haydeii,  U,  J.  tJrant,  W.  Conn'gys; 
I'niou,  J.  T.  Hunter;  Umatilla,  Johnson  Tliomimon,  F.  A.  Da  Sheill;  Wash- 
ington, W.  D.  Hare,  W.  A.  Mdls;  Wasco,  James  Fulton,  O.  S.  Savage; 
Yandiill,  Al.  Hussey,  Leo  Loughlin.  Speaker,  Ben  Hayden;  clerks,  1-].  S. 
McComns,  John  Costcllo,  W.  L.  White,  and  John  T.  Crooks.  Or,  Jour.  Ulen- 
ali;  1870,  4-0,  lH;  JJirectorj/  I'm,  Coast,  1S71-3,  111. 


672 


POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


versity  Association ;  and  setting  apart  the  interest  on 
the  fund  arising  from  the  sale  of  seventy-two  sections 
of  land  donated  to  the  state  for  the  support  of  the 
university  for  the  payment  of  the  salaries  of  teachers 
and  officers. 

These  were  all  measures  important  to  the  welfare 
and  dignity  of  the  state,  and  gave  to  Grover's  admin- 
istration the  credit  of  having  the  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple at  heart.  An  agricultural  college  was  established 
by  simply  paying  for  the  tuition  of  twenty-three  pu- 
j)ils  at  an  ordinary  academy,  at  ordinary  academy 
charges.*'  A  university  was  established,  by  requiring 
the  town  where  it  was  located  to  furnish  a  site  and  a 
building,  and  paying  the  faculty  out  of  the  university 
fund.  The  Modoc  war,  also,  which  occurred  during 
Grover's  term  of  office,  added  some  consequence  to 
his  administration,  which,  excepting  that  of  Governor 
Gibbs,  was  the  most  busy,  for  good  or  evil,  of  any 
which  had  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  state.  In 
1874  Grover  was  reijlected,  over  J.  C.  Tolman,  repub- 
lican, and  T.  F.  Campbell,  independent."^ 

In  1872  the  republicans  in  the  legislature  elected 
John  H.  Mitchell  to  succeed  Corbett  in  the  U.  S. 
senate.     He  served  the  state  ably."" 

'Wr.  Oovfriwr's  Affiimge,  1872,  3-10;  Or.  Laws,  1872.  47-53;  Orovcr's 
Ptih.  Life  ill  Or.,  MS.,  72. 

*'(J!  rover'.'}  opponent  in  1870  was  Joel  Palmer,  who  was  not  fitted  for  the 
position,  being  past  his  prime.  In  1874  Grov«r's  majority  over  Tolmnii  was 
SJO.  Campbell  simply  divided  the  vote,  and  was  beaten  by  3, 181.  He  was 
a  preaciier  of  the  cliristian  church,  and  president  of  Monmouth  college,  of 
which  he  was  also  tho  founder,  and  which  became  a  prosperous  school. 

•''' Mitchell  was  born  in  I'enn.  Juno  22,  1835,  receiving  a  fair  cduciitimi, 
and  studying  law,  which  he  practised  in  his  native  state.  Appearing  in  Ore- 
gon in  184JO,  at  tho  moment  when  his  talents  and  active  loyalty  cuuld  be  iiunlc 
available,  !io  rapidly  rose  in  favor  with  his  party,  and  was  appointed  iuokl- 
cuting  attorney  for  tho  4th  iud.  dist,  in  phco  of  W.  W.  Pajje,  resigncil,  Imt 
declined,  and  in  1864  was  elected  state  senator.  From  this  time  ho  was  a 
leader  in  politics,  and  a  favorite  among  men,  having  many  pleosing  jiersmial 

Dualities.  After  having  been  chosen  senator,  a  scandal  was  discovered  wlii(  h 
isnuiyed  the  republicans  and  gave  the  independents  that  which  they  desired, 
a  strong  leverage  against  the  old  party,  which  was  split  in  consequence,  the 
tirencli  made  being  so  violent  that  at  tho  next  senatorial  election  they  lust 
the  battlo  to  the  democrats.  Mitchell  v.as  not  unseated,  however,  an  liad 
been  hoped.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  resumed  the  practice  of  tho 
law,  first  in  Washington  city,  and  later  in  Portland,  where  he  achieved  hia 
iiiiit  political  honors,  and  where  tiio  field  is  open  to  talent  to  distinguish  iudi. 


PECULATIONS. 


673. 


On  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  of  1876,  there 
being  a  United  States  senator  to  be  elected,  the  clioice 
lay  between  Jesse  Applegate  and  Grover.  The  first 
ballot  in  the  senate  gave  Applegate  seven  and  Grover 
twenty  votes,  with  two  votes  scattering.  The  first 
ballot  in  the  house  gave  twenty-seven  for  Applegate 
and  twenty-five  for  Grover,  with  seven  for  J.  W. 
Nesmith.  In  joint  convention  Nesmith  received  on 
some  ballots  as  many  as  fourteen  votes.  But  the 
democrats  were  chiefly  united  on  Grover  and  the  re- 
publicans on  Applegate;  and  at  length  the  friends  of 
Nesmith  gave  way,  that  the  candidate  of  their  party 
might  succeed,  and  Grover's  vote  rose  from  forty- two 
to  forty-eight,  by  which  he  was  elected.  In  Febru- 
ary 1877  he  resigned  the  oflfice  of  governor,  and  took 
his  place  in  the  U.  S.  senate,""  S.  F.  Chadwiek  suc- 
ceeding to  the  gubernatorial  office. 

In  the  mean  time  there  was  a  growing  uneasiness 
in  the  public  mind,  arising  from  the  conviction  that 
there  was  either  mismanagement  or  fraud,  or  both,  in 
the  state,  land,  and  other  departments,  and  the  legis- 
lature of  1878  appointed  a  joint  committee  to  examine 
into  the  transactions  of  the  various  offices  and  de- 
partments of  the  state  government.  The  commission 
published  its  report,  and  the  impression  got  abroad 
tliat  a  system  of  peculation  had  been  carried  on  for 
some  time  past,  in  which  serious  charges  were  made; 
but  notwithstanding  the  numerous  accusations  against 
tlio  several  state  officials,  there  was  not  sufficient  evi- 
dence to  prove  that  moneys  had  been  illegally  drawn 
from  the  public  funds.  Nevertheless,  the  administra- 
tion suftercd  in  reputation  in  consequence  of  the  re- 
port. The  scandal  created  was  doubtless  tinged  by 
|)artisan  spirit,  more  or  less.  The  improvement  in 
the  affair-4  of  the  government  was  suDstantial  and 
noteworthy,  and  at  a  later  date  credit  was  not  un- 

'•Soo  Sen.  Com.  Rept,  530,  548,  CGI,  627,  678,  44th  cong.  2<l  scss.;  also, 
Pioceedingio/the  Electonil  Commiinion,  and  Cowf.  OMx,  187^7,  74-5,209-10, 
ai'li.  132,  188,  192;  Portland  Oreyonian,  Jan.  27,  1S77. 
Hut.  Oh.i  Vol.  II.   48 


674         POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 

willingly  conceded  to  the  administration,  the  course 
of  which  had  been  temporarily  clouded  by  hurtful 
though  unsubstantiated  complaints.'^ 

The  elevation  of  Grover  to  the  U.  S.  senate  loft 
Stephen  F.  Chadwick  in  the  gubernatorial  chair,  which 
he  filled  without  cause  for  dissatisfaction  during  tho 
remainder  of  the  term.  During  Chadvvick's  adminis- 
tration eastern  Oregon  was  visited  by  an  Indian  war. 
During  this  interval  the  depredations  caused  wore 
verj''  severe,  and  the  loss  to  the  white  settlers  of  prop- 
erty was  immense,  a  full  history  of  which  will  be  in- 
cluded in  those  described  in  my  History  of  Washi7igton, 
Idaho,  and  Montana. 

One  by  one  the  former  democratic  aspirants  for 
place  reached  the  goal  of  their  desires.  Joseph  S. 
Smith  was  succeeded  in  congress  by  James  H.  Slator, 
who  during  the  period  of  the  rebellion  was  editor  of 
the  Corvallis  Union,  a  paper  that,  notwithstanding 
its  name,  advocated  disunion  so  as  to  bring  itself 
under  the  notice  of  the  government,  by  whose  author- 
ity it  was  suppressed.''* 

The  successor  of  Slater  was  Joseph  G.  Wilson ;' 
who  died  at  the  summer  recess  of  congress  in  1873. 
A  special  election  chose  J.  W.  Nesmith  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  who,  though  a  democratic  leader,  had  es- 
chewed some  of  th  >  practices  of  his  party,  if  not  the 

"  For  a  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  investigating  committee,  sie  Or. 
Legitil.  Docs,  1878;  Portland  Oreijonian,  Deo.  30,  1878. 

"James  H,  Slater  was  a  native  of  111.,  born  in  1827.  He  cnme  to  Cal.  in 
1840,  tind  thence  to  Oregon  in  1850,  residing  near  Corvallis,  where  ho  tauglit 
school  and  studied  law,  the  practica  of  which  he  commenced  in  I8.')8.  lie 
was  elected  to  the  legislature  several  times.  Ho  removed  to  eastern  Oi('j,'"n 
in  1802,  engaging  in  mining  for  a  time,  but  finally  settled  at  La  Grande.  Ash- 
land TidimjH,  Sept.  20,  1878. 

"  Wilson  was  horn  in  Now  Hampshire  Dec.  ].S,  1820,  the  son  of  a  (li.ssciit- 
ing  Scotch  presbyterian,  who  settled  in  Londonderry  in  1710.  His  piiiciits 
removed  to  Cincmnati  in  1820,  settling  afterward  near  Reading,  .Insipli 
receiving  his  education  at  Marietta  college,  from  which  he  graduuteil  witli 
the  degree  of  LL.  D.  Ho  cnturcMl  the  Cincinnati  law  school,  from  wliii  ii  lie 
graduated  in  1852  and  went  to  Oregon.  Ho  rose  step  by  step  to  be  conui'citi^- 
nan.  His  wife  was  KliKaboth  Millar,  daughter  of  Rev.  James  P.  Millar  of 
Allmny,  a  talented  and  cultivateil  lady,  who,  after  her  husbantl's  unliintly 
death,  rcocivod  a  comiuissiou  as  postmaster  at  The  Dalles,  which  she  held 
for  many  yeura. 


CONGRESSMAN  AND  GOVERNOR. 


675 


love  of  office.  His  majority  was  nearly  2,000  over 
his  opponent,  Hiram  Smith.  He  was  in  turn  suc- 
ceeded by  George  La  Dow,'*  a  man  little  known  in 
the  state,  and  who  would  not  have  received  the  nom- 
ination but  for  the  course  of  the  Oregonian  in  making 
a  division  in  the  republican  ranks  and  running  Rich- 
ard Williams,  while  the  regular  party  ran  T.  W. 
Davenport.  The  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  La 
Dow  was  filled  by  La  Fayette  Lane,  specially  elected 
October  25,  1875.  At  the  next  regular  election,  in 
1876,  Richard  Williams'^  received  a  majority  of  votes 
for  representative  to  congress,  serving  from  March 
1877  to  March  1879.  He  was  succeeded  by  ex-Gov- 
crnor  John  Whiteaker,  democrat,  and  he  by  M.  C 
George,  republican,  who  has  been  returned  the  sec- 
ond time. 

In  1878  the  republicans  again  lost  their  choice  for 
governor  by  division,  and  C.  C.  Beekman  was  defeated 
by  W.  W.  Thayer,'®  who  was  followed  by  Z.  F. 
Moody  '^  in  1882.     The  U.  S.  senator  elected  in  1882, 


'•George  A.  La  Dow  was  born  in  Cayuga co.,  N.  Y.,  March  18,  1826.  His 
father  cinigrate<l  to  111.  1839,  where  George  was  educated  for  the  practice  of 
law.  Subsequently  settling  in  Wisconsin,  he  was  elected  dist  atty  for  Wau- 
paca CO.  In  1 S69  he  came  to  Oregon  and  settled  in  Umatilla  co. ,  being  elected 
representative  in  1872.  iS.  /'.  Examiner,  in  Salem  SditeMtndn,  June  13,  1874. 

"llichard  Williams  was  a  son  of  Elijah  Williams,  a  pioneer.  Ho  was  a 
young  man  of  irreproachable  character  and  goud  talents,  a  lawyer  by  profes- 
sion, who  had  been  appointed  dist  atty  in  1807.  6'.  /'.  Call,  March  24,  lS(i7. 

"  W.  W.  Thayer,  a  brother  of  A,  J.  Thayer,  was  born  at  Lima,  N.  Y., 
.luly  15,  1827.  Ho  received  a  common-school  education,  and  studied  law, 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  sup.  ct  at  lloehester,  in  Marcli  1851.  Ho 
subsequently  practised  at  Tonawanda  and  Bufl'alo,  until  1862,  when  lie  cnmo 
to  Oregon,  intending  to  settle  at  Corvallis.  The  mining  excitement  of  I  HG.'i 
drew  him  to  Idaho;  he  remained  at  Lewiston  till  1807,  wlien  lie  returned  to 
Oregon  and  settled  in  East  Portland,  forming  a  law  partnership  with  Richard 
Williams.  He  was  a  meml)er  of  the  Idaho  legislature  in  1800,  and  wn°  »''■'» 
dist  atty  of  the  3d  jud.  (list.  During  his  administration  as  gtr.crnor,  the 
Htate  debt,  which  had  accumulated  under  the  previous  administration,  was 
iiaid,  and  the  financial  condition  of  the  state  rendered  sound  and  healtiiy. 
The  insane  asylum  was  commenced  with  Tliayer  as  one  of  a  Ixmrd  of  com- 
iiiissioncrB,  an<l  was  abont  completed  when  his  t(>rm  expired.  It  is  an  impos- 
ing brick  structure,  capable  of  accommodating  400  or  5(X), 

"  Zenas  Ferry  Mootly  was  a  republican  of  New  England  and  revolutionary 
(itock,  and  has  not  been  without  pioneer  experiences,  coming  to  Oregon  in 
1S5I.  He  was  one  of  the  first  U.  8.  surveying  party  which  established  tiie 
initial  point  of  the  Willamette  meridian,  and  continued  two  years  in  the  ser- 
vice. In  1863  he  settled  in  Brownsville,  and  married  Miss  Mary  Stephenson, 
their  children  being  four  suua  and  one  daughter.    In  1856  hu  wa«  appointed 


676  POLITICAL,  INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL. 


■■■m 


after  a  severe  and  prolonged  contest  between  the 
friends  of  J.  H.  Mitchell  and  the  democracj^  uniting 
with  the  independents,  was  Joseph  N.  Dolph,"* 
Mitchell's  former  partner  and  friend. 

The  time  has  not  yec  come,  though  it  is  close  at 
hand,  when  Oregon-born  men  shall  fill  the  offices  of 
state,  and  represent  their  country  in  the  halls  of  the 
national  legislature.  Then  the  product  of  the  civili- 
zation founded  by  their  sires  in  the  remotest  section 
of  the  national  territory  will  become  apparent.  Sec- 
tionaliL  .1,  which  troubled  their  fathers,  will  have  dis- 
appeared with  hostility  to  British  influences.  Homo- 
geneity and  harmony  will  have  replaced  the  feuds 
of  the  formative  period  of  the  state's  existence.  A 
higher  degree  of  education  will  have  led  to  a  purer 
conception  of  public  duty.  Home-bred  men  will  repel 
adventurers  from  other  states,  who  have  at  heart  no 
interests  but  their  individual  benefits. 

When  that  period  of  progress  shall  aave  been 
reached,  if  Oregon  shall  be  found  able  to  withstand 
die  temptations  of  too  great  wealth  in  her  morals,  and 
the  oppressiveness  of  large  foreign  monopolies  in  her 
business,  she  will  be  able  fully  to  realize  the  most 
sanguine  expectations  of  those  men  of  destiny,  the 
Oregon  Pioneers. 

inspector  of  U.  S.  surveys  in  Cal.,  afterward  residing  for  some  time  in  III, 
but  returning  to  The  Dalles  in  1862.  The  country  being  in  a  state  of  rapid 
development  on  account  of  the  mining  discoveries  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
state  and  in  Idaho,  he  established  himself  at  Umatilla,  where  he  remained  in 
business  for  three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1866  be  built  the  steamer  Mary 
Moody  on  Pend  d'Oreille  Lake,  ancl  afterward  aided  in  organizing  the  Orenoii 
and  Montana  Transportation  Company,  which  built  two  other  stcambuats, 
and  improved  the  portages.  In  1867  he  was  merchandising  in  Bois^  City,  re- 
turning to  The  Dalles  in  1860,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  ousiness  of  VVclli), 
Fargo  &  Co.  At  a  later  period  he  was  a  mail  contractor,  and  ever  a  busy  and 
earnest  man.  He  waa  elected  in  1872  to  the  state  senate,  and  in  1880  to  tiie 
lower  house,  being  chooen  speaker.  In  1882  he  was  nominated  for  governor, 
and  elected  over  Joseph  H.  Smith  by  a  majority  of  1,452  vote*.  Rtprtaenta- 
five  Men  of  Or.,  1-111. 

"Dolpn  was  bom  in  1836,  in  N.  Y.,  and  educated  at  Oenessee  college, 
after  which  he  studied  law.  He  came  to  Oregon  in  1862,  where  his  talenti 
soon  made  him  prominent  in  his  profession,  ancf  secnred  him  a  lucrative  prac- 
tice. He  married,  in  1864,  a  daughter  of  Johnson  Mulkey,  a  pioneer  of  1847, 
by  whom  he  had  6  children.  At  the  time  of  his  election  he  WM  attorney  for 
and  vice-president  of  the  Northern  Pacilio  railroad. 


CHURCHES  AND  CHURCH  SCHOOLS. 


The  early  history  of  the  Methodist  Church  is  the  history  of  the  first 
American  colonization,  and  has  been  fully  given  in  a  former  -volume;  but  a 
sketch  of  the  Oregon  methodist  episcopal  church  proper  must  begin  at  a  Lucr 
date.  From  1844  to  1853  the  principal  business  transactions  of  the  churcli 
were  at  the  yearly  meetings,  without  any  particular  authority  from  any  con- 
ference. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1849,  the  Oregon  and  California  Mission  Confer- 
ence was  organized  in  the  chapel  of  the  Oregon  Institute,  Salem,  by  author- 
ity of  the  general  conference  of  lt>48,  by  instructions  from  Bishop  Waugli, 
and  under  the  superintendence  of  William  Roberts.  The  superintendents  of 
the  Oregon  Mission  were,  first,  Jason  Lee,  1834-1844;  George  Gary,  1844- 
1817;  William  Roberts,  1847-1349,  when  tlie  Mission  Conference  succeeded 
the  Oregon  Mission,  under  Roberts.  The  mission  conference  included  Xew 
Mexico,  and  possessed  all  the  rights  and  privilegesof  other  similar  bodies,  except 
those  of  finding  delegates  to  the  general  conference  and  drawing  annual  divi- 
dends from  the  avails  of  the  book-concerns  and  chartered  funds.  Four  sessions 
were  held,  the  first  three  in  Salem,  and  the  fourth  at  Portland.  Under  the 
mission  conference  the  following  ministers  were  appointed  to  preach  in  Ore- 
gon: in  1340-50,  W.  Roberts,  David  Leslie,  A.  F.  Waller.  J.  II.  Wilbur,  J. 
L.  Parrish,  William  Helm,  J.  O.  Raynor,  J.  McKinney,  V.  O.  Ilosfoi'd,  and 
J.  E.  Parrott;  in  1850-1,  I.  McElroy,  F.  S.  Hoyt,  and  N.  Doane  were  added; 
in  1851-2,  L.  T.  Woodward,  J.  S.  Smith,  J.  Flinn,  and  J.  W.  Miller;  in  1S5-J 
-3,  Isaac  Dillon,  C.  S.  Kingsley,  P.  G.  Buchanan,  and  T.  H.  Peanie— never 
more  than  fourteen  being  in  the  lield  at  the  same  time. 

In  March  1853  Bishop  E.  R.  Ames  arrived  in  Oregon,  and  on  the  17th  the 
Oregon  Annual  Conference  was  organized,  including  all  of  Oregon  and  Wasli- 
iiigton,  which  held  its  first  session  at  Salem,  and  gave  appointments  to  twenty- 
two  ministers,  including  all  of  the  above-named  except  Leslie,  Parrish,  Helm, 
McElroy,  McKinney,  and  Parrott,  and  adding  G.  Ilines,  H.  K.  Hines,  T.  F. 
Royal,  G.  M.  Berry,  E.  Garrison,  B.  Close,  and  W.  B.  Morse.  Since  18."3 
there  have  been  from  thirty-three  to  seventy-four  preachers  annually  furnished 
appointments  by  the  couKirenee,  In  1873  the  conference  was  divided,  and 
Washington  and  eastern  Oregon  set  off,  several  of  the  pioneer  ministers  being 
transferred  to  the  new  conference.  According  to  a  sketch  of  church  history 
by  Roberts,  there  were,  in  1870,  3,249  chnrch  members,  and  G83  on  probation; 
7t  local  preachers;  60  churches,  valued  at  §107,750;  parsonages  valued  at 
SJ9,850;  Sunday-schools,  78;  pupils,  4,400;  teachers,  0-7;  books  in  Sunday- 
8;'hool  libraries,  7,078,  besides  periodicals  taken  for  the  use  of  children.  Tlie 
tir.st  protestant  church  edifice  erected  on  the  PaciKc  coast,  from  Cape  Horn 
to  liering  Strait,  was  the  methodist  church  at  Oregon  City,  begun  in  1842  by 
Waller,  and  completed  in  1844  by  Hines.  AlDernethy  adiled  a  bell  in  1851, 
weighing  over  500  pounds,  the  largest  then  in  the  territory.  He  also  pur- 
chased two  smaller  ones  for  the  churches  in  Salem  and  Portland,  and  f)ne 
for  the  Clackamas  academy  at  Oregon  City.  Or,  Sfalemian,  Jidy  4,  1851. 
These  were  not  the  first  bells  in  Oregon,  the  catholics  having  one  at  Chain- 
poei,',  if  not  others.  Religious  services  were  held  in  Salem  as  early  as  1841,  at 
the  Oregon  Institute  chapel,  which  served  until  the  erection  of  a  church,  which 
was  dedicated  January  23,  1853,  and  was  at  this  time  the  best  protestant 

(677) 


678 


CHURCHES  AND  CHURCH  SCHOOLS. 


house  in  Oregon.  Home  Afimonari/,  xxvi.  115-6.  About  1871  a  brick  edifice, 
costing  $35,000,  waa  completed  to  take  the  place  of  this  one.  A  methodiHt 
ciiurch  waa  also  erected  at  South  Salem. 

The  niethodist  church  of  Portland  was  organized  in  1848,  a  church  build- 
ing was  begun  by  Wilbur  in  1850,  and  the  first  method ist  episcopal  church  uf 
Portland  incorporated  January  26,  1853.  The  original  edihce  was  a  plain  but 
roomy  frame  building,  with  its  gable  fronting  on  Taylor  Street,  near  Third.  A 
reincorporation  took  place  in  1867,  and  in  1869  a  brick  church,  costing  $.35,000, 
was  completed  on  the  comer  of  Third  and  Taylor  streets,  fronting  on  Third. 
A  second  edifice  was  erected  on  Hall  Street.  During  the  year  1884,  a  new 
Sficiety,  an  offshoot  from  the  Taylor-Street  church,  was  organized  under 
the  name  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  taking  with  it  $40,01)0 
worth  of  the  property  of  the  former.  Tlie  metliodist  church  at  The  Dalits 
was  built  in  1862  by  J.  F.  Devore,  at  a  time  when  mining  enterprises  were 
beginning  to  develop  the  eastern  portion  of  the  state. 

The  inethodists  liave  been  foremost  in  propagating  their  principles  by 
means  of  schools,  as  the  history  of  the  Willamette  University  illustrates,  lii 
new  communities  these  means  seem  to  be  necessary  to  give  coherance  to 
effort,  and  have  proved  beneficial.  Willamettt  University,  which  al)sorl)ed 
the  Oregon  Institute,  was  incorporated  January  12,  1853.  It  opened  with  two 
departments,  a  preparatory,  or  academic,  and  a  collegiate  course,  and  but  few 
pupils  took  more  than  the  academic  course  for  many  years.  It  had  later  six 
departments,  thirteen  professors  and  tutors,  and  four  academies  which  fid 
the  imiversity.  The  departments  were  college  of  liberal  arts,  medical  college, 
woman's  college,  conservatory  of  nmsic,  university  academy,  and  corrcliiteil 
academies.  College  Journal,  June  1882.  The  correlated  academies  were  those 
of  W'ilbur,  Sheridan,  Santiam,  and  Dallas.  The  medical  college,  one  of  the 
six  departments  of  the  university,  was  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  faculty 
removed  to  Portland  in  1S77. 

The  Clackamas  seminary  for  young  ladies,  established  at  Oregon  City  in 
1851,  was  the  combined  effort  of  the  methodists  and  congregationalists,  uiul 
prospered  for  a  time,  but  as  a  seminary  has  long  been  extinct;  $11,000  were 
raised  to  found  it,  and  John  McLoughlin  gave  a  block  of  land.  Harvey  Clark 
was  the  first  teacher,  after  which  Mrs  Thornton  and  Mr  and  Mrs  H.  K. 
Ilines  taught  in  it.  Or.  Spectator,  June  6,  1851;  Or.  Artjux,  Nov.  10,  IS.").'). 
Suntiam  and  Umpqua  academies  were  estal)lished  about  1854.  La  Creule 
Academic  Institute,  u,t  Dallas,  was  incorporated  in  1856.  The  incorporatoiii 
were  Frederick  Waymire,  William  P.  Lewis,  John  E.  Lyle,  Horace  Lyman, 
Reuben  P.  Boise,  Thomas  J.  Lovelady,  Nicholas  Lee,  James  Frederick,  and 
A.  W.  Swaney.  Or.  Laws,  1860,  93.  The  act  provided  that  at  no  tinieshoiil  1 
a  majority  of  the  trustees  be  of  one  religious  denomination.  The  academy  is 
nevertheless  at  present  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Willamette  University. 
Philomath  college,  a  few  miles  from  Corvallis,  is  also  controlled  by  a  board 
of  trustees  elected  by  the  annual  conference.  This  college  has  an  endowment 
of  over  $16,000  and  a  small  general  fund.  The  buildings  are  chieiiy  of  brick, 
and  cost  $15,000. 

The  Portland  academy  was  opened  in  1852  by  C.  S.  Kingsley  and  wife.  \\\m 
managed  it  for  several  years,  and  after  them  others.  The  property  was  wortli, 
i;i  1876,  $20,000,  but  the  usefulness  of  the  school,  which  liad  no  endowment, 
had  passed,  and  it  has  since  suspended.  Jline^' Or.,  105-6;  Ohimpia  Columhinu, 
Sept.  18,  1852;  Pub.  Instruc.  Rept,  in  Or.  Mernt.  and  Doc.,  1876,  140.  Corvalli.s 
college  Mas  founded  by  the  metliodist  church  south,  in  1865,  and  incorporated 
August  22,  1868,  since  which  time  it  lias  liad  control  of  tlic  state  agricultural 
college,  as  stated  in  another  place;  150  students  were  enrolled  in  1878.  Tlie 
Ashland  college  and  normal  school,  organized  in  1878  from  the  Ashlund 
academy,  is  also  under  tlie  management  of  the  conference. 

The  Catholic  Church,  next  in  point  of  time,  had  a  rude  church  at  Cluini- 
|iocg  on  their  first  entrance  into  tfie  Willamette  valley  in  the  winter  of  ISI!'.)- 
40.  In  February  1840  a  plain  wooden  church  was  dedicated  at  Oregon  Citv, 
and  in  November  St  Paul's  brick  church  was  couaecrated  at  Champoeg.    lu 


CATHOLICS  AND  CONGREGATIOXALISTS. 


m 


the  autumn  of  1851  a  church  was  begun  in  Portland,  which  was  dedicated  in 
February  1852  by  Archbishop  Blancliet.  In  18o4  tliia  building  was  removed 
to  iStark  Street,  near  Third,  and  ten  years  later  had  wings  added  for  library 
and  other  uses,  being  reconsecr  ted  in  !8G4.  In  1871  the  building  was  again 
enlarged,  and  used  until  1878,  when  it  was  removed  to  make  room  for  Nt 
Mary's  cathedral,  a  fine  brick  structure  costing  j^iO.OOO,  the  comer-stone  of 
which  was  laid  in  August  of  that  year.  Portland  Daily  Bee,  May  16,  1878; 
Portland  Oregonian,  Aug.  24,  1878;  Portland  Herald,  Feb.  9,  1873. 

There  is  also  in  Portland  the  chapel  of  St  Mary  attached  to  the  convent  of 
the  sisters  of  the  most  holy  names  of  Jesus  and  Mary,  between  Mill  and  Mar- 
ket streets.  The  sisters  have  a  day  and  boarding  school,  ordinarily  attended 
by  150  pupils.  St  Joseph's  day-school  for  boys,  near  the  church,  had  an  aver- 
ago  attendance  in  1808  of  75.  St  Michael's  college,  for  the  higher  education 
ot  young  men,  is  a  later  institution,  and  well  supported.  The  church  of 
St  John  the  Evangelist,  at  the  corner  of  Chamekata  and  College  streets,  Salem, 
was  dedicated  April  10,  18G4.  Forty  or  fifty  families  attend  services  here, 
and  a  lurge  number  of  children  receive  instruction  in  the  Sunday -sciiool. 
The  academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  under  the  care  of  the  sisters,  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  is  a  boarding  and  day  school  where  eighty  girls  are  taught  the 
useful  and  ornamental  branches.  This  institution  was  dedicated  in  186.'),  but 
the  present  edifice  was  not  occupied  till  1873.  There  is  also  a  catholic 
church,  and  the  academy  of  Mary  Immaculate  at  The  Dalles,  located  on  Third 
Street;  St  Mary's  academy  at  Jacksonville,  Notre  Dame  academy  at  liaker 
City,  Mater  Dolorosa  mission  at  Grande  Ronde  reservation,  and  St  Joseph's 
hall,  a  female  orphan  asylum,  at  Portland. 

The  oldest  Congregational  Church  in  Oregon  is  that  of  Oregon  City,  organ- 
ized in  1844  by  Harvey  Clark,  indeijcndent  missionary,  who  also  set  on  foot 
educational  matters,  and  organized  a  church  at  Forest  Grove.  See  Atkhinon's 
Comj.  Church,  1-3,  a  centennial  review  of  Congregationalism  in  Oregon.  The 
American  home  missionary  society  about  this  time  projected  a  mission  to 
Oregon,  and  in  1847  sent  George  II.  Atkinson  and  wile  to  labor  in  this  Held. 
Tliey  settled  in  Oregon  City  in  June  1848,  at  the  time  the  discovery  of  gold 
in  California  nearly  depopulated  that  place.  Atkinson,  Fells,  and  Clark  i>ro- 
ceeded  to  form,  with  other  congregationalists,  the  Oregon  Association,  which 
held  its  first  meeting  at  Oregon  City  September  20th,  and  appointed,  together 
witli  the  presbyterian  ministers,  trustees  for  the  Tualatin  academy.  Home 
Missionary,  xxii.  43,  63.  In  November  1S4'.J  arrived  Horace  Lyman  and  wife, 
also  sent  out  by  the  home  missionary  society  in  1847,  but  who  had  lingereil 
and  taught  for  one  year  in  San  Jos6,  California.  Lyman  settled  at  Portland, 
where  he  began  to  build  up  a  church.  There  were  at  Oregon  City  in  1849 
but  eight  members,  but  they  undertook  to  build  a  plain  meeting-house,  24  by 
40  feet,  ceiled,  and  without  belfry  or  steeple,  the  cost  of  which  was  ^3,550. 

Atkinson  preached  at  Portland  first  in  June  1849,  in  a  log-house  used  as  a 
shingle-factory.  The  congregation  was  attentive,  and  the  citizens  subscribed 
$2,000  to  erect  a  school-house,  which  was  to  be  at  the  service  of  all  denomi- 
nations for  religious  services.  It  was  arranged  that  the  congregational  min- 
isters should  preach  there  once  in  two  weeks.  At  the  second  meeting,  in 
July,  Captain  NVootl  of  the  U.  S.  steamer  Massachusetts  was  pi-esent,  to  the 
delight  of  the  minister  as  well  as  the  i>eople.  When  Lymun  arrived  he  began 
teaching  and  preaching  in  the  school-house.  Portland  Oreijonian,  May  24, 
1804;  Lyman,  in  Pac.  Christian  Advocate,  1865.  As  there  was  then  no  cliurch 
to  organize  in  Portland,  and  as  his  salary  was  only  ^00 — the  rent  of  a  dwell- 
ing being  quite  all  of  that — he  was  comiielled  to  solicit  aid.  The  town  jtro- 
prietors  offered  a  lot.  In  the  forest,  on  the  rising  ground  at  the  south  end  of 
Second  Street,  Lyman  made  his  selection,  and  $5,000  were  subscribed,  an<l 
the  building,  32  by  48  feet,  was  begun.  Lyman  worked  M'ith  his  own  hands 
in  clearing  the  ground  for  his  house  and  the  church,  and  making  shingles  for 
the  former,  falling  ill  from  his  unwonted  exertions  and  the  malaria  of  tha 
newly  exposed  earth.  But  the  citizens  of  Portland  came  kindly  to  his  assist- 
auce;  he  waa  uuned  back  to  health;  the  house  and  church  were  completed, 


680 


CHURCHES  AND  CHURCH  SCHOOLS. 


chiefly  by  their  aid,  and  on  the  15th  of  June,  1851,  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Portland  was  organized,  with  ten  members,  and  the  church  edifice 
dedicated.  This  building  had  a  belfry  and  small  spire,  and  cost  $6,400,  scut- 
ing  some  400  persons.  See  Lyman,  in  Cong.  Aa»o.  Or.  Annual  Meeting,  187(J, 
35,  a  quarter-centennial  review,  containing  a  complete  history  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Portland;  also  Home  Mianionary,  xxiv.  137-8. 

'Iho  membership  of  the  other  churches  amounted  to  50  at  this  time;  2r>  at 
Tualatin  plains,  14  at  Oregon  City,  three  at  Milwaukee,  and  eight  at  Cala- 
pooya,  where  a  church  was  organized  by  H.  H.  Spalding;  but  congregatiuus 
and  Sunday-schools  were  sustained  at  a  few  other  points. 

In  January  18o'2  the  Oregon  Association  held  its  third  annual  meeting, 
five  ministers  being  present.  It  was  resolved  that  Atkinson  should  visit  tlie 
eastern  states  to  solicit  aid  for  the  educational  work  of  the  church,  particu- 
larly of  the  Tualatin  academy  and  Paciiic  university,  and  also  that  other  parts 
of  Oregon  should  be  pointed  out  to  the  home  missionary  society  as  iiehls  for 
missionaries.  The  result,  in  addition  to  the  money  raised,  was  tlie  appoint- 
ment of  Thomas  J.  Condon  and  Obed  Dickinson  missionaries  to  Oregon,  the 
former  to  St  Helen,  and  the  latter  to  Salem,  where  a  church  of  four  members 
had  been  organized.  They  arrived  in  March  1853,  by  the  bark  Trade  Wind, 
from  New  York.  Their  advent  led  to  the  organization  of  two  more  of  what 
may  properly  be  styled  pioneer  churches. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Dickinson,  W.  H.  Willson  of  Salem  offered  two 
town  lots.  About  half  the  sum  required  for  a  building  was  raised,  while  the 
church  held  its  meetings  in  a  school-house;  but  this  being  too  small  for  tlie 
congregation,  a  building  was  purchased  and  fi;ted  up  for  church  services,  iu 
September  1854.  It  was  not  till  18U3  that  the  present  edifice,  a  modest  frame 
structure,  was  completed  and  dedicated.  Dickinson  continued  in  the  pastor- 
ate till  18G7,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  P.  S.  Knight.  Oondou 
went  first  to  St  Helen,  where  the  town  proprietor  had  erected  a  school-hoiiae 
and  church  in  one,  surmounted  by  a  belfry  with  a  good  bell,  and  a  small  spire. 
This  building,  which  is  still  standing,  was  not  consecrated  to  the  use  of  any 
denomination,  but  was  free  to  all,  and  so  remained.  In  1854  Condon  was  ap- 
pointed to  Forest  Grove.  They  were  not  able  to  build  here  till  August  1851), 
when  a  church  was  erected,  costing  some  $9,000.  Or.  Statenman,  Aug.  ;iO, 
1859.  Near  the  close  of  1853  Milton  B.  Starr,  who  had  preached  for  sevcial 
years  in  the  western  states,  came  to  Albany,  Oregon,  and  organized  a  church. 
The  following  spring  Lyman  wat  sent  to  Dallas  to  preach,  and  Portland  ^\as 
left  without  a  pastor.  In  1859  Condon  organized  a  church  at  The  Dalles, 
building  in  1862.  He  remained  at  The  Dalles  for  many  years,  leaving  thcio 
finally  to  go  to  Forest  Grove,  where  his  attainments  in  natural  science  were 
in  demand.  On  the  opening  of  the  state  university  he  accepted  a  professor- 
ship in  that  institution.  Atkinson  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Portland  in  18C3,  where  he  continued  some  ten  ;/ears,  when,  his  health  failin;,', 
he  went  north  to  establish  congregations.  During  his  pastorate  a  new  clunxh 
edifice  was  erected  on  the  ground  selected  in  1850;  and  more  recently  Ply- 
mouth church  on  Fourteenth  and  E  streets.  The  organized  congiegatioiial 
churches  reported  down  to  1878  were  nine:  Albany,  Astoria,  Dalles,  Foi'est 
Grove,  Hillsboro,  Oregon  City,  I'ortland,  East  Portland,  and  Salem.  Cuiij. 
Axio.  Minuti>s,  1878,  51.     Plymouth  church  waa  a  later  organization. 

Pacific  university,  founded  by  congregationalists,  was  non-sectarian.  It 
had  $50,000  in  grounds  and  buildings,  $4,000  in  cabinet  and  apparatus,  $33,000 
in  productive  funds,  and  a  library  containing  5,000  volumes. 

The  first  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  in  Oregon  was  Lewis 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  an  alumnus  of  Princeton  theological 
seminary,  who  came  to  tiie  Pacifac  coast  in  1846  and  settled  on  the  Clatsop 
plains.  Wood't  Pioneer  Work,  27.  There  is  a  centennial  history  of  the  pres- 
bytery of  Oregon,  by  Edward  R.  Geary,  in  Portland  Pac.  Christian  Advocitf, 
July  '27,  1876.  On  the  19th  of  September,  184(5,  Thompson  preached  a  senuDU 
at  the  house  of  VV.  H.  Gray,  albeit  there  were  none  to  hear  him  except  a 
ruling  elder  from  Missouri,  Alva  Coudit,  his  wife  Ruth  Condit,  and  Gray  and 


PRESBYTERIAN  INSTITUTIONS. 


681 


his  wife.  Truman  P.  Powers  of  Astoria  was  the  first  ordained  elder  of  the 
presbyterian  church  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He  came  to  Oregon  in  1846.  In 
Octol^er  Thompson  was  joined  by  a  young  minister  from  Ohio,  Robert  Robe, 
and  on  the  19th  of  November  they,  together  with  E.  R.  Geary  of  Lafayette,  at 
the  residence  of  the  latter,  formed  tlie  presbytery  of  Oregon,  as  directed  by 
the  General  Assembly  at  its  session  in  that  year. 

In  185.3  there  were  five  presbyterian  ministers  in  Oregon,  the  three  above- 
mentioned,  J.  L.  Yantis,  and  J.  A.  Hanna.  The  latter  had  settled  at  Marys* 
ville  (now  Corvallis)  in  1852  and  organized  a  church,  while  Yantis  had  but 
recently  arrived.  A  meeting  of  the  presbytery  being  called  at  Portland  in 
October,  Hanna  and  Yantis  became  members,  and  it  was  determined  to  or- 
ganize a  church  in  that  place,  of  which  Yantis  was  to  have  charge,  together 
with  one  he  had  already  formed  at  Calapooya.  This  was  accordingly  done; 
and  through  the  stormy  winter  the  resolute  preacher  held  service  twice  a 
month  in  Portland,  riding  eighty  miles  througli  mud  and  rain  to  keep  his  ap- 
pointments, until  an  attack  of  ophthalmia  rendered  it  impracticable,  and  (zeorge 
F.  Whitworth,  recently  arrived  with  the  design  of  settling  on  Puget  Sound, 
■was  placed  temporarily  in  charge  of  the  churcli  in  Portland.  On  his  removal 
to  Washington  the  society  became  disorganized,  and  fiually  extinct. 

Meantime  Thompson  had  built  a  small  church  at  Clatsop,  and  was  pursuing 
liis  not  very  smooth  way  in  that  foggy,  sandy  region,  where  he  labored  faith- 
fully for  twenty-two  years  before  he  tinally  removed  to  California.  Hobe  or- 
ganized a  church  at  Eugene  City  ia  1855,  remaining  there  in  the  ministry  till 
1  SG.3,  during  which  time  a  buildiug  was  erected,  (ieary,  who  had  undertaken 
a  boarding-school,  became  involved  in  i)ecuuiary  embarrassment,  and  was  com- 
pelled to  take  a  clerkship  under  Pahner  in  the  Indian  department;  but  being 
discharged  for  seeming  to  covet  the  office  of  his  employer,  ho  took  cliargc  of 
the  Calapooya  church,  and  organized  that  of  Brownsville,  where  lie  fixed  his 
residence,  and  where  a  church  building  was  erected  by  the  members.  A  char- 
ter was  procured  from  the  legislature  of  IS57-8  for  the  Corvallis  college, 
wliich  would  have  been  under  the  patronage  of  the  presbyterians  had  it 
reached  a  point  where  such  patronage  could  be  claimed.  There  is  nothing  to 
show  that  it  was  ever  organized. 

An  effort  was  made  about  the  beginning  of  18G0  to  revive  the  presbyterian 
church  in  Portland.  McGill  of  the  Princeton  seminary,  being  appealed  to, 
procured  the  cooperation  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and  P.  S.  Caffrcy 
was  commissioned  to  the  work.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  court- 
house June  15,  1860.  On  the  3d  of  August  the  first  presbyterian  church  of 
Portland  was  reorganized  by  Lewis  Thompson  of  Clatsop,  with  seventeen  mem- 
burs,  and  regular  services  held  in  a  room  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Madison 
streets.  Calfrey's  ministrations  were  successful;  and  in  1863  the  corner-stone 
of  a  church  edifice  was  laid  on  Third  and  Washington  streets,  which  was 
finished  the  following  year,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000.  Geary^s  Or,  Pre.tbyteni,  2; 
Portland  Herald,  Jan.  26,  1873;  Deady'sScrap-Book,  43,  85.  When  in  1869 
CafTrey  resigned  his  charge  to  Lindsley,  there  was  a  membership  of  103,  and 
the  finances  of  the  church  were  in  good  condition.  In  1882  the  church 
divided,  and  a  new  edifice  was  erected,  costing  $25,000,  at  tlio  north-east  cor- 
ner of  Clay  and  Ninth  streets,  called  Calvary  Presbyterian  Churcli,  with  E. 
Trumrell  Lee  first  pastor.  The  cliurch  edifice  at  Corvallis  was  begun  in  1800 
and  completed  in  1864,  at  a  cost  of  §6,000,  Hanna  contributing  freely  of  his 
own  means.  Richard  Wylie,  assigned  l)y  the  board  of  luissions  to  tliis  phico 
in  tke  latter  year,  was  the  first  pastor  regularly  installed  in  this  church, 
liichard  Wylie  was  one  of  three  sous  of  Jauics  Wylie,  who  graduated  together 
at  Princeton.  In  1865  the  father  and  James  and  John,  Richard's  brothers, 
came  to  the  Pacific  coast,  James  accepting  a  pa-storate  in  San  Jose,  California, 
and  John  being  assigned  to  the  church  in  Eugene  City.  James  Wylie,  sen., 
was  examined  for  the  ministry  by  the  Oregon  presbytery,  licensed  to  preach, 
and  finally  ordained  for  i/iie  full  ministry.  Oearifs  Or.  Preshyti'ry,  2. 

In  1806  the  presbytery  consisted  of  the  ministers  above  named,  with  the 
addition  of  W.  J.  Monteith,  Anthony  Simpson,  and  J.  S.  Reasouer,  the  former 


682 


CHURCHES  AND  CHURCH  SCHOOLS. 


assigned  to  Albany,  and  Simpson  to  Olympia,  which  by  the  lapse  of  the  Puget 
Sound  presbytery,  erected  in  1858,  came  again  under  the  care  of  Oregon.  A 
church  was  organized  at  Albany  by  Monteith,  and  a  private  classical  hcIiohI 
opened,  which  grew  into  the  Albany  collegiate  institute  under  the  care  of  the 
presbytery,  a  tract  of  live  acres  being  donated  by  Thomas  Monteith,  one  of 
the  town  owners,  and  brother  of  VV.  J.  Monteith.  The  citizens  erected  a 
substantial  building,  and  in  spite  of  some  drawbacks,  the  institution  grew  iit 
reputation  and  means.  Reasoner  was  not  called  upon  to  labor  for  the  uhui'ch, 
being  advanced  iu  years  and  a  farmer.  In  18G8  H.  H.  Spalding,  whom  the 
congregational  association  had  advised  to  accept  an  Indian  agency,  became  a 
niumber  of  the  presbytery,  but  he  was  not  gis-en  charge  of  a  church,  being 
broken  in  mind  and  body  by  the  tragedy  of  Waiilatpu.  His  death  occurred 
at  Lapwai,  where  he  was  again  acting  as  missionary  to  the  Nez  Perce.s, 
August  3,  1874,  at  the  age  of  73  years.  The  first  presbyterian  church  of 
Salem  was  organized  May  20,  1869,  with  sixteen  members.  Their  church  edi- 
fice  was  erected  in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  §0,000.  Within  the  last  ten  years  churches 
have  been  organized  and  houses  of  worship  erected  in  Roseburg,  Jacksonvillu, 
and  Marshiieid  in  southern  Oregon. 

All  that  has  been  saiu.  .,bove  of  presbyterians  relates  to  the  old-school 
division  of  that  church.  There  were  iu  Oregon,  however,  others,  under  the 
names  of  Cumberland  presbyterians,  associate  presbyterians,  and  associate 
reformed.  In  1S51  James  P.  Millar,  of  All>any,  N.  Y.,  arrived  in  Oregon  us 
a  missionary  of  one  of  these  latter  societies;  but  finding  here  200  members 
and  half  a  dozen  ministers  of  the  two  societies,  he  entered  into  a  scheme  to  unite 
them  in  one,  to  be  known  as  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Oregon,  con- 
stituting one  presbytery,  an<l  being  independent  of  any  allegiance  to  any 
ecclesiastical  control  out  of  Oregon.  The  men  who  formed  this  church  were 
James  P.  Millar,  Thomas  S.  Kendall,  Samuel  (.}.  Irvine,  Wilson  Blain,  James 
Worth,  J.  M.  Dick,  and  Stephen  D.  Gager.  Or.  Statesman,  Dec.  18,  18.52.  In 
1858  they  founded  the  Albany  academy,  with  Thomas  Kendall,  Delazon  Smith, 
Dennis  Beach,  Edward  Geary,  Walter  Monteith,  J.  P.  Tate,  John  Smith, 
James  H,  Foster,  and  R.  H.  Crawford  trustees.  This  school  was  supersiuled 
by  the  Albany  institute  in  1807.  Or.  Law,  Si)ecial,  1857-8,  9-10;  Mess,  mid 
iJorx,  Puh.  Instruction,  1878,  81-2.  A  college,  known  as  the  Sublimity,  was 
created  by  legislative  act  in  January  1858,  to  be  controlled  by  the  United 
Brethren  iu  Christ;  but  whether  this  was  a  school  of  thfl  united  presbyterians 
I  am  unable  to  determine. 

The  pioneer  of  the  Cumberland  presbyterians  was  J.  A.  Cornwall  of 
Arkansas,  who  came  to  Oregou  in  1840  by  the  southern  route,  as  the  readiT 
may  remember.  Cornwall  was  the  only  ordained  minister  until  1851,  wlieu 
two  others,  Neill  Jolinson  of  Illinois,  and  Joseph  Robertson  of  Termes.!ee, 
arrived.  By  order  of  the  Missouri  synod,  these  ministers  met  in  1847,  at  the 
house  of  Samuel  Allen  in  Marion  county,  and  formed  the  Oregon  presbytery 
of  the  Cumberland  presbyterian  church,  W.  A.  Sweeney,  another  minister, 
lieing  present.  Five  ruling  elders,  who  had  partially  organized  congregations, 
were  admitted  to  seats  in  the  presbytery,  as  follows:  John  Purvine  from 
Abiqua,  Joseph  Carmack  from  La  Creole,  Jesse  C.  Henderson  from  Yamhill, 
David  Allen  from  Tualatin,  ai.d  D.  M.  Keen  from  Santiam.  There  were  ;;t 
this  time  four  licentiates  iu  the  t<,'LrJtory;  namely,  B.  F.  Music,  John  Dillard, 
William  Jolly,  and  Lutbsv  \Vhvi«,  Tiie  whole  number  of  members  in  com- 
munion was  103. 

There  was  no  missionary  fo  .iety  to  aid  them,  the  ministers  being  sup- 
ported by  voluntary  ofiFeriiigs.  But  in  the  spring  of  1853  an  effort  was  made 
to  raise  funds  to  found  a  college  under  their  patronage,  and  in  the  following  year 
a  building  was  erected  at  Eugene  City,  costing  $4,000,  with  an  endowment 
fund  amounting  to  $20,000.  The  school  was  opened  in  November  185G,  mulor 
the  presidency  of  E.  P.  Henderson,  a  graduate  of  Waynesville  college,  I'l'im- 
sylvauia,  with  fifty-two  students.  Four  days  after  this  auspicious  inaugura- 
tion the  college  building  was  destroyed  by  an  incendiary  tire.  Not  to  bo 
defeated,  however,  another  house  was  procured  and  the  school  continued. 


THE  BAPTISTS. 


688 


while  a  second  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  the  second  session 
(loubliug  the  number  of  students.  Tiie  attendance  increased  to  150  in  IHoJ, 
but  again,  on  the  night  of  the  26th  of  February,  ISoS,  tlie  college  was 
burned.  A  stone  building  was  then  begun,  and  the  walls  soon  raised.  Be- 
fore it  was  completed  a  division  took  place  on  the  issue  of  bible-reading  and 
prayer  in  the  school,  and  those  opposed  to  these  observances  withdrew  their 
aiil,  and  the  unfinished  building  was  sold  by  the  sheritf  to  satisfy  the  me- 
chanics. I  find  among  the  Orejon  Si-ecial  Lawn  of  1837-8  an  act  incorporat- 
ing the  Union  University  Association,  section  4  of  whicli  pro*,  ides  thut  the 
'  utmost  care  sliall  be  taken  to  avoid  every  species  of  preference  for  any  sect 
or  party,  either  religious  or  political.'  This  was  probably  the  form  of  protest 
against  sectarian  teaching  which  destroyed  the  prospects  of  the  Cumberland 
school.  Henderson,  after  a  couple  of  sessions  in  a  renteil  house,  seeing  no 
hu]>e  for  the  future,  closed  his  connection  with  the  school,  which  was  sus- 
pended soon  after,  and  never  revived. 

About  1873  W.  11.  Bishop  of  Brownsville  completed  a  commodious  school 
building  as  an  individual  enterprise,  and  establidhed  a  school  under  the  name 
(if  I'rincipia  Academy,  with  a  chapel  attached.  In  1801  the  Oregon  Cuniber- 
liind  [)rc3bytery  was  divided,  by  order  of  the  Sacramento  synod  to  which  it 
belonged,  and  all  of  Oregon  south  of  Calapooya  Creek  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Willamette  River,  and  all  south  of  La  ('reole  River  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Willamette,  was  detached  and  made  to  form  the  Willamette  presbytery,  while 
all  nortli  of  that  retained  its  former  name.  In  1874  the  Oregon  j)resl)ytery 
was  again  divided,  that  part  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains  and  all  of  Wash- 
ington being  set  off  and  called  tlie  Cascade  presbytery,  with  four  ordained 
Diiuisters,  the  Oregon  presbytery  having  begun  its  operations  in  the  Walla 
Walla  Valley  in  1871,  when  A.  W.  Sweeney  organized  a  church  at  Waitsburg 
with  eighteen  members,  since  which  time  several  otiiers  have  been  formed, 
and  churches  erected.  By  order  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  Cumbei'land 
in  May  1875,  the  Oregon  synod  was  constituted,  composed  of  these  three 
presljy  teries,  which  have  in  communion  700  members,  and  own  thirteen  houses 
of  worship,  wor'Ji  §19,000.  See  centennial  sketch  by  Neill  Johnson,  in  Port- 
land  I'ac.  C'hrixtian  Advocate,  May  4,  1870. 

Among  the  early  immigrants  to  Oregon  were  many  Baptists,  this  denomi- 
iiat'^.i  being  numerous  in  tlie  western  and  south-western  states.  As  early  as 
IS48  a  society  was  organized  and  a  church  building  erected  at  Oregon  City. 
Other  churches  soon  followed,  Portland  having  an  organized  society  in  1855, 
altliough  not  in  a  flourishing  state  financially.  It  was  not  until  June  I8G0 
t!iat  a  missionary,  Samuel  Cornelius  of  Indianapolis,  arrived,  appointed  by 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission,  to  labor  in  Portland.  His  introductory 
sermon  was  preaclied  in  the  methodist  church  on  the  first  Sunday  in  July, 
but  a  public  hall  was  soon  secured,  and  the  organization  of  the  Prst  liiptiat 
(.'linrch  of  Portland  took  place  on  tlie  I2tli  of  August,  with  twelve  members; 
11  iniely,  Samuel  Cornelius  and  wife,  Josiah  Failing  and  wife,  Doujlas  W.  Wil- 
liams, Elizabeth  Failing,  Joshua  Shaw  and  wife,  R.  Weston  and  wife,  and 
<icorge  Shriver  and  wife.  First  Dapti  t  Chtirrh  Manual,  I.  This  small  body 
made  a  call  on  Cornelius  to  become  their  pastor,  which  was  acccjited,  and  on 
liitn  and  the  two  deacons,  Williams  antl  Failing,  devolved  the  task  of  building 
a  house  of  worship.  A  half-block  of  laud  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Alder 
stieets  had  been  donated  for  the  site  of  a  liaptist  church  by  Stephen  Coffin  sev- 
eral years  before,  and  on  this  was  begun  a  building,  which  was  so  far  completed 
by  Januaiy5,  1802,  that  its  basement  was  occupied  for  religious  services.  In 
September  18G4  Cornelius  returned  to  the  east,  leaving  a  membership  of  4i)  per- 
b  Ills,  and  the  church  was  without  a  pastor  for  two  years,  during  which  the 
(liacons  sustained  as  best  they  could  the  burden  of  the  society  to  prevent  it 
from  falling  to  pieces.  Then  came  E.  C.  Anderson  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan, 
sent  by  the  Home  Mission  Society  to  act  as  pastor,  in  December  180G.  The 
cliurch  wai,  incorporated  in  March  1807.  Anderson  continued  in  the  pastorate 
five  years,  and  increased  the  membership  to  seventy,  the  church  ediiice  cost- 
ing $12,500,  being  dedicated  in  January  1870.    The  incorporators  were  Josiah 


684 


CHUIiCHES  AND  CHUECH  SCHOOLS. 


Failicg,  Joseph  N.  Dolph,  W.  S.  Caldwell,  John  S.  White,  George C.  Chandler, 
and  W .  Lair  Hill.  Again  no  one  was  found  to  supply  the  place  of  pastor  for 
a  year  and  a  half,  when  A.  R.  Medbury  of  San  Francisco  accepted  a  call, 
and  remained  with  this  church  three  years,  during  which  forty  new  members 
were  added,  and  a  parsonage  was  presented  to  the  society  by  Henry  Failing, 
since  which  time  the  church  has  been  fairly  prosperous.  In  1861  the  number 
of  baptists  in  Oregon  was  484,  of  churches  18,  and  ordained  ministers  10. 

The  first  baptist  school  attempted  was  Corvallis  Institute,  which  seems  not 
to  have  had  any  history  beyond  the  act  of  incorporation  in  1850-7.  An  act 
was  also  passed  the  following  year  establishing  a  baptist  school  under  tlie 
name  of  West  Union  Institute,  in  Washington  county,  with  David  T.  Lennox, 
Ed  H.  Lenno.x,  Henry  Sewell,  William  Alauzcy,  John  S.  White,  and 
George  C.  Chandler  as  trustees.  At  the  same  session  a  charter  was  granted 
to  the  baptist  college  at  McMinnville,  a  school  already  founded  by  the  Disci- 
ple or  Christian  chnrch,  and  turned  over  to  the  baptists  with  the  belongings, 
•ix  acres  of  ground  and  a  school  building,  as  a  free  gift,  upon  condition  that 
they  should  Keep  up  a  collegiate  school.  The  origin  of  McMinnville  and  its 
college  was  as  follows:  In  1852-3,  W.  T,  Newby  cut  a  ditch  from  Baker 
Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Yamhill  River,  to  Cozine  Creek,  upon  his  land,  wliere 
he  erected  a  grist-mill.  In  1854  8.  C.  Adams,  who  lived  on  his  donation 
cl:.rni  4  miles  north,  took  a  grist  to  mill,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation 
with  Newby  remarked  upon  the  favoj  able  location  for  a  town  whicli  his  land 

E resented,  ufjon  which  Newby  replied  that  if  he,  Adams,  would  start  a  town, 
0  should  have  half  a  block  of  lots,  and  select  his  own  location,  from  wliicli 
point  the  survey  should  commence.  In  the  spring  of  18J5  Adams  deposited 
the  lumber  for  his  house  on  the  spot  selected,  about  200  yards  from  the  mill, 
and  proceeded  to  erect  his  house,  where,  as  soon  as  it  was  completed,  lie  went 
to  reside.  Immediately  after  he  began  to  agitato  the  subject  of  a  high  scliool 
as  a  nucleus  for  a  settlement,  and  as  he  and  most  of  the  leading  men  in  Yam- 
hill were  of  the  christian  church,  it  naturally  became  a  christian  scliool. 
James  McBride,  William  Dawson,  W.  T.  Newby,  and  Adams  worked  up  tha 
matter,  bearing  the  larger  part  of  the  expense.  Newby  gave  six  acres  of  Ian  1. 
The  building  erected  tor  the  school  was  large  and  commodious  for  those  titucs. 
Adams,  who  was  a  teacher  by  profession,  was  urged  to  take  charge  of  tiio 
school,  and  taught  it  for  a  year  and  a  half.  Among  his  pupils  were  John  U. 
McBride,  L.  L.  Re  land,  J.  C.  Shelton,  George  L.  Woods,  and  Wm  D.  Baker. 
But  there  had  not  been  any  oi'ganization,  or  any  charter  asked  for,  and  Adams, 
who  found  it  hard  and  unprofitable  work  to  keep  up  the  school  alone,  wishcil 
to  resign,  and  proposed  to  the  men  interested  to  place  it  in  the  hands  of  the 
baptists,  who  were  about  founding  the  West  Union  Institute.  To  this  tliey 
made  no  objection,  as  they  only  M'ishcd  to  have  a  school,  and  were  not  secta- 
•iau  in  feeling.  Accordingly,  Adams  proposed  the  gift  to  the  baptists,  and 
it  was  accepted,  only  one  condition  being  imposed,  and  agreed  to  m  writing:, 
to  employ  at  least  one  professor  in  the  college  department  continuously.  It 
was  incorporated  in  January  1858  as  the  baptist  college  at  McMinnville,  )>y 
Henry  Warren,  James  M.  Fulkcrson,  Lphriam  Ford,  lleubpn  C  Hill,  J.  S. 
Ilolman,  Alexius  N.  Miller,  Richard  Miller,  and  Willis  Gaines,  trustees. 
The  Washington  county  school  was  allowed  to  drop,  and  the  McMinnville 
college  was  taken  in  charge  by  G.  C.  Chandler  in  the  collegiate  department, 
and  Mrs  N.  Morse  in  the  preparatory  school.  The  incorporated  institutimi 
received  the  gift  of  twenty  acres  of  land  for  a  college  campus  from  Saniml 
and  Malinla  Cozine  and  Mrs  P.  W.  Chandler.  It  owned  in  1882  three  thou- 
sand dollars  in  outside  lands,  a  building  fund  of  twenty-one  thousand  dollar^, 
ancl  an  endowment  fund  of  over  seventeen  thouHand,  besides  the  apparatus  anl 
library.  From  addresses  by  J.  N.  Dolph  and  W.  C.  Johnson  in  McM'mnlk 
Volli'ijf  and  Catalorjue,  ISSiJ.  A  new  and  handsome  edifice  has  been  crceted, 
whoso  corner-stone  was  laid  in  1882.  The  Lvncon,  a  monthly  deuomiuational 
journal,  was  published  at  Salem  as  the  organ  of  tho  baptists. 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  have  colleges  free  from  sectarian  influenn', 
which  rarely  suooeeded.    The  Jeffersoa  institute,  iuuorporutod  iu  January 


EPISCOPALIANS. 


685 


1857,  and  located  at  Jefferson,  is  an  exception.  This  school  is  independent, 
and  lias  been  running  since  its  founding  in  1856-7.  Any  person  may  become 
a  member  by  paying  $50  into  the  endowment  fund,  which  amounts  to  aljout 
$4,000.  The  board  consists  of  fifteen  trustees,  five  of  whom  are  annually 
elected  by  the  members.  Three  directors  are  elected  by  the  board  from  their 
own  numoer,  who  have  the  general  management  of  school  affairs.  The  first 
board  of  trustees  were  Greo.  H.  Williams,  J.  H.  Harrison,  Jacob  Conser,  E.  E. 
r.rrish,  W,  F.  West,  T.  Small,  H.  A.  Johnson,  C.  A.  Reed,  N.  R.  Doty,  J. 
B.  Tcrhune,  J.  S.  Miller,  James  Johnson,  L.  Pettyjohn,  Manuel  Gonzalez, 
and  Andrew  Cox.  Mrs  Conser  gave  a  tract  of  land  in  eight  town  lots.  The 
building  coat  $3,000.  C.  H.  Mattoon  was  the  first  teacher,  in  1857.  Portland 
Pac.  Advocate,  Feb.  24  and  March  2,  1876;  Rept  o/Supt  Pub.  Imtruc,  1878, 
91-2.  The  number  of  pupils  iv  1884  was  about  one  hundred.  The  curricu- 
lum docs  not  embrace  a  colle)|ve  course,  but  only  the  preparatory  studies. 
The  Butteville  Institute,  established  by  legislative  act  in  January  1859,  was 
an  independent  school,  which,  if  ever  successful,  is  now  ont  of  existence. 

The  pioneer  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Oregon  was  St  M.  Pack- 
ler,  who  crossed  the  plains  with  the  immigration  of  1847  in  search  of  health, 
of  whom  I  have  spoken  in  another  place.  He  found  a  few  members  of  this 
church  in  Oregon  City,  and  held  occasional  services  in  1848  at  the  house  of 
A.  McKinlay,  but  without  attempting  to  organize  a  church.  The  first  mis- 
sionary of  the  episcopal  church  in  the  east  was  William  Riclimond  of  the 
(liooeso  of  New  York,  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  in  April 
1851  to  labor  in  Oregon,  and  who  organized  congregations  at  Portland,  Oregon 
City,  Milwaukee,  Salem,  Lafayette,  and  other  places  before  the  close  of  that 
year,  adding  Champoeg,  Chchalem,  and  Tualatin  plains  the  following  year. 
Ill  the  fall  of  1852  he  was  joined  by  James  A.  Woodward  of  the  diocese  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  like  Fackler  had  made  the  overland  journey  to  better  his 
pliysical  condition,  and  had  succeeded,  which  Fackler  did  not.  After  M»e  ar- 
rival of  Woodward,  services  were  held  in  the  congregational  chuich  all 
Oregon  City  until  a  room  was  fitted  up  for  the  purpose. 

In  January  1853  John  McCartyof  New  York  diocese  arrived  as  anny  chap- 
lain at  Vancouver.  At  this  time  there  were  about  twenty  members  in  Port- 
land who  fomr.cd  Trinity  Church  organization.  At  the  meeting  of  the  general 
convention  held  in  New  York  in  October  1853,  Thomas  Fielding  Scott  of 
the  diocese  of  Georgia  was  elected  missionary  bishop  of  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington, but  before  las  arrival  Richmond  and  Woodward  had  returned  to  the 
ciiat,  leaving  only  Fackler  and  McCarty  as  aids  to  the  bishop.  Two  church 
cdiflecs  had  already  been  erected,  the  tirst,  St  John'sat  Milwaukee,  the  second, 
Ti  inity  at  Portland.  The  latter  was  consecrated  September  24th,  about  three 
mouths  after  the  arrival  of  Scott.  In  1855  the  church  at  Milwaukee  and 
another  at  Salem  were  consecrated,  but  without  any  increase  of  the  clerical 
force  until  late  in  this  year,  when  Johnston  McCormack,  a  deacon,  arrived, 
who  was  stationed  temporarily  at  Portland.  In  1856  arrived  John  Sellwood 
anil  his  brother,  James  R.  W.  Sellwood;  but  having  been  wornded  in  the 
I'anamii  riot  of  that  year,  John  was  nor  ible  for  s^.me  months  to  enter  upon 
his  duties.  His  brother,  however,  took  olarge  of  the  church  at  Salem.  The 
lirst  episcopal  school  for  boys  was  opei  'jd  tlii;:  year  at  Oswego,  under  the 
inunagoment  of  Bernard  Cornelius,  ^'^o  hail  recently  taught  in  Olympia,  and 
nas  a  graduate  of  Dublin  univcriiiiy.  Seventy  acres  of  land,  and  a  large 
ilwclling-houso,  pleasantly  situated,  were  purchased  for  this  purpose.  James 
I.  Daly  was  ordamed  deacon  in  May,  giving  a  slight  increase  to  tno  few  work- 
era  in  the  field.  St  Mary's  church  at  Eugouo  City  was  consecrated  in  January 
1850  by  Bishop  Scott;  and  there  arrived,  also,  this  year  five  clergymen,  Carl- 
ton P.  Maples,  T.  A.  Hyland,  D.  E.  Wiiles,  W.  T.  B.  Jackson  and  P.  E. 
Hyland.  Two  of  them  returned  east,  and  one,  P.  E.  Hyland,  went  to 
Olympia.  T.  A.  Hyland  married  a  daughter  of  Steams  of  Douglas  county. 
Hu  was  for  •"  .  iv  years  a  nostor  and  teacher  at  Astoria,  but  returned  to 
Canada  aft-  -  .a.  St  Paul's  chapel  at  Oregon  City  was  dedicated  in  the 
■priug  of  1801;  and  in  the  autumn  Soott  opened  a  giru'  school  at  Milwaukee, 


'•H^ 


CHURCHES  AND  CHURCH  SCHOOLS. 


which  was  successful  from  the  first.  The  Orerjon  Churchman,  a  small  monthly 
publication  in  the  interests  of  the  church,  was  first  issued  this  year. 

The  episcopal  church  was  making  steady  advances  when  in  1867  Bisliop 
Scott  died,  universally  lamented.  Over  200  persons  bad  been  confirmed,  not 
all  of  whom  remained  steadfast  during  an  Interval  of  two  years  when  the 
diocese  was  without  a  head.  A  fresh  impetus  was  imparted  to  the  life  of  the 
church  wlien  a  new  missionary  bis!iop,  B.  \s  istar  Morris,  arrived  in  Oregon, 
in  June  1869.  A  block  of  land  was  purchased  in  Portland,  on  Fourth  Street, 
bci.«-i.(n  Madison  and  Jcficrson,  and  St  Helen  Hall  built.  By  the  6th  of 
September  it  had  fifty  pupils.  In  the  following  year  it  was  enlarged,  and  bo. 
can  its  second  year  with  l'2o  pupils.  The  Scott  grammar  and  divinity  school 
for  boya  was  erected  in  1870,  on  a  tract  of  land  in  the  western  part  of  Couch's 
addition,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  Portland  and  the  Willamette  River.  Both 
of  these  iusti>.utionsv.'ere  successful,  the  grammar  school  having  to  be  enlarged 
ill  1872.  The  building  was  burned  in  November  1877,  but  rebuilt  larger  than 
before,  at  a  cost  of  $2J,000.  In  the  same  year  the  congregation  of  trinity 
church  erected  a  new  edifice  on  the  block  occupied  by  the  former  one  between 
Oak  and  Pine,  but  facing  on  Sixth  Street,  and  costing  over  $30,000,  the  bishop 
being  assisted  by  several  clergymen.  A  church  had  been  organized  in  Walla 
Walla  by  Wells,  who  extendeil  his  labors  to  several  of  tiie  towns  of  eastern 
Oregon  in  1S73.  In  1874  the  bishop  laid  the  corner-stones  of  five  churclRs, 
and  purchased  four  acres  of  land  in  the  north-western  quarter  of  Portland,  uii 
wliicli  was  erected  a  hospital  and  orphanage,  under  the  name  of  Grood  Samur- 
itun.  the  energy  of  Morris  and  the  liberality  of  the  people  of  Portland 
placing  the  episcopal  society  in  the  foremost  rank  in  point  of  educational  un'l 
cliaritablo  institutions.  When  Scott  entered  upon  his  diocese,  it  included  nil 
of  the  original  territory  of  Oregon,  but  occupied  later  only  Oregon  and  Wasli- 
ingtou.  In  the  latter,  in  187G,  there  were  seven  churches,  one  boarding-school 
for  girls — at  Walla  Walla — one  parish  school,  one  rectory,  and  157  communi- 
cants. L'inicopal  Church  in  Or.,  a  history  prepared  for  the  centennial  conuuis- 
sioners,  1870,  Vancouver,  1876;  Seattle  luteUiifenre,  Aug.  24,  1870. 

Among  the  other  religious  denominations  of  Oregon  were  the  Campbellites. 
Like  the  other  churches,  they  knew  tlie  value  of  sectarian  schools,  ant!  accord- 
in;^  to  one  of  their  elders,  would  have  had  one  in  every  county  h.^d  it  boon 
practicable.  As  I  have  before  said,  they  founded  the  school  at  McMiiiiiville, 
which  became  a  baptist  college,  James  Mclkide,  William  Dawson,  and  8.  C, 
Adams  erecting  the  first  college  building.  Adams  taught  the  school  jiLst 
previous  to  its  transfer.  A  Tittle  later  than  the  McMinnville  school  was 
the  founding  of  the  Bethel  Academy  in  1856.     The  promoters  of  this  cuter- 

friso  were  iLlder  0.  O.  Burnett,  Amos  Harvey,  Nathaniel  Hudson,  and  otherii. 
n  18>')j  it  was  chartered  by  the  legislature  as  the  Bethel  Institute.  In  Oetu- 
ber  tiiey  advertised  that  they  were  ready  to  receive  pupils,  and  also  that  'stu- 
dents will  be  free  to  attend  upon  such  religious  services  on  each  Lord's  (hiy 
as  tliey  may  choose'  The  institute  opened  in  November  with  fifty  or  sixty 
pupils  in  attendance,  and  wo  learn  that  'Judge  Williams  addrcsseil  the  (ico- 
pie'  at  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  in  February  following.  L.  L.  Rowland  und 
N.  lltulson  were  teaching  in  18u0,  and  in  *.860  the  act  of  incorporation  \t'a9 
amended  to  read  Bethel  College.  Or.  Laws,  I860,  102-3.  At  this  time  the 
Bethel  school  was  prosperous.  It  had  a  well-selected  library,  and  choice  ii\)[)u- 
ratus  in  the  scientific  departments. 

But  Uctliel  had  a  rival  in  the  same  county.  In  1855  measures  were  taken 
to  found  another  institution  of  learning,  the  trustees  chosen  lieing  Ira  F.  iliit- 
ler,  J.  E.  Murphy,  R.  P.  Boisu^  J.  B.  Smith,  S.  Simmons,  William  Mason, 
T.  H.  Hutchison,  H.  Burford,  T.  H.  Lucas,  D.  R.  Lewis,  and  S.  S.  Whitnmii. 
This  board  organized  with  Butler  for  president,  Hutchison  secretary,  mid 
Lucas  treasurer.  A  charter  was  granted  them  the  same  year,  incorporating 
Monmouth  University;  400  acres  of  land  were  donated.  Whitman  ti>^''>){ 
200,  T.  H.  Lucas  80.  A.  W.  Lucas  '20,  and  J.  B.  Smith  and  Elijah  Davidson 
each  80.  This  land  was  laid  out  in  a  town  site  culV^d  Monmouth,  and  the 
lota  sold  to  perauna  duiriug  to  roaide  near  the  univok-aity.    In  the  abundant 


charity  of 
tiition,  the 
csnnection 
cable,  it  wt 
funded. 

Notwith 

divide  the  ] 

ten  years  oi 

church  to  u 

tian  College 

from  Octob 

18G8,  to  the 

assistance  tl 

the  college, 

withN.Huc 

and  T.  P.  C 

was  placed  l 

tile  t'ollowiuj 

the  manauei 

the  Monniou 

students.     I 

college  on  as 

students  in  t 

property  is  v 

live  thousani 

^vventy-six,  a 

veiition  held 

a  church  was 

vices. 

Baker  Cit 
with  F.  H.  ( 
(irubbe  subsei 
at  that  place  : 
P.  Barrett,  ar 
ern  Oregon,  il 
University  at 
oration,  witii 
day.  In  addi 
two  scientific 
Ackarman  wai 
and  the  ludep 
possession  ;-f  1 
•(resented  Lc  tl 
feiTcd  tl.  \.>il-i., 
The  /-iist  ( 
Fi-azTer,,  F,  v> 

I  lUf.  Ul  'r.  1,l)t 

irni-.rll  ..n.iS 
wiUi  free  &r  it: 
tcinpiogv."*'! 
ner-stone  of  tJ 
edilices  in  the 
c'lte,  Aug.  187 
isasmallnuml 
City,  organize 
erected  a  jilace 
The  Evangi 
Myres,  of  the  c 
Ijein'  •  the  IV.-st , 
tli(       Udiug  CO 


UNITARIANS  AND  LUTHERANS. 


687 


charity  of  their  hearts,  and  perhaps  with  a  motive  to  popularize  their  insti- 
tution, the  trustees  passed  a  resolution  to  establish  a  school  for  orphans  in 
connection  with  the  university;  but  this  scheme  being  found  to  be  impracti- 
cable, it  was  abandoned,  and  the  money  subscribed  to  the  orphan  school  re- 
funded. 

Notwithstanding  its  ambitions  title,  the  Monmouth  school  only  served  to 
divide  the  patronage  which  would  have  been  a  support  for  one  only,  and  after 
ten  years  of  unprotitable  effort,  it  was  resolved  in  convention  by  the  christian 
church  to  unite  Bethel  and  Monmouth,  under  the  name  of  Monmouth  Cliris- 
tian  College,  wliich  was  done.  The  lirst  session  of  this  college  is  reckoned 
from  October  ISUG  to  June  1867.  The  necessity  for  an  endowment  led,  in 
1808,  to  the  sale  of  forty  scholarships  at  five  hundred  dollars  each,  by  which 
assistance  the  institution  became  fairly  prosperous.  On  the  organization  of 
the  college,  L.  L.  Rowland  of  Bethany  college,  Virginia,  was  made  principal, 
witli  N.  Hudson  assistant.  In  18C9  a  more  complete  organization  took  place, 
and  T.  F.  Campbell,  a  native  of  Mississippi  and  graduate  of  Bethany  college, 
was  placed  at  tlie  head  of  the  college  as  princi[;al,  being  selected  president 
tlie  t'oUowiug  year,  a  situation  which  he  held  for  thirteen  years  with  profit  to 
tlie  maua'Tcmcnt.  A  substantial  brick  building  was  erected,  a  newspaper, 
the  Monmouth  Christian  MeHHenfier,  published,  and  the  catalogue  showed  2oO 
students.  In  1882  Campbell  resigned  and  returned  to  the  east,  leaving  the 
college  on  as  guml  a  basis  as  any  in  the  state,  having  graduated  twenty-three 
students  in  the  classical  and  forty-one  in  the  scicntitic  course.  The  college 
pnperty  is  valued  at  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  the  endowment  twenty- 
iivc  thousand.  The  census  of  1870  gives  the  number  of  christian  churches  at 
.w'cnty-six,  and  church  cdilices  at  sixteen.  At  a  christian  cooperation  con- 
vention held  at  Dallas  in  1877,  thirty-one  societies  were  represented.  Later 
a  church  was  organized  in  Portland,  and  a  building  erected  for  religious  ser- 
vices. 

Baker  City  Academy,  an  incorporated  institution,  was  opened  in  18G8, 
with  F.  H.  (irubbc  principal,  assisted  by  his  wife,  Jason  Lee's  daughter, 
(irubbe  subsequently  took  charge  of  The  Dalles  nigh  school,  his  wii'e  dying 
ut  that  place  in  1881.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  Baker  City  academy  by  S. 
P.  Barrett,  and  later  by  William  Harrison.  As  the  pioneer  academy  of  east- 
ern Oregcm,  it  did  a  good  work.  The  corner-stone  of  the  Blue  Mountitin 
University  at  La  Grande  was  laid  in  1874.  In  1878  it  was  in  successful  on- 
iration,  with  colleges  of  medicine,  law,  and  theology  promised  at  un  early 
day.  In  addition  to  the  preparatory  and  classical  departments,  tiiere  were 
two  scientilic  courses  of  four  years.  The  school  was  non-sectarian.  G.  E. 
Auksrman  was  tirst  president.  A  gootl  school  was  also  established  at  Union, 
and  tl-e  independent  Academy  at  Tlie  Dalles.  The  latter  institution  acquired 
pobsession  rf  the  stone  building  partially  erected  for  a  mint  in  1809-70,  but 
.iresenti'd  ic  tho  s^ate  when  the  mint  was  abandoned,  and  by  the  state  trans- 
ferred t'-  l)li^;M'!tl00l. 

Th(  j'iiiiC  Tnitflrian  Church  of  Portland,  incorporated  in  1805  by  Thomas 
rrazier.  F  ?  ^Lactuck,  and  R.  R.  Thompson,  was  the  first  of  tliut  dcnom- 
i  luf.  ui  <  v')t  Ktttte.  Its  first  liouse  of  worship  was  located  on  the  corner  of 
\rni  ill  .:'A'\  Su/viith  streets,  a  plain  building  of  wood,  the  lot  costing  87,000, 
with  'ree  &-  U  lor  ;";0  peoj  u.  Its  pastor,  f.  L.  Eliot,  drew  to  this  modest 
tunipio  gv.-^'  f  ^^ogi^tions;  the  society  grew,  and  in  1878  was  laid  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  tlic  present  church  of  Our  Father,  one  of  the  most  attractive 
cililiccs  in  the  city,  which  was  dedicated  in  187'J.  Olyinpia  Unitarian  Advo- 
cdle,  Aug.  1878;  Portland  Urei/onidii,  July  27,  1878,  Juno  14,  1879.  There 
i»  a  small  number  of  universalists  in  the  state.  They  had  a  church  at  Coiiuille 
City,  organized  by  Zonaa  Cook,  missionary  of  this  denomination.  They 
erected  a  ])lace  of  worship  in  1878. 

The  Evangelical  Lutherans  organized  a  church  at  Portland  in  1807,  A, 
My  res,  of  the  general  synod,  acting.  A  house  of  worsliip  was  erected  in  180  J, 
licin"  the  fV.-st  lutheran  church  in  Oregon.  Througli  some  mismanagement  of 
tilt.      Uding  coauuitteo,  tlie  church  become  iuvolvod  iu  debt,  and  after  auveral 


C88      PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  AND  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 

years  of  struggle  against  adverse  circnmstances,  the  building' was  sold  by  the 
sheriff  in  May  1875.  Another  luthcron  church  w-a  organized  in  1871,  by  A. 
E.  Fridrichsen,  from  the  Danes,  Swedes,  and  N..  wcgians  of  Portland,  aud 
incorporated  June  0,  1871,  under  the  name  of  the  Scandinavian  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  of  Portland.  Being  offered  building  ground  in  East  Port- 
land by  James  B.  Stephens  and  wife,  they  built  there,  but  services  were  also 
held  in  tlio  basement  of  the  first  presbyterian  church,  where  a  discourse  in  the 
Swedish  tongue  was  preached  Sunday  evenings.  As  there  was  considerable  im- 
migration from  the  Scandinavian  and  Cerman  countries,  the  lutheran  church 
rapidly  increased  in  Oregon  and  Woshuigton.  From  centennial  report  by  A. 
£mil  Fridrichsen,  in  Portland  Christian  Advocate,  May  11, 1876. 

Portland  had  also  a  German  church,  an  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion 
church,  two  Jewish  societies,  Beth  Israel  with  a  synagogue  at  the  comer  of 
Fifth  and  Ouk,  and  Aliavai  Sholoni  with  a  synagogue  on  Sixth  street,  between 
Oak  and  Pine,  and  a  Chinese  temple  on  Second  street,  between  Morrison  and 
Adler  streets. 

The  Scvciith-Day  Adventists  had  a  church  incorporated  in  September 
1878,  at  Milton,  Umatilla  county,  by  J.  C.  Burch,  W.  Russell,  and  W.  J. 
Goodwin. 

The  Fin*'.  Society  of  Humanitarians  of  Astoria  was  incorporated  in  Janu* 
ary  1878,  b     'uvnca  Taylor,  L.  0.  Fruit,  and  John  A.  Gosa. 

The  Met..    .<  'Iiurch  South  was  organized  at  Wiugville,  Baker  county, 

in  1878,  Hiraii;  o,  C.  G.  Chandler,  and  E.  C.  Perkins,  trustees. 

The  I>manucl  ^h  of  the  Evangelical  Association  of  North  America,  of 

Albany  was  incorp^-iuted  July  22,  1878,  by  E.  B.  Purdom,  F.  Martin,  and  L. 
G.  Allei.. 

There  were  Hebrew  Congregations  at  Astoria  and  Albany.  Or.  Sec.  State 
Kept,  1878,112-20. 

The  latest  available  statistics,  those  of  1875,  gavr  the  number  of  religious 
organizations  in  Oregon,  of  all  denominations,  at  35  ,  with  242  churches,  :{20 
clergymen,  14,324  communicants,  and  71,030  adher  uts.  The  assessed  value 
of  the  cliurcii  property  was  ^54,000.  During  the  y  nars  following  there  was 
a  largo  increiise  in  numbers  and  property.  With  respect  to  numbers,  tlie 
different  denominations  rank  as  follows:  Metho<li8ts,  baptists,  catholics,  epiu* 
copaliaus,  congregationalists,  and  other  minor  sects. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  AND  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 

That  section  of  the  organic  act  which  conferred  1,280  acres  of  land  Tqton 
every  township  for  the  support  of  public  sciiools  made  a  system  of  free  vdu- 
cation  obligatory  upon  the  people,  and  one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  legislature 
of  1840  was  a  law  in  consonance  with  this  gift,  providing  for  the  appropria> 
tion  of  the  interest  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  scliool  lands  to  th* 

(yurpotcs  of  publio  iusniction.  The  law,  in  a  revised  form,  exists  still.  But  tli« 
nconie  of  tha  school  fund  arising  from  sales  of  school  land  was  not  sutlicieut 
for  vhe  suppi.  rt  of  the  common  scT'ools,  and  in  1853-4  the  revised  law  provided 
for  levying  r.  tax  in  every  county,  of  two  mills  on  the  dollar,  and  aUo  tliat  tlio 
county'  treasurer  should  set  apart  all  moneys  collected  from  fines  tor  breach  of 
any  of  tiie  ponul  laws  of  the  territory,  in  order  to  give  immediate  effect  to  tlio 
educational  system.  The  legislature  of  1854-6  made  every  school  district  a 
body  corporate  to  assess  and  collect  taxes  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools 
for  a  certain  portion  of  the  year. 

When  Orotfon  became  a  state  it  was  even  more  richly  endowed  with  lands 
for  educational  purposes,  and  in  its  constitution  generously  set  apart  mucii  uf 
its  dower  for  the  same  purpose.  In  1870  tlio  common-school  fund  amounted 
to  over  half  a  million  dollars.  For  the  school  year  of  1877-8  the  interest  on 
tlie  school  fund  amounted  to  over  $48,000.  Aa  the  fund  increases  with  the 
gradual  sale  of  the  school  lands,  it  is  expected  that  an  amount  will  eventually 
bo  realized  from  the  three  million  acres  remaining  which  wia  meet  the  largnr 
part  of  the  oxpeoM  of  the  public  schoola.    In  Portland,  where  «he  schools  urs 


STATE  UNIVERSITY. 


6S9 


more  perfectly  graded  than  elsewhere,  the  cost  per  year  for  eucb  pupil  has 
been  al)out  twcnty-ono  dollars.  The  total  value  of  public  school  property  in 
the  Btatc  in  1S77-S  was  nearly  half  a  million  dollars,  comprising  75*2  school- 
houses  aud  their  furniture.  The  lowest  average  monthly  salary  in  any  county 
was  thirty-iivo  dollars,  and  the  highest  seventy-one.  Biennial  Kept  Siipt 
I'ub.  I  list  rue.  Or.,  1878,  20.  The  course  of  study  in  the  common  schools, 
which  is  divided  into  seven  grades,  preparatory  to  the  high-school  course,  ia 
more  fully  exemplified  in  Portland  than  elaewliere.  The  whole  city  is  com- 
prised in  one  district,  with  buildings  at  convenient  distances  and  of  ample 
sii^e.  I'hc  Central  school  was  first  opened  in  May  1858.  It  was  built  on  a 
block  of  land  between  Morrison  and  Yamhill  and  Sixth  and  Seventh  streets, 
for  which  in  lUaU  $1,000  was  paid,  and  a  wing  of  the  main  building  erected, 
costing  v-!;t,COO,  the  money  being  raised  hy  taxation,  according  to  the  school 
law.     Tiio  following  year  another  §4,000  was  raised  and  applied  to  the  com- 

Eletion  of  the  building;  111  pupils  were  present  at  the  opening,  the  principal 
eing  L.  L.  Terwilliger,  assisted  by  O.  Connelly  and  Mrs  Hensill.  In  1872-3 
the  original  structure  was  moved  and  added  to,  making  a  new  and  commodi- 
ous house  at  a  cost  of  over  §30,000.  In  1883,  the  block  on  which  it  stood  be- 
ing needed  for  a  hotel,  tiie  building  was  moved  to  a  temporary  resting-place 
on  tlie  next  block  north.  The  second  school  building  was  erected  in  ISlio,  at 
the  corner  of  ^ixthand  IL^n-ison  streets,  eleven  blocks  south  of  theCentnd,  at 
a  cost  of  about  ten  thousani  lollars.  It  was  twice  enlarged,  in  1871  and  1877, 
at  a  total  coat  of  nearly  §21, Oi.^  The  Harrison-Street  school  was  opened  iu 
January  1800  by  K.  K.  Warrca,  principal,  assisted  by  Misses  Tower,  Ste- 
phens, and  iCelly.  In  May  1870  it  was  nearly  all  destroyed  by  fire,  but  was  re- 
built the  same  year  at  a  cost  of  §18,000,  and  reopened  in  February  1880.  Tho 
third  school  building  erected  in  the  district  was  called  the  North  School,  and 
was  located  between  icnlhand  I'ilevcnthand  Caud  I)  streets,  in  Couch's  Addi- 
tion. It  Wi'.s  built  in  1807,  the  block  and  house  costing  over  seventeen  thousand 
dollars.  Two  wings  were  added  in  1877,  with  an  additional  expenditure  of 
over  four  tliouaaud.  The  first  principal  wastJ.  S.  I'crshin,  assisted  by  Misses 
May,  Northrup,  and  I'olk.  The  fourth,  or  I'ark  School,  was  erected  in  1878- 
!),  on  Park  .Street,  at  a  cost  of  §12,000.  The  high  school  occupied  the  upper 
floor,  and  some  granunar  classes  the  lower.  Each  of  these  four  schools  had 
iu  188J  a  seating  capacity  of  some  0.)0,  while  the  attendance  was  about  four 
hundred  and  seventy-live  for  each.  Two  fine  school  buildings  have  been  added 
since  lo80,  one  iu  the  north  end  of  tho  city,  called  the  Couch  School,  and  one 
iu  the  south  end,  named  the  Failing  School,  after  two  prominent  pioneers  of 
Portla.'v.i.  There  was  a  Ingh  school,  three  stories  and  basement,  of  the  most 
modern  design,  which  cost  §150,000. 

The  State  University,  which  received  an  endowment  from  the  general 
government  of  over  40,000  acres  of  land,  has  realized  therefrom  over  $70,000, 
tho  interest  ou  which  furnishes  a  small  part  of  tho  means  required  for  its  sup- 
port, the  remainder  being  derived  from  tuition  fees.  Tho  institution  passed 
througli  the  same  struggles  that  crippled  private  institutions. 

After  expending  the  money  appropriated  by  congress  in  political  squab- 
bles, it  was  for  a  long  time  douutful  if  a  unive;'sity  would  be  founded 
within  the  generation  tor  whom  it  was  intended,  when  Lane  county  camo  to 
the  rescue  in  the  following  manner:  The  citizens  of  Eugene  City  resolved  in 
1872  to  have  an  institution  of  learning  of  a  higher  grade  than  the  common 
schools.  An  association  was  incorporated  in  August  of  that  year,  consisting  of 
J.  M.  Thompson,  J.  J.  Walton,  Jr,  W,  .1.  J.  Scott,  B.  F.  Dorris,  J.  B.  Under- 
wood,  J.  .1.  Comstock,  A.  S.  Patterson,  S.  H.  Spencer,  E,  L.  Bristow,  10.  L. 
Applegate,  and  A.  W.  Patterson,  or"  Lane  county,  which  was  called  tho 
Union  University  Association,  with  a  capital  stock  of  §oO,000,  in  shares  of 
$100  each.  During  tho  discussions  consociuent  upon  the  organization,  a  propo- 
sition was  made  and  acted  upon,  to  endeavor  to  have  the  state  university 
located  at  Eugene.  When  half  the  stock  was  subscribed  and  directors 
elected,  the  matter  was  brought  iMjfore  tho  legislature,  of  which  A.  W.  Pat- 
terson was  a  member.  An  Aot  was  jMuised  estttblishiug  the  state  uuiversity 
UllT.  Ou.,  VUL.  II.    U  - 


690      PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  AND  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 


in  September  1872,  upon  the  condition  that  the  Union  University  Association 
should  procure  a  suitable  building  site,  and  erect  thereon  a  building  which 
with  the  furniture  and  grounds  should  be  worth  not  less  than  $oO,000,  tlie 
property  to  be  deeded  to  the  board  of  directors  of  the  state  university  free  of 
all  incumbrances,  which  was  done.  The  law  provided  that  the  board  of  state 
university  directors  s)iould  consist  of  six  appointed  by  the  governor,  and  three 
elected  by  the  Union  University  Association.  Tlie  governor  appointed  Matthew 
P.  Deady,  L.  L.  McArthur,  K.  S.  Strahan,  T.  G.  Hendricks,  George  Hum- 
phrey, and  J.  M.  Thompson,  the  three  elected  being  B.  F.  Dorris,  \V.  J.  J, 
Scott,  and  J.  J.  Walton,  Jr.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  board,  in  April  1873, 
Deady  was  elected  president. 

The  legislature  gave  substantial  aid  by  appropriating  $10,000  a  year  for 
1877-8.  Eighteen  acres  of  land  were  secured  in  a  good  situation,  and  a  build- 
ing erected  of  brick,  80  by  57  feet,  three  stories  in  height,  witl  jwrticocs,  man- 
sard roof,  and  a  good  modem  arrangement  of  the  interior;  cost,  $80,000. 

It  was  necessary  to  provide  for  a  preparatory  department.  The  institution 
opened  October  10,  1S7G,  with  80  pupils  in  the  collegiate  and  7o  in  the  pre- 
paratory departments;  43  in  the  collegiate  department  were  non-paying,  the 
university  law  allowing  one  free  scholarship  to  each  county,  and  one  to  each 
member  of  the  legislature.  Owing  to  the  want  of  money,  there  was  not  a  full 
board  of  professors;  those  who  were  first  to  organize  a  class  for  graduation 
had  many  difficulties  to  contend  with.  Th"  first  faculty  consisted  only 
of  J.  W.  Johnson,  president  and  professor  ot  ancient  classics,  Mark  Bailey, 
professor  of  mathematics,  and  Thomas  Condon,  professor  of  geology  and  nat- 
ural history.  The  preparatory  school  was  in  charge  of  Mrs  Mary  P.  Spiller, 
aesisted  by  Miss  Hilary  E.  Stone.  From  these  small  beginnings  was  yet  to 
crow  the  future  university  of  the  state  of  Oregon.  In  1884  there  were  7  regu- 
lar profesfioi's,  2  tutoi's,  215  students,  and  11)  graduates.  Rfqents'  Kept,  IfilS, 
State  U iii •  I'vuity ;  Or,  Mesx.  and  Docs,  1870,  148-53;  Ueadi/'n  Hid.  Or.,  M.S., 
55;  Uiiiver.  Ur.  Catalogue,  1878,  18. 

State  institutions  for  the  education  of  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  persons  re- 
mained backward.  The  deaf-and-dumb  school  at  Salem  was  organized  in 
1870,  with  thirty-six  pupils  in  attendance,  in  the  building  formerly  occupied 
by  the  academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  which  was  removed  into  a  new  one. 
The  legislature  provided  by  act  of  1870  that  not  moi-e  than  ?2,000  per  annum 
of  public  money  should  be  expended  on  the  instruction  of  deaf-mutes.  Tlio 
legislature  of  1874  appropriated  $10,000  for  their  maintenance,  and  the  legis- 
lature of  1876,  $12,000.  The  first  appropriation  for  the  blind  was  made  in 
1872,  amounting  to  $2,000;  in  1874,  $10,000  was  appropriated;  in  1871), 
$8,000;  and  in  I87s  a  general  appropriation  of  $10,000  was  made,  with  no 
direotions  for  its  use,  except  that  it  was  to  pay  for  teachers  and  expensea  »l 
the  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  schools.  In  1878  the  institute  for  the  blind  was 
closed,  and  the  few  under  instruction  returned  to  their  homes;  it  was  reopeneil 
and  closed  again  in  1884,  waiting  tlio  action  of  the  legislature.  These  insti- 
tutions have  no  fund  for  their  support,  but  depend  upon  biennial  appropri- 
ations. Like  all  the  other  public  schools,  they  were  for  a  time  under  tlio 
nmnagement  of  the  state  board  of  education,  but  the  legislature  of  1880  organ- 
ized the  school  for  dcaf-inut«B  by  placing  it  under  a  board  of  directors.  Ur, 
Mesi.  and  Docs,  1882,  32. 

A  prot6gtJ  of  the  general  government  was  the  Indian  school  at  Forest  Grove, 
where  a  hundred  picked  pupils  of  Indian  blood  were  educated  at  the  nation's 
expense.  The  scheme  was  conceived  by  Captain  C.  M.  Wilkinson  of  tlie 
3d  U.  S.  infantry,  who  procured  several  appropriations  for  the  founding  and 
conduct  of  the  school,  of  which  he  was  made  first  superintendent.    The  ox- 

Ecriment  began  in  1880,  and  promised  well,  although  the  result  can  only  iio 
nown  when  the  pupils  have  entered  actual  life  for  themselves. 
Of  special  schools,  there  were  a  few  located  at  Portland.    The  homeo]mthio 
medical  college,  H.  McKinnell,  president,  was  a  society  rather  than  a  scho(il. 
The  Oregon  school  and  college  association  of  natural  history,  under  tlio 
proiidency  of  Thomas  Condon,  was  more  truly  a  branch  at  large  of  the  state 


PROSE  AND  POETRY. 


nniversity.  P.  S.  Knight,  secretary,  did  much  in  Salem  to  develop  a 
taste  for  studies  in  natural  history,  by  exani]>Ic,  lecturing,  and  tcncliing; 
while  Condon,  whose  name  was  synonymous  with  a  love  of  geological  studies 
and  other  branches  of  natural  science,  did  no  less  for  The  Dalles,  Portland, 
Forest  Grove,  and  Eugene.  These  with  other  friends  of  science  formed 
an  association  for  the  cultivation  and  spread  of  the  natural  science  branches 
of  education,  the  seat  of  which  was  Portland. 

The  Oregon  Medical  College  of  Portland  was  formed  by  the  union  of  the 
Multnomah  County  Medical  Society  and  the  medical  department  of  the  Wil- 
lamette University.  The  former  society  was  founded  about  the  beginning  of 
18C5,  and  the  latter  organized  in  18G7.  Eighty-three  doctors  of  medicine 
were  graduated  from  the  university  in  ten  years.  In  1877  it  was  deteririined 
to  remove  this  branch  of  the  university  to  Portland,  where  superior  advan- 
tages might  be  enjoyed  by  the  students,  and  in  Febmary  1873  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  Oregon  Medical  College  took  place,  the  incorporators  bein^  R. 
Glisan,  Philip  Harvey,  W.  B.  Cardwell,  W.  H.  Watkins,  R.  O.  Rex,  0.  P. 
S.  Plummer,  Matthew  P.  Deady,  and  W.  H.  Saylor. 


LITERATURE. 

It  cannot  be  said  that  Oregon  has  a  literature  of  its  own.  Few  states  havo 
ever  claimed  this  distinction,  and  none  can  properly  do  so  before  the  men 
and  women  born  on  its  soil  and  nurtured  in  its  institutions  have  begun  to 
send  forth  to  the  world  the  ideas  evolved  from  the  culture  and  observation 
obtained  there.  That  there  was  rather  more  than  a  usual  tendency  to  author- 
ship among  the  early  settlers  and  visitors  to  this  portion  of  tlio  Vacific  coast 
is  true  only  because  of  the  great  number  of  unusual  circumstances  attending 
tlie  immigration,  the  length  of  the  journey,  the  variety  of  scenery,  and  tlio 
political  situation  of  the  country,  whicli  gave  them  so  much  to  write  about 
that  almost  without  intention  they  appeared  as  authors,  writers  of  newspaper 
letters,  pamphleteers,  publishers  of  journals,  petitioners  to  congress,  and  re- 
corders of  current  events.  It  is  to  their  industry  in  this  respect  that  1  atn 
indebted  for  a  large  portion  of  my  nmterial.  Besides  these  autliors,  all  of 
whom  have  been  mentioned,  there  remain  a  few  sources  of  information  to 
notice. 

The  Oregon  Spectator  has  preserved  some  of  the  earliest  poetry  of  the 
country,  often  without  signature.  Undoubtedly  some  of  the  best  was  written 
by  transient  persons,  English  officers  and  others,  who,  to  while  away  the  te- 
dium of  a  frontier  life,  dallied  witli  the  muaes,  and  wrote  verses  alternately 
to  Mount  Hood,  to  Mary,  or  to  a  Columbia  River  salmon.  Mrs  M.  J.  Bailey, 
George  L.  Curry,  J.  H.  P.,  and  many  voms  de  plunw.  appear  in  the  Spirlator. 
Mount  Hood  was  apostrophized  frequently,  ami  there  appear  verses  acUlrc^ssed 
to  the  different  immigrations  of  1843,  1843,  and  1840,  all  laudatory  of  Oregon, 
and  encouraging  to  the  new-comers.  Lieutenant  Drake  of  the  Modexte  wrote 
frequent  effusions  for  the  Spectator,  most  often  addressed  '  To  Mary ; '  and 
Henry  N.  Peers,  another  English  otUcer,  wrote  'The  Ail  ventures  of  a  ('olum- 
bia  River  Salmon,'  a  production  worth  preserving  on  account  of  its  descrip- 
tive as  well  as  literary  merit.  It  is  found  in  Or.  Spectator,  Sept.  2,  1847, 
Clyman'a  Nole-Book,  MS.,  9-10,  refers  to  early  Oregon  poets. 

In  point  of  time,  the  first  work  of  fiction  written  in  Oregon  was  The  Prairie 
Flower,  by  S.  W.  Moss  of  Oregon  City.  It  was  sent  cast  to  bo  jiublishcd, 
and  appeared  with  some  slight  alterations  as  one  of  a  scries  of  western  sloiica 
by  Emmersou  Bennett  of  Cincinnati.  One  of  its  foremost  characters  was 
modelled  after  George  W.  Ebberts  of  Tualatin  ph'ins,  or  the  Black  Squire,  as 
he  was  called  among  mountain  men.  Two  of  the  women  in  tlie  story  were 
meant  to  resemble  tlie  wife  and  mother-in-law  of  Medonun  Crawford.  Mos,t's 
Pictures  Or.  City,  MS,,  18.  The  second  novel  was  Captain  l7ray'H  Compaii)/, 
by  Mrs  A.  S.  Duniway,  the  incidents  of  which  showed  little  imagination  and 
a  too  literal  observation  of  camp  life  in  crossing  tlio  plains.  Mrs  Duniway 
did  better  work  later,  althovgh  licr  abilities  lie  rather  with  solid  prose  than 


692 


LITERATURE. 


fiction.  Charles  Applcgate  wrote  and  published  some  tales  of  western  life, 
which  he  carefully  concealed  from  those  who  might  recognize  them.  The 
list  of  this  class  of  authors  is  short.  I  do  not  know  where  to  turn  for  another 
among  the  founders  of  Oregon  literature.  Every  college  and  academy  liad 
its  literary  society,  and  often  they  published  some  small  monthly  or  bi-monthly 
journal,  the  contributions  to  which  may  be  classed  with  school  exercises 
rather  than  with  deliberate  authorship. 

Mrs  Belle  W.  Cooke  of  Salem  wrote  some  graceful  poems,  and  pub- 
lished a  small  volume  under  the  title  of  Tears  and  Victory.  Mrs  Cooke 
was  mother  of  one  of  Oregon's  native  artists,  Clyde  Cooke,  who  studied  in 
Europe,  and  inherited  his  talent  from  her.  Samuel  A.  Clarke  of  Salem,  au- 
thor of  SoumU  by  the  Western  Sea,  and  otiier  poems,  wrote  out  many  local 
legends  in  verse,  with  a  good  deal  of  poetical  feeling.  See  legend  of  the  Cas- 
cades, in  J/arjier's  Magazine,  xlviii.,  Feb.  1874,  313-19.  H.  C.  Miller, 
better  known  as  Joaquin  Miller,  became  the  most  widely  famous  of  all 
Oregon  writers,  and  has  said  some  good  things  in  verse  of  the  mountains  and 
woods  of  his  state.  It  is  a  pity  he  had  not  e\'olvcd  from  his  inner  conscious- 
ness some  loftier  human  ideals  than  his  fictitious  characters.  Of  all  his  pic- 
tures of  life,  none  is  so  fine  as  his  tribute  to  the  Oregon  pioneers,  under  the 
title  of  Pioiieem  of  the.  Pacific,  which  fits  California  as  well. 

Miller  marrie(l  a  woman  who  as  a  lyrical  poet  was  fully  his  equal ;  but  while 
he  went  forth  free  from  their  brief  wedded  life  to  challenge  the  plaudits  of 
the  world,  she  sank  beneath  the  blight  of  poverty,  and  the  weight  of  woman's 
inability  to  grapple  with  the  human  throng  which  surges  over  and  treads  down 
those  that  faint  by  the  way;  therefoie  Alinnie  Myrtle  Miller,  still  in  the 
prime  of  her  powers,  passed  to  the  silent  land.  Among  the  poets  of  the  Wil- 
lamette Valley,  Saninel  L.  Simpson  deserves  a  high  rank,  having  written 
some  of  the  finest  lyrics  contributed  to  local  literature,  though  his  style  is  un- 
even. A  few  local  poems  of  merit  have  been  written  by  Mrs  F.  F.  Victor, 
who  came  to  Oregon  by  way  of  San  Francisco  in  1865,  and  published  sev- 
eral prose  books  relating  to  the  country.  It  seems  most  natural  that  all 
authorship  should  be  confined  to  topics  concerning  the  country,  its  remoteness 
from  literary  centres  and  paucity  of  population  making  it  unlikely  that  any- 
thing of  a  general  interest  would  succeed.  This  consideration  also  cramps  all 
intellectual  efforts  except  such  as  can  be  applied  directly  to  the  paying  pnj- 
fessions,  such  as  teaching,  medicine,  and  law,  and  restricts  publication  so  that 
it  does  not  fairly  represent  the  culture  of  the  people,  which  crops  out  only  inci- 
dentally in  public  addresses,  newspaper  articles,  occasionally  a  pamphlet  and 
at  long  intervals  a  special  book.  I  allude  here  to  such  publications  as  Mullan  's 
Oiierland  Guide,  Drew^s  Owyhee  Reconnaissance,  Condon's  Report  on  State 
Geology,  Small's  Oregon  and  her  Resources,  Du/iir's  Statistics  of  Oregon, 
Deady's  Wallamet  vh,  iVillamette,  and  numerous  public  addresses  in  pampldot 
form,  to  contributions  to  the  Oregon  pioneer  association's  archives,  Victor  s  A  H 
Ovr  Oregon  and  Washington,  Murphy's  State  Directory,  Oilisan's  Journal  of 
Army  Life,  and  a  largo  number  of  descriptive  publications  in  paper  covers, 
besides  monographs  and  morceaux  of  every  descripton. 

The  number  of  newspapers  and  periodicals  pulilished  in  Oregon  in  1880, 
according  to  the  tenth  census,  was  74,  against  2  in  1850,  I(J  in  1800,  and  35  in 
1870.  Of  these,  7  were  dailies,  59  weeklies,  6  monthlies,  1  semi-monthly,  and 
1  quarterly.  A  few  only  of  these  had  any  particular  significance.  The 
Astorian,  founded  in  1872  by  D.  C.  Ireland,  on  account  of  its  excellence  as 
a  commercial  and  marine  journal,  should  bo  excepted.  The  Inland  Empire 
of  The  Dalles  is  also  deserving  of  mention  for  its  excellence  in  disseminating 
useful  information  on  all  topics  connected  with  the  development  of  the  coun- 
try. Tlic  West  Shore,  a  Portland  monthly  publication,  founded  in  August 
1875  by  L.  Samuels,  grew  from  an  eight-page  journal  to  a  magazine  of  ftoiu 
twenty  to  thirty  quarto  pages,  chiefly  local  in  character,  and  profusely  ilhis- 
tratud  with  cuts  representing  the  scenery  and  the  architectural  improvements 
of  Oregon,  Washington,  Idaho,  Montana,  and  British  Columbia.  The  locality 
longest  without  a  newspaper  was  Coos  Bay,  which,  although  settled  early, 


PIONEER  ASSOCIATIONS. 


693 


isolated  by  a  lack  of  roads  from  the  interior,  and  having  considerable  busi- 
ness, had  no  printing-press  until  Octolwr  1870,  when  the  Monthly  Gni'le  was 
started  at  Empire  City,  a  sheet  of  4  pages  about  C  by  4  inches  in  size.  It 
ran  until  changed  into  the  Coon  Bay  Xeivs  in  March  1873,  when  it  was  en- 
larged to  12  by  18  inches.  In  September  of  the  same  year  it  was  removed  to 
Marslifield  and  again  aularged. 


I 


PIONEER  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Oregon  Pioneer  Society  was  organized  October  8  and  0,  18C7,  at 
Salem,  in  the  hnll  of  the  house  of  representatives,  W.  H.  Gray  being  prime 
mover.  The  officers  elected  were  J.  \V.  Nesmith  president,  Matthew  P. 
Deady  vice-president,  I.  N.  Gilbert  treasurer,  and  Medorum  Crawford  secre- 
tary. Resolutions  were  oflFered  to  form  committees  to  obtain  facts  concerning 
the  immigration  of  1843,  and  in  reference  to  the  civil  and  political  condition  of 
the  country  from  its  earliest  settlement. 

In  the  mean  time  VV.  H.  Gray  had  founded  the  Oregon  Pioneer  and  His- 
torical Society,  with  its  office  at  Astoria,  which  society  made  less  of  the  social 
reunions  and  more  of  the  collection  of  historical  documents,  and  which  Iield 
its  tirst  meeting  in  1872.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  a  schedule  of  its  first 
proceedings.  Truman  P.  Powers,  one  of  Oregon's  most  venerable  [lioneers.  was 
its  president  in  1875.  He  has  only  recently  died.  It  strikes  one,  in  looking 
over  the  proceedings  of  that  year,  that  less  sectarianism  would  be  conducive  to 
a  better  quality  of  liistory  material. 

On  the  18th  of  October,  1873,  the  original  society  reorganized  as  the  Ore- 
gon Pioneer  Association,  with  F.  X.  Mathieu  president,  J.  VV.  Grim  vice- 
proeident,  W.  H.  Rees  secretary,  and  Eli  Cooley  treasurer.  It  held  its  anni- 
versaries and  reunions  on  the  loth  of  June,  this  being  the  day  on  which  ti»6 
treaty  of  boundary  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  w;is  con- 
cluded. Addresses  were  annually  delivered  by  men  acquainted  with  pioneer 
life  and  history.  Ex-governor  Curry  delivered  the  first  annual  address  No- 
vember 11,  1873,  since  which  time,  Deady,  Nesmith,  Strong,  Rees,  Holman, 
Bois<5,  Minto,  Geer,  Atkinson,  Thornton,  Evans,  Applegate,  Staats,  Chadwick, 
Grover,  and  othei-s  have  contributed  to  the  archives  of  the  society  valuable 
addresses.  A  roll  of  the  members  is  kept,  with  place  of  nativity  and  year  of 
immigration,  and  all  are  eligible  as  members  who  came  to  Oregon  while  tlie 
territory  was  under  the  joi.it  occupancy  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Brit- 
ain, or  who  were  born  or  settled  in  the  territoiy  prior  to  January  1,  18')4. 
Bioi^raphies  form  a  feature  of  the  archives.  The  association  offered  to  join 
with  tlio  historical  society  in  1S74,  but  the  latter  decided  tiiat  'any  material 
change  in  its  organic  existence  would  defeat  the  prime  object  of  the  society,' 
and  they  remained  apart.  The  association  is  a  popular  institution,  its  reunions 
being  occasions  of  social  intercourse  as  well  as  historical  reminiscences,  and 
occasions  for  the  display  of  the  best  talent  in  the  state.  Tlie  transactions  of 
each  annual  meeting  are  publislied  in  a  neat  pamphlet  for  preservation.  In 
1S77  the  men  and  women  who  settled  tlie  Rogue  River  and  other  southern 
valleys,  and  whoso  isolation,  nduing  adventures,  and  Indian  wars  gave  them 
a  history  of  their  own,  liardly  identical  with  but  no  less  interesting  than  that 
of  the  settlers  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  met  at  the  pictures(]ue  village  of 
Ashland  and  founded  the  Pioneer  Society  of  Southern  Oregon  on  the  lllth  of 
September  of  that  year,  about  800  persons  being  present.  Its  first  officers 
were  L.  C.  Duncan  president,  William  Hoffman  secretary,  N.  S.  Hayden  treas- 
urer. E.  L.  Applegate  delivered  an  address,  in  which  he  set  forth  the  Motives 
which  animates,  and  the  exploits  which  were  performed  by,  the  pioneers. 
Otiier  addresses  were  made  by  Thomas  Smith,  E.  K.  Anderson,  and  .John  E. 
Ross.  The  society  in  1885  was  in  a  prosperous  condition.  Portland  Om/rt- 
uian,  Nov.  18,  1867;  Portland  Advocate,  Jript,  14,  1867;  Axtona  Astoriun, 
April  3,  1875;  Sac.  Hecord- Union,  April  3,  1875;  Portland  Bulletin,  Dec. 
0,  1871;  Portland  Orfgonian,  MarcliO,  1872;  Anhland  Tidingn,  Sept.  28,  1877; 
JackaonvUk  Times,  April  12,  1878. 


6M 


IMMIGRATION  SOCIETY. 


LIBRARIES. 

The  original  State  Library  of  Orej^on,  as  the  reader  knows,  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1855.  The  later  collection  numbered  in  1885  some  11,000  volumes, 
and  was  simply  a  law  library,  as  there  were  few  miscellaneous  l)ooks.  It 
contained  no  state  historical  documents  or  writings  of  local  authors  to  speak 
of.  Tlie  annual  appropriation  of  87-")0  was  expended  by  the  chief  justice  ia 
purcha.sing  books  for  the  supreme  court. 

The  Library  Association  of  Portland  had  the  largest  miscellaneous  collec- 
tion in  the  state.  It  was  founded  in  February  1864  by  subscriptions  from  a 
few  prominent  men,  amounting  in  all  to  a  little  over  $2,500.  At  the  end  of 
the  first  year  it  had  500  volumes,  and  increased  annually  tdl  in  1885  there 
wore  some  12,000  voUunes.  Although  not  large,  this  library  was  selected 
with  tnore  than  ordinary  care,  tiie  choice  of  Iwoks  having  been  made  princi- 
pally by  Judge  Deady,  to  whose  fostering  care  its  continued  growth  may  be 
principally  ascribed,  although  the  institution  is  scarcely  less  indebted  to  W. 
S.  Liicld,  for  tiie  free  use  of  the  elegant  rooms  over  his  bjink  for  many  years. 
The  iirst  board  of  directors  was  W.  S.  Ladd,  B.  Goldsmitli,  L.  H.  Wakelield, 
H.  W.  CorlKitt,  K.  D.  Shattuck,  C.  11.  Lewis,  VViHiam  Strong,  W.  S.  Cald- 
well, P.  C.  Schuyler,  Jr,  and  Cli.irle3  Calef.  The  directors  were  divided  into 
five  classes  by  lot,  the  tirst  class  going  out  at  tlio  expiration  of  two  year.s,  the 
Second  in  four  years,  and  so  on  to  tiie  end,  two  new  directors  being  elected 
biennially.  Tiie  first  oiiicers  of  the  association  were  W.  S.  Ladd,  president; 
William  Strong,  vice-president;  Ik'rnard  (;t)ldsniith,  treasurer;  Henry  Failing, 
corresponding  secretary:  W.  S.  Caldwell,  recording  secretary;  II.  W.  Scott, 
W.  B.  Cardwcll,  and  C.  C.  Strong,  liliiariaiis.  In  1872  the  association  em- 
j)luyed  Henry  A.  Oxer  as  librarian  and  recoiding  secretary,  whose  qualiilca- 
tions  for  the  duties  niiiterially  assisted  to  pjpularize  the  institution.  Jud^e 
Deady  has  been  presiding  ollicer  for  nutiiy  years. 

The  I'acilic  University,  State  University,  Willamette  University,  Mon- 
mouth University,  McMinnville  and  other  colleges  and  schools,  and  the  catholic 
church  of  Portland,  miiintaincd  libraries  for  the  use  of  those  under  tuition,  and 
there  were  many  private  collections  in  the  state. 


IMMIGRATION  SOCIETY. 

The  first  society  for  the  promotion  of  immigration  was  formed  in  1856,  in 
New  York,  under  the  title  of  }\ii\v  York  Committee  of  Pacific  Emigration. 
S.  P.  Dewey  and  W.  T.  Coleman  of  San  Francisco,  and  Amory  Holbrook  uud 
and  A.  McKinlay  of  Oregon  City,  were  present  at  the  iireliminary  meeting  at 
tlio  Tontine  House.  An  appeal  was  made  to  the  people  of  Oregon  to  interest 
themselves  in  sustaining  a  board  of  immigration,  and  keeping  an  agent  in 
Now  York  in  common  with  the  California  Jiuiigration  Society.  Oi:  Statcnman, 
BY'b.  .3,  1857.  The  matter,  however,  seems  to  have  been  neglected,  nothing 
further  being  heard  about  immigration  schemes  until  after  the  close  of  the 
civil  war,  and  after  the  settlement  of  Idaho  and  Montana  had  intercepted  tlio 
westward  flow  of  population,  reducing  it  to  a  minimum  in  the  Willamette 
Valley  and  evei-ywliere  west  of  the  Cascades.  About  1808  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society  appointed  A.  J.  Dufur,  its  former  president,  to  compile  and  puli- 
lisli  facts  concerning  the  'physical,  geographical,  and  mineral'  resources  of  tlie 
state,  and  a  'description  of  its  agricultural  development,'  which  he  accord- 
ingly did  in  a  pamplilet  of  over  a  hundred  pages,  which  was  distributed  broad- 
cast and  placed  in  the  way  of  travellers.  DiiJ'nr'n  Or.  Statixtica,  Salem,  1869. 

In  August  1 809  a  Board  of  Statistics.  Immigration,  and  Labor  Exchange 
was  formed  at  Portland,  with  the  object  of  promoting  the  increased  settlemc^nt 
of  the  country,  and  furnishing  immigrants  with  employment.  The  board  cou- 
sisted  of  ten  men,  who  managed  the  business  and  employed  such  agents  as  they 
thought  l)e8t,  but  the  revenues  were  derived  from  private  subscriptions.  Ten 
thousand  copies  of  pamphlets  prepared  by  the  society  were  distributed  the 


IMMIGRATION. 


first  year  of  its  existence,  and  the  legislature  was  appealed  to  for  help  in  fur- 
nishing  funds  to  contiuue  these  operations,  which  were  assisted  by  a  sulK>rdi> 
nate  society  at  Salem.  Or.  Legial.  Docs,  1870,  11,  app.  1-11.  In  1872  E.  L. 
Applegate  was  appointed  a  commissioner  of  immigration  by  the  legislature, 
witn  power  to  equip  himself  with  maps,  charts,  and  statistics  in  a  manner  prop- 
erly to  represent  Oregon  in  the  United  States  and  Europe,  and  to  '  counteract 
interested  misrepresentations.'  Or.  Lawx,  1872,  38.  The  compensation  for 
this  service  was  left  blank  in  the  law,  from  which  circumstance,  and  from  the 
additional  one  that  Applegate  returned  to  Oregon  in  the  spring  of  1872  as  a 
peace  commissioner  to  the  Modocs  under  pay,  it  is  just  to  conclude  that  his 
salary  as  a  commissioner  of  immigration  was  insufficient  to  the  service,  or  that 
his  services  were  inadequate  to  the  needs  of  the  country,  or  both. 

At  the  following  session  in  1874  the  State  Board  of  Immigration  was 
created,  October  28th,  the  members  of  which  were  to  be  appointed  by  the 
governor  to  the  number  of  five,  who  were  to  act  without  salary  or  other  com- 
pensation, under  rules  of  their  own  making.  This  act  also  authorized  the 
governor  to  appoint  honorary  members  in  K>reign  countries,  none  of  whom 
were  to  receive  payment.  Or.  Lawn,  1874, 113.  The  failnre  of  tlie  legislature 
to  make  an  appropriation  compelled  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  gov- 
ernor to  solicit  subscriptions  iu  Portland.  Considerable  money  was  collected 
from  business  firms,  and  an  agent  was  sent  to  San  Francisco.  Upon  recom- 
mendation of  the  state  board,  consisting  of  W.  8.  Ladd,  H.  W.  Corbett,  B. 
Goldsmith,  A.  Lienenweber  and  William  Reid,  the  governor  appointed  twenty - 
four  special  agents,  ten  in  the  United  States,  ten  iu  Europe,  two  iu  New 
Zealand,  and  two  in  Canada.  The  results  were  soon  apparent.  Nearly  0,000 
letters  of  inquiry  were  received  in  the  eighteen  months  ending  in  September 
187G,  and  a  perceptible  movement  tu  the  north-west  was  begun.  The  eastern 
branch  of  ttie  state  board  at  Boston  expended  $24,000  in  the  period  just 
mentioned  for  immim-ation  purposes;  half-rates  were  secured  by  passenger 
vessels  and  railway  lines  from  European  ports  to  Portland,  by  which  means 
about  4,000  immigrants  came  out  in  1875,  and  over  2,000  in  1870,  wliile 
the  immigration  of  tiie  following  year  was  nearly  twelve  thousand.  Or.  Mens, 
and  Docs,  1876,  14,  10;  Portland  Board  of  Trade,  1877,  17. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1877,  the  Oregon  State  Immigration  Society 
organized  under  tlie  private-corporations  act  of  1862,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$^M),000,  in  shares  of  $5  each,  the  object  being  to  promote  immigration,  col- 
lect and  diffuse  information,  buy  and  sell  real  estate,  and  do  a  general  agency 
business.  The  president  of  tho  incorporated  society  was  A.  J.  Dufur,  vice- 
president  D.  H.Stearns,  secretary  T.  J.  Matlock,  treasurer L.  P.  W.  Quimby. 
Jill-Laws  Or.  Emig.  Soc,  16.  An  office  was  opened  in  Portland,  and  the 
society,  chiefly  through  its  president,  perfoiined  considerable  labor  without 
any  satisfactory  pecuniary  returns.  But  there  was  by  this  time  a  wide-spread 
interest  wakened,  which  led  to  statisical  and  descriptive  pamphlets,  maps,  and 
circulars  by  numeious  autliors,  whose  works  were  purchased  and  made  use  of 
by  the  Oregon  and  California  and  Northern  Pacific  railroad  companies  to  settle 
their  lands,  and  by  other  transportation  companies  to  swell  tlieir  passenger 
lists.  Tlie  result  of  these  efforts  was  to  fill  uj)  the  eastern  portion  of 
Oregon  and  Washington  with  an  active  population  in  a  few  years,  and  to 
materially  increase  the  wealth  of  tlie  state,  both  by  addition  to  its  producing 
capacity,  and  by  a  consequent  rise  in  the  value  of  lands  iu  every  part  of  it. 
The  travel  over  the  Northern  Pacific,  chiefly  immigration,  was  large 
from  the  moment  of  its  extension  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  was  in  1885 
atill  on  the  increase. 

RAILROADS. 

In  Februa'y  1853  the  Oregon  legislative  assembly,  stirred  by  the  discus- 
sion in  congress  of  a  transcontiuental  railroad,  passed  a  memorial  in  relation 
to  such  a  road  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  some  point  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
this  being  the  first  legislative  action  with  regard  to  railroads  in  Oregon  after 
the  organization  of  tho  territory,  although  there  had  been  a  project  spoken  of, 


I  ! 


RAILROADS. 


and  even  advertised,  to  build  a  railroad  from  St  Helen  on  the  Columbia  to 
Lafayette  in  Yamhill  county  aa  early  as  1850.  Or.  SpectrUy/r,  Jan.  30,  1850. 
Knigliton,  Tappau,  Smith,  und  Crosby  were  the  projectors  of  this  road. 

In  the  hitter  jart  of  1853  came  I.  I.  Htevens  to  Paget  Sound,  full  of  the 
enthusiasm  of  an  explorer,  and  sanguine  with  regard  to  a  road  which  should 
unite  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  states.  Under  the  excitement  of  thisconlldcnt 
hope,  the  legislature  of  1853-4  granted  charters  to  no  less  than  four  railv.'&y 
companies  in  Oregon,  and  passed  resolutions  asking  for  aid  from  congress. 
Or.  Jonr.  Council,  1853-4,  125.  The  Willamette  Valley  Railroad  Company, 
the  Oregon  and  California  Railroad  Company,  the  Cincinnati  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  the  Clackainas  Railroad  Company  were  the  four  mentioned.  Tlie 
Cincinnati  company  proposed  to  build  a  road  from  the  town  of  that  name  in 
Polk  county  to  some  coal  lands  in  the  same  county.  /(/.,  125;  Or.  Slatesmuii, 
April  18,  1854.  The  act  concerning  the  Clackamas  company  is  lacking  among 
tlie  laws  of  that  session,  althougli  tlie  proceedings  of  the  council  show  that  it 
passed.  It  related  to  the  portage  around  the  falls  at  Oregon  City.  Or.  Jonr. 
Council,  i)4,  95,  107, 116,  126.  One  of  these  companies  went  so  far  as  to  hold 
meetings  and  open  books  for  subscriptions,  but  nothing  further  came  of  it. 
The  commissioners  were  Frederick  Waymire,  Martin  L.  Barker,  John  Thorp, 
Solomon  Tetherow,  James  S.  Holman,  Harrison  Linnville,  Fielder  &L  Thorp, 
J.  C.  Avery,  and  James  O'Neil.  Or.  Statesman,  April  11  and  25,  1854.  This 
was  called  the  Willamette  Valley  Railroad  Company. 

A  charter  was  granted  to  a  company  styling  itself  the  Oregon  and  Cali- 
fornia Railroad  Company,  who  proposed  to  build  a  road  from  Eugene  City 
to  some  point  on  the  east  side  of  the  Willamette  River  below  Oregon  City,  or 
possibly  to  the  Columbia  River.  The  commissioners  for  the  Oregon  and  Cal- 
ifornia road  were  Lot  Whitcomb,  N.  P.  Doland,  W.  Meek,  James  B.  Stcplicns, 
William  Holmes,  Charles  Walker,  Samuel  Officer,  William  Barlow,  John 
Gribble,  Harrison  Wright,  J.  D.  Boon,  J.  L.  Parrish,  Joseph  Holman,  Wil- 
liam H.  Rector,  Daniel  Waldo,  Benj.  F.  Harding,  Samuel  Simmons,  Rilph 
C.  Gccr,  William  Parker,  Augustus  R.  Dimick,  Hugh  Cosgrove,  Robert 
Newell,  W.  H.  Willson,  Green  McDonald,  James  Curl,  E.  H.  Randall,  Lutlier 
Elkins,  John  Crabtree,  David  Claypole,  Elmore  Keyes,  James  H.  Fo.ster 
George  Cliue,  John  Smith,  Anderson  Cox,  John  H.  Lines,  Jeremiah  Dug 
John  N.  Donnell,  Asa  McCuUy,  Hugh  L.  Brown,  James  N.  Smith,  Willi 
Earle,  W.  W.  Bristow,  Milton  S.  Riggs,  James  C.  Robinson,  P.  Wilkins, 
William  Stevens,  Jacob  Spores,  Benjamin  Ricliardsun,  E.  F.  Skinner,  James 
Hctherly,  Felix  Scott,  Henry  Owen,  Benjamin  Davis,  Joseph  Bailey,  J.  W. 
Nesmith,  and  Samuel  Brown.  Id.,  April  4,  1854.  Of  this  likewise  nothing 
came  except  the  name,  which  descended  to  a  successor.  Another  corporation 
received  a  charter  in  1857  to  build  a  road  to  Newport  on  Yaqnina  Bay, 
which  was  not  built  by  the  company  chartered  at  tiiat  date.  The  only 
railroads  in  Oregon  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Oregon  '„cntral  IJail- 
road  Company,  of  which  I  am  about  to  give  the  history,  were  the  portages 
about  the  cascades  and  dalles  of  the  Columbia  and  the  falls  at  Oregon  City. 

In  1803  S.  G.  Eliot,  civil  engineer,  made  a  survey  of  a  railroad  line  from 
Marysvillo  in  California  to  Jacksonville  in  Oregon,  where  his  labors  ended 
and  liig  party  was  disbanded.  This  survey  was  made  for  the  California  and 
Columbia  River  Railroad  Company,  incorporated  October  13, 1863,  at  Marys- 
villo, California.  Eliot  endeavored  to  raise  money  in  Oregon  to  complete  his 
survey,  but  was  opposed  by  the  people,  partly  from  prejudice  against  Califor- 
nian  enterprises.  Marysville  Apjxal,  June2~,  1803;  Portland  Oreijonian, 3 aa. 
4,  1804;  JJeadyU  Scrap-Book,  37,  56;  Portland  Omjonian,  Dec.  17.  1803. 
Joseph  Gaston,  the  railroad  pioneer  of  the  Willamette,  then  residing  iu  Jack- 
son county,  being  deeply  interested  in  the  completion  of  the  survey  to  the 
Columbia  River,  took  it  upon  himself  to  raise  a  company,  which  he  placed 
under  the  control  of  A.  C.  Barry,  who  after  serving  in  the  civil  war  had  come 
to  the  Pacific  coast  to  regain  his  health.  Barry  was  ably  assisted  by  George 
H.  Belden  of  the  U.  S.  land  survey.  As  the  enterprise  was  wholly  a  volun- 
teer undertaking,  the  means  to  conduct  it  had  to  be  raised  by  contribution, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  OREGON  CENITIAL. 


697 


and  to  this  most  difiBcult  part  of  the  work  Gaston  applied  himself.  A  circular 
was  prepared,  addressed  to  the  leading  farmers  and  businee^s  men  of  the  coun- 
try through  which  the  surveying  ]>arty  would  pass,  invitiiis  their  support, 
while  Barry  was  instructed  to  subsist  liis  men  on  the  people  along  the  line 
and  trust  to  the  favor  of  tha  public  for  his  own  imy. 

The  novelty  aud  boldness  of  th«3e  proceedings,  while  eliciting  comments, 
did  not  opei-ate  unfavorably  upon  tlie  prosecution  of  tlie  survey,  which  pro- 
ceeded without  interruption,  the  party  in  the  field  living  sumptuously,  and 
often  being  accompanied  and  assisted  by  their  entertainers  for  days  at  a  time. 
It  was  not  always  tliat  the  people  applied  to  were  so  enthusiastic.  One  promi- 
nent man  declared  that  so  far  frohi  the  country  being  able  to  support  a  rail- 
road, if  one  should  be  built  tlie  first  train  would  carry  all  the  freight  in  the 
country,  the  second  all  the  passengers,  and  the  third  would  pull  up  the  track 
behind  it  and  carry  off  the  road  itself.  'This  some  man,'  remarks  Mr 
Gaston,  '  managed  to  get  into  office  in  the  first  railroad  company,  aud  has  en- 
joyed a  good  salary  therein  for  13  years.'  Gastoii'it  I'ailroail  Devel  pmctit  in 
Orrffon,  MS.,  8-9.  Gaston  continued  to  write  and  print  circulars,  which  were 
distributed  to  railroad  men,  county  officers,  government  land-offices,  and  all 
persons  likely  to  be  interested  in  or  able  to  assist  in  the  organization  of  a 
railroad  company,  both  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  in  the  eastern  states.  These 
open  letters  contained  statistical  and  other  information  about  the  country, 
and  its  agricultural,  mineral,  commercial,  and  manufacturing  resources. 
Hundreds  of  petitions  were  at  the  same  time  put  in  circulation,  asking  congress 
to  grant  a  subsidy  in  bonds  and  lands  to  aid  in  constructing  a  branch  railroad 
from  the  Central  Pacific  to  Oregon. 

By  the  time  the  legislature  met  in  September,  Gaston  had  Barry's  report 
completed  and  printed,  giving  a  favorable  view  of  the  entire  practicability  of 
a  road  from  Jacksonville  to  the  Columbia  at  St  Helen,  to  which  point  it  was 
Barry's  opinion  any  road  through  the  length  of  the  \A  ilauiette  River 
ought  to  go,  although  the  survey  was  extended  to  Portland,  To  this  report 
was  appended  a  chapter  on  the  resources  of  Oregon,  highly  flattering  to  the 
feelings  of  the  assembly.  The  document  was  referred  to  the  committee  on 
corporations,  and  James  M.  Pyle,  senator  from  Douglas  county,  chairman, 
made  an  able  report,  supporting  the  policy  of  granting  state  aid.  Cyrus  01- 
ney,  of  Clatsop  county,  drew  up  the  first  state  subsidy  bill,  proposing  to  grant 
$'2jO,000  to  the  company  that  should  first  construct  100  miles  of  railroad  in 
the  Willamette  Valley.  The  bill  became  a  law,  but  no  company  ever  accepted 
this  trifling  subsidy.  Portland  Oref/oniau,  Sept.  7  and  1.1,  I8G4;  BarryWal. 
A  Or.  R.  R.  Surcey,  34;  Or.  Journal  Senate,  1864,  ap.  3G-7;  Poi-tlaml  Orejo- 
man,  Nov.  5,  1864;  Or,  Jour,  tloum,  1864.  ap.  lS.j-9;  Or.  StalcKinau,  July 
2.3,  1864;  Portland  O.erjoninn,  June  20,  July  27,  Aug.  11,  Sept.  13,  Oct. 
29,  1864.  In  November,  however,  after  the  adjournment  of  the  legisla- 
ture, an  organization  was  formed  under  the  name  of  the  Willamette  Valley 
Railroad  Company,  which  opened  books  for  subscription,  and  filed  arti- 
cles of  incorporation  in  December.  Id.,  Nov.  12  and  17,  and  Dec.  2,  1864; 
Deady'a  Scrap-Book,  107.  The  incorporators  were  J.  C.  Ainsworth,  H.  W. 
Corbett,  W.  S.  Ladd,  A.  C.  Gibbs,  C.  N.  Carter,  I.  R.  Moorcs,  and  E.  N. 
Cooke.  Ainsworth  was  president,  and  George  H.  Beklen  secretary.  Belden 
was  a  civil  engineer,  and  had  been  chief  in  tlie  surveyor-general's  office,  but 
resigned  to  enter  u|K>n  the  survey  of  the  Oregon  and  California  railroatl.  Or, 
Ar<]m,  May  25,  1863.  Barry  meantime  proceeded  with  his  reports  and  peti- 
tions to  Washinston,  where  he  expected  the  cooperation  of  Senators  Williams 
and  Nosmitb.  The  latter  did  indeed  exert  his  influence  in  behalf  of  con- 
gressional aid  for  the  Oregon  branch  of  the  Central  Pacific,  but  Barry  became 
weary  of  the  uncertainty  and  delay  attendant  upon  passing  bills  through  con- 
gress, and  giving  up  the  project  as  hopeless,  went  to  Warsaw,  Missouri,  where 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law. 

Before  Barry  quitted  Washington  he  succeeded  in  havirjg  a  bill  introduced 
in  the  lower  house  by  Cole  of  California,  the  terms  of  which  granted  to  the 
California  and  Oregon  Railroad  Company  of  California,  aud  to  such  company 


RAILROADS. 


organized  under  the  lawn  of  Oregon  as  the  legislature  of  the  state  should 
designate,  twenty  alternate  sections  of  land  per  mile,  tea  on  each  side  of  the 
road,  to  aid  in  tlie  cc^nstruction  of  a  line  of  railroad  and  telegrapli  from  Honiu 
point  on  the  Central  Pacific  railroad  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  to  Portland, 
Oitgon,  through  th»>  Rogue  River,  Umpqua,  and  Willamette  valleys,  the  Cal- 
ifornia coni|>any  to  build  nortli  to  the  Oregon  boundary,  and  the  Oregon  eo:a- 
pany  to  build  south  to  a  junction  with  the  California  road.  Cong.  GIM, 
1805-6,  ap.  388-9;  ZahrUkie's  Land  Laws,  637;  Veatche^it  Or.,  12-21.  This 
bill,  which  was  introduced  in  December  1864,  did  not  become  a  law  until 
July  2'),  1866,  and  was  of  comparatively  little  value,  as  the  line  of  the  road 
passed  through  a  country  where  tiie  Inist  lands  were  already  settled  upon. 
The  bill  failed  in  congress  in  1865  because  Senator  Conuess  of  Californiit 
refused  to  work  with  Cole.  It  passed  tlie  house  late,  and  the  senate  not  at 
all.  .S*.  F.  Bulletin,  Marcli  8,  I860;  Eujene,  Heview,  in  Portland  Oregoni'iii, 
A)U'il  1  and  26,  1865.  Tlie  California  and  Oregon  railroad  had  already  liled 
anii'k's  of  incorporation  at  Sacramento,  its  capital  stock  being  divided  into 
150,000  shares  at  $100  a  sliare.  When  the  subsidy  bill  became  a  law  the 
Oregon  Central  Railroad  Com[)any  was  organized,  and  the  legislature,  acconl- 
ing  to  tlic  act  of  cungre-is,  designated  this  company  as  the  one  to  receive  tlio 
Oregon  portion  of  t!ie  land  grant,  at  the  same  time  passing  an  act  pledging 
the  statu  to  pay  interest  at  seven  per  cent  on  one  million  dollars  of  the  bonilii 
of  thu  c^)mpuny,  to  bu  issued  as  the  work  progressed  on  the  iirst  humlivd 
niile^i  uf  road.  Thii  act  was  re^Kialcil  as  unconstitutional  in  1868.  Or.  Lnivn, 
1806,  1868,  44-5;  Decuhi'n  Srrnpliook,  176;.S'.  F.  Bulletin,  Oct.  25  and  \(.v. 
2,  1S66.  See  special  mcssago  of  Gov.  Woods,  in  Sac.  Union,  Oct,  22,  186(). 
Articles  of  incoriioratioii  were  filed  November  21,  1866.  The  incorporators 
were  K.  It.  Thompson,  E.  I).  Shattuck,  J.  C  Ainsworth,  John  McCraukcii, 
S.  G.  lUe  I,  W.  IS.  Ladil,  il.  W.  Corbett,  U.  H.  Lewis  of  Portland,  M,  .M. 
Mclvin,  Jesse  Applcgate,  K.  R.  (ieary,  S.  Ellsworth,  F.  A.  Chenoweth,  .Idt  I 
Palmer,  T.  II.  Cox,  I.  R.  Moores,  Ceorgo  L.  Woods,  J.  S.  Smith,  H.  K. 
Brown,  and  Josepli  Gaston.  Ganton's  Railroad  Development  of  Or.,  MS., 
15-10. 

The  inco;  porators  elected  Gaston  secretary  an'l  general  agent,  authorizing 
liiin  to  open  the  stock-books  of  the  cou>pdny,  and  canvass  for  subscriptinns, 
which  was  done  with  energy  and  success,  the  funds  to  construct  the  lii^t 
twenty-live  miles  being  proinised,  when  Eliot,  Insfore  mentioned,  suddoniy 
appcarcil  in  Oregon  with  a  proposition  signed  A,  J.  Cook  &  Co.,  whereby  tliu 
Oregon  company  was  asked  to  turn  over  the  whole  of  its  road  to  the  pi'ii|ilu 
of  California  to  build.  The  comiM>nsation  olTered  for  this  transfer  was  t!iu 
sum  of  $50,000  to  each  of  the  incorporators,  to  bo  paid  in  unasscasiiblo  prf- 
ferred  stock  in  the  road.  To  this  scheme  Gaston,  as  the  comiwiuy's  agont, 
offered  an  earnest  opposition,  which  was  sustained  by  tha  majority  o(  thu 
incorporators;  but  to  the  Salem  men  the  luiit  looked  glittering,  and  u  divisJHti 
ensued.  A  naw  company  was  |)rojccted  by  these,  in  the  corporate  name  uf 
the  fir.st,  the  Oregon  Central  Railroad  Company,  with  the  evident  inteiiliuu 
of  driving  from  tlio  field  the  original  comjiany,  and  securing  under  its  niinn! 
the  land  grant  and  state  aid.  A  struggle  for  control  now  set  in,  which  w;is 
extrcnu'ly  damaging  to  the  enterprise.  Seeing  that  litigation  and  delay  must 
ensue,  the  capitalists  who  had  contracted  to  furnish  funds  for  the  lir-^t 
twenty-live  miles  of  road  at  once  cancelled  their  agreement,  refusing  to  hu|>- 
port  either  party  to  the  contest.  Gaston,  who  determined  to  carry  out  tlio 
original  object  of  his  company,  in  order  to  avoid  still  further  trouble  witii  tliu 
Salem  jwrty,  located  the  lino  of  the  Oregon  dntral  on  the  west  sido  of  tliu 
Willamette  River,  and  proceeded  again  with  the  labor  of  securing  tinan> id 
support.  The  Salem  company  naturally  desiring  to  build  on  the  east  nidi'  "f 
the  river.  mv\  assuming  the  nomo  of  the  original  corporation,  gave  rise  to  tliu 
custom,  long  prevalent,  of  calling  tlio  two  comiianies  by  the  distinctive  titles 
of  Kust-Side  and  West-Side  companies. 

Wiiilu  (tuston  was  going  am'/Ug  the  people  delivering  addresses  and  taking 
■ubauriptious  to  the  weat-siJe  road,  the  euat-side  com^MUiy,  whivh  urgiuiucd 


RIVAL  COMPANIES. 


699 


April  22,  1807,  proceeded  in  an  entirely  different  manner  to  accomplish  their 
ctid.  Sctcn  men  subscribed  each  one  share  of  stock,  at  $1U0,  and  electing 
one  of  tlicir  number  president,  passed  a  resolution  authorizing  that  olhcer  to 
8ub.scribe  seven  million  dollars  for  the  company.  This  mantuuvrc  was  con- 
trary to  the  incorporation  law  of  tlie  state,  ^thich  required  one  half  of  the 
capital  stock  of  a  corporation  to  be  subscribed  l)cfore  tlio  election  of  a  board 
of  directors.  Tlie  board  of  directors  elected  by  subscribing  ^ICO  e;ich  were 
J.  II.  Moores,  I.  11.  Moores,  George  L.  Woods,  li.  N.  Cooke,  Samuel  A. 
Clarke.  Wootls  was  elected  president,  and  Clark  secretary.  To  thuso  were 
subsecpiently  added  J.  II.  Douthitt.  F.  A.  Chenoweth,  Green  li.  .Smith,  S. 
Ellswortli,  J.  H.  L).  Henderson,  S.  F.  Chadwick,  John  K.  Ross,  A.  L.  Love- 
joy,  A.  V.  Hedges,  S.  B.  I'arrish,  Jacob  Conser,  T.  McF.  I'atton,  and  John 
!•'.  Miller.  Udntoii's  Railroad  Dcrelopmeut  in  Or.,  M.S.,  22-3.  15et'ore  the 
nu'Ctin^  of  tlie  next  Icgidlature,  thi.-teen  other  directors  were  added  to  Iho 
buan!,  ocing  prominent  citizens  of  difl'erent  counties,  who  it  was  lioped  vonld 
huvu  iiiiluence  willi  that  body,  and  to  each  of  tliesc  was  presented  a  shari  of 
the  stock  subscribed  by  the  president.  So  far  theie  liad  not  been  a  bona 
tide  snb.-jcription  by  any  of  the  east-side  comiiany.  In  order  to  holil  Ids  own 
against  this  specious  linauc'cring,  (Jasfon,  iiftcr  raising  considerable  money 
among  the  farmers,  subscribed  in  Ids  own  name  half  the  capital  stock,  amount- 
ing lo  •'ii.I,oOO,000.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  had  no  money,  but  as  a  matter  of 
law,  ic  was  necessary  to  have  this  amount  subscribed  befove  organizing  a 
boanl  of  directors  lor  his  company.  This  bojird  was  elected  May  2.">,  1S07, 
eta  meeting  lield  at  Amity.  'J  ho  iirst  board  of  directors  of  the  Oregon  Cen- 
tral (we.it-side)  were  W.  C.  Whitson,  James  M.  Belcher,  W.  T.  Newby, 
Thomas  11.  Cornelius,  and  Joseph  Gaston,  (iaston  was  elected  president, 
and  Whiison  secretary.  Hotli  companies,  being  now  organized,  proci'cdud  to 
carry  out  their  plans  as  best  they  could.  Elliot,  as  agent  ot  the  east-side 
par:y,  went  ease  to  tind  purclmser.s  for  the  lx)ndi  of  the  company,  while  Una- 
ton  continued  to  canvass  among  the  people,  and  also  began  a  >iuit  in  e(iuity 
in  Marion  county  to  restrain  the  Salem  company  from  using  the  name  of  the 
Oregon  Central  company,  Givston  appearing  as  attorney  for  plaintitl's,  and 
J.  11.  Mitchell  for  the  defendants.  On  trial,  the  circuit  judge  avoided  a 
decision  by  holding  that  no  actual  damage  had  been  sustained.  Mitchell 
then  became  the  leading  spirit  of  the  ea8t•^lde  con'pany,  and  the  two  parties 
contended  hotly  for  the  ascendency  by  circu'ating  I'rinted  ilocuments,  and 
holding  correspondence  with  bankers  and  brokers  to  the  injury  of  each  other. 
A  suit  was  also  commenced  to  annul  tlie  east-side  company,  on  the  ground  of 
illegal  organi.uition.  Meanwhile  Kllioi;  was  in  Boston,  and  was  on  tht!  point 
of  closing  a  contract  for  a  laru'e  amount  of  material,  when  (iaston's  cinndara 
reached  that  city,  causing  the  failure  of  the  transaction,  and  compelling 
KUiot  to  return  to  Oregon,  having  secured  only  two  locomotives  and  some 
shop  material,  which  he  had  already  ^^urchased  with  the  bonds  of  his  com- 
pany. A  compromise  would  now  have  been  accepted  by  the  east-side  party, 
luit  the  west-side  would  not  agree  to  it,  and  in  point  of  fact  could  not,  bei.auso 
the  people  on  that  side  of  the  valley,  who  were  actual  suliscribers,  wouhl  not 
consent  to  have  their  roud  nin  on  tno  uist  side,  and  the  people  ou  tliat  sido 
would  not  subscribe  to  a  road  on  the  other. 

By  the  Iirst  of  Anril,  1808,  both  parties  had  their  surveyors  in  the  field 
locating  their  lines  ot  roud.  I'orttniid  Onyimiaii,  March  W,  IH(i8.  The  west- 
side  company  had  secured  1^2'), 000  in  cash  suliBorintions  in  I'oitland,  and  as 
much  more  in  cash  and  lands  in  tho  eountics  of  Washington  and  Yamhill, 
'ihc  city  of  Portland  had  also  pledged  interest  for  t\v'enty  years  on  $2."»0,000 
of  tho  company's  bonds.  Washington  county  had  likewise  pledged  the  inter- 
est on  foO.OOO,  and  Yamhill  on  $7.'),000.  Thm  ^'17.">,00()  wiis  made  available 
to  begin  tho  construction  of  the  Oregon  Central.  The  cost  side  company  had 
also  raised  some  money,  and  advertised  tnut  they  would  formally  break 
ground  near  East  Portland  on  tho  IMthof  April,  1H<'8,  for  which  purpo-ie  bands 
of  music  and  tho  prcsoneo  of  the  militia  were  engaged  to  give  eclat  to  the 
occosiuu.    Au  addreM  by  \V.  W.  Upton  wiw  aauuuuc«;J, 


Too 


RAILROADS. 


The  west-aide  company  refrained  from  advertising,  but  made  preparations 
to  break  ground  on  the  14th,  and  issued  posters  on  the  day  previous  only.  At 
ten  o'clock  of  the  day  appointed  a  large  concourse  of  people  were  gathered  in 
Caruther's  addition  to  celebrate  the  turning  of  the  first  sotl  on  the  Oregon 
Central.  Gaston  read  a  rejiori  of  the  condition  of  the  company,  and  speeches 
were  made  by  A.  C  Gibbs  and  W.  W.  Chapman.  This  cntfed,  Mrs  David 
C.  Lewis,  wife  of  the  chief  engineer  of  the  company,  lifted  a  shovelful  of 
earth  and  cast  it  upon  the  grade-stake,  which  was  the  signal  for  loud,  long, 
anil  enthusiastic  cheering,  wliich  so  excited  the  throng  that  each  contributed 
a  few  nniuites  labor  to  the  actual  grfttling  of  the  road-bed.  Thus  on  the  14th 
of  April,  1868.  was  begun  the  Krst  railroad  in  Oregon  other  than  the  portages 
al)ove  mentioned.  On  the  16th  the  grander  celebration  of  the  east-side  com- 
pany was  carried  out  according  to  programme,  at  tiie  farm  of  Gideon  Tibbets, 
south  of  Kast  Portland,  and  on  this  occasion  was  used  the  first  shovel  made 
of  Oregon  iron.  Portland  Orifjoiiiait,  April  IS,  1868;  McCnrmirk'a  I'ortlaiid 
Dir.,  lS(i!(,  8-9.  Tiie  shnvid  was  ordered  by  Sar.iucl  M.  Smith,  of  Oswego 
iron,  and  made  at  the  Wiilamette  Iron  Works  by  William  Buchanan.  It  was 
shaped  under  the  hammer,  the  handle  being  of  maple,  oiled  with  oil  from  tiie 
Salem  mills.  It  was  formally  presented  to  the  officers  of  the  company  on  the 
Ijth  of  April.  Portland  Ore'jonian,  April  14,  16,  and  17,  1868. 

Actual  railroad  building  was  now  begun  on  both  sides  of  t'le  Willamette 
River;  but  the  companies  scjon  found  themselves  in  financial  straits.  The  cast- 
sitle  management  was  compelled  in  n  short  time  ti>  sell  its  two  locomotives  to 
tlie  Central  Pacific  of  California,  although  they  bore  the  names  of  George 
L.  WoimU  and  I.  R.  Moorcs,  the  first  auu  second  presidents  of  the  organiza- 
tion. A  vigorous  effort  was  made  to  induce  the  city  council  of  Portland  to 
pledge  the  interest  for  twenty  years  on  $600,000  of  the  cast-side  bonds,  iu 
which  the  company  was  not  successful.  It  u  related  that,  being  in  a  strait, 
Eiliot  proposetl  to  inform  the  men  employed,  appealing  to  them  to  woik 
another  month  on  the  promise  of  payment  in  the  future.  But  to  this  prupo- 
eitiiin  his  superintendent  of  construction  replied  that  a  better  way  would  be 
t' I  keep  the  men  in  ignorance.  Ho  went  among  tiiem,  carelessly  suggesting 
that  as  they  did  not  need  their  money  to  use,  it  would  be  a  wise  plan  to  draw 
only  their  tobacco-money,  and  leave  the  remainder  in  the  safe  for  security 
against  loss  or  theft.  The  hint  was  adopted,  the  money  was  left  in  the  safi', 
ami  served  to  make  the  same  show  on  another  pay-day,  or  until  llolhiilay 
came  to  tln^  company's  relief.  (Inntonx  Iiuilroad  Ui'i'tlojimtut  in  Or.,  .M.S., 
34-.").  Nor  was  the  west-side  company  more  at  case.  Times  were  hard  with 
the  farmers,  v  ho  could  not  pay  \\[)  their  subscriptions.  The  lands  of  tim 
company  could  not  be  sold  or  pledged  to  Portland  bankers,  and  affairs  often 
looked  dcHperate. 

The  financial  distresses  of  both  parties  deterred  neither  from  aggressive 
M'arfari!  upon  the  other.  The  west-side  company  continually  pressed  proceed- 
ings in  the  courts  to  have  its  rival  declared  no  corporation,  but  no  ilecisinn 
was  arrived  at.  (!ast<m  ileclnres  that  the  judges  in  the  third  and  fourth  judi- 
cial districts  evaded  a  decision,  '  their  constituents  being  ecpially  <livideil  in 
supporting  the  rival  companies.'  /(/.,  38.  Failing  of  coming  to  the  point  in 
this  way,  a  land-owner  on  the  east  side  was  prompted  to  refuse  the  right  of 
way,  and  when  the  case  came  into  court,  the  answer  was  set  up  that  the  loni- 

Iianv  wai  not  a  lawful  corporation,  and  therefore  not  authorized  to  coiideinn 
aiiilH  for  its  purposes.  The  attorneys  for  the  company  withdrew  from  court 
rather  than  meet  tl.e  cpicstion,  and  made  are-location  of  tlie  road,  thus  foiling 
again  the  design  of  the  west-side  company. 

Portland  being  ufH)n  the  west  side  of  tlio  river,  and  the  cmiiorium  of  capi- 
tal in  Oregon,  it  was  apparently  only  a  (piestion  of  time  when  the  west-side 
road  should  drive  the  usurper  from  the  field,  and  so  it  must  have  done  hud 
there  been  no  foreign  interference,  But  the  east-side  company  had  Iwen  sci  U- 
ing  aid  in  California,  an<l  not  without  success.  In  August  1868,  lien  Holla- 
day,  of  the  ovt'iland  stage  company  and  the  steamship  line  to  San  Francisco, 
arrived  iu  Oregon.     Ho  reprcscntedi  hiiuiibU,  and  was  u«)U«ved  to  be,  the  pus- 


HOLLADAY  TO  THE  RESCUE. 


m 


aessor  of  millio:  s.  A  transfer  of  all  the  stock,  bonds,  contracts,  and  all 
piv'Derty,  real  and  personal,  of  the  east-side  company  was  made  to  him.  Tlie 
Btrng;^'le,  which  had  before  l)een  nearly  equal,  now  became  one  between  a 
corpurution  without  money  and  a  corporation  with  millions,  and  with  tlie 
support  of  those  who  wished  to  etijoy  the  benefits  to  I>e  conferred  by  thid 
wealth,  both  in  building  railroads  and  in  furnishing  salaried  situations  to  its 
friends.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  get  rid  of  the  legislative  enact- 
ments of  18G0,  designating  the  original  Oregon  Central  company  as  the  proper 
recipient  of  the  land  grant  and  state  aid. 

On  the  convening  of  the  legislature,  HoIIaday  established  himself  at  Salem, 
where  he  kept  open  liouse  to  the  members,  wiiom  he  entertained  royally  as  to 
expenditure,  and  vul'jarly  as  to  all  things  else.  The  display  and  the  hospitality 
were  not  without  efi'cct.  The  result  was  that  the  legislature  of  18G8  revoked 
the  rights  granted  to  the  Oregon  Central  of  18U<3,  and  vested  these  rights  iu 
tlie  later  organization  under  the  same  name.  The  cause  assigned  was  that 
'at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  the  said  joint  resolution  as  aforesaid  no  such 
company  as  the  Oregon  Central  llailroad  Coini^auy  was  organized  or  in  exist- 
ence, and  the  said  joint  resolution  was  adopted  under  a  misapprehension  of 
facts  as  to  the  organization  and  existence  of  such  a  company.'  Or.  Laws, 
IStiS,  100-10.  It  was  allege}!  that  the  original  company,  in  their  haste  to 
secure  the  land  grant  by  the  designation  of  the  legislature,  which  meets  only 
once  in  two  years,  had  neglected  to  tile  their  incorporation  papers  with  tlio 
secretary  of  state  previous  to  their  application  for  the  favor  of  the  legislature, 
tlie  actual  date  of  incorporation  being  Is'uvcniber  'Jlst,  whereas  the  resolution 
of  the  Icgidlaturu  designating  them  to  receive  the  land  grant  was  passed  oa 
the  '20th  of  October,  a  niontli  uud  a  day  before  the  company  had  a  legal  exist- 
ence. In  his  lia'droud  Derelojmie'u  in  Or,,  MS.,  15,  Uaston  says  that  tlio 
Oregon  Central  tiled  its  iucorporatioi:  papers  according  to  law  before  the  legis- 
lative action,  but  withdrew  thom  temporarily  to  procure  other  incoriioratious, 
and  it  was  this  act  that  the  other  company  turned  to  account.  By  the  terms 
of  the  act  of  congress  making  the  grant  of  hind,  the  company  taking  the  fran- 
chise must  tile  its  assent  to  tlio  grant  within  one  year  from  the  passage  of  the 
at't,  and  complete  the  first  twenty  niile^of  road  within  two  years.  The  west- 
side  c:jitipany  had  filed  its  assent  within  the  prescribed  time,  which  the  other 
lia<l  not,  an  illegality  which  l^alauccd  that  alleged  against  the  west-side,  even 
had  both  been  iu  all  other  respects  legal. 

And  now  happened  one  of  those  fortuitous  circumstancea  which  defeat, 
occasionally,  the  shrewdest  men.  The  west-side  management  had  sent,  in  .May, 
hidf  a  million  of  its  bonds  to  London  to  be  sold  by  Kdwin  Russell,  manager 
of  the  Portland  branch  of  the  bank  of  Dritish  Columbia.  Justut  tli>  inonient 
when  money  was  most  needed,  a  cablegram  from  Hiissell  to  (jaston  infurnicd 
liii<  that  the  bonds  could  be  tlisposed  of  bo  as  to  furnish  tho  funds  and  iron 
iR'cessary  to  construct  the  first  twenty  miles  of  road,  by  aellinj  thrni  at  a  low 
price,  (jiaston  had  the  power  to  accept  the  offer,  but  instead  of  doing  so 
promptly,  and  placing  liimself  on  on  equality  with  lioUaday  pecuniarily, 
he  referred  the  matter  to  Aiusworth,  to  whom  ho  felt  under  obligations  for 
past  favors,  and  whom  ho  regarded  as  a  more  experienced  financier  than  him- 
B  If,  and  tho  latter,  after  deliberating  two  days  on  tho  subject,  cabled  a  re- 
fusal of  the  proposition. 

Aiusworth  had  not  initudcd,  however,  to  reject  all  opportunities,  but  a 
contract  was  taken  by  S.  O.  Reed  &  Co.,  of  which  firm  Aiusworth  was  a 
nicnilter,  to  coniplcto  the  twenty  miles  called  for  by  the  act  of  congress,  of 
Ntiiicli  fivo  of  the  most  expensive  portion  hail  been  built,  and  Itecd  became  in- 
v(>l\>'d  with  (jiaston  in  the  contest  for  supremacy  between  the  two  eiuiipanics, 
while  at  the  same  'time  pushing  ahead  the  construction  of  the  road  from 
I'lrrtland  to  llilhiboro,  by  which  would  be  earned  tho  Portland  subsidy  of  a 
lai.irter  of  u  million.  ^ 

To  prevent  this,  Holloday's  attorneys  caused  suits  to  lie  brought  declaring 
the  west-side  comi^any's  acts  void,  ami  to  picvent  the  issuance  to  it  of  tho 
bonds  of  the  city  of  Portland  and  Woshixigton  county,  in  which  suita  they 


RAILROADS. 


were  successful,  thus  cutting  off  -tho  aid  expected  in  this  quarter.  At  the 
same  time  the  quarrel  was  being  prosecuted  in  the  national  capital,  the  newly 
elected  senator,  Corbett,  befriending  the  original  company,  and  George  H. 
Williams,  whose  tenn  was  about  to  expire,  giving  his  aid  to  HoUaday.  See 
correspondence  in  Sen.  Kept,  3,  1869,  4Ist  cong.  Ist  seas. 

An  appeal  was  made  to  the  secretary  of  the  Interior,  whose  decision  was, 
that  according  to  the  evidence  before  liim  neither  company  hatl  a  legal  right 
to  tlie  land  grant  in  Oregon,  M'hich  had  lapsed  through  the  failure  of  any 
properly  organized  and  authorized  company  to  file  acceptance,  and  could  only 
be  revived  by  further  legislation.  This  decision  was  in  consonance  witli 
Williams'  views,  who  had  a  bill  already  prepared  extending  the  time  fur 
filing  assent  so  ns  to  allow  any  railroad  company  heretofore  designated  by  tlie 
legislature  of  Oregon  to  tile  its  assent  in  the  department  of  the  interior 
witliiu  one  year  from  the  date  of  tlie  passage  of  the  act;  provided,  that  tlit 
riglits  already  acquired  under  the  origitial  act  were  not  to  be  imi)aired  liy 
the  amendment,  nor  more  than  one  company  be  entitled  to  a  grant  of  laml. 
Con;/.  Globe,  IS(iO,  app.  51,  41st  cong.  Ist  sess.  This  legislation  placed  the 
companies  upon  an  equal  footing,  and  left  the  question  of  legality  to  be  de- 
cided in  the  Oregon  courts,  while  it  prevented  the  state  of  Oregon  from 
losing  the  franchise  should  either  company  complete  twenty  miles  of  road 
which  should  be  acceitted  by  commi.ssioners  appointed  by  the  president  uf 
the  United  States.  The  act  of  April  10,  1809,  does  not  mention  any  exten- 
sion of  time  for  the  completion  of  the  first  twenty  miles,  but  by  implication 
it  might  be  extended  beyond  the  year  allowed  for  filing  assent. 

While  the  cast-side  company  was  thus  successful  in  carrying  out  its  en- 
deavor to  dislodge  the  older  organization,  suit  was  brought  in  the  United 
States  district  court,  Dcady,  justice,  to  enjoin  the  tisurper  from  using  the 
name  of  the  original  company,  Deady  deciding  tliat  although  no  actual  dam- 
age followed,  as  the  defence  attempted  to  show,  no  subsequently  organized 
corporation  could  lawfully  use  the  name  of  another  corporation.  This  put  an 
end  to  the  cast-side  Oregon  Central  company,  which  took  steps  to  transfer  its 
riglits,  property,  nn<l  franchises  to  a  new  corporation,  styled  the  Oregon  and 
California  llailroad  Company.  The  action  ot  congress  in  practically  deciding 
in  favor  of  the  HoUaday  interest  caused  S.  G.  Kced  &  Co.  to  abandon  tlio 
construction  contract,  from  which  tins  firm  withdrew  in  May  1860,  leaving 
the  whole  hopeless  undertaking  in  tlie  hands  of  Gaston.  Without  resources, 
and  in  debt,  he  resolved  to  persevere.  In  th  !  treasury  of  Wasliiugton  county 
were  several  thousand  dollars,  pai<l  in  as  interest  on  the  Iwnds  pledged,  lie 
applied  for  this  money,  which  tiie  county  oflicers  allowed  him  to  use  in  grml- 
ing  the  road-bed  during  the  summer  of  1800  as  far  as  the  town  of  HillsTKiio. 
This  done,  he  resolved  to  go  to  Washington,  and  before  leaving  Oregon  niaile 
a  tour  of  the  west-Bide  counties,  reminding  the  people  of  the  Injustice  the v 
had  sufl'ercd  nt  the  hands  of  the  courts  and  legislature,  and  urging  them  to 
unite  in  electinu  men  who  would  give  them  redress. 

Oastcm  rcaclied  the  national  capital  in  December  1560,  HoUaday  havini? 
completed  in  that  month  twenty  miles  of  the  Oregon  and  California  road,  and 
become  entitled  to  the  grant  of  land  which  (jaston  had  lieen  the  mtians  of  m- 
curing  to  the  builder  of  tiie  first  railroad.  His  business  at  the  capital  was  to 
obtain  tt  new  grant  for  tiie  Oregon  Central,  and  in  this  he  was  suecessfid,  Im'- 
ing  warmly  supported  by  Corbett  and  Williams,  the  latter,  however,  refusing 
to  let  the  road  be  extended  farther  than  McMinnvillc,  lest  it  should  intertVio 
with  the  designs  of  HoUaday,  but  couKcnting  to  a  branch  road  to  Astoria, 
with  the  accompanying  land  grant.  A  bill  to  this  effect  became  a  law  Mnv  I, 
1870.  Coiiij.  Ololx,  1800-70,  app.  04i-r).  While  the  bill  was  pending,  (I.iv 
ton  negotiated  a  contract  in  PhiUdclphia  for  the  construction  of  150  mili  >  '>f 
railroad,  which  would  carry  the  lino  to  the  neighborhood  of  Eugene  City,  to 
which  point  another  bill  then  before  congress  proposed  to  give  a  grant  of  laml. 
The  Oregon  legislature  passed  a  joint  rcRohition,  instructing  their  senatms  in 
Washington  to  give  their  support  to  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  .'^iiit 
Lake  tu  the  Columbia  liiver,  I'ortlaiid,  and  I'liget  Hound;  and  iur.  railroad 


JOSEPH  GASTON. 


703 


from  the  big  bend  of  Humboldt  River  to  Klamath  Lake,  and  thence  throngh 
the  Rogue,  Umpcjua,  and  Willamette  valleys  to  the  Columbia  Kiver.  Or, 
Laws,  1SG8,  124-5;  U.  S.  Hen,  Misc.  Doc.,  14,  41  at  cong.  3d  seas.;  Or.  Laws, 

1870,  179-82,  194. 

Anticipating  ita  succeaa,  Gaston  ventured  to  believe  that  he  could  socure,  as 
it  was  needed,  an  extension  of  his  grant,  which  should  enable  him  to  complete 
the  lino  from  Wiunemucca  on  the  Huralmldt  to  the  Columbia.  This  also 
was  the  agreement  between  B.  J.  Pengra,  who  represented  the  Winuemucca 
scheme,  Gaston,  and  the  senators.  Hut  UoUaday,  who  was  in  Washington, 
fearing  that  Pengra  would  bring  the  resources  of  the  Central  Pacific  into 
Oregon  to  overpower  him,  deiiumded  of  Williams  that  Pengra's  bill  should 
be  amended  so  as  to  compel  the  Winnemucca  company  to  form  a  junction 
with  the  Oregon  and  California  at  some  point  in  Bouthern  Oregon.  The 
amendment  had  the  effect  to  drive  the  Ccntial  Pacific  capitalists  away  from 
the  Winnemucca  enterprise,  and  the  Philadelphia  capitalists  away  from  the 
Oregon  Central,  leaving  it,  as  before,  merely  a  local  line  from  Portland  to  Mc- 
Minuville.  Thus  Holladay  became  nmstcr  of  tlie  situation,  to  build  up  or 
to  destroy  the  railroad  interests  of  Oregon,  lie  had,  through  Latham  of  Cal- 
iiornia,  sold  hia  railroad  bonds  in  Germany,  and  had  for  the  time  being  plenty 
of  funds  with  which  to  hold  this  position.  lu  order  to  embarrass  still  lurther 
tlie  Oregon  Central,  he  bought  in  the  outstanding  indebtedness,  and  threat- 
ened the  concern  with  the  bankruptcy  court  and  consequent  annihilation. 
To  avert  this  disastrous  termination  of  a  noble  undertaking,  (.iaston  was  com* 
pulled  to  consent  to  sell  out  to  his  enemy,  upon  his  agreement  to  assume  all 
the  obligations  of  the  mad,  and  complete  it  as  designed  by  him. 

Having  now  obtained  full  control,  and  being  more  ardent  than  pruilent  in 
his  pursuit  of  business  and  pleasure  alike,  Holladay  pushed  his  two  roada 
forward  rapidly,  the  Oregon  and  California  being  completed  to  Albany  in 

1871.  to  Eugene  in  1872,  aiul  to  Roseburg  in  1873.  The  Oregon  Central  was 
opened  toComeJius  in  187i,  and  to  St  Joe  in  1872.  These  roads,  although 
still  merely  local,  had  a  great  influence  in  developing  the  country,  inducing 
immigration,  an(l  promoting  the  export  of  wheat  from  Willamette  direct  to 
the  markets  of  Europe. 

But  the  lack  of  prudence,  before  referred  to,  and  reckless  extravagance  in 
private  expenditures,  shortened  a  career  which  jiromised  to  be  useful  as  it  Mas 
conspicuous;  and  when  the  Oregon  and  California  road  had  reached  Roseburg, 
the  German  bondholders  began  to  perceix'e  some  ditliculty  al>out  the  payment 
of  the  interest,  wluch  ditliculty  increased  until  1876,  when,  after  an  exami- 
nation of  the  condition  of  the  ro.id,  it  was  taken  out  of  Hollac'ay's  hands, 
and  placed  under  the  management  of  Henry  Villard,  whose  brief  career 
ended  in  financial  failure. 

Joseph  Guston,  a  descendant  of  the  Huguenots  of  North  Carolina,  waslwrn 
in  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  Hia  father  <lvin.fj,  Joseph  worked  on  a  farm  until 
1(>  years  of  age,  when  he  set  up  in  life  for  himself,  having  but  a  coimnon- 
school  education,  and  taking  hold  of  any  employment  which  offered  until 
by  study  lie  had  prepared  himself  to  practice  law  in  the  supreme  court  of 
Ohio.  His  grand-uncle,  William  Gaston,  was  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  North  Carolina,  and  for  many  years  member  of  congress  fnmi  that 
state,  as  also  founder  of  the  town  of  (•aston,  N.  C.  Hia  cousin,  William 
(ioston,  o'  Loitton,  was  elected  governor  of  Massachusetts  in  1874,  being  tiio 
only  domocratio  governor  of  that  state  within  TiO  years,  .loseph  (iaston 
came  to  Jackson  county,  Oregon,  in  1802,  but  on  liecoming  involved  in 
railroml  projects,  removecl  to  Salem,  and  afterward  to  Portland.  Although 
liandling  largo  sums  of  money  and  property,  he  was  not  benefited  by  it. 
When  Holladay  took  the  Oregon  Central  olf  his  hands,  he  accepted  a  i>OMition 
ns  freight  and  passenger  agent  on  that  road,  which  he  held  until  1873, 
wiien  ho  retired  to  hia  farm  at  Gaston,  in  Washington  county,  where  he  re- 
inained  until  1878,  when  he  built  and  put  in  o|>eration  the  narrow-gauge 
railroad  from  Dayton  to  Sheridan,  with  a  branch  to  Dallas.  This  enter- 
prise was  managed  solely  by  himself,  with  the  support  of  the  farmers  of 


704 


RAILROADS. 


that  section.  In  1880  the  road  was  sold  to  a  Scotch  company  of  Dundee, 
represented  by  William  Reid  of  Portland,  who  extended  it  twenty  miles 
farther,  and  built  another  narrow-gauge  from  Ray  landing,  below  the  Yam- 
hill, to  Brownsville,  all  of  which  may  be  properly  said  to  have  resulted  from 
Gaston's  enterprises.  Then  he  went  to  live  in  Portland,  where  he  did  not 
rank  among  capitalists — in  these  days  of  sharp  practice,  not  always  a  dishon. 
orable  distinction. 

No  sooner  did  railroad  enterprises  beffin  to  assume  a  tangible  shape  in 
Oregon,  than  several  companies  rushed  into  the  field  to  secure  land  grants  and 
other  franchises,  notably  the  Portland,  Dalles,  and  Salt  Lake  company,  the 
Winnemucca  company,  the  Corvallis  and  Yaquina  Bay  com|)any,  and  tlie 
Columbia  River  and  Hillsbcro  company.  Vanconver  Eejisler,  Aug.  21,  1809; 
Or.  Laws,  1868,  127-8,  140-1,  143;  Id.,  1870:  //.  Ex.  Doc.,  1,  pt  iv.  vol.  vi., 
pt  1,  p.  xvii.,  4l8t  cong.  3d  scss. ;  Zuhriskie'a  Land  Laws,  supp.  1877,  0; 
Portland  Board  of  Trade  Jiept,  1875,  6-7,  28:  Id..  1876, 4-6;  Id.,  1877,  14-15. 

Owing  to  a  conflict  of  railroad  interests,  and  fluctuations  in  the  money 
market,  neither  of  these  roads  was  begun,  nor  any  outlet  furnished  Oregon 
toward  the  east  until  Villard,  in  1870,  formed  the  idea  of  a  syndicate  of  Amer- 
ican and  European  capitalists  to  facilitate  the  construction  of  the  Northern 
Pacific,  and  combining  its  intcests  with  those  of  the  Oregon  roads  by  a  joint 
management,  which  he  was  successful  in  obtaining  for  himself.  E.  V.  Smalley, 
in  his  llidory  of  the  Northern  Pacific  liailrotid,  published  in  1883,  has  given 
a  minute  narrativo  of  the  means  used  by  Villard  to  accomplish  his  object,  pp. 
262-76.  Under  his  vigorous  measures  railroad  progress  in  Oregon  and  Wusli- 
ington  was  marvellous.  Not  only  the  Northern  Pacific  was  completed  to 
Portland,  and  the  Columbia  River,  opposite  the  Pacific  division  at  Kalama,  in 
1883-4,  but  the  Oregon  system,  utider  the  names  of  the  Oregon  Railway  and 
Navigation  and  Oregon  and  Transcontinental  lines,  was  extended  rapidly. 
The  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company  owned  all  the  property  of  the 
former  Oregon  Steam  Navigation  and  Oregon  Steamship  companies.  It  was 
incorporated  June  13,  1879,  Villard  president,  and  Dolpfi  vice-president.  Its 
first  board  of  directors  consisted  of  Artemus  H.  Holmes,  William  H.  Starbuck, 
James  B.  Fry,  and  Villard  of  New  York,  and  George  W.  Weidler,  J.  C.  Aiiis- 
worth,  S.  G.  Reed,  Paul  Schulze,  H.  W.  Corbett,  C.  H.  Lewis,  and  J.  N. 
Dolpli  of  Portland.  The  Oregon  and  Transcontinental  company  was  formed 
Juno  1881,  its  object  being  to  bring  under  one  control  the  Northern  I'acilic 
and  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  companies,  which  was  done  by  tliu 
wholesale  purchase  of  Northern  Pacific  stock  by  Villard,  the  president  <>f  tiie 
other  company.  Its  first  board  of  directoi-s,  chosen  September  15,  1881,  con- 
sisted of  Frederick  Billings,  Ashbel  H.  Barney,  John  \V.  Ellis,  RoscwelKi. 
Rolston,  Robert  Harris,  Tliomas  F.  Oakes,  Artemus  H.  Holmes,  and  Henry 
Villard  of  New  York,  J.  L.  Stackpole,  Elijah  Smith,  and  Benjamin  P.  Clienoy 
of  Boston,  John  C.  Bullitt  of  Philadelphia,  and  Henry  E.  Johnston  of  Bulti- 
moro.  Villard  was  elected  president,  Oakea  vice-president,  Anthony  J. 
Thomas  second  vice-president,  Samuel  Wilkinson  secretary,  and  Robert  L. 
Belknap  treasurer.  Smallry'a  Hint.  N.  P.  Railroad,  270-1. 

Seven  years  after  HoUaday  was  forced  out  of  Oregon,  the  Oregon  Central 
was  completed  to  Eugene,  the  Oregon  and  California  to  the  sou  tiiernlMiumlnry 
of  Douglas  county,  the  Dayton  and  Sheridan  narrow-gauge  road  constructed 
to  Airley,  twenty  miles  south  of  Sheridan,  and  another  narrow-gauge  on  tlio 
east  side  of  the  Willamette  making  connection  with  this  one,  and  running 
south  to  Coburg  in  Lone  county,  giving  four  parallel  lines  through  the  heart 
of  the  valley.  A  wide-gauge  road  was  constructed  from  Portland,  by  the  \«  uy 
of  the  Columbia,  to  The  Dalles,  and  eastward  to  Umatilla,  Pen.tleton,  and 
Baker  City,  on  its  way  to  Snake  River  to  meet  the  Oregon  short  lino  on  tho 
route  of  the  Portland,  Dalles,  and  Salt  Lake  xooA  of  18(i^i).  North-eastward 
from  Umatilla  a  line  of  road  extended  to  Wallula,  Walla  Walla,  Dayton, 
Grange  City  in  Washington,  and  Lewiston  in  Idaho;  while  the  Northern  I'a- 
cilic sent  >ut  a  branch  eastward  to  gather  in  the  crops  of  the  Palouse  region  at 
Colfax,  lormiugtou,  and  Moaoow;  and  by  the  oompUtiou  of  the  Oreguu 


CHAPMAN,  PENGRA,  AND  MONTGOMERY. 


705 


short  line  and  the  Oregon  and  California  branch  of  the  Central  Pacific,  there 
were  three  transcontinental  routes  opened  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Columbia 
River.  In  1885  a  railroad  was  in  process  of  construction  from  the  Willamette 
to  Yaquina  Bay,  destined  to  be  extended  east  to  connect  with  an  overland 
road,  and  another  projected.  The  projectors  of  the  Winnemucca  and  Salt  Lake 
roads  deserve  mention.  Both  had  been  surveyor-generals  of  Oregon.  W.  \V. 
Chapman,  who  was  appointed  in  territorial  times,  and  was  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  topography  of  the  country,  selected  the  route  via  the  Colum- 
bia and  Snake  rivers  to  Salt  Lake,  both  as  one  that  would  be  free  from  snow 
and  that  would  develop  eastern  Oregon  and  Washington  and  the  mining  re- 
gions of  Idaho.  He  made  extensive  surveys,  attended  several  sessions  of  con- 
gress, and  sent  an  agent  to  London  at  his  own  ex[)ense,  making  himself  ix>or 
m  the  efifort  to  secure  his  aims.  The  state  legislature  granted  the  proceeds 
of  its  swamp-lands  in  aid  of  his  enterprise,  and  the  city  council  of  Portland 
granted  to  his  company  the  franchise  of  building  a  bridge  across  tlie  Willam- 
ette at  Portland.  But  he  failed,  because  the  power  of  the  Central  Pacific  rail- 
road of  California  was  exerted  to  oppose  the  construction  of  any  road  con- 
necting Oregon  with  the  east  which  would  not  be  tributary  to  it. 

Chapman  died  in  1884,  after  living  to  see  another  company  constructing  a 
road  over  the  line  of  his  survey.  He  had  been  the  first  surveyor-general  of 
Iowa,  its  first  delegate  in  congress,  and  one  of  its  first  presidential  electors. 
On  coming  to  Oregon  he  became  one  of  the  owners  in  Portland  town  site,  and 
with  his  partner,  iStcphen  Coffin,  built  the  Gold  lluiiUr,  the  first  ocean  steamer 
owned  in  Oregon,  which,  through  theliad  faith  of  her  officers,  ruined  her  own- 
ers. Ocuilon'M  llaUrocul  Development  in  Or.,  73-8.  B.  J.  Pengra,  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln,  was,  as  I  have  already  said,  the  founder  of  the  Winne- 
mucca scheme.  While  in  office  he  explored  this  route,  and  secured  from  con- 
gross  tiie  grant  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a  military  wagon-road  to  Owyhee, 
of  which  tlie  history  has  been  given.  His  railroad  survey  passed  over  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  route  of  the  military  road,  the  opening  of  which  pro- 
moted the  settlement  of  the  country.  But  for  the  opposition  of  Holladay  to 
his  land -grant  bill,  it  would  have  passed  as  desired,  and  tlie  Central  Pucifio 
would  have  constructed  this  brancn;  but  owing  to  this  opposition  it  failed. 
Pengra  resided  at  Springfield,  where  he  had  some  lumber-mills. 

A  man  who  has  had  much  to  do  with  Oregon  railroads  is  James  Boyce 
Montgomery,  who  was  bom  in  Perry  co.,  Penn.,  in  1832,  and  sent  to  school 
in  Pittsburgh.  He  learned  printing  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  office  of  the  Bul- 
letin newspaper,  and  took  an  editorial  position  on  the  Heijinter,  published  at 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  owned  by  Henry  D.  Cooke,  afterwards  first  governor  of  the 
District  of  Columbia.  From  Sandusky  lie  returned  to  Pittsburgh  in  1853, 
and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Daily  Moriiing  Post.  About  1857  he  was 
acting  as  the  Harrisbur^  correspondent  of  the  Philadelphia  Presn  for  a  year 
or  more.  Following  this,  he  took  a  contract  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  Sus- 
quehanna River  for  the  Philadelphia  and  Erie  railroad,  C  miles  aliove  Wil- 
liamsport,  Punn.,  liis  first  railroad  contract.  Subsequently  he  took  several 
contracts  on  eastern  roads,  building  portions  of  the  Lelii  and  Susquehanna,  the 
Su8(^uehanna  Valley,  and  other  raili'oads,  and  was  an  original  owner  in  the 
Baltimore  and  Potomac  railroad  with  Joseph  D.  Potts,  besides  having  a  con- 
tract to  build  150  miles  of  the  Kansas  Pacific,  and  also  a  portion  of  the  Oil 
Creek  and  Alleghany  railroad  in  Penn.  lu  1870  Montgomery  came  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  residing  for  one  year  on  Puget  Sound,  since  which  time  he  has 
resided  in  Portland,  where  he  haa  a  nleasant  home.  His  wife  is  a  daughter 
of  (iov.  Phelps  of  Mo.  The  first  railroad  contract  taken  in  the  north-west 
was  the  first  '25-mile  division  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  beginning  at  Kalama, 
on  the  Columbia  River,  and  extending  towards  Tacoma.  Since  that  ho  has 
completed  the  road  from  Kalama  to  Tacoma,  and  from  Kalama  south  to  Port- 
land. Montgomery  started  the  subscription  on  which  the  first  actual  money 
was  raised  to  miild  the  Northern  Pacific,  in  Dec.  1860.  Jay  Cooke  had  agreed 
to  furnish  15,000,000  to  float  the  bonJs  of  the  company  bjr  April  I,  1870,  and 
Montgomery,  at  his  request,  undertook  to  raise  a  pait  of  it,  iu  which  he  was 
Hut.  Oa.,  Vol.  II.    «S 


706 


COUNTIES  OP  OREGON". 


Buccesaful,  J.  O.  Morehead,  H.  J.  Morehead,  William  Phillips,  William  M. 
Lyon,  Henry  Loyd,  Joseph  Dilworth,  James  Watts,  and  others  sabscribing 
$800,000.  This  money  was  expended  in  constructing  the  first  division  of  the 
road.  Montgomery  at  the  same  time  took  a  contract  to  build  a  drawbridge 
across  the  Willamette  at  Harrisbarg,  the  first  drawbridge  in  Oregon,  800 
feet  lone,  with  a  span  of  240  feet  Subsequently  he  went  to  Scotland  to  or- 
ganize the  Oregon  Narrow-Gauge  Company,  Limited,  which  obtained  control 
of  the  Dayton,  Sheridan,  and  CorTallis  narrow-gauge  road  built  by  Gaston, 
in  which  he  was  interested,  as  well  as  some  Scoteh  capitalists.  It  was  Vil- 
lard's  idea  to  get  a  lease  of  this  and  the  narrow -guage  road  on  the  east  side 
of  the  valley,  to  prevent  the  Central  or  Union  Pacific  railroads  from  control- 
ling them,  as  it  was  thought  they  would  endeavor  to.  They  were  accordingly 
leased  to  the  Ore^n  Railway  and  Navigation  Company,  but  to  the  detriment 
of  the  roads,  which  are  not  kept  in  repair.  At  one  time  the  directors  of 
the  O.  R.  &  N.  Co.  refused  to  pay  rent,  and  the  matter  was  in  the  courts. 
Montgomery  erected  a  saw-mill  at  Slcamockawa,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Co- 
lumbia, which  will  cut  15,000,000  feet  of  lumber  annually.  He  is  also  in  the 
shipping  business,  and  ships  a  large  quantity  of  wheat  yearly.  This,  with  a 
history  of  thi  N.  P.  R.  R.,  I  have  obtained  from  Montgomery's  Statement, 

MS.,  i-sa 

COUNTIES  OF  OREGON. 

The  condition  of  counties  and  towns  which  I  shall  briefly  give  in  this 
place  will  fitly  supplement  what  I  have  already  said.  They  are  arranged  iu 
alphabetical  order.  I  have  taken  the  tenth  census  as  a  basis,  in  order  to  put 
all  the  counties  on  the  same  footing. 

Baker  county,  named  after  E.  D.  Baker,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Edwards' 
ferry  in  October  1861,  was  organized  September  22,  1862,  with  Auburn  as  the 
county  seat.  An  enabling  act  was  passed  and  approved  in  1866,  to  change 
the  county  seat  to  Baker  City  by  a  vote  of  the  county,  which  was  done. 
In  1872  a  part  of  Grant  county  was  added  to  Baker.  The  county  contaiug 
15,012  square  miles,  about  50,000  acres  of  which  is  improved  among  4.j3 
farmers,  the  principal  productions  being  barley,  oats,  wheat,  potatoes,  and 
fruit.  The  whole  value  of  farm  products  for  1S79,  with  buildings  and  fences, 
was  $799,468.  The  value  of  live-stock  was  $1,122,765,  a  difference  which 
shows  stock-raising  rather  than  grain-growing  to  bo  the  business  of  the 
fanners.  About  50,000  pounds  of  wool  was  produced.  The  total  value  of 
real  estate  and  personal  property  for  this  year  was  set  down  at  a  little  over 
1^31,000.  The  population  for  the  same  period  was  4,616,  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  whom  were  engaged  in  mining  in  tlie  mountain  districts.  Cowp.  X. 
Cenatu,  xl.  48,  723,  80^7.  Baker  City,  the  county  seat,  was  first  laid  out 
under  the  United  States  town-site  law  by  R.  A.  Pierce  in  1868.  It  is 
prettily  located  in  the  Powder  River  Valley,  and  is  sustained  by  a  flourishing 
agricultural  and  mining  region  on  either  hand.  It  has  railroad  communica- 
tion with  the  Columbia.  It  was  incorporated  in  1874,  and  has  a  population 
of  1,258.  Pacific  North  weHt,  41;  McKinney's  Pac.  Dir.,  255;  Or.  Lawn,  1874, 
145--55.  The  famous  Virtue  mine  is  near  Baker  City.  The  owner,  who  does 
a  banking  business  in  the  town,  had  a  celebrated  cabinet  of  minerals,  in  wiiioh 
might  be  seen  the  ores  of  gold,  silver,  copper,  lead,  cinnabar,  iron,  tin,  cobalt, 
tellurium,  and  coal,  found  in  eastern  Oregon,  besides  which  were  curios  in 
minerals  from  every  part  of  the  world.  Auburn,  the  former  county  seat, 
was  organized  by  the  mining  population  June  17,  1862,  and  incorporated  on 
the  following  25th  of  September,  to  preserve  order.  Ebey'g  Journal,  MS.,  viii. 
81-2,  84,  87,  94;  Or.  Jour,  llowte,  1862,  113,  128.  The  other  towns  and  post- 
offices  of  Baker  county  are  Wingville,  Sparta,  Powderville,  Pocahontas, 
Express  Ranch,  El  Doiudo,  Clarksville,  Mormon  Basin,  Amelia  City,  Kye 
Valley,  Humboldt  Basin,  Stone,  Dell,  Weatherby,  Conner  Creek,  Glenn, 
Malheur,  Jordan  Valley,  and  North  Powder. 

Benton  county,  named  after  Thomas  II.  Benton  of  Missouri,  was  created 
and  organized  December  23,  1847,  including  at  that  time  all  the  country  ou 


BENTON  AND  CLACKAMAS. 


707 


in 


the  west  side  of  the  Willamette  River,  sonth  of  Polk  coanty  and  north  of  the 
northern  boondary  line  of  California.  On  the  15th  of  January,  1851,  the 
present  southern  boundary  was  fixed.  It  contains  1,870  square  miles,  extend- 
ing to  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  including  the  harbor  of  Yaquina  Bay.  Popula- 
tion in  1879,  6,403.  The  amount  of  land  under  improvement  in  this  year 
was  138,654  acres,  valued  at  1.%  188,251.  The  value  of  farm  products  was 
f716,096;  of  live-stock,  |423,682;  of  orchard  products,  $16,404.  Assessed 
valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  in  the  county,  $1,720,387.  Grain 
raising  is  the  chief  feature  of  Benton  county  farming,  but  dairying,  sheep 
raising,  and  fruit-culture  are  successfully  carried  on.  Coal  was  discovered  ii 
1869,  but  has  not  been  worked. 

Corvallis,  called  Marysville  for  five  or  six  years  by  its  founder,  J.  C.  Avery, 
is  Benton's  county  seat,  and  was  incorporated  January  28,  1857.  It  is  beau- 
tifully situated  in  the  heart  of  the  valley,  as  its  name  indicates,  and  has  a 
population  of  about  1,200.  It  is  the  seat  of  the  state  agricultural  college,  and 
has  connection  with  the  Columbia,  and  the  Pacific  ocean  at  Yaquina  Bay, 
and  also  with  the  southern  part  of  the  state  by  railroad.  It  is  more  favorably 
located  in  all  respects  than  any  other  inland  town.  Philomath,  a  collegiate 
town,  is  distant  alK>ut  eleven  miles  from  Corvallis,  on  the  Yacjuina  road.  It 
was  incorporated  in  October  1882.  Monroe,  named  after  a  president,  on  the 
Oregon  Central  railroad,  Alseya  on  the  head-waters  of  Alseya  River,  Newiwrt 
on  Yaquina  Bay  near  the  ocean.  Elk  City  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  Oyster- 
ville  on  the  south  side  of  the  hay,  Toledo,  Yaquina,  Pioneer,  Summit,  New- 
ton, Tidewater,  Waldoport,  and  Wells  are  all  small  settlements,  those  tliat 
are  situated  on  Yaquina  Bay  having,  it  is  believed,  some  prospects  in  the 
future. 

Clackamas  county,  named  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  shores 
of  a  small  tributary  to  the  Willamette  coming  in  below  the  falls,  was  one  of  the 
four  districts  into  which  Oregon  was  divided  by  the  lirst  legislative  cuinniittee 
of  the  provisional  government,  in  July  1843,  and  comprehended  'all  the 
territory  not  included  in  the  other  three  districts,'  the  other  three  taking  iu  all 
south  of  the  Columbia  except  that  portion  of  Clackamas  lying  north  of  the 
'Anchiyoke  River.'  Pudding  River  is  the  wtr;;am  here  meant.  Its  boun- 
daries were  more  particularly  describeil  in  an  act  approved  December  19,  1845, 
.■vud  still  further  altered  by  acts  dated  January  30,  1856,  October  17, 1800,  antl 
October  17,  1862,  when  its  present  limits  were  established.  Or,  Archives, 
26;  Or.  Gen.  Lawt,  537-8.  It  contains  1,434  square  miles,  about  71.000  acres 
of  which  is  under  imi>rovement.  The  surface  being  hilly,  and  mucii  of  it 
covoreO  with  heavy  forest,  this  county  is  less  advanced  in  agricultural  wealth 
than  mi^ht  be  expected  of  the  older  settled  districts;  yet  the  soil  when 
cleared  u  excellent,  and  only  time  is  required  to  bring  it  up  to  its  prop<?r 
rank.  The  value  of  its  farms  and  buildings  is  considerably  over  three  mil- 
lions, of  live>stock  a  little  over  four  hundred  thousand,  and  of  farm  produces 
something  over  six  hundred  thousand  dollars.  In  manufactures  it  has  bren 
perhaps  the  third  county  in  the  state,  but  should,  on  account  of  its  facilflits, 
exceed  its  rivals  in  the  future.  It  is  ditiicult  to  say  whether  it  is  th' 
second  or  third,  Multnomah  county  being  first,  and  Marion  proluvbly 
second.  But  the  difference  in  the  amount  of  capital  expended  and  results 
produced  leave  it  almost  a  tie  Itetween  the  latter  county  and  Clackanius. 
Marion  haa  $606,330  invested  in  manufactures,  pays  out  for  lalx>r  $147,045 
annually,  uses$l,09.*>,920in  materials,  and  produces $1,424,079;  while  Clacka- 
mas has  invested  $787,475,  pays  out  for  laljor  $150,927,  uses  $810,025  in 
nmterials,  and  produces  $1,251,001.  Marion  has  a  little  the  most  capital  in- 
vested, and  nnxluces  a  little  the  most,  but  uses  $278,295  more  capital  in 
materials,  while  paying  only  $8,982  less  for  labor.  Comp.  X.  Ceniua,  iL  1007-8. 
The  principal  factories  are  of  woollen  goods.  Assessed  valuation  considerably 
over  six  millions.  Population,  9,260.  Oregon  City,  founded  by  John  Mc- 
Loaghlin  in  1842,  is  the  county  seat,  whose  history  for  a  number  of  years  was 
an  important  part  of  the  territorial  history,  being  the  first,  and  fur  several 
years  the  only,  town  io  the  WilUmette  Valley.    It  was  incorporated  Se^tem- 


TOR 


COUNTIES  OP  OREGON. 


ber  25,  1849.  Its  principal  feature  was  its  enormous  water-power,  estimated 
at  a  million  horse-power.  It  liad  early  a  woollen-mill,  a  grist-mill,  a  lumber- 
mill,  a  paper-mill,  a  fruit-preserving  factory,  and  other  minor  manufactures. 
The  population  of  Oregon  City  is,  according  to  the  tenth  census,  1,263,  al- 
though it  is  given  ten  years  earlier  at  1,382.  It  is  on  the  line  of  the  Oregon 
and  California  railroad,  and  has  river  communication  with  Salem  and  Portland. 
A  few  miles  north  of  the  county  seat  is  Milwaukee,  founded  by  Lot  Whitcomb 
as  a  rival  to  Oreeon  City,  in  March  1850.  It  is  the  seat  of  one  of  the  finest 
flouring  mills  in  the  state,  and  is  celebrated  for  its  nurseries,  which  have  fur- 
nished trees  to  fruit-growers  all  over  the  Pacific  coast.  Its  population  is  insig- 
nificant. A  mile  or  two  south  of  Oregon  City  is  Canemah,  founded  by  F.  A. 
Hedges  about  1845,  it  being  the  lowest  landing  above  the  falls,  and  where 
all  river  craft  unloaded  for  the  portage  previous  to  the  construction  of  the 
basin  and  breakwater,  by  which  boats  were  enabled  to  reach  a  landing  at  the 
town.  It  afterward  became  a  suburb  of  Oregon  City,  boats  passing  through 
locks  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  without  unloading.  About  half-way 
between  the  falls  and  Portland  was  established  Oswego,  another  small  town, 
but  important  as  the  location  of  the  smelting-works,  erected  in  1867  at  a  cost 
of  9100,000,  to  test  the  practicability  of  making  pig-iron  from  the  ore  found  in 
that  vicinity,  which  experiment  was  entirely  successful.  Other  towns  and 
post-offices  in  Clackamas  county  are  Clackamas,  Butte  Creek,  Damascus, 
Eagle  Creek,  Glad  Tidings,  Highland,  Molalla,  Needy,  New  Era,  Sandy, 
Springwater,  Union  Mills,  Viola,  Wilsonville,  Zion. 

Clatsop  county,  named  after  the  tribe  which  inhabited  the  sandy  plains  west 
of  Young  Bay,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  was  established  June  22,  1844, 
on  the  petition  of  Josiah  L.  Parrish.  The  present  boundaries  were  fixed 
January  15,  1855,  giving  the  county  862  square  miles,  most  of  which  is  heavily 
timbered  land.  The  vidue  of  farms,  buildings,  and  live-stock  is  a  little  over 
$307,000;  but  the  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  is  a  triile 
over  $1,136,000,  and  the  gross  value  nearly  double  that  amount. 

The  principal  industries  of  the  county  are  lumbering,  fishing,  and  dairying. 
The  impulation  is  about  5.500,  except  in  the  fishing  season,  when  it  is  tempo- 
rarily at  least  two  thousand  more.  liegources  Or.  and  Wash.,  1882, 213;  Comp. 
X.  (Jenxtu,  367.  Astoria,  the  county  seat,  was  founded  in  1811  by  the  Pacitic 
Fur  Company,  and  named  after  John  Jacob  Astor,  the  head  of  that  company. 
It  passed  through  various  changes  before  being  incorporated  by  the  Oregon 
legislature  January  18,  1856.  Its  situation,  just  within  the  estuary  of  tiiu 
Columbia,  has  been  held  to  be  sufficient  reason  for  reirirding  this  as  the  natural 
and  proper  place  for  the  chief  commercial  town  of  Oregon.  But  the  applica- 
tion of  steam  to  sea-going  vessels  has  so  modified  the  conditions  upon  which 
commerce  had  formerly  sought  to  establish  centres  of  trade  that  the  custom- 
house only,  for  many  years,  compelled  vessels  to  call  at  Astoria.  It  haa  now, 
however,  a  population  of  about  3,000,  and  is  an  important  shipping  point,  the 
numerous  fisheries  furnishing  and  requiring  a  large  amount  of  Ireight,  and  in 
the  season  of  low  water  in  the  WHlamette,  compelling  deep-water  vessels  to 
load  in  the  Columbia,  receiving  and  handling  the  immense  grain  and  other  ex- 
ports from  the  Willamette  Valley  and  eastern  Oregon.  Its  harbor  is  sheltered 
DV  the  point  of  the  ridge  on  the  east  side  of  Young  Bav  from  the  stoi  in-wiiida 
of  winter,  which  come  froin  the  south-west.  There  is  but  little  level  land  for 
building  purposes,  but  the  hills  have  been  graded  down  into  terraces,  one 
street  rismg  above  another  parallel  to  the  nver,  affi)rding  fine  views  of  the 
Columbia  and  its  entrance,  which  is  a  dozen  miles  to  the  west,  a  little  north. 
Connected  by  rail  with  the  Willamette  Valley  and  eastern  Oregon,  the  lucks 
at  the  cascades  of  the  Columbia  at  the  same  time  giving  uninterrupted  naviga- 
tion from  The  Dalles  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  Astoria  is  destined  to  assume 
yet  greater  commercial  importance.  There  are  no  other  towns  of  consequence 
in  this  county.  Clatsop,  incorporated  in  1870,  Skippanon,  Clifton,  Jewell, 
Knappa,  Olney,  Mishawaka,  Seaside  House,  Fort  Stevens,  and  Westport  aio 
either  fishing  and  lumbering  establishments,  or  small  agricultural  settlemeiita. 
Westport  is  the  most  thriving  of  these  settlements,  half  agricultural  and  half 
commercial. 


COLUMBIA  AND  COOS. 


700 


Columbia  county,  lying  east  of  Clatsop  in  the  great  bend  of  the  lower 
Columbia,  was  cut  «iff  from  Washington  county  January  23,  18o4.  It  con- 
tains 575  square  miles,  and  has  a  water  line  of  over  fifty  miles  in  extent.  It 
has  between  fourteen  and  fifteen  thousand  acres  of  land  under  improvement, 
valued,  with  the  buildings,  at  $406,000,  with  live-stock  worth  over  $77,000, 
and  farm  products  worth  $73,000,  consisting  of  the  cereals,  hay,  potatoes, 
butter,  and  cheese.  It  has  several  lumbering  establishments  and  a  few  smaller 
iiumufactories.  The  natural  resources  of  tne  county  are  timber,  coal,  build- 
ing-stone, iron,  fish,  and  grass.  The  assessed  valuation  upon  real  and  personal 
proprty  in  1870  was  $^,'283.  The  population  was  little  over  2,000,  but 
rapidly  increasing.  St  Helen,  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  lower  Willamette 
with  the  Columbia,  is  the  county  seat.  It  was  founded  in  1848  by  H.  M. 
Knighton,  the  place  being  first  known  as  Plymouth  liock,  but  having  its  name 
changed  on  being  surveyed  for  a  town  site.  It  is  finely  situated  for  a  ship- 
ping business,  and  has  a  good  trade  with  the  surrounding  country,  although 
the  population  is  not  above  four  hundred.  There  are  coal  and  iron  mines  in 
the  immediate  vicinity.  Columbia  City,  founded  in  18G7  by  Jacob  and  Joseph 
Caples,  two  miles  below  St  Helen,  is  a  rival  town  of  alK>ut  half  the  population 
of  the  latter.  It  has  a  good  site,  and  its  interests  are  identical  with  those  of 
St  Helen.  The  Pacific  branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific  railway  passes  across 
both  town-plats,  coming  near  the  river  at  Columbia  City.  Rainier,  twenty 
miles  below  Columbia  City,  was  laid  off  in  a  town  by  Charles  E.  Fox  about 
1852.  Previous  to  1865,  by  which  time  a  steamboat  line  to  Mouticello  on 
the  Cowlitz  was  established.  Rainier  was  the  way-station  between  Olympia 
and  Portland,  and  enjoyed  considerable  trade.  Later  it  liecaine  a  lumber- 
ing and  fishing  establishment.  The  other  settlements  in  Columbia  county 
are  Clatskanie,  Marshland,  Pittsburg,  Quinn,  Riverside,  Scappoose,  Ver- 
noniit,  Neer  City,  Bryantville,  and  Vesper. 

Coos  county  was  organized  December  22,  1853,  out  of  portions  of  Umpqua 
and  Jackson  counties.  The  name  is  that  of  the  natives  of  the  bay  county. 
It  contained  about  the  same  area  as  Clatsop,  and  had  over  25,000  acres  of 
improved  land,  valued,  with  the  improvements,  at  $1,188,340.  The  legisL^- 
ture  enlarged  Coos  county  by  taking  off  from  Douglas  on  the  north  and  ea&t 
enough  to  straighten  the  north  Itoundary  and  to  add  two  rows  of  townships 
on  the  east.  Or.  Jour.  House,  1882,  290.  It  is  now  considerably  larger  than 
Clatsop.  Tiie  live-stock  of  the  county  is  valued  at  over  $101,000,  and  of 
farm  products  for  1870  over  $209,000.  Total  of  real  and  personal  assessed 
valuation  was  between  $800,000  and  $900,000.  The  gross  valuation  in 
1881-2  was  over  $1,191,000,  the  population  lieing  a  little  over  4,800,  the 
wealth  of  the  county  per  capita  being  $329.  This  county  is  the  only  one  in 
Oregon  where  coal-mining  nas  been  carried  on  to  any  extent.  A  line  of 
steamers  has  for  many  years  been  carrying  Coos  Bay  coal  to  S.  1'  market. 
The  second  industry  of  the  county  is  lumbering,  and  the  third  ship-)>  'ilding, 
the  largest  ship-yard  in  the  state  being  here.  Farming  has  not  been 
much  followed,  most  of  the  provisions  consumed  at  Coos  Bay  being  brougiit 
from  California.  Fruit  is  increasing  in  production,  and  is  of  excellent 
quality.  Beach-mining  for  gold  has  1 3cn  carried  on  for  thirty  years. 
Iron  and  lead  ores  are  known  to  exist,  but  have  not  been  worked.  Tliere  are 
also  extensive  quarries  of  a  fine  quality  of  slate.  The  valleys  of  Coos  and 
Co<iuille  rivers  are  exceedingly  fertile,  and  the  latter  prwluues  the  bust  white 
cedar  timber  in  the  state,  while  several  of  the  ciioice  woods  used  in  furniture 
factories  abound  in  this  county.  Empire  City,  situated  four  miles  from  the 
entrance  to  Coos  Bay,  on  the  south  shore,  is  the  county  seat,  with  a  popula- 
tion of  less  than  two  hundred.  It  was  foundeil  in  the  spring  of  185.'i  by  a 
company  of  adventurers,  of  which  an  account  has  been  given  in  a  previous 
chapter,  and  for  some  years  was  the  leading  town.  Marslificld,  foundot  only 
a  little  later  by  J.  C.  Tolman  and  A.  J.  Davis,  soon  outstripped  all  the 
towns  in  the  county,  liaving  about  900  inhabitants  and  a  thriving  trade.  It 
is  situated  four  miles  farther  from  the  ocean  than  Empire  City,  on  the  same 
shore.    Between  the  two  ia  the  lumbering  establishment  of  North  Bend. 


710 


COUNTIES  OF  OREGON. 


The  place  is  beautifully  situated,  and  would  be  rapidly  settled  did  not  the 
proprietors  refuse  to  sell  lots,  preferring  to  keep  their  employes  away  from 
the  temptations  of  miscellaneous  associations.  Still  farther  up  the  bay  and 
river,  beyond  Marshfield,  are  the  settlements  of  Coos  City,  Utter  City, 
Coaledo,  Sumner,  aud  Fainiew.  Coquille  City  is  prettily  situated  near  the 
mouth  of  Coquille  River,  and  has  about  two  hundred  inhabitants.  It  is 
lioped  by  improving  the  channel  of  the  river,  which  is  navigable  for  40 
milus,  to  maJce  it  a  rival  of  Coos  Bay  as  a  port  for  small  sea-going  vessels, 
the  government  having  appropriated  9130,000  for  jetties  at  this  place,  whiuli 
have  been  constructed  for  half  a  mile  on  the  south  side  of  the  entrancu. 
Myrtle  Point,  at  the  head  of  tide-water,  is  situated  on  a  high  bluff  on  the 
ri;,'ht  bai>k  of  the  Coquille,  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  lumber  and  coal  resion.  It 
was  settled  in  1858  by  one  Myers,  who  idld  out  to  C.  Lehnhere,  anuiu  1877 
Biuger  Herman,  elected  in  1884  to  congress,  bought  the  land  on  which  the 
town  stands,  and  has  built  up  a  thriving  settlement.  Other  settlements  in 
the  Coquille  district  are  Dora,  Enchanted  Prairie,  Freedom,  Gravel  Ford, 
Norway,  Randolph,  Boland,  and  Cunningham.  Oale'a  Coot  Co.  Dir.,  187'>, 
.3J-61;  OJiciai  P.  O.  lAst,  Jan.  1885,  499;  Eoacburg  Plaindealer,  Aug.  15, 
1874. 

Crook  county,  named  after  General  George  Crook,  for  services  performed  in 
Indian  campaigns  iu  eastern  Oregon,  was  cut  off  from  the  south  end  of  Wusca 
coun.y,  by  legislative  act,  October  9,  1882.  The  north  line  is  drawn  west 
from  the  Lend  of  the  John  Day  River,  and  east  up  the  centre  of  the  Wasco 
channel  of  said  river  to  the  west  boundary  of  Grant  county,  thence  on  tlie 
hue  between  Grant  and  Wasco  counties  to  the  south-east  comer  of  Wasco, 
thunce  west  to  the  summits  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  thence  along 
them  to  the  intersection  of  the  north  line.  It  lies  in  the  hilly  region  where 
the  Blue  Mountains  intersect  the  foot-hills  of  the  Cascade  Range,  and  fur 
years  has  been  the  grazing-ground  of  immense  herds  of  cattle.  There  uro 
also  many  valleys  fit  for  agiiculture.  Prineville  is  the  county  seat.  It  is 
situated  on  Ochoco  River,  near  its  junction  with  Crooked  River,  a  fork  of 
Des  Chutes,  and  has  a  population  of  several  hundred.  It  was  incorporated 
in  ISSO.  Ochoco.  Willoughby,  Bridge  Creer,  and  Scissorsville  are  the  subor- 
dinate towns. 

Curry  county,  na.iied  after  Governor  George  L.  Curry,  organized  December 
18,  1855,  is  conipara'ively  an  unsettled  country,  having  only  a  little  more 
than  1,200  inhabitants.  Its  area  is  greater  than  that  of  Coos,  the  two  coun- 
ties comprising  3,331  squ.-vre  miles,  not  much  of  which  belonging  to  Curry 
has  been  surveyed.  Th  3  valtie  of  farm  property  is  estimated  at  between  five 
and  six  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  assessed  valuation  for  1879  was  about 
^220,000.  The  territoria)  act  establishing  the  county  provided  for  the  selec- 
tion of  acotmty  seat  by  votes  at  the  next  general  election,  which  was  [re- 
vented  by  the  Rogue  River  Indian  war.  At  the  election  o^'  1858  Ellenshurg, 
a  mining  town,  was  chosea,  aud  the  choice  confirmed  by  state  legislative 
enactment  in  October  1860.  Port  Orford  is  the  principal  port  in  Curry 
county.  Chetcoe  is  the  only  other  town  on  the  coast.  There  is  no  rcasun 
for  the  unsettled  condition  of  Curry  except  its  inaccessibility,  wtiich  will  Ijc 
overcome  in  time,  when  its  valuable  forests  and  minerals  will  be  made  a  source 
of  wealth  by  a  numerous  population.  Salmon-fishing  is  the  principal  indus- 
try aside  from  lumbering  and  farming. 

Douglas  county,  named  after  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  was  created  January  7, 
1852,  out  of  that  part  of  Umpqua  county  which  lay  west  of  the  Coast  liange. 
In  1864  the  remainder  of  Umpqua  was  joined  to  Douglaa,  and  Umpqua  cca.-icJ 
to  be.  Its  boundaries  have  been  several  times  altered,  the  lost  time  in  hS82, 
when  a  small  strip  of  country  was  taken  off  its  western  border  to  give  to  Cuoa. 
Its  area  previous  to  thiS  partition  was  5,796  square  miles.  The  valuation  of 
its  farms,  buildings,  and  live-stock  is  nearly  five  million  dollars.     A  lnri;e 

Eortion  of  its  wealth  comes  from  sheep-raising  and  wool-growing.     In  l^<M) 
*uugla8  county  shipped  a  million  pounds  of  wool,  worth  three  to  four  cents 
more  per  pound  thui  Willamette  Valley  wool,  and  sold  27,000  head  of  sheep 


to  Nevada 
is  between 
the  sea-coa 
atm  follow 
tween  nine 
Rose,  was  i 
about  1856 

t'ln  HOtlfll  fi 

900  inhabit 

in  1868. 

D.  S.  Bak( 

79.    It  is  o 

and  Califoi 

picturesque 

of  the  acad 

dred  popula 

population 

Chester  of  i 

Galesville,  i 

Looking  Gh 

Yoncalu,  D 

Day  Creek, : 

are  the  varii 

uated  at  the 

founder  in  I 

em  Oregon, 

washed  awa 

town,  with 

made  impasf 

and  an  atten 

of  small  dina 

abandoned  tl 

sion.     Gardi 

lower  down- 

a  vessel  wrec 

the  seat  of  ct 

there  was  a  f 

establishmen 

Gilliam  c( 

the  spring  of 

W.  W.  Steiv< 

treasurer.  Hi 

Alkali,  the  p 

native  of  Mis 

Rhea. 

J.  H.  Par 
with  a  train  < 
Valley,  wher 
British  Colun 
River,  after  i 
Gilliam  co. 
He  owns  .320 
has  2,000  hea 
of  wheat  or  & 
Grant  cou 
eastern  Orcgo 
ninth  has  bee 
forty  thousai 
counties,  Oc*< 
OBthalMadw; 


DOUGLAS,  GILLIAM.  AND  GRANT. 


711 


to  Nevada  farmert.  The  valuation  of  aaaesaable  real  and  personal  property 
ia  between  two  and  three  millions.  In  that  part  of  the  county  which  touchea 
the  sea-coast  lumberins  and  fishing  are  important  industries.  Gold-minins  ia 
■till  followed  In  some  localities  with  moderate  profits.  The  population  is  be- 
tween nine  and  ten  thousand.  Roseburg,  named  after  its  founder,  Aaron 
Bose,  MM  made  the  county  seat  in  1833.  It  was  often  called  Deer  creek  until 
about  1856-7.  It  is  boautifuUy  situated  a*  the  junction  of  Deer  creek  with 
fSo  Qoiifii  fork  of  the  Umpqua,  in  the  heart  of  the  Umpqua  Valley,  has  about 
900  inhabitants,  and  is  the  principal  town  in  the  valley.  It  was  incorporated 
in  1868.  Oakland  is  a  pretty  town  of  400  inhabitants,  so  named  by  its  founder, 
D.  S.  Baker,  from  its  situation  in  an  oak  gmve.  Dewly'a  Hial.  Or.,  MS., 
79.  It  is  on  Calapooya  creek,  a  branch  of  the  Umpqua  River,  and  the  Orep;on 
and  California  railroad  passes  through  it  to  Roseburg.  Wilbur  is  another 
picturesque  place  on  the  line  of  this  road,  named  after  J.  H.  Wilbur,  founder 
of  the  academy  at  that  place.  It  is  only  an  academic  town,  with  two  hun- 
dred population.  Cafionville,  at  the  north  end  of  the  Umpqua  cafion,  has  a 
population  of  two  or  three  hundred.  Winchester,  named  for  Colonel  Win- 
chester of  the  Umpqua  Company,  the  first  county  seat  of  Douglas  county, 
Galesville,  named  from  a  family  of  that  name,  Myrtle  Creek,  Camas  Vallev, 
Looking  Glass,  Ten  Mile,  Cleveland,  Umpqua  Ferry,  Cole's  Valley,  Rice  Hill, 
Yoncalm,  Drain,  Comstock,  Elkton,  Sulpnur  Springs,  Fair  Oaks,  Civil  Bend, 
Day  Creek,  Elk  Head,  Kellogg,  Mount  Scott,  Patterson's  Mills,  Round  Prairie, 
are  the  various  smaller  towns  and  post-ofBces  in  the  valley.  Scottsburg,  sit- 
uated at  the  head  of  ^'de-water  on  the  lower  river,  named  for  Levi  Scott,  its 
founder  in  1850,  and  by  him  destined  to  be  the  commercial  entrepot  of  south- 
em  Oregon,  is  now  a  decayed  mountain  hamlet.  The  lower  town  was  all 
washed  away  in  the  great  Hood  of  1861-2,  and  a  whole  street  of  the  upper 
town,  with  the  military  road  connecting  it  with  the  interior  country,  waa 
made  impassable.  Another  road  has  been  constructed  over  the  mountains, 
and  an  attempt  made  to  render  the  Umpqua  navigable  to  Roseburg,  a  steamer 
of  small  dimeuiiions  and  light  draught  being  built,  which  made  one  trip  and 
abandoned  the  enterprise,  condemning  Scottsburg  to  isolation  and  retrogres- 
sion. Gardiner,  situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Umpqua,  eighteen  miles 
lower  down — named  by  A.  C.  Gibbs  after  Captain  Gardiner  of  the  BoHtonian, 
a  vessel  wrecked  at  the  entrance  to  the  river  in  1850 — laid  out  in  1851,  was 
the  seat  of  customs  collection  for  several  years,  during  which  it  was  presumed 
there  was  a  foreign  trade.  At  present  it  is  the  seat  of  two  or  more  lumbering 
establishments,  a  salmon-cannery,  and  a  good  local  trade. 

Gilliam  county  was  set  off  mostly  from  Wasco,  partly  from  Umatilla,  in 
the  spring  of  1885.     First  county  officers:  commissioners,  A.  H.  Wcthcrfurd, 

W.  W,  Steiver;  judge,  J.  W.  Smith;  clerk, Lucas;  sheriff,  J.  A.  Blakely; 

treasurer,  Harvey  Condon;  assessor,  J.  C.  Cartwright.  The  town  site  of 
Alkali,  the  present  county  seat,  was  laid  off  in  1882  by  James  W.  Smith,  a 
native  of  Mississippi.  First  bouse  built  in  the  latter  part  of  1881,  by  £.  W. 
Rhea. 

J.  H.  Parsons,  bom  in  Randolph  co.,  Va,  came  to  Cal.  in  1857,  overland, 
with  a  train  of  30  wagons  led  by  Capt.  L.  Mugett,  and  located  in  San  Josd 
Valley,  where  for  twelve  years  ho  was  a  lumber  dealer.  In  18G9  he  went  to 
British  Columbia  and  was  for  8  years  engaged  in  stock-raising  on  Thompson's 
River,  after  which  he  settled  on  John  Day  River,  Oregon,  in  what  ia  now 
Gilliam  co.  He  married,  in  1877,  Josephine  Writsman,  and  has  4  children. 
He  owns  .320  acres  of  Ijottoni-land,  has  5  square  miles  cf  pasture  under  fence, 
has  2,0U0  head  of  cattle,  and  200  horses.  His  grain  land  produces  3<J  bushels 
of  wheat  or  60  bushels  of  barley  to  the  acre. 

Grant  county,  called  after  U.  S.  Grant,  occupying  a  central  position  in 
eastern  Oregon,  contains  over  fifteen  square  miles,  of  which  only  about  one- 
ninth  has  been  suncyed,  less  than  200,000  acres  settled  upon,  and  less  than 
forty  thousand  improved.  It  was  organized  out  of  Wasco  and  Umatilla 
counties,  October  14,  1864,  during  the  rush  of  mining  population  to  its  placers 
OB  the  bead  waters  of  the  John  Day.  Spec.  Law»,  in  Or.  Jour.  Sen.,  1864, 43-4. 


!  I 


712 


COUNTIES  OF  OREGON. 


Its  Iwundaries  were  defined  by  act  in  1870.  Or.  Lawt,  1870,  167-8.  In 
1872  a  part  was  taken  from  Grant  and  added  to  Baker  county.  Or.  Laws, 
1872,  34-5.  Tliese  plaoei-s  no  longer  yield  profitable  returns,  and  are  aban- 
doned to  the  Chinese.  There  are  a<.tod  ouartz  mines  in  the  county,  which  will 
bo  ultimately  develuiieil.  The  principal  biiginew  of  the  inhabitants  is  iiorHe- 
bree<ling  and  cattle-raising;  but  there  is  an  abundance  of  good  agriculturul 
land  in  the  lower  portions.  The  population  is  about  5,000.  The  gross  valu- 
ation of  all  property  in  1881  was  over  $1,838,000,  the  chief  part  of  which  was 
in  live-stock. 

Cafion  City,  the  county  seat,  was  founded  in  1862,  and  incorporated  in 
1864.  It  is  situated  in  a  cafion  of  the  head-waters  of  John  Day  River,  in  tlie 
centre  of  a  rich  miuing  district  now  about  worked  out.  It  ha(f  2,500  inhabi- 
tants in  1865.  A  (ire  in  August  1870  destroyed  property  worth  a  quarter  of 
a  million,  which  has  never  Iteeu  replaced.  Ihe  present  population  is  less  tiiun 
600  for  the  whole  precinct  in  which  Gallon  City  is  situated,  which  comprittes 
some  of  the  oldest  mining  camps.  Prairie  City,  a  few  miles  distant,  Robin- 
^^nville.  Mount  Vernon,  Monument,  Long  Creek,  John  Day,  Granite,  Camp 
llariiey,  and  Soda  Spring  are  the  minor  settlements. 

Jackson  county,  from  Andrew  Jackson,  president,  was  create<I  January 
12,  18.VJ,  out  of  tfie  territory  lying  south  of  Douglas,  comprising  the  Ro^  uc 
River  Valley  and  tiio  territory  west  of  it  to  the  I'aciKo  cuean.  Its  lx>undar  eg 
have  been  several  times  changed,  b^  atbling  to  it  a  portion  of  Wasco  and  t  k- 
ing  from  it  the  county  of  Josephine,  with  other  recent  modificatiouH.  Its 
nres«!nt  area  is  4,080  square  miles,  one  third  of  which  is  good  agricultural 
fund,  ulM)ut  9I,0(X)  acres  of  which  is  improved.  Corn  and  graiies  are  huccumx- 
fully  cultivated  in  Jackr,on  county  in  addition  to  the  other  cereals  and  fruitx. 
The  valuation  of  its  farms  and  buildings  is  over  $1,600,000,  of  live-stock  half 
a  milli(m,  and  of  farm  products  over  half  a  million  annually.  The  valuatiou 
of  taxable  property  is  nearly  two  millions.  The  population  is  1)etweL'n  t'ii;lit 
and  nine  thousand.  Mining  is  the  moat  important  industry,  the  placprx  Ntiil 
yicliling  well  to  a  procesH  of  hydraulic  mining.  Jacksonville,  foundol  in 
I8.V2,  was  established  as  the  county  seat  January  8,  1853,  and  iiicor]K)ratt'd 
in  IH04.  It  owed  its  location,  on  Jackson  creek,  a  tributary  of  Rogue  River, 
to  the  existence  of  rich  placers  in  the  immediate  vicinitv,  yet  unlike  in  Ht 
mining  towns,  it  occupies  a  beautiful  site  in  the  centre  of  a  fertile  valley,  where 
it  must  continue  to  grow  and  prosper.  It  is  now,  as  it  always  has  iHicn,  an 
active  i)usities8  place.  The  i>oi)ulation  has  not  increased  in  twenty  years,  liut 
has  remained  stationary  at  tiotwoen  eight  and  nine  hundred.  This  is  owiii){ 
to  the  isolation  of  the  Rogue  River  Valley,  the  ownership  of  the  mines  l>y 
companieu,  and  the  com|)otitioii  of  the  neighboring  town  of  Ashland.  Ituw'i*' 
KfW  W'fHt,  440;  Hinfn' Or.,  78-0;  liaiuro/t  (A.  I..),  Joiiriieif  to  Or.,  IHdJ, 
MS.,  44.  The  town  of  Ashland,  founded  in  18.12  by  J.  and  K.  Entry,  Diuiil 
Hurley,  and  J.  A.  Cardwell,  and  named  nftor  the  homo  of  Henry  Clay,  has  a 
)>op'  '<>.tion  al)out  equal  to  Jacksonville.  It  is  the  prettiest  of  the  many  pretty 
towuH  iu  Houthern  Oregon,  lieing  situated  on  Stuart  creek,  where  it  tuiiibieH 
don  n  f niui  the  fiN)t-hills  of  the  Lasciuie  Range  with  a  vchn-ity  tluit  ii-..ikes  it  a 
vulu'iblo  |)ower  iu  op<!rating  machinery,  and  overhxiUing  :>!'•'  of  the  nuwt 
iH-HUtiful  reaches  of  cultivable  country  nn  the  Pacific  cimi'.c.  It  has  the  oMeMt 
mills  in  the  county,  a  woollen  factory,  marble  factory,  and  other  manufactoriei*, 
niid  is  the  seat  of  the  state  normal  schocd.  Cardwiirii  Kmiijraiil  i'ltmixtnij, 
MS.,  14;  Aihlaiiil  Tiilinii»,  May  3,  1878.  The  niiuitr  towns  in  this  county  o 
llurron,  Pluenix,  Central  Point,  Willow  Sprtn^^H,  R(ji.-k  IVtint,  Eagle  Point,  l!ig 
llutte,  KrowiislMirimgh,  Pioneer,  Sum's  Valley,  Sterlingville,  Thomas'  Mil!, 
l'nioiit')M'n,  WiMxIville,  and  Wright. 

,\  pioneer  of  Jackson  county  is  Thomas  Fletcher  Hcall,  who  wos  Imiph  in 
Miintgomery  co. ,  Md,  in  I7i>3,  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  wiis  llonix 
Ann  Httdow,  Inting  born  in  the  same  statii  when  it  was  a  colony,  ami  ilyint; 
in  it.  111  1836  his  father,  TIioiuiih  lluiill,  removed  to  Illiniiix,  ami  liiw  mhii  .ic- 
«'i>in|>uiiiL>d  him,  remaining  tlieru  until  IS.'>2,  when  lie  einit'nited  to  Uregoii, 
•ettUiig  iu  lioguQ  lUver  Valley.     In  I85U  ho  inarrio<l  Ann  Hall  of  Chaii)|>uign 


JACKSON  AND  JOSEPfflNE. 


718 


CO.,  Ohio,  then  living  in  Douclas  co.,  Or.  They  have  12  children — 8  boys 
and  4  girln.  Beall  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  and  served  at  tlio  regular 
session  of  1864,  and  at  the  called  session  of  I860  for  the  purjiose  uf  ratifying 
the  15th  amendment  of  the  U.  8.  constitution.  He  was  again  ciecti-d  in 
1884.  He  has  served  as  school  director  in  his  district  for  2o  years,  less  one 
term. 

John  Lafayette  Rowe  was  ?>om  in  Jackson  co..  Or.,  in  1859,  his  parents 
being  pioneers.     He  married  Martha  Ann  Smith,  Jan.  1,  1883. 

Mrs  John  A.  Cardwell,  widow  first  of  William  Steadman,  wae  bom  in 
Ireland  in  18.3*2,  removed  to  Australia  in  1840,  married  Steadman  in  1850, 
removed  to  Kan  Francisco  in  1851,  and  was  left  a  widow  in  1855.  Slic  mar- 
ric<l  Cardwell,  an  Englishman,  the  following  j'car,  and  they  removed  to  Sunis 
Valley  in  Jackson  co..  Or.,  wiiero  Cardwell  died  in  May  1882.  Mrs  Card- 
well  has  had  5  sons  and  6  daughters,  one  of  whom  died  in  1868.  Cardwell 
wrote  the  Emiijrnnt  Comjiany,  MS. ,  from  which  I  have  quoted. 

Andrew  S.  Moore,  bom  in  >*^usquehanna  co.,  Ohio,  in  1830,  emigrated  to 
Oregon  in  1859,  settling  in  Saiils  Valley,  Jackson  co.,  whero  he  has  since  re- 
sided, engaged  in  farming.  <n  1864  he  married  Melissa  Jane  Cox,  of  Linn 
CO. ,  Iowa.     They  have  7  sons n.n\  4  daughters. 

Arad  Comstock  Stanley,  horn  in  Missouri  in  1835,  wai  bred  a  physician, 
and  emigrated  to  California  vn  1864,  seiJing  near  Woodl,  nd.  He  removed 
to  Jackson  co..  Or.,  in  1875,  settlir;'in  8anis  Valley  where  La  has  a  furm,  hut 
practices  his  profession.  He  married  Susan  Martin  in  '.bu'2.  Their  only 
child  is  Mrs  Sedotha  L.  Hannah,  of  Jackson  co. 

John  IJ.  Wrislcy,  l>omin  Middlebury,  Vt,  in  1819,  rer/.oved  to  New  York, 
Michigan,  and  Wisconsin,  where  he  married  Eliza  Jan'  Jacobs  of  Iowa  co., 
in  1843,  Ho  came  to  California  in  1849,  and  to  Koguo  River  Valloy  in  18.V2. 
His  daughter  Alice  was  the  first  white  girl  Iwm  in  th'  valley.  She  married 
('.  (ioildard  of  Medford,  Jackson  co.  Wrislcy  voi  1  for  the  stato  couHtitu- 
tions  of  Wi'jonsin,  California,  and  Oregon;  has  t  on  active  in  politics,  but 
always  rejer  «d  ofUce. 

Joshua  x'attcrson  was  born  in  Michigan  in  18t>7,  immigrated  to  Oregon  in 
186*2,  and  scttl'id  in  Koguo  Uiver  Valley.  He  marrie<l,  in  1880,  Ella  Jans 
Fewrl,  ami  resides  at  Asuland.     Has  *2  children. 

Thomas  Curry,  Imrn  near  Ix>uiMvilli>,  Ky,  in  183.1,  removed  with  his  mrents 
to  III.,  and  came  to  <  )r.  in  1853,  settling  in  the  lioguo  River  Valley,  where  ho 
has  since  resided.  In  186.'{  he  nuirriel  Mary  E.  Sutton,  who  came  with  her 
parents  to  Or.  in  1854.     Of  5  eiiildren  Irarn  to  them,  '2  nn>  now  living. 

Jacob  WaL'ner,  an  immigrant  of  1H5I,  was  Ixmi  n^  Ohio  in  18*20,  and  re- 
moved with  his  parents  lirst  to  Ind.  niid  afterwards  to  Iowa.  Settling  in 
Ashland,  lui  lias  l>e<>n  engaged  in  farming  iind  milling  during  a  generation. 
He  married  Ellen  Hi  udricks  of  lowu,  in  1800,  by  whom  he  has  had  7  cliihlren, 
'2  of  %vhom  are  dea<l. 

Franklin  Wertz,  Itorn  in  Pa  in  1830,  married  Martha  E.  V.  Beirly  of  his 
stato,  and  the  couple  settled  ac  Medford,  whero  5  children  have  been  lM)rn  to 
them. 

Jowphine  county  "ut  off  froni  Jackson  January  2*2,  18.'')6,  m  as  named  after 
.lom-pliine  Itollins,  .laughter  of  the  discoverer  of  gold  on  the  creek  tliut  also 
bears  her  name.  Its  area  is  sumeMiiui;  less  than  tl  itt  of  Carry  or  .liickxoii, 
Itetwcen  which  it  lies,  and  but  a  Numll  portion  of  it  Im  Hurvi-ycil.  'I'lii'  .iiiuiunt 
of  land  oullivuted  is  not  over  *20,0(K) acres,  nor  the  vuliieof  fiti'iimaiid  iiiiiiinvi!- 
nu^nts  over  $400,<KKt,  while  another  f^UKt.OOO  would  cover  .lie  valiUMit  live- 
stiK'k  and  fiirin  products,  'i'lie  vitlniition  uf  tiixaltic  prope'ty  is  under  8I(N),- 
(MK).  Vet  this  county  has  a  good  ^u'oportiim  of  fertile  liind,  and  an  inlniiinlile 
eliniate  with  pietiireHiine  seeticrv  to  niiiki'  it  lit  for  settleinent,  and  only  its 
exeliiHicin  from  liiieN  III  travel  aiul  fiicilities  for  inodeni  ndviiiita).'es  of  educa- 
tion and  society  has  prevented  its  liecixiiiiig  more  populous.  Mining  is  the 
<hief  vocation  of  its '2,5(K)  inlialiit^iiits.  When  its  niiiies  of  gold,  .silver,  and 
eop|M-r  eolIK!  to  be  Workeil  by  capitiilists,  it  will  be  .oillid  to  be  jioHxesscil  of 
immense  resources.     Kirbyville,  founded  in  185*2,  is  the  county  sent.     Tho 


714 


COUNTIES  OF  OREGON. 


people  of  thia  ama!!  tovn  have  attempted  to  change  its  name,  bat  withont 
Buccess.  An  uct  was  passed  by  the  legislature  in  1858  to  change  it  to  Napo- 
leon—a  questionable  improvement.  (Jr.  Law»,  1858-0,  01.  It  was  changed 
back  by  the  legielature  of  18G0.  Or.  Jour.  Sen.,  1860,  68.  The  question  of 
whether  the  couuty  seat  should  be  at  Wilderville  or  Kirbyville  was  put  to 
vote  by  the  people  in  1876,  and  resulted  iu  a  majority  for  Kirbyville.  Or. 
Jour.  HouK.  It  retains  not  only  its  original  appellation,  but  the  honor  of 
beii)g  tlio  capital  of  the  county.  The  towns  of  Althonse,  Applecate,  Waldo, 
Slate  Creek,  Murphy,  Galice,  and  Leiaud  am  contemporaries  of  the  county 
se&t,  having  all  been  mining  camps  from  1852  to  the  present.  Lucky  Queen 
is  more  modem. 

Klamath  county,  the  name  being  of  aboriginal  origin,  was  established 
October  7,  1882,  out  of  the  western  part  of  Lake  county,  which  was  made  cut 
of  that  part  of  Jackson  county  whicu  was  taken  from  the  bouth  end  of  Wasco 
countv.  It  contains  5,544  square  miles,  including  the  military  reservation 
and  the  Klamath  Jjidiaa  reservation.  Tlie  recent  date  of  the  division  of  tcr- 
ritoiy  leaves  out  statistical  information.  The  altitude  of  the  country  un  the 
east  sloiM)  of  the  Cascade  .Mountains  makes  this  a  grazing  rather  than  un  agri- 
cultural county,  although  the  soil  is  good  and  the  cereals  do  well,  cxccptmg 
Indian  corn.  Linkvillo,  situated  on  Link  Uiver,  between  the  Klamath  lakes, 
was  founded  by  George  Noursc,  a  sutler  from  Fort  Klamath,  about  1871,  who 
built  a  bridge  over  the  stream  and  a  hotel  on  the  east  side,  and  so  tixcd  tlio 
nucleus  of  the  first  town  in  tlie  country.  It  is  the  county  seat  and  a  thriviu^; 
biisiiiciis  centre.  Nourso  planted  the  tirat  fruit-trees  iu  the  Klamath  country, 
which  in  )87-<  were  doing  well.  It  contains  the  minor  settlements  of  Fort 
Klamath,  KLnmath  Agency,  Langell,  Bonanza,  Merganser,  Yainox,  Tule  Lake, 
and  iSprague  River. 

Himpson  Wilson,  born  in  Yamhill  co.  in  1840,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  A.  Wil- 
son, who  migrated  to  Oregon  in  1847-  Father  and  son  removed  to  liangoU 
Valley,  in  what  is  now  Klamath  co. ,  iu  1870,  to  engage  in  stock-raising.  Simp- 
Bim  Wilson  married,  on  the  lUta  of  July,  1871.  at  Linkvillu,  Nancy  Kllon  Hull, 
who  caino  across  the  plains  with  her  p.-ircnts  from  Iowa,  in  1858.  This  was 
the  first  marriage  celebrated  in  Klamath  co.  They  have  2  sons  and  3  daugh- 
tera, 

.lohn  T.  Fulkcrson  was  bom  in  Williams  co.,  Ohio,  in  1840,  bis  parents 
having  migrated  from  N.  Y.  in  their  youth.  In  1860  John  T.  joined  a  truiu 
of  ArkauHus  emigrants  under  Captain  Joseph  Lane,  migrating  to  C'al.  ami  set- 
tling in  the  >San  Joaquin  Vullcy,  where  ho  remained  liitil  18G5,  wlicn  ho  re- 
moved to  Jackson  co  ,  Oregon,  and  in  1807  to  Langell  Valley,  being  one  of 
thr<  earliest  Hottlcrs  of  this  region,  then  still  a  part  of  Jackson  co.  lie  mar- 
ried, in  1866,  KUen  K.  Hyatt,  formerly  of  Iowa,  who  in  crossing  tho  plains  a 
few  ywrs  previous  lost  her  mother  and  grandmother.  They  have  4  sons  ami 
3  daughters. 

Jonathan  Howell,  l>ora  in  Guilfonl  co.,  N.  C,  in  1828,  and  brought  up  in 
III.  He  came  to  Cal.  in  1850,  ornrland,  and  located  in  Mariposa  co.,  rcsidiii)^ 
there  ami  in  Merced  nnd  Tulare  0  years,  after  » liich  he  returned  to  the  cast 
and  reiuainod  until  187(1,  living  iu  several  states  during  that  time.  When  liu 
returned  to  tho  I'acitio  (Mtast  it  was  to  Itogiio  llivrr  Valley  that  he  came,  re- 
moving noon  after  to  the  Klamath  l)asiu,  and  settling  near  tho  town  of  Ito- 
nnnza.  He  married,  in  1860,  Susanna  3tat«nuui,  bora  in  Schuyler  co..  111. 
Tliev  have  lii  .ng,  2  sons  nnd  I  duughtor. 

ThomoM  JelTcrson  <  >»od\vyn,  Inirn  in  Suffolk  co.,  England,  in  1840,  went  to 
Australia  in  1864,  and  from  tliero  migrated  toOrcgoD  ton  years  later,  sett^'iig 
at  iionnnza.  He  married  Gencviovo lloberta  of  Jaokaon  co,,  iu  1881,  and  .los 
2  sons  and  2  daughters. 

John  McCurdy,  bom  ir.  PuL(h  eo.,  Va,  in  1830,  and  roare«l  in  111. ;  migrated 
to  Fo>-tlnud,  Oregon,  iii  1804.  wheio  he  chiefly  resided  until  1880,  when  iio 
settlctl  in  Alkali  Vulley,  Klamath  co.  lie  uinrried  Frances  M.  Thomus  of 
McDoiiough  CO.,  111.,  in  I8:>7.  They  had  2  sons  and  i  du'ighter,  when  in  ini- 
migrating  his  wife  diod,  and  waa  buried  ia  tha  Bitter  Uout  Mouutaius, 


LAKE,  LANE,  AND  UNN, 


715 


McCurdy  htj  a  brother,  Martin  V.,  in  Laaaen  co.,  Cal.,  and  another  brother, 
Joseph,  in  Itevada. 

Lake  county,  or^^anized  October  23,  1874,  took  its  name  from  the  nnmber 
of  lakes  occupying  a  considerable  portion  of  its  surface.  It  formerly  embraced 
Klamath  county,  and  its  first  county  seat  was  at  Linkviile.  But  by  a  vote 
of  the  people,  authorized  by  the  legislature,  the  county  seat  was  removed  to 
Lakeview,  on  the  border  oi  Goose  Lake,  in  1870,  previous  to  the  setting-off 
of  Klamath  county.  It  contains  0,7G8  square  miles,  less  than  44,000  acres 
being  improTcd.  Its  farms  and  buildings  are  valued  at  $4ol,000,  the  assessed 
valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  Itcing  about  9700,000,  and  the  total 
cross  valuation  over  9I|030,000.  This  valuation  is  for  the  county  of  Lake 
before  its  division,  there  being  nothing  later  to  refer  to.  The  (wpulation  is 
less  than  3,000  for  the  two  counties  of  Lake  and  Klamath.  The  settlements 
are  Drew  Valley,  Antler,  Hot  Springs,  Chewaucan,  White  Hill,  Sumner,  and 
Silver  Lake. 

^  -oug  the  settlers  of  this  comparatively  new  county  are  Thomas  O. 
Blai.,  loin  in  Ohio,  who  emigrated  lu  1850  by  ox-team.  Before  starting  he 
married  Lovisa  Anderson.  They  reside  on  Crooked  Creek,  near  Lakeview. 
diaries  A.  Rehart,  born  in  Perry  co.,  Ohio,  came  to  Oregon  overland  in 
ISGo.  Ho  follows  farming  and  aheep-raising  in  the  Chewaucan  Valley.  He 
married  Martha  Ann  Brooks  in  Dec.  lS7d. 

Michael  Suit,  born  in  Marion  co.  Ohio,  emigrated  overland  to  Oregon 
in  ISoO',  in  company  with  his  sister,  Mary  Cruzan.  Ho  farms  and  raises  stock 
at  Summer  Lake.     He  married,  in  1880,  Laura  Bell  Conrad. 

George  Clayton  Duncan,  who  was  bom  in  III.  in  1827,  emigrated  to 
Oregon  in  1854,  and  resides  at  Paisley,  in  Lake  co.  He  married  Eliza  Kinehart 
in  1848.     They  have  3  sons  and  3  daughters. 

Thomas  J.  ISrattaiu,  born  in  111.  in  1820,  came  to  Oregon  in  1850,  over- 
Innd,  and  rcsiilcs  at  Paisley.  Ho  manied  Permetin  J.  Gillespie  in  1859. 
Tliey  have  3  sous  and  1  daughter.  There  came  with  tiiem  to  Oregon  John, 
Alfred,  William  C,  Franuis  M.,  uud  James  C.  Brattain,  brothers;  ami  Eliza- 
beth Ebbert,  Mary  Unittain,  Millie  A.  Smith,  and  Martha  J.  Hadley,  sisters. 

Lane  county,  named  after  Joseph  Lime,  was  organized  January  24,  1851, 
out  of  Linn  and  Bonton.  Its  southern  boundary  was  defined  Deucml)cr  22, 
1S53.  Its  area  is  4,402  miles,  of  which  about  220,000  acres  are  improved. 
The  value  uf  farms  and  buiUlinga  is  $4,000,000;  of  live-stock,  $700,000;  of 
farm  products,  $900,000;  unil  of  all  taxable  property,  alxiut  $3,400,000.  The 
popu'.utiun  is  between  uino  and  ten  tiiousaud.  PIxtcndiug  from  the  Cascudo 
Aluuntuins  to  the  ocean,  Luiio  county  comprises  a  variety  of  topognipiiical 
features,  including  the  foot-hills  of  Calapooya  llangc,  and  the  rou'^her  hill 
land  uf  tlio  Coast  Range,  with  the  level  surfaces  of  the  Willamette  plains.  Its 
proiluctiuns  luirtuke  of  this  variety.  Iksides  grains,  vegetuhles,  fruits,  and 
dairy  ])r(Hluce,  it  is  the  largest  hop-producing  county  in  Oregon,  tlio  crop  of 
U>82  selling  for  a  million  dollars.  Kugcno  City,  the  principal  town,  wivs 
fuiiniled  in  1847  by  Eugene  Skinner.  It  was  chosen  for  the  couuty  scut  by 
u  vote  of  the  people  in  185.3,  and  incorporutetl  iu  1804.  It  is  well  locuteif, 
iicur  the  junction  <>f  the  coast  and  McKeuzie  fork  of  the  Willamette,  at  the 
head  of  navigation,  surrounded  by  the  pictiircsi|iie  sceuory  of  the  mountains 
which  close  in  the  valley  a  few  miles  farther  south.  It  is  the  sent  of  the  state 
university,  with  a  i)onulatiou  of  alxiut  1,200.  Junction  City,  at  tho  junction 
of  tho  Oregon  Central  uud  Oregon  an<l  California  railroads,  was  built  up  by 
the  business  of  these  roads.  It  was  incorporated  in  1S72,  and  has  between 
three  and  four  hundred  iuhnliitants.  The  h^sser  settlements  are  Cottage 
Grove,  Divide,  Latham,  Cresswcll,  Itattlesnuke,  Goshen,  Spriugticld,  Leuburg, 
Willamette  Forks,  Irving,  Cartwriglit,  Choslier,  Linsluw,  Spencer  Creek, 
Camp  Creek,  Cannon,  Cn>w  .Dexter,  Florenc'  Franklin,  Ida,  Isabel,  Ixing 
Tom,  McKcuzie  Bridge,  Mohawk,  Pleasant  Hill,  Tuy,  Trent,  uud  Walterville. 

Linn  county,  named  in  honor  of  Lew  is  F.  Linn  of  Missouri,  was  organized 
Douember  28,  1847,  'out  of  all  that  territory  lying  south  of  Cham|K)eg  and 
oast  of  Beutuu.'    its  aouthoru  bouudivi,>  was  established  January  4,  ISfil, 


716 


COUNTIES  OP  OREGON. 


giving  an  area  of  abont  2,000  square  miles,  of  which  256,000  acres  are  im> 
proved.  The  valuation  of  farms  and  buildings  for  1870  was  over  seven  millions, 
of  live-stock  nearly  a  million,  and  of  farm  products  almost  a  million  and  a 
half.  The  total  valu.tion  of  assessable  property  reached  to  considerably  over 
four  million  dollars.  The  population  is  between  twelve  and  thirteen  thou- 
sand. This  county  I  is  three  natural  divisions,  the  first  lying  between  the 
north  and  south  Hani  am  rivet's;  the  second  between  Santiatn  Kiverand  C'ula- 
pooya  creek,  and  thr  third  between  Cala|)ooya  creek  and  the  south  boundary 
line,  each  of  which  los  a  business  centre  of  its  own.  Alliany,  the  county 
seat,  founded  in  18^  by  Walter  and  Thomas  Montieth,  named  after  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  by  request  oi  James  P.  Millar,  and  incorporated  in  1804,  is  the  prin- 
cipal town  in  tiie  county,  and  the  centre  of  trade  for  the  country  between  the 
Santiam  and  Calapooya  rivers.  It  has  a  fine  water-power,  and  several  manu- 
factories, and  is  the  seat  of  the  presbv  terian  college.  The  population  is  2,000. 
Brownsville,  incorporated  in  1874,  Lebanon,  and  Waterloo,  each  with  a  fuw 
hundred  inhabitants,  are  thriving  towns  in  this  section.  Scio,  in  the  forks  of 
the  Santiam,  incorporated  in  18U6,  is  the  commercial  centre  of  this  district, 
with  a  population  of  about  500.  Harrisburg,  situated  on  the  Willamette  River 
and  the  Oregon  and  California  railroad,  is  the  shipping  point  for  a  rich  agri- 
cultural region.  It  was  incoq^orated  in  1806.  The  present  population  is 
600.  Halscy,  named  after  an  officer  of  the  railroad  company,  was  founded 
al>out  1872,  and  incorporated  in  1870.  The  lesser  towns  in  this  county  ure 
Pine,  Siiedd,  Sodavillo,  Tangent,  Oakville,  Fox  Valley,  Jordan,  Mabel,  Miller, 
Mount  Pleasant,  and  (jrawfontsville. 

Marion  county,  one  of  the  original  four  districts  of  1843,  called  Champoeg, 
lind  its  name  changed  to  Marion  by  an  act  of  tlio  legislature  of  Heptciuber  'A, 
1849,  in  honor  of  General  Francis  Marion.  Champocg,  or  Chamiioiuck,  <li8- 
trict  comprised  all  the  Oregon  territory  on  the  east  side  of  the  Willamette, 
north  of  a  line  drawn  due  east  from  the  mouth  of  Pudding  or  Anuhiyoko 
Ri  -or  to  tiie  Rocky  Mountains.  Or.  A  rchiven,  20.  Its  southern  limit  was  lixed 
M'hen  Linn  county  was  created,  and  the  eastern  lioumlary  when  the  county 
of  Wasco  wus  established  in  1854.  Its  northern  lino  was  readjusted  in  Jan- 
uary I8.j0,  according  to  the  natural  Iwundary  of  Pudding  River  and  liuttu 
Creek,  which  adjustment  gives  it  an  irregular  wedge  shape.  It  contaiua  .liout 
1 ,200  square  miles,  of  which  200.000  acres  arc  under  improvement.  Its  farms 
and  buildings  are  valued  at  nearly  eight  million  dollars,  its  live-stock  eight 
hundi-ed  thousand,  and  its  annual  farm  products  at  more  than  u  million  and 
a  lialf.  Tiio  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  is  four  niilliou 
dollars,  of  all  taxable  property  over  six  millions.  The  iM>pulation  is  between 
fourteen  and  fifteen  thousand.  >Salem,  the  countjyr  seat  and  the  capital  of  tliu 
state,  was  founded  in  1841  by  the  Metlio<list  Mission,  and  its  history  has  been 
given  at  length.  It  wus  named  by  David  Leslie,  after  Kalem,  Mass.,  iu  prefer- 
ence to  Chcmekcta,  the  native  name,  which  should  have  beeit  retained.  It 
was  ineor|H)rated  January  21),  I8r)8,  and  has  a  iK>pulation  of  about  R.OOO.  Tiio 
Willninette  university,  the  state-house,  county  court-house,  nenitentiui  y. 
chureheK,  and  other  public  and  private  buildings,  situated  within  large  mpiuies 
bordered  liy  nvonues  of  unusual  width  and  surrounded  by  trees,  nukku  an  i'u- 
pression  up  tn  the  observer  favorable  to  the  fountlers,  '  who  buiUlcd  Itetter  than 
they  knew.'  Salem  has  also  a  fine  wiiter-power,  and  mills  and  faetoiieH,  uikI 
in  ill  cvvvy  sense  the  second  city  in  the  state.  (Icrvais,  named  after  Jom'iili 
(iervai.i  of  Kreneli  I'ruiiie,  iuooriKirated  in  1874,  is  a  iiKNiern  town  built  ii|i  by 
the  raili-oiid  Buttevilh;,  whieli  takes  its  name  from  a  round  mountain  in  tli(^ 
vicinity  -biitte,  the  French  term  fur  iHoIated  elevations,  hiis  lieeu  adoiitiii 
into  the  nomenclature  of  Oregon,  v,vliere  it  apiiearn  in  Sjiencet  buttt?.  IJeaty 
linlte,  I'lieblo  butte.  etc.  is  an  old  French  town  on  the  Willamette  at  tlm 
north  end  of  French  prairie,  but  not  so  old  as  ChamiMH^g  in  its  vicinity. 
Tliev  both  date  back  to  the  livst  Kellleinent  of  the  Willametti!  Valley,  ainl 
neither  have  more  than  from  four  to  nix  luiiidred  in  th)>ir  pn^ciiicts.  Jetlri' 
Sun,  tlie  seat  of  Ji>fVers(m  Institute,  wim  founded  early  in  the  history  of  tho 
cuuuty,  altbouf;u  not  incorporated  until  1870.    It  ia  situated  uu  the  uorth 


hank  of  the 

and  has  fine 

the  early  fi 

branch  of  Pi 

discovery  of 

county,  aboi 

by  a  comum 

The  colony 

Koil  in  1836 

broken  up. 

Aurora.   J/o,s 

font,  Julyoj 

named  after  '■ 
in  the  Willai 
Whiteaker, 
Daly's  Mill. 

Multnomah 

Decemljer  2.1, 

darics  were  lit 

ten  in  width, 

mountainous  a 

proveinent,  tin 

OJO,  of  livo-.sto 

Ihe  gross  valu. 

tlio  valuation  o 

«H  20.000.     Th< 

tlie  value  of  n 

'8^"»  by  A.  L 

Maine,  \,y  tho 

eonimercia;  cit 

wliicli  time  its  " 

extending  one  i; 

city  government 

poratioM  act  of  1 

Oipiioii  SlaliMtm. 

•W  Judge  iJcadi 

was  Hugi,  D  Q.j 

there  M•a^  a  long 
years  a  jiortioii  oi 
immense  trees  de 
''"«'y.  by  tt  heal 
;"»d  mining  excit 
iiinl.,,-  „,„|  f,„.,„ 

;lniia-the  Emm, 

\  ortlund  neVsiMifi 

I"  March  I8.-)1  th. 

»•   and  Prrtlun.l,  y 

tills  lino  lor  ten  ye 

I'liilding  was  erect 

""u  piililio  school. 

»  «tettiii  Homing  ni 

;"lue  of  the  lofil  0 

tw(),^,da  jiaif  mil 

I"  \mi  tlu,  oitv 

•n-l  purchased  un  c 

nrst  organiacd  lire-, 

*"•  ThoiiiHa  ,f.  Dr 

wcroUry  .F.  B.  m^,^ 

*«re  some  of  l'„rtl 

VHJikuoo  Hook  uli 


MAEION  AND  MULTNOMAH. 


1  li«  gross  valiiQ  f>f  o  II  <P«*i).O0O,  anclof  farm  n^Zi     ^<"'ce8,  being  §  J,  :>S3  . 


tl'^'o  „a.  a  long  iSk,  'with  H  *'^'""'  '>«*"«  tinckly  io^J^^T^'^r  -'"-ea 
"mnicnso  trees  .lenu  "  I  oTi *'**,'''"  <"«'i¥"'-«'l  witKo  M     i  ""''/'"■  *^«"ty 

tlii«  lino  lor  f.     vl         *'"*  '"ont/.ly  mails     Tl, .  i^  /  *^  /'.gularly  l)ctweou  S 
""0  pii  •  io  soliivil   «„  ^  "V'lam  H.  I^,|,|_     r    i^^'',    ^"  '''•»••  the  drst  Wick 

'"■■i;;  '^^x  sir"™"' "'"""'  "'^=  ^^"'=  'i™ 

nn.l  .V 1  ''"'y  K"Ver!ir»Tiit  m^.l  *i._ 


In    Ifi-.i  17       "'""O'l* 


lirstor™   Vel    "'^"»""'-     ''ionetr  Kn«i„o  r  Z     "';p;*"""I«'»«'»  I"  d 
«efrot«rv  J    1»   u    '^  V     *""  ^'^'A'lMrtw    a«iii.f»J*  *       " '*''•    its  fun 

*••  iionoro 

C/OIDMuy 


"Kru  sonii 

*^i«>liuiu« 


Jio 

'nan 

l«»mn, 


«~-v  ^o.  1  WM    ,.e  next  crgwiijaUon, 


'ogio*. 
ia 


718 


COXJNTIES  OF  OREGON. 


July  1853;  foreman  J.  B.  Smith,  assistaiit  foreman  H.  W.  Davis,  secretary 
Charles  A.  Poore,  treasurer  8.  J.  McCormick,  In  August  of  the  same  year 
Willamette  Ensine  Company  No.  1  was  organized,  anil  secured  a  small  engine 
owned  by  O.  W.  Vaughn.  The  company  wa.i  officered  by  foreman  N.  Hum, 
assistant  foreman  David  Monastes,  second  asaistant  A.  Strung,  secretary  A. 
M.  Berry,  treasurer  Charles  E.  Williams.  It  was  admitted  to  the  depart- 
ment in  July  1854,  and  furnished  with  an  engine  worked  by  hand,  provided 
by  the  city  council  in  1856,  since  replaced  by  a  steam  apparatus.  Multno- 
mah Engine  Company  No.  2  was  admitted  to  the  department  in  Novcnil)ur 
1856,  using  Vaughn's  small  engine  for  a  year,  when  they  were  supplied  with 
a  Hunneman  engine,  the  money  being  raised  by  subscription.  Its  first  ofhcirs 
were  James  A.  Smith  president,  B.  L.  Norden  secretary,  W.  J.  Van  Schuyvtr 
treasurer,  William  Cummings  foreman.  These  three  companies  composed  tlio 
fire  department  of  Portland  down  to  June  1859,  wi«en  Columbia  Engine  Com- 
pany No.  3  was  organized.  In  October  1862  Protection  Engine  Company  \o. 
4  was  added;  and  in  1873  Tiger  En<;ine  Company  No.  5.  A  company  of  exeni|)t 
firemen  also  exists,  having  a  fund  from  which  benefits  are  drawn  for  the  rclii  f 
of  firemen  disabled  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty.  Portland  has  sufiercd 
several  heavy  losses  by  fire,  the  greatest  being  in  August  1873,  when  '2M) 
houses  were  burned,  worth  $1,000,<)U0.  This  connagration  followed  close  upon 
a  previous  one  in  December  1872,  destroying  property  worth  $250,000.  The 
Portland  tire  department  in  1870  numbered  375  memliers,  compooed  of  respect- 
able mechanics,  tradesmen,  merchants,  and  professional  men.  Each  of  thu  t^ix 
companies  had  a  handsome  brick  engine-house  and  halL  A  dozen  alarm-Hta- 
tions  were  connected  by  telegraph  with  the  great  bell  in  a  tower  seventy  feet 
in  height.  In  1881  steps  w^re  taken  to  secure  a  paid  fire  department,  wliicli 
was  established  soon  after.  Water-works  for  supplying  tho  town  with  wutir 
for  domestic  purposes  were  begun  in  this  ^^ear  hy  Stephen  Coffin  and  Rolicrt 
Pcnland,  under  a  city  ordinance  permitting  pipes  to  be  put  down  in  tlio 
streets,  '^he  right  was  sold  to  Henry  D.  Green  in  1860.  In  18(i8  there 
were  ci(;ht  miles  of  mains  laid,  and  two  reservoirs  constructed.  Tho  price  of 
water  at  this  date  was  $2.50  a  month  for  the  use  of  an  ordinary  family.  .\ 
charter  was  granted  to  Green  to  manufacture  gas  for  illuminating  Portlaml, 
by  the  legislature  of  1858-0,  tho  manufactory  being  completed  alx)ut  tlio 
spring  of  1800.  Law»Or.,  1858-9,  55;  Or.  Arijtu,  Sept  24,  1859;  Onijouiuii, 
Jon.  21,  1860.     Price  of  gas  in  1868,  $6  per  1,000  feet 

Tho  first  theatre  erected  in  Oregon  was  built  by  C.  P.  Stewart  at  Portland 
in  1858.  It  was  100  feet  long  by  .36  wide,  and  seateil  600  persons.  It  opened 
November  2.3(1  with  a  good  company,  but  was  never  pennanently  occupied. 
Or.  Statfuman,  Nov.  .30,  1858.  In  1804  thritricals  were  again  attempted,  the 
Kcciie  company  and  Julia  Dcane  Hayne  playing  here  for  a  short  season.  In 
1868  a  theatre  wasopcnwl,  called  the  Newmarket,  and  used  for  any  inngienl  or 
theatrical  performance;  but  down  to  1884  no  special  theatre  building  wm 
erected,  or  theatrical  representations  kept  going  for  more  than  a  few  wcek.s  in 
tho  year.  Porilaml,  besides  lacking  tho  population,  was  domestic  and  lioniu- 
loving  in  its  habits,  and  also  somewhat  religious  in  the  middle  clasHO!),  pro- 
fcrring  to  build  churches  rather  than  theatres.  The  population  at  thi'*  time 
was  but  1,750,  there  being  but  927  voters  in  Multnomah  county.  In  IH(J()  tlii* 
population  had  increased  to  nearly  3,000;  in  1862  to  a  little  over  4,000;  in  I  St'  ( 
to  5,819,  and  in  1877  to  6,717.  in  1870  the  census  returns  gave  8,.30O.  Sinru 
that  time  the  increase  has  been  little  more  marked,  tho  census  of  1880  giving:  tlio 

inpulation  at  17,000,  to  which  tho  five  vears  following  added  at  least  r>,iKM). 

'lie  original  limits  were  increased,  by  the  addition  of  Co<tch's  cluini  on  the 
north  and  Canithers'  claim  on  tho  south,  to  about  three  square  miles,  most 
of  wliich  is  laid  out,  with  graded,  planked,  or  paved  streets.  One  line  of 
streetcars,  put  in  operation  in  1868,  traversed  First  Street,  parallel  with  the 
river-front,  and  one,  incorporated  in  1881,  ran  back  to  and  on  Eleventh  Stieet. 
The  general  style  of  domestic  architecture  hail  improvml  npidly  witli  the 
increase  of  wealth  and  population,  and  Portland  business  houses  Iwcnme  eoxtly 
and  elegant.    The  grosa  ooah  value  of  property  in  Portland  in  1868  was  alx-ut 


¥ 


MULTNOMAH  AND  PORTLAND. 


719 


ten  millions,  and  in  1884  was  not  far  fn)m  eighteen  millions.  Deady,  in  Over- 
land Monthly,  i.  38;  Reid's  Progrt$»  of  Portland,  23.  The  principal  public 
building  in  Portland  in  1868  was  the  county  court-house  on  Fourth  S*'-eet, 
which  cost  about  $100,000,  built  of  brick  and  stone  in  1866.  The  United 
States  erected  the  post-office  and  custom-house  building  on  Fifth  Street,  of 
Bellingham  Bay  freestone,  in  1860-70,  at  a  cost,  with  the  furniture,  of  $4.')0,- 
000.  The  methodist  church  on  Taylor  Street  woa  finished  in  I860 — tiie  first 
brick  church  in  the  city — costing  $40,000.  The  Masonic  Hall  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows' Temple  were  erected  aliout  this  time,  and  the  market  ami  theatre  on 
First  Street.  From  this  perio<l  the  improvement  in  architecture,  iwth  do- 
moatic  and  for  business  purposes,  was  rapid,  and  the  laying-out  and  paving  or 
plunking  of  streets  proceeded  at  the  rate  of  several  miles  annually.  A 
million  dollars  was  expended  in  enlarging  the  gas  and  water  works  lictween 
186!.'  and  1873.  A  mUe  and  a  quarter  of  substantial  wharves  were  a<ldi'd  to 
the  city  front,  and  a  number  of  private  residences,  costing  from  $20,000  to 
$.30,000,  were  erected.  Since  1877  these  tine  houses  have  multiplied,  that  of 
United  States  Senator  Dolpb  andcx-United  States  Attorney -general  Williams 
lieing  of  great  elegance,  though  built  of  wood.  The  squares  in  Portland  l>o- 
iug  small,  several  of  the  rich  men  took  whole  blocks  to  themselves,  which, 
being  laid  out  in  lawns,  greatly  beantifie<l  the  appearance  of  the  town. 

Among  the  prominent  business  men  of  Portland,  who  have  not  been  hith 
erto  namwl,  I  may  mention  Donald  Macleay,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  in 
18.')4,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Canada,  where  lie  engaged  in  business 
at  Richmond,  in  the  province  of  Quebec.  From  there  ho  came  to  Portland  in 
1866,  going  into  a  wholesale  grocery  trade  with  William  Corbittof  San  Fmn- 
Cisco,  and  carrying  on  an  importing  and  exporting  business.  In  1860  his 
brother,  Kenneth  Macleay,  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  does  a  laigc  ex- 
iwrt  trade,  and  has  correspondents  in  all  the  great  comuiercial  cities.  This 
firm  made  the  first  direct  shipment  of  sa!mon  to  Liverpool,  and  is  interested 
at  present  in  salmon-canning  on  the  Columbia.  It  has  exported  wheat  since 
1860-70,  and  more  recently  flour  also,  being  the  first  firm  to  engage  in  the 
regular  shipment  of  wheat  and  flour  t^)  London  and  Liverpool.  In  187--4 
it  purchased  several  ships,  which  were  placed  in  the  trado  with  Cliina,  Aus- 
tralia, and  the  Sandwich  Isln-^ds.  One  of  these,  the  Mattin  MncUay,  was 
named  afteradanehterof  D.  Macleay.  Since  hisadventin  Portland,  Macleay 
has  been  identified  with  all  enterprises  tending  to  develop  tho  country,  m 
is  one  of  tho  directors  of  tho  Cal.  &.  Or.  R.  It.,  and  has  been  vice-president; 
and  has  Itten  vice-president  of  the  N.  W.  Trading  Co.  of  Alaska,  in  which  ho 
is  a  stockholder,  a  director  in  tho  Southern  Or.  Development  Co. ;  l(x:al  presi- 
dent of  the  Or.  &  Wash.  Mortgage  Savings  Bank  of  Scotbnd,  wliich  brought 
much  foreign  capital  to  the  country;  and  trustee  of  tho  Dundee  Trust  Invest- 
ment Co.  ol  Scotland,  representing  a  largo  amount  of  capital  in  Oregon  and 
Washington.  For  several  terms  ho  has  Iicen  president  of  tho  lioard  of  trade, 
and  at  the  same  time  has  not  been  excused  from  tho  presidency  of  the  Arling- 
ton Club,  or  the  British  Benevolent  and  St  Andrews  societies.  Few  men 
have  discharaed  so  many  and  onerous  official  duties. 

Richard  S.  Knapp  was  bom  in  Ohio  in  1830,  where  he  resided  until  18r>8, 
when  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  from  which  state  ho  camo  to  Oregon  the  follow- 
ing year.  In  1860  his  brother,  J.  B.  Knnpp,  together  with  M.  S.  Iturrcll, 
founded  the  house  of  Knapp  ft  Burroll,  dealers  in  hardware  and  agricultural 
implements,  to  which  he  was  admitted  in  186*2,  and  from  which  his  brother 
retired  in  1870.  This  house  was  tho  first  to  engage  in  the  trado  in  agricultu- 
ral machinery,  for  a  long  time  tho  only  one,  ami  is  still  tho  most  important 
in  the  north-west.  It  has  done  much  to  develop  the  farming  interest  of 
eastern  Oregon  and  Washington,  and  recently  of  British  Columbia. 

Although  Portland  is  1 1 'I  miles  from  the  sea,  and  twelve  almve  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Willamette  with  the  Columbia,  it  was  made  a  {mrt  of  entry  for  the 
district  of  the  Willamette.  In  1848,  when  tho  trrritory  was  established, 
oongresa  declared  a  collection  district,  with  a  port  of  entry  at  Astoria,  the 
president  to  name  two  porta  of  delivery  iu  the  territory,  one  to  be  on  Pugot 


720 


COUNTIES  OF  OREGON. 


Sonnd.  Nisqnally  and  Portland  were  made  ports  of  delivery  by  proclamstion 
January  10,  1850,  and  surveyors  of  customs  appointed  at  91,000  per  year. 
About  the  time  when  there  had  bcffun  to  be  some  use  for  the  office  it  waa 
discontinued,  1861,  and  foreign  Boods  were  landed  at  Portland  in  charge  of 
an  officer  from  Astoria.  But  in  July  1864  an  act  was  approved  again  making 
Portland  a  port  of  delivery,  U.  8.  Acts,  1863-4,  353,  in  answer  to  numerous 

Setitions  for  a  port  of  entry,  a  great  deal  of  circumlocution  being  required  to 
cli  vcr  Koods  to  the  importer,  whether  in  forei^  or  American  bottoms.  Deady, 
in  S.  /T  Jliilktin,  July  6,  1864.  The  legislature  of  1864,  by  resolution,  still 
insisted  on  having  a  port  of  entry  at  Portland;  and  again,  by  resolution,  in 
1866  declared  the  necessity  of  a  bonded  warehouse,  suggesting  that  the  gov- 
ernment erect  a  building  for  the  storage  of  goods  in  bond,  and  for  the  use  of 
the  federal  courii  and  post-office.  Such  an  appropriation  waa  made  in  1868, 
and  the  bouded  warehouse  erected  in  1860-70,  in  which  latter  year  Portland 
was  the  port  of  entry  of  Willamettt  collection  district.  Cong.  Globe,  1860-70, 
ap.  664-5.  Later  steam-vessels  for  PcitUnd  entered  at  Astoria  (Oregon  dis- 
trict) and  cleared  from  there  to  Portland  (Willamette  district).  Outward 
bound  they  cleared  at  Portland,  entering  and  clearins  again  at  Astoria, 
some  sailing  vessels  doing  the  same.  The  harbor  is  sa^  though  small,  the 
channel  requiring  the  constant  use  of  a  dredger.  Pilotage  to  Portland  and 
insurance  were  high,  drawbacks  which  it  was  believed  would  be  overeome  by 
the  application  to  river  improvements  of  a  hoped-for  congressional  appropria- 
tion. A  comparison  of  the  exports  and  imports  of  the  two  districts  are  thus 
given  in  FanuVt  Commercial  and  Financial  Reifiew  for  1877,  20-4.  Foreign 
exports  cleared  from  Portland  to  the  value  of  $3,000,387;  from  Astoria, 
$2,451,357.  Foreign  imports  entered  at  Portland,  9461,248;  entered  at  As- 
toria $27,544.  The  number  of  coastwise  vessels  entered  at  Portland  in  this 
year  ivas  177,  with  an  aggregate  tonnage  of  188,084.  The  clearances  coast- 
wise were  114,  with  a  tonnage  of  125,100.  The  number  of  foreign  vcssuU 
entering  was  37,  with  a  total  tonnage  of  12,130.  Most  if  not  all,  of  these 
vessels  loaded  with  wheat  and  salmon  for  English  port3.  About  an  et^ual 
number  of  American  vet^sij  for  foreign  ports  loa»lcd  with  wheat  and  hali. 
The  wheat  was  taken  on  at  Portland  and  tlie  sabnou  at  Astoria.  At  the  close 
of  1878  tiie  wholesale  trade  of  three  firms  alone  exceeded  nine  million  dollars. 
Eight  ocean  steamers,  sixty  river  steamers,  three  railroads,  and  a  hundred 
foreign  vessels  were  employed  in  the  commerce  of  the  state  which  centred  at 
Portland,  together  M'ith  tliat  of  eastern  Washington  and  Idaho.  The  year's 
exports  from  the  city  amounted  tu  $1 3,083,650.  The  value  of  real  estate  sales 
in  the  city  were  nearly  a  million  and  a  half,  with  a  population  of  less  than 
eighteen  thousand. 

There  v>ere  in  1878  twenty  schools,  public  and  private,  sixteen  churches, 
thirty-ilve  lodges  or  secret  organizations,  fifteen  newspaper  publications,  tiirce 
public  and  private  hospitals,  a  public  library,  a  gymnasium,  a  theatre,  market, 
and  four  public  school  buildings.  I  have  spoken  fully  of  the  Portland  schools 
in  another  place.  Of  societies  and  orders  for  benevuleut  and  other  purposes, 
Portland  in  particular  and  all  the  chief  towns  in  general  have  a  large  number. 
Of  different  Masonic  lodges,  there  are  the  Multnomah  Council  of  Kadosh,  .30th 
Degree,  N).  1;  Ainsworth  Clmpter  of  Rose  Croix,  18th  degree,  No.  1;  Oregon 
Lodge  of  Perfection,  14th  degree,  No.  1 ;  Oregon  Commandery  No.  1 ;  Urand 
Chapter;  Portland  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  3;  Urand  Lotlge;  Willametto 
LfMlgo  No.  2,  Harmony  Lodge  No.  12;  Portland  Lodge  No.  55;  Masonic 
Board  of  Relief;  Washin^tiju  Lodge  No.  40,  East  Portland.  The  Masons 
have  a  tine  building  on  Tliiril  Street.  The  Cirand  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  meets 
annually  at  Portland  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Temple,  a  handsome  edifice  on  First 
Street,  flllison  Encampment  No.  1,  Samaritan  Lodge  No.  2,  Iluasalo  IxhI^o 
No.  15,  Minerva  Lodge  No.  10,  Orient  Lo<lge  No.  17,  all  have  their  homo  lu 
Portland.  The  Improveti  Order  of  Red  Men  have  three  trilies,  Multnomah 
No.  3,  OuDonta  No.  4,  Wilbmette  No.  0.  The  Great  Council  meets  where  it 
is  appointed.  The  Good  Tr'..nlara  liare  three  lodges,  Multnomah  No.  12, 
Noupueil  No.  86,  PortlMM)  Lodge  No.  10!^  and  »  Qnuid  Lodge  of  Deputies. 


CITY  OF  PORTLAND. 


721 


The  Knights  of  Pjrthus  have  two  lodges.  Excelsior  No.  1  and  Mystic  No.  2. 
The  First  Hebrew  Benevolent  Association  of  Portland  and  Independent  Order 
of  B'nai  B'ritli  represent  the  benevolence  of  the  Jewish  citizens;  the  Iltbcmian 
Benevolent  Association  and  United  Irishmen's  Benevolent  Association,  the 
Irish  population;  St  Andrews  Society,  the  Scotch;  the  Scandinavian  Society, 
the  north  of  Europe  people;  the  British  Benevolent  Society,  the  English  resi- 
dents; the  German  Benevolent  Society,  the  immigrants  from  Germany — each 
for  the  relief  of  its  own  sick  and  destitute. 

St  Vincent  do  Paul  Society  relieves  the  needy  of  the  catholic  church. 
The  Ladies'  Relief  Society  sustains  a  home  or  temporary  shelter  for  destitute 
women  and  children;  the  ladies  of  the  protestant  Episcopal  church  support 
the  orphanage  and  Good  Samaritan  Hospital;  and  a  General  Relief  Society 
gives  assistance  to  whoever  is  found  otherwise  unprovided  for.  Of  military 
organizations,  there  were  the  City  Rifles,  Wasliington  Guard,  and  Emmet 
Guard.  Of  miscL-Uaneous  organizations,  there  were  tlic  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public,  the  Multnomah  County  Medical  Society,  the  Ladies'  Guild  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  German-American  Rifle  Club,  Portland  Turn  Verein,  Father 
Matthew  Society,  Olympic  Club,  Oregon  Bible  Society,  VVorkingmen's  Club, 
Young  Men's  Catholic  Association,  Alpha  Literary  Society,  and  Althean  Lit- 
erary  Society. 

Between  1878  and  1882  two  public  schools  were  added,  a  mariners'  home, 
a  new  presbytcrian  chnrch,  a  pavilion  for  the  exhibition  of  the  industrial  art* 
and  state  products,  beside  many  semi-public  buildings  and  private  edifices. 
Nearly  three  million  dollars  were  ex|)cnded  in  1882  m  the  erection  of  rest- 
dence  and  business  houses;  and  about  four  millions  in  l883upon  city  improve- 
ments of  every  kind.  The  wholesale  trade  of  Portland  for  1882  reached 
forty  millions,  inceasing  in  1SS3  to  about  fifty  millions.  Much  of  this  busi- 
ness was  the  result  of  railroad  construction  and  the  sudden  development  of 
eastern  Oregon  and  Woshin^n,  all  the  supplies  for  which  were  handled  at 
Portland.  The  opening  ot  the  Northern  Pacific  in  the  autumn  of  1883 
began  to  tell  upon  the  rather  phenomenal  prosperity  of  Portland  from  1873  to 
1883,  much  of  the  wholesale  trade  of  the  upper  country  being  transferred 
to  the  cast.  The  improvements  made  by  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation 
Company  have,  however,  been  of  much  permanent  l>enefit  to  Portland,  one  of 
the  most  important  being  the  dry-dock,  over  400  feet  long,  over  100  feet  wide, 
and  50  feet  deep,  for  the  construction  and  repair  of  sea-going  vessels.  It 
was  found  after  completion  that  the  bottom  rested  upon  quicksand,  which 
necessitated  expensive  alterations  and  repairs.  The  filling  up  of  low  ground 
and  covering  it  with  substantial  machine-shoi>s,  warehouses,  car  manufactories, 
and  deimt  buildings  added  not  only  to  the  appearance  but  the  healthfuluesa 
of  the  environs  of  the  cit} . 

The  suburbs  of  Portland  are  pleasant,  tl  e  drives  north  and  south  of  the 
city  aiTording  charming  glimpses  of  the  silvery  Willamette  with  its  woody 
islands  and  marginal  groups  of  graceful  oaks.  Back  of  the  city,  lying  on  a 
liillsidc,  with  a  magnificent  view  of  the  town,  tiie  river,  and  five  snowy 
peaks,  is  the  orcat  {Mirk  of  the  city,  long  remaining  for  the  most  part  in  a  state 
of  nature,  and  all  the  more  interastlng  for  that.  A  few  miles  south  on  tha 
river  road  was  placeil  the  cemetery,  a  lieautiful  situation  overlooking  the  river, 
with  a  handsome  chapel  and  receiving-vault.  The  ground  was  purchaseil 
and  laid  o6f  about  1880.  Previous  to  this,  the  burial-ground  of  Portland  had 
been  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  inconvenient  of  access. 

East  Portland,  built  upon  the  land  claim  of  James  Stevens,  who  settled 
there  in  1844,  had  in  1884  a  population  of  a1>out  1,800.  It  was  incorporated 
in  1870.  East  Port  vid  was  connected  with  Portland  by  a  steam-ferry  in 
180B.  A  drawbridge  t^mpleted  the  anion  of  the  two  towns,  which  were  made 
practically  one.  Mveral  additions  were  made  to  Eat.t  Portland.  AlMut  the 
time  of  its  incorporation,  Ben  Holladay  bought  a  claim  belonging  to  Wheeler 
on  the  north  end,  and  laid  it  out  in  lots.  McMillan  also  laid  off  his  claim  nor^h 
of  Holladay.  Sallivan  and  Tibbeta  laid  out  a  town,  called  Brooklyn,  on  the 
•oath.  Albina  is  a  manufacturing  town  north  of  MoMiljaa'a  aduttioo,  and 
Hist.  Oa..  Vok  U.   M 


m 


COUNTIES  OF  OREGOIT. 


was  fonn(led  aT»nt  1869  by  Edwin  Russell,  proprietor  of  the  iron-works  at 
tliat  place,  who  failed,  and  left  it  just  in  time  fur  other  men  to  muko  furtiines 
out  of  it. 

Sell  wood,  named  after  the  episi^opalinn  ministers  of  that  name,  wns  laid 
off  in  1882,  during  the  bind  speculation  conse(|Ueni  upon  railroad  iniililiug. 
8t  Joiin,  six  miles  )>o1ow  East  i'ortleiid,  is  an  old  settlument,  with  n  few  inan- 
ufactories.  Troutdalo,  six  miles  cast  of  I'urtland,  Mount  Talwr,  I'owi  1) 
\alley,  Arthur,  Ltwlcr,  Pleasant  Homo,  J{oostcr  Kock,  and  W'illamettt 
Slouch  arc  the  lesser  Bcttlemcnts  of  Multnomah  county. 

I'olk  county,  named  after  James  K.  I'olk,  was  organized  as  a  tlistrict  J)e- 
cemlwr  22,  1845,  and  comprised  the  whole  of  the  territory  lying  south  of 
Yamhill  district  and  west  of  a  supposed  line  drawn  from  the  mouth  <»f  Yam- 
hill  Uivcrto  the42d  paralhd.  Its  southern  iMumdary  was  estahliHJu-d  in  IS47, 
and  its  western  in  1 80S,  when  the  counties  of  Benton  and  Tillamook  wtTc 
created.  Its  present  area  is  aljout  r».")0  8<|uaro  miles,  of  which  over  1G7,(XK) 
acres  are  improved.  The  valuation  put  upon  its  farms  and  improvements  is 
over  four  and  a  half  millions,  its  live-stock  in  1884  was  valued  at  8(>0(),(HM), 
an<l  its  farm  products  at  $1,200,000.  The  real  and  personal  pro|>crty  of  tlio 
county  was  assessed  at  a  little  Lhort  of  two  millions.  Population,  7, (MM). 
Pallas,  on  the  La  Creole  River,  was  named  after  the  vice-president.  It  was 
made  the  county  scat  in  1850-1,  and  incorporated  in  1874.  An  act  was 
passed  for  the  relocation  of  the  county  neat  in  '876,  hut  Dallas  was  again 
choson  liy  the  popular  vote  of  the  county.  It  is  a  prettily  jocated  town  of 
700  inhabitants,  with  a  good  water-power,  several  manufactories,  and  n  private 
acadou)y.  Independence,  situated  on  the  Willamette  River,  was  incorporated 
in  1874,  has  a  |>opulation  of  700,  and  is  a  thriving  place.  Monmouth,  the  scut 
of  the  christian  collogo,  is  a  Hourishing  town  of  IKM)  inhabitants  in  a  (wpuloiis 

1)rcfinct.  It  was  fouiukd  by  S.  S.  Whitman,  T.  H.  Lucas,  A.  W.  Lucas,  .1. 
I.  Smith,  and  Elijah  I)avidson,  for  a  university  town.  It  was  incorporatcil 
in  I8,")0.  Buena  Vista,  on  the  Willamette,  had  a  population  of  two  or  tliico 
hujidred.  In  it  was  the  chief  pottery  in  Oregon.  It  was  incoriHU-ateil  in 
ls7<>.  Bethel,  Luckiomuto,  Eola,  founded  in  1851  by  William  Duraml, 
(irand  Ronil,  Elk  Horn,  Brooks,  Lincoln,  Lowisville,  Ballaton,  Crowliy, 
McCoy,  Parker,  I'errydale,  Zena,  and  Dixie,  are  the  lesser  towns  and  settli> 
mints  of  Polk  county.  The  culture  of  hops  in  this  county  assumed  considcr- 
ahle  importance. 

Tillamook  county,  the  Indian  appellation  given  to  the  bay  and  river  iiy 
Ix^wis  an<l  Clarke,  was  created  out  of  Clatsop,  Yamhill,  and  Polk  couiitieH, 
Decemlicr  L"),  I85.'j.  It  contains  nearly  1,600  square  miles.  Lumlwring  and 
dairying  are  the  chief  industries,  and  little  farming  is  carried  on.  The  value 
of  improvements  of  this  kind  is  Imtween  four  and  live  hundred  thousand  dui- 
hirs.  The  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  in  the  county  amounts  to 
less  than  $100,000.  The  county  seat  is  Tillamook,  at  the  head  of  the  hay. 
The  whole  white  population  of  the  county  is  less  than  a  thousand,  incliuliM'^ 
the  towns  of  Nestockton,  Kilchis,  (Sarahaldi,  and  Nehalcm.  The  Siktz 
Indian  reservation  is  in  the  southern  end  of  the  county. 

I'matilla  county,  the  alioriginal  name,  was  organized  Septeml)er  27,  ISfi'J, 
out  of  that  portion  of  Wasco  county  lying  Ijctwecn  Willow  Creek  on  the  wist 
and  the  summit  of  the  Blue  Mountains  on  the  east,  and  between  tlie  Coluinliiii 
on  the  north  ami  the  ridgo  dividing  the  John  Day  country  from  the  gn  ,it 
ba.'iiii  south  of  it.     Its  Ixmndaries  have  since  been  made  more  regular,  antl  its 

{ircseiit  area  is  fl,.'K)0  square  miles.  There  are  over  144,000  acres  of  improve  il 
anil  in  the  county,  valued,  with  the  buildings  and  fences,  at  over  two  nml  .1 
half  million  dollars,  the  farm  products  a  little  less  than  a  million,  and  tlio 
live-stoi'k  at  $1,800,000.  The  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal  proptrfv 
in  tin-  county  is  $2,094,000.  Population  in  1884,  10,000.  Pendleton,  Hid 
con.ity  seat,  named  after  George  H.  Pendleton,  was  founded  in  1808  by  rmii- 
mis'ioners  appointe<l  for  the  puriKWC,  and  incorporated  (^ctol)er23,  1880.  \t 
is  r<ituated  on  the  Umatilla  Itiver,  in  the  midst  of  a  lieautiful  country,  mid 
on  the  edge  of  (be  reaorvation  of  tho  Uniatillaa,  with  whom,  as  well  aa 


with  th 

1,<KM). 

Cohmibii 

transfer 

and  (>w.^ 

and  can- 

ciiunty  8» 

a   more  c 

failure  ol 

duced    to 

AV'cston,  I 

^Vt•.■^ton, 

town,  wit 

pcrou.s.     ' 

Pilot  Rocl 

Sjirin,:,',  E' 

nud  .Snipe 

L'nion 

lSi;4,  to  ni 

La  <iruiidi 

county  sea 

east  cornel 

5,  KjO  H!|tia 

huiMing.s  I 

ft'^  S!l,Oj!»,() 

Personal  p) 

"I'd  a  quai 

sloi'k-raisiii 

"iitiiinn  of 

Jloiid  Vullc 

scat  in  Iy7;] 

tion    iM  ei^rli; 

nolds  of  w 

Gland  Rom 

t'h;:plin,  tin 

of  thi!  I'leni 

Rood  Valln 

nit  of  the  Ic 

estalilishcd  1 

receiver.     Ji 

of  La  (J rand 

I'lic  populati 

villc  are  the 

Aider  of  W( 

Prairie  creek 

Among  th 

IS  James  (iuin 

cateil  ill  IVcw 

Jieal's  Bur  on 

'-'years,  f radii 

'iigh  to  the  mi 

iiiitil  IS(J2,  wl 

everything  tal 

lie  escaiieiT  on 

minus.     From 

employment  ii 

in  Nevada  the  1 

ho  again  purch 

they  sold  for  .SI 

hcing  a  good  ] 


UMATILLA  AND  UNIONT. 


723 


witli  tho  country  alxmt,  it  tnjoys  a  good  tia<lc.  The  population  is  alwiit 
1,)KX).  rmatillii  City,  Hcttloil  in  I.S«i'J,  \v:us  tirst  callfil  Cain's  landing',  tli<-ri 
Cdlunibia,  and  tinaliy  incorjM>nitfd  as  I'niatilla  in  ISU4.  It  was  tlio  place  of 
transfer  fur  a  laryc  amount  of  meruhandise  and  travel  destined  to  the  lioisiti 
and  Owyhee  mines,  as  well  as  the  most  eastern  mining  districts  of  Oregon, 
anil  earrittl  on  an  active  liusiness  for  u  numher  of  years.  It  i)ecamc  the 
county  seat  in  18<)5,  hy  Hi)ecial  election.  Tlie  cstalilisliment  of  I'cndleton  in 
a  more  central  location,  and  the  witlidrawal  of  trade  consequent  on  the 
fiiilure  of  the  mines,  dejuived  Umatilla  of  its  population,  which  waa  re- 
duced to  l.'iO,  and  cauM.I  the  county  seat  to  lie  removed  to  I'endleton. 
Weston,  on  I'ine  Creek,  a  l)r:iiich  of  the  Walla W'nlla  Kiver,  was  named  after 
AVeston,  Missouri,  and  incorporated  in  1S7S.  It  is  puridy  an  agricultural 
town,  witii  three  or  four  hundred  inhahitants,  lieaiitifully  situated,  ami  pros- 
perous. Tiiu  minor  tounsand  settlements  arc  Mcadowviile,  Milton,  Heppncr, 
I'ilot  Hock,  Centreville,  Midway,  Lena,  liutter  < 'reek,  Agency,  Ciivuse,  Cohl 
Spring',  Kcho,  Hardmann,  Hawthorne,  Helix,  Moorhousc,  l'ettys<  Ic,  I'urdy, 
and  Snipe. 

Union  county,  so  named  by  unionists  in  politics,  was  created  Octoljcr  14, 
ISii't,  to  meet  the  rc([uireinents  of  a  rapidly  accumulating  mining  population. 
La  Cranile,  upon  the  petition  of  "»<K)  citizens,  Ixing  named  in  the  act  as  the 
county  seat  until  an  election  coidd  he  had.  It  occupies  the  extreme  north- 
(;ast  corner  of  the  state,  touching  Washington  and  Idaho.  Its  area  endiraces 
.'i.iOO  s;|uare  miles,  of  which  ahout  !•.'), (KK)  acres  are  improved,  the  farms  and 
Ijuildings  being  valued  atone  anil  a  half  millions;  the  live-stock  of  the  county 
a:  SI,OJ<I,()0(),  and  the  farm  jnoilucts  at  ? i:t-2,00().  The  valuation  of  real  and 
pi'rsonal  profKn-ty  for  the  tenth  census  was  given  at  considerably  over  a  millinu 
and  ft  <|uarter.  The  population  was  al»out  7.<HH).  The  chief  industries  are 
Block-raising,  sheep-fanning,  and  dairying.  Union  City  was  founded  in  tlio 
autumn  of  18(J'2,  by  the  immigration  of  that  year,  at  tlie  east  cnil  of  (irand 
iiond  Valley,  in  a  rich  agricultural  regioii.  It  was  chosen  for  the  county 
seat  in  1S7.'<,  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  iucorporatcd  in  1878.  Its  iwimla- 
tion  is  t:iglit  hunilrcd,  and  rapidly  increasing.  D.  S.  Boker  and  A.  H.  Rey- 
nolds of  Walla  Walla  erected  a  Houring  mill  at  Union  in  1864,  the  first  in 
(irauil  Itond  Valley.  LaCirandewas  founded  in  Octol>er  of  18(il  In  Daniel 
Chrplin,  the  fnst  settler  in  the  valley.  It  took  its  name  from  reminiscences 
of  tl'.e  I'rench  voyageure,  la  grande  vall<5e,  a  term  often  applied  to  the  (Jrantl 
Ivond  Valley.  The  town  was  made  the  temporary  scat  of  Union  county  by 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1804,  and  incorporated  in  IMW.  A  land-otiice  waa 
established  here  in  IH(J7,  for  the  sale  of  state  lands,  Chaplin  being  appointed 
receiver.  In  IS7'2  this  tlistrict  wasnnide  identical  with  the  U.  S.  land  district 
of  La  (irande.  La  (irando  is  also  the  seat  of  the  Blue  Mountain  Univ<'rsity. 
The  population  is  (!(X).  Sparta,  Oro  Dell,  Island  City,  Cove,  and  Summer- 
villc  are  the  lesser  towns  of  Crand  Uond  Valley;  and  Lostine,  .loscpli,  and 
Alder  of  Wallowa  Valley.  Klk  Flat,  Keating,  New  Bridge,  Pine  Valley, 
I'rairie  creek,  and  Slater  are  the  other  settlements. 

Among  the  residents  of  Union  county  wlio  have  furnished  me  a  dictation 
is  .lames  Quincy  Shirley,  who  was  born  in  IIilll)orough,  N.  II.,  in  182t),  and  edu- 
cated in  New  London.  Ho  cumc  to  California  in  IS49,  by  sea,  and  mineil  at 
Iteal's  Bar  on  American  Kiver.  He  was  in  the  neigldwrhood  of  IJownievillo 
"2  years,  trading  in  cattle,  which  he  bought  cheap  at  the  ohl  missions,  and  sold 
high  to  the  miners.  He  remained  in  tlio  business  in  tlifferent  parts  oi  the  state 
until  180*2,  when  ho  started  with  a  pack-train  of  goods  for  Llaho,  but  had 
everything  taken  fron>  him  by  Itulians,  near  Warner  Lake,  from  which  point 
he  escajMjd  on  foot  to  I'owder  Kiver  with  his  party,  and  went  to  the  Florence 
mines.  From  Idaho  ho  went  to  I'ortlund,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  friend  secured 
employment  iinder  the  government,  hut  left  the  place  and  cut  and  sold  hay 
in  Ncvaila  the  following  year,  getting  8"Jd  and  130  per  ton  at  Aurora.  In  18(14 
ho  again  purchased  cattle,  at  $l'i.r>0  ))er  head,  driving  them  to  Montana,  where 
they  sold  for  i5l4.  Horses  for  which  he  paid  $14  ■oldfor  from  $.30  to  $80.  This 
being  a  good  profit,  he  repeated  the  trkte  the  following  year,  driving  hia 


V24 


COUNTIES  OF  OREGtON. 


stock  through  Nevada,  and  purchasing  old  Fort  Hall,  which  lie  resold  to  the 

fovernment  3  yearn  afterward.  In  18«»9  he  settled  in  IJaft  Uiver  Valley, 
daliu,  wlierc  he  had  n  horse  and  cattle  rnncho.  In  the  autumn  he  siiippeil 
the  first  cattle  ever  carrie«I  on  the  Central  Pacific  railroad  trom  Ilumliulilt 
House  to  Niles,  Cal.  He  continued  in  this  trade  for  several  years  longer, 
and  in  188:}  sold  out  his  stock  and  land  at  Raft  River  for  $100,000,  l>ought 
10,000  sheep  and  placed  them  on  a  range  in  Utah.  After  looking  over  new 
and  old  Mexico  for  land,  he  finally  settled  in  Union  co.,  Ore^ini,  wiiere  ho 
raises  grain,  and  buys  and  sells  cattle,  an  example  of  what  can  lie  done  if  tlio 
man  knows  how  to  do  it.  His  real  ])roperty  lies  in  4  different  stntes  ami  ter- 
ritoricii,  and  be  has  $100,000  in  live-stock. 

Wasco  county,  named  after  an  Indian  tribe  inhabiting  about  the  dalles  of 
the  Columbia,  was  organized  January  II,  1854,  comprising  under  the  act 
creating  it  the  whole  of  eastern  Oregon,  these  boundaries   lieing   reduced 
from  time  to  time  by  its  division  into  other  counties.     Its  area  isO,'J50  s<]uare 
miles,  of  which  abou..  80,000  acres  are  improved,  valued  at  $1,700,000.     The 
products  of  farms  were  valued  at  a  little  less  than  half  a  million  for  187t>, 
while  the  live-stock  of  the  county  was  assessed  at  not  quite  two  mil!''Oim. 
The  gross  valuation  of  all  property  in  1881-2  was  set  down  at  about  four  ami 
a  half  millions,  and  of  taxable  property  $3,'220,000.     The  population  of  the 
county  at  the  tenth  census  was  not  much  over   11,000.     Wasco  county  {xm- 
Besses  a  great  diversity  of  soil,  climate,  and  topography.     There  is  a  lur^^o 
extent  of  excellent  wheat  land,  and  an  equal  or  greater  amount  of  suiK<rior 
grazing  land.     More  sheep  and  horses  were  raised  in  Wasco  than  in  any  other 
county,  while  only  Baker  exceeded  it  in  the  numlier  of  honied  cattle.     Tiie 
Dalles  is  the  county  seat  of   Wasco       Its  name  was  first  given  it  by  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  whose  French  servants  used  a  nearly  olisolete  word 
of  their  language — dalle,  trough  or  gutter— to  descrilie  the  channel  of  the 
Columbia  at  this  place.     By  common  usage  it  became  the  jxirmanent  appella- 
tive for  the  town  which  grew  up  there,  which  for  a  time  attempted  to  ad<l 
*  citv  '  to  Dalles,  but  rolinnuished  it,  since  which  time  *  The  Dalles '  only  \i 
used.     To  the  dalles,  >7hicli  rendered  a  portage  necessary,  the  town  owes  its 
location.     It  was  founded  by  the  methodist  missionaries  Lee  and  Perkins, 
in  March  1838,  abandoned  in  1847,  taken  possession  of  by  the  U.  S.  military 
authorities,  partially  abandoned  in   1853,  and  settled  upon  as  a  donaticn 
claim  in  that  year  by  Winsor  D.  Bigelow.     During  the  minin.!;  rush  of  1S.VS- 
65  it  Itecame  a  place  of  importance,  which  {losition  it  has  continued  to  li<>l<l, 
although  for  many  years  under  a  cloud  as  to  titles,  as  related  in  another 
place.     It  was  incorporated  January  20,  18.57.     It  was  once  contemplated 
establishing  a  branch  mint  at  The  Dalles  for  the  coiimge  of  the  pro<lucts  of 
the  mines  of  Oregon,  Washington,  Idaho,  and  Montana.     Such  a  bill  wiu 
passed  by  congress,  and  approved  July  4,  I8U4.     An  edifice  of  stone  was  par- 
tially erected  for  this  purpose,  but  before  its  completion  the  opening  of  the 
Central  Pacitic  railroad  rendered  a  mint  in  Oregon  supcrtluous,  and  the  build- 
ing was  devoted  to  other  uses.     Down  to  1882  The  Dalles  was  the  transfer 
point  for  passengers  and  freight  moving  up  and  down  the  river,  but  <>u 
the  completion  of  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company's  line  from 
various  parts  of  the  upper  couutry  to  Port)'.uid,  a  large  portion  of  the  trutlio 
which  formerly  centred  here  was  rcmoveu.    Yet,  geographically,  The  Dalles 
remains  a  natural  centre  of  trade  and  iirans|)ortation,  which,  on  the  comple- 
tion of  the  locks  now  being  conitructed  at  the  Cascades,  must  confirm  it  ns 
the  commercial  city  of  eastern  Oregon.    The  Dalles  has  several  times  suiTcrcd 
from  extensive  conflagrations.     The  la^i  ^reat  tire,  in  1870,  destroyed  a  million 
dollars'  worth  of  property.     A  land-office  for  the  district  of  The  Dalles  was 
eat4iMished  here  in  1875.     The  lesser  towns  and  •ettlements  in  Wasco  conntv 
arc  Cascade  Locks,  Hood  River,  Celilo,  Spanish  Hollow,  Bake  Oven,  Lang  s 
Landing,  Tyghe  Valley,  Dea  Chutes,  Mount  Hood,  Warm  Spring  Agency, 
Antelope,  and  Scott.     There  are  a  nuinlier  of  otiier  post-otlices  in  Wasco 
county  as  it  was  previous  to  the  division  into  Crook  and  Wasco  in  1882,  which 
I  have  not  put  down  here  bvoMise  it  ia  doubtful  to  w.Uiek  wuaty  tiiey  belong. 


WASHINGTON  AND  YAMHILL. 


725 


They  are  Alknli,  Blalo<'k,  Cliik,  Cross  Hollows,  rross  Keys,  Crown  R<m  k, 
l>iii;ir,  Fleetvillc,  F(M«il,  (Jratlo,  Hiiy  Creek,  Kii)gsley.  Lone  Uuc-k,  Luue 
Vuliiy,  Mitchell,  Xanscne,  Olex,  Rockville,  Villanl,  und  *Vnl(lron. 

Samuel  K.  Brooks,  from  whom  I  have  a  dictatiuu,  and  who  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  came  n  Oregon  overlaml,  via  I'latto  anil  Snake  rivers,  in  I80O,  in  ciim- 
pany  with  C.  H.  Haines,  Samuel  llitchio,  Washington  Ititchic,  S.  U.  RolH:i't8, 
J.  H.  Williams,  his  father  Linn  ISrooks,  his  niotlur  K.  Brooks,  his  hrotlurs 
M.  S.  and  H.  J.  Brooks.  S'*mucl  settled  at  The  Dalles,  and  nmrried  Aiiiiio 
I'cntland,  daughter  of  Rohert  i'entland,  in  187*2.  He  is  among  the  prominent 
men  of  Wasco  county. 

Washington  county  was  established  under  the  name  of  Twality  district, 
the  lirst  of  the  four  original  political  divisions  of  Oregon,  on  the  "»Ui  of  .li;ly, 
l.'v}.'),  and  comprised  at  that  time  all  of  the  territory  west  of  Willametie  and 
north  of  Yaudiill  rivers,  extending  to  the  Pacitic  ocean  on  the  west,  ami  us 
far  north  os  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  United  States,  then  not  deter- 
mined. Its  li-nits  have  several  times  l^ecn  altered  by  the  creation  of  other 
counties,  and  its  name  v.ds  changed  from  Twality  to  Washington  .Septtuil>er 
4,  1 840.  Its  area  is  (>8'i  square  miles,  G:!,000  aores  of  whicii  is  ininioved 
lanil,  valued  witit  the  improvements  at  alxjut  three  and  a  half  million  th>ihu's. 
liie  livu-Ktock  of  this  county  is  all  uf)on  farms,  and  i:i  assesseil  at  u  little  le^ia 
tlian  four  hunilred  thousantl.  The  farm  pnxluctsof  I,S7U  were  valued  at  over 
S7(X),000.  The  stato  returns  for  1881 -'2  nmko  the  giu.s  valuation  of  all  inop- 
crty  ?s'J,7l7,00(t,  and  the  total  of  taxable  profM-rty  over  two  and  a  half  niiilioua. 
The  (population  iit  Ijctween  seven  and  eight  thousand.  A  considcr.ible  portion 
of  the  nortiiern  part  of  Washington  county  is  heavily  timbered  ami  moun- 
tainous, but  its  plains  arc  famed  ft>r  their  productiveness,  nml  the  face  of  tho 
country  is  l)eautifully  tliversified.  Hil!slx)ro,  founded  by  David  Hill,  oiie  of 
the  executive  committee  of  Oregon  in  I84U,  is  the  county  scat.  It  wa.i  ineor- 
porated  in  1870.  The  ])opulation  in  alxmt  live  hundred.  Forest  (Jrove.  tlio 
seat  of  I'acific  University,  has  (iOO  inhabitants.  It  was  founded  by  Harvey 
Cla.  •  in  1849,  and  incorporated  in  1872.  Tho  U.  S.  Indian  scIkkiI,  founded 
iu  1879,  is  located  at  Forest  (Jrovc  The  location  of  tho  university  town  ut 
the  edge  of  the  foot-hills  of  thoCo\jt  Range,  in  the  midst  of  natural  groves  of 
oak-trees,  gives  an  academic  air  to  tho  place,  and  certain  propriety  to  tho 
name,  which  will  >>e  lost  sight  of  in  tho  future  should  not  tho  forest  beauties 
of  tho  place  lie  y-rcservcd.  The  lesser  towns  are  Cornelius,  tJaston,  Dilley, 
(iale's  Creek.  Cedar  Mill,  Bc'hany,  Ikavcrton,  Olencoe,  (Jrcenville,  hrjles, 
I^iurcl,  .MiddleK.n,  Moimcain  Dale,  Scholl's  Ferry,  Tualatin,  and  West  Union. 

Harley  MeDonald,  Iwirn  in  Foster,  R.  I.,  in  182.');  camo  to  (.'al.  in  I84'.t  by 
K»!i,  and  to  Oregon  the  following  year,  locating  at  Portland.  His  occupation 
was  that  of  architect  nn<l  dri.iightsman.  Ho  built  the  steamer  HooHin-,  one  of 
the  lii-st  on  the  upper  \Villamettc,  in  I80I;  tho  first  theatre  in  San  Francisco; 
tl'.c  first  wharf  and  lirst  church  in  Portland;  the  ^^r8t  railroad  station  at  Salem; 
and  is  engaged  by  tlie  government  to  erect  school-houses  on  the  Indian  reser- 
vaiions.  He  married,  in  18^18,  Betsy  M.  Sansom,  and  has  8  children,  one  »ion 
beinu'  a  lianUer.      He  resiiles  at  Forest  Orove. 

Vauihill  county  was  lirst  organized  as  one  of  the  first  four  districts,  .luly  S, 
|S4.'1,  and  endjracecl  all  of  the  Uregim  territory  soutii  of  Yamhill  iiiver,  ami 
Mestrif  a  suppos(d  north  and  south  lin<'  extending  from  the  mouth  of  tho 
Vaniiiill  to  the  42d  parallel.  Its  lM)undaries  weru  subseijuently  altered  and 
abridged  until  it  contained  a  little  mi>ro  than  7"><)  square  miles.  The  amount 
of  improved  land  is  119,000  acres,  valued,  with  the  improvements,  at  S.'>..'»|8,- 
000.  The  value  of  live-stock  is  over  half  a  million,  an<l  the  yearly  iiroduct  ol 
the  farms  is  alxjut  a  million  and  a  half.  The  valuation  of  real  anil  |ier.-<onal 
estate  is  in  excess uf  two  and  a  half  millions,  and  the  jiopulation  is  8,000.  This 
county  is  fame<l  for  its  wheat-producing  capacity,  as  well  as  for  its  many  beau- 
f;ii  features.  Lifayette,  once  county  seat,  is  situated  on  the  Yamhill  River, 
which  is  navigable  to  this  point.  It  was  founded  by  Joel  Perkins  ulsiut  I8.')l, 
and  named  by  him  after  Lafayette,  Indiana.  Perkins  was  murdered,  whilo 
returning  from  California  in  July  1830,  by  John  Malonc,  who  hanged  himself 


ws 


MANUFACTURES. 


in  juil  nftci  confcssinj^  the  uct.  Or.  Stnlf»man,  Aiip.  12,  1.S.V1:  Dfarft/'n  Hi4. 
Or.,  MS.,  'H.     It  \\u»  cliDHi'ii  fur  tliu  Hi'ut  of  the  (.'oiiiity  in  AiigtiHt  l>>,'t>i.     Un 


I 


ciiui't'lidUHL',  urcctcil  in  I8.'(l)  ut  a  cuNt  of  ^1  l,()UU,  wus  tiiu  piiilu  of  tiic  count 
at  tiiiit  time,  but  itH  agu  in  now  uguiuHt  it,  und  it  ilut-a  not  do  uruilit  to  no  rich 
a  rounty.  Tlio  |>o|iiiliition  of  l,ut'uyvttu  ix  (UN).  Tliu  town  Mua  incor|)oruti'il 
in  If^'H.  McMinnvillc,  founilfil  Ity  Williuni  T.  Ncwliy  in  I8.'>4,  wiu  naniici 
atttir  )iiH  imtivti  town  in  'IVnni-itMcu.  It  in  the  Hout  of  the  l>i>|ttiHt  eolh-ge,  14 
on  tlie  line  of  tiio  Oreuoit  i'entrul  lailroad,  und  iiiut  11  |H)i)ulution  of  MN).     It4 


.^ 


iH)m 
(  \\i 


incorponition  wiim  in  iH~'2.  l>ayton,  founded  liy.liKi  I'ahner  on  hind  |mi-- 
cliUMed  of  .\udrew  Suiith,  und  nunied  after  Ihtyton,  Ohio,  is  a  ]iretty  town,  on 
the  Yuiuliill  Itirer,  of  .'{(M)  inliahitunttt,  und  the  initial  |M)int  of  the  l>ayton, 
Sheriihin,  und  <inind  Itond  nuiTow-piu^e  railroad,  il  iH  it  Hhippiiif^  jioint  tor 
th<'  wheat  ({row n  in  the  iciiuity,  whieh  i.-t  heru  trunxferred  from  the  ruih'oail.'i 
to  HteamlHiut.'4,  and  carrieci  ijown  the  Vandiill  and  Willamette  lliverM  to  I'ort- 
Liiid  or  AHturi.i.  I'uytoii  Iiuh  a  ),'ruin  elevator  an  I  niilli*.  it  was  ineor|Hiraleil 
ill  ISKO.  Sheridan,  at  the  jireiient  weHlern  tet'minUM  of  the  narrow -gau;,'i.' 
railruuil,  i.s  a  iiieturemjue  town  of  lesH  than  '.t).l  i  ihahitantM,  named  aftrr 
General  I'.  Slicridan,  who  as  a  lieutenant  wan  Htut'oned  at  l''ort  Vandiill, 
iiiar  hui'tr.  It  \\ii»  Hi'tileil  ill  |sl7liy  AliHohiii  W.  i''auli'oner,  and  ineor|ioraii'i| 
in  ISSI).  .\Miity,  I'Xiiidi'd  III  Is.'il),  is  aii'itlier  pretty  \illa;.'e,  in  u  liiH'  a;;rii'iil' 
tillitl    rej^ioii,     ili.drpolated    in     Issit.      The   liiinor  Hettleinenti*   are    Uelleviie, 


(.'all loll,  l!ki 


Nol'tli  ^'Illlllllll,  Went  Cilihuleiii,  Mi>l  Willuiiiiua. 


'I'lieie  was  a   ploiioMitlon    lielole   the    ii;;i.il.itlire   of    |,SS_*   to  ereate    one   ^n 
inoi'i'  I'ouiitii  ->  iiiit  ot  I  111,1 1  ilia.      Ity  a  cMiiipiii'i.'xin  if  the  ui'alth  of  the  He\  ei^d 
C'oi'iitieH  III  <  lri7:on,  it  is  Imiiid  tiiat  the  aliinuiit  per  eapitii  is  largest  in  .Mull 
Iloliiah,  \\  hii'll    is  a    eollilneli  iai    I'oliniy.      'I'lie    li;{rii  idtlirul    counties    of    the 
AVi.iauietle  Valley  r.'ilik,  I. inn  tiist,  S'ainhlll  Meeoiid,  l>iiie  third,  and   .Man 
fiiui'lii,   (  lai-liiiiiL.H  raiiUiii;,'  h-aHt.      Tli 


st  and  ('oliinil)ia-liivi  r  eoiintir 


fall  I.elow  till'  iiiterinr  one.s.      In  the  xoutheni  pail  nf  western  Orii^on  there  is 
ul  o  iiiiieli  II  MS  Wealth  than  in  t'.e  Willamette  \'alli  y,  l*i>nj:laH  eoimty,  Imu 


leadl 


n  eastern  ( (re 


II,   I'matllla  had'  the  other  eoiii 


ill  iier  ea|iita  we.dili,  I  iranl,  I'liion,  WaMi'n,  Laki',  and  lijiker  follnw  int{  in  t  ic 
lii'der  named,  'I'liis  may  lie  dlllerellt  Mlin'e  the  eut'.ili;.' oil  of  Crook  eouiit\, 
wliii'li  tiiiik  niiii'h  III'  till'  lieist  p.irlion  of  Wiism.  'I'he  i'iini|iarative  ainoiinl  i>t 
wheat  rai'>ei|  in  Isso  wax  );reateNt  in  .Million  eount\,  whiih  raised  l,(Hl(),riM 
bll  helit,  Yamhill,  riiiatillii,  I. mil,  and  I'oik  lullnw  iii>{  with  neatly  l,<HN),l)tlil 
it.'ii'h.  I 'lai'kaman  enuiity  raim  d  lesH  than  <')0()  liii^heU.  Hut  ( 'laek.uiiaH  pin 
(lui'ed  $iill,(NN)  wiii'th  of  trull,  liein^'  the  itieond  fruit  eoiinty,  I, inn  leudiiu  tlie 
•  t.ite.      Like   laised   alliioist   nolle,  ( 'nil  V,  ( 'lalsup,  and   'I'illanionk    \erylitlli, 

Iliid  all  the  olhi  r  eulinties  fl I  4IMKIil  toJIli.rT.IMMI  worth,  ail  hut  three,'  lltki  I, 

(iiaiit,  and  ( ^iliiniliia,  proJ  ii'in;(oNer,'<lil,INN)  woi  ili.iind  nine  of  them  trom  %>,'!' >, 
(lit )  to  )!<.'i7.<'<NI  xtiiith.  The  f;ioNit  \alue  of  tiie  fiuil  nop  um-h  over  t>,Vsl,INI  1. 
I''tiini  this  gi  ner.ll    and  nilllpUlaliM'    review  of    the  eoUlltieH  and    toWIIHof   th- 

tituie,  aN  taken  lioiii  the  usHeriitoiN'  NtuiiatieM,  to  which  a  large  aiiioiinl  in  eulm  4 
niav  Mtlel>  Im'  ,idilei|,  the  eonditinn  of  the  population  at  large  may  lie  gatiien  .1, 
rel'erit  tu  uui'iciiltui'o.     .Munutai'tiireii  uru   uuiibideiud    under  a 


eN|,.-c|U 


iiy 


Bpitlutl)  huiwl. 


MA\UI'A(Tnu:s, 


The  (larlioitt  iiinnnfiiotured  product  of  Oregon  wiih  IuiiiUt.  From  iIh' 
liiiilding  of  the  IIinI  niilU  tor  commereial  piii  pones,  m  iMt,  to  jhM.'t,  iIiIh  Ii.i- 
eolltiniled  to  lie  a  grand  staple  ol  llo'counlr).  .\t  tie  I.imI  date  men  ioiii  i 
tnuru  weri)  o\i<r 'JJ.H  M.tw  iiiilU  ill  the  Hiate,  C'lHting  over  a  million  and  a  hull 
III  dollurs,  and  produciii;;  annually  lunilier  valued  at  over  two  millioiiH.  It  1 
dillieiilt  to  give  even  apppnxiinalely  the  percentage  of  ucri'H  of  timliered  laii  I 

(.hut  would  produce  luillliei  ,       ll<ith  HideH  ol  the  (  iMIMt  Itullge,  the  WeMtHldexl 
the  I'utieade  lUlige,  the  highlands  of  the  Columlita,  and  tne  north  end  of  liie 


Will, 


iineite,  as  Well  an  the  Uittom  lauds  along  lliat  river  lor  nixty  mileN, 


heavily   limlicred;    while    the  1  ait   Hide  ol    the  (  umi  adcH,  the    went   hide  of    tli' 

Uluu  .\luuiili4iiii>,  ttiul  the  llunkM  uf  the  cruM  run^ua  Letwueit  the  Wtlluinelti 


LUMBER  AND  SHIP-BUILDIXO. 


727 


Umpqua,  ami  Rogue  River  valleys  are  Bcarcely  icsn  »len«ely  covered  Mitli 
fori'Kt.  Sff  llfvirw  limird  i>/  Tniilf,  1S77,  3H;  (hviiaiiU  Monthhj,  xiii.  •J47  1); 
li' lit  Com.  Ai/ric,  1875,  330-1;  Monelj/'n  (Jr.,  iU);  Or.  Lryu.  Dock,  1870,  «li>o. 
ii.,  15. 

'I'liu  incrchantahle  woexla  of  Oregon  are  yellow  fir,  ce<lar,  pine,  spruco, 
coltoiiwootl,  liuiiilock,  oak,  niiiple,  uhIi,  uhlcr,  urluitiiH,  uixl  myrtle. 
Fir  in  tliu  Htiipki  iiHeil  in  Hliip-hiiililiiij^',  iioiitie-lniililiiig,  feiiuiiig,  furiiitorc.  antl 
fuel,  i'edar  \H  iiHutl  for  hiiiitliing,  and  withxtundM  iiioJNtiiru.  llendurk  in 
iiHfd  in  tunning.  Ouk  is  iitili/ecl  for  fanning  inipluinents  and  wu,L;ons;  cot- 
t<^n^Vll<)d  for  Htuveh;  uhIi,  maple,  an<l  myrtle  fur  furniture.  N'eueeriuj;  fr.>n» 
the  knotti  of  Oregon  maple  received  a  diplonnv  from  the  eentt'unial  •'.vpoHi.inu 
of  lS7d,  for  its  iH'uuty,  iinencMH  of  grain,  toughnesHof  lihre,  and  Num'epliliility 
ti  )>olii<h.  Xii.iU'm  <>i:,  I'J8.  Comliined  wi^li  myrtle,  which  it*  uIno  U'liiitiiully 
mai'kc'l  and  Niinceptihleof  a  high  piilitth,  hut  of  a  dark  color,  thcresuit  isiiic  of 
griat  elegance  in  caliinet-work.  A  few  veMHelH  Imilt  at  Coom  Ikty  have  l<een 
iiniHiied  iiisiilt!  with  lliexe  woodM,  prcmiiting  a  rcmnrkahly  pleuHing  cil'cct. 
Half  ol  ail  tlie  wood  uxe  1  in  the  manufacture  of  fiiMiivurc  in  San  li'aiici.>co 
ih  <\  ported  tfoin  Oregon.  .\s  early  as  IstiJ  a  set  of  m>>  Mture  niailc  of  Orejon 
maple  was  .sold  in  Nan  Franeiitco  for  ^SiK).  itr.  Si  ■  ■  nniiin,  .May  l->  I  ''>'-. 
'I'lie  furniture  trade  if  the  state  reached  ?i<7."il>,(H)i»  annually,  two  thirds  of 
vhiih  Wiis  liir  hotneinaile  articles.  The  Or'e;.'nn  .Manulacturing  Couipany  of 
I'lirtlaudiu   r>7-'>  he^'an  ti   make  first clasM  t;itiliioiudile  furniture  Ironi  ii;i;i\e 

W Is.  a   hiljiding   heing  erecteil    liy.l.   A.    .Strnhridge  en    the  corner  of   First 

Uiid  N':iiii!iill  streets,  at  a  I'osl,  of  .s75,()l((),  fir  the  couipiiuy's  use.  I'urllniiil 
II. .1^  Sh  r< .  .\ug.  Ih75;  JlilUlurn  U'ti.-/i.  /,i>l,  jm  inli  iit.  I  »i'c.  "J,  |s7.''.  'I'lii! 
liuest  caliiiu't  arliclcH  were  made  in  rortluid.  Otiiei  sm  dler  factoi  ies  weits 
Kcattered  thi'ou;.'houi  the  state,  liut  I'ortland  fiirii:slied  a  laige  proport inu  of 
tli4' liirniturc  .I'lld  hy  country  iiicr>  hunts.  .Xciurding  to  ii  proniiuciit  l';icili'; 
eoast  sialis.ician,  .lohii  S.  Hi,  tell,  A*.  <. /u'l  < .<,  .'iH-l  ."i,  there  ucri'  l./U,(Hr,»,tKn 
feet  of  Inuiliei  sawed  in  (h'e  .run  iu  ISM)  I.  The  gre, iter  part  ot  this  was  cut 
ul  the  nulls  nil  the  ColumMa,  and  the  .',outlicvu  coast,  se\  .ral  of  v.  Iiich  ti:i,i 
out  7'i,<li:>  t'eet  per  day.  The  mill  at  .St  Helen  cut  from  ll.tKHl  lo  ;.".,ii;i.l 
in  'Jl  h'Urs.  At  Coos  liay  and  I'urt  Orfurd  there  were  luills  that  produce 
Ul.(KKI,(),)iHo  ;i7,»K).»,(H)l)  Icet  amiually.  ( l.l/n/'.t  0,\  i;,K,iirr,.M,  MS.,  •»,";  S.,S. 
Almiii,  in  lii^lmicnl  ('i)rri''i>i>iiili  int ,  .MS,  The  ( 'oipidic  mills  saw  !'_', ():>(>, (.(1,» 
feet  lor  S:iu  l''ranciHco  minkel  animi  lly.  In  e.iNicru  Ore;-on  the  I'due  .Mouii- 
tiiins  furuiidied  the  principal  pari  ot  (he  l\ii.ilier  niailc.  The  Tiiiclscii  IImuc, 
for  carrying  luudier  from  the  inoiiniaui.i,  is  tin'  largest,  caiiving  ."nl,<'(H(  iVct 
of  lumlier  and  :<iN)  cords  iif  lire-Wood  daily  from  the  mils  to  the  town  tf 
Miltoii,  near  the  Ore^;on  lim*.  h  was  the  proptrty  it  tiie  Oie>;on  Imjiiovc' 
incut  ( 'o',n,'an\ ,  and,  im  ludiiiu' its  luancli,  v.as  thir.y  uiili  i  I'lig.  Tli<'  Little 
^\  hite  ."lalmoii  lluiue,  huilt  liy  theOri";on  l!:iilway  mid  \a\  i  :atiiin  < 'oin|iany 
to  hring  himlier  to  The  I'aVs,  Ntas  ten  miles  in  leiigiii.  iiiliili'n  Ji'r'niif'vs, 
CM  5. 

.\t  .St.lohiiH,  n«'ar  the  moiuh  .if  Iho  Willamette,  wai  the  locatinn  of  the  Or- 
et'oii  llarrd  ('oni|Mii'y,  »*  luii  liarnl  -,  pails,  fmit  |ackiii;(  lio.xcs,  and  ens  s  fm* 
llildili.;  packages  '  canned  N.dinon  were  liiaiiulactiiicd;  O.  II.  Sevcrtuice 
fnuiider.  The  priMlu'tD  it  this  factory  were,  wor'.h  ahout  ."'l.'i.lNH)  aiiiiunlly. 
'1  here  was  a  similar  facter\  at  Oregon  City  in  Lsdil,  and  tlieic  wni,  lu  hM, 
u  large  lto\  hicloiy  at  I'mtland,  owiu-d  hy  .John  llailuwe  ,\;  Co  Wo.id 
Mas  used  for  Iml  throllgheut  Oregon,  e\ci  pt  in  a  lew  puMic  and  pirate 
lloiiHes,  whelecoikl  WiiH  plel'crred.  It  was  aliundant  niid  cheap  cvciywheiii 
wcHt  of  the  C.iNeade  .Mountuiim.  the  lii::he;.t  I  rices  olitaiiiiii;  in  I'mllaud, 
M  here  lir  Wood  liroiiKht  MIX  dollars  per  cord,  ami  oak  eight.  .Most  of  the  river 
■teameis  UHcd  wood  for  making  steam  ai  a  matter  of  ecoiioiuv. 

.Ship.liuildiiig,  w  hich  dejiends  upon  thei|uality  ol  IiuiIm.i  piodtiied  li\  the 
Country,  iseariied  on  to  a  conKideriilile  e\te:it,  the  principal  shipvaid  l>emg 
Ut  Coos  Ili4>.      The  oldeNt  >ard  on    the  lia>    is  at    Noith    llclld,  wliele  the  lirig 

vl/'i;/"  wa:i  hiiilt  liy  .\,  .M.  and  I!.  W.  SimpHon  in  l.s.Ml,  since  whuh  Iiiiki 
tHuiiiy  two  nllier  veiMulii  liuvu  Ihilu  luuuclied  (ruin  thiH  yard,  wtlli  lonnago 


728 


MANUFACTURES. 


ngftrpgatinR  12,.VH),  They  were  laimclieil  in  the  following onlcr;  hripnArago 
aiitl  lilfiiico,  I854J-.S;  gchixmerH  AlvmliK-ino  unil  F'orcuce  /v.  Wtiltoi'.  IS.")9-«»0; 
\tr'\g  jiilruna ,  ISUI;  schooners  fJiitrr/iriio',  IiuiMln,  lluniinh  Loiiisi\unilJu- 
rnita,  IMl."-r>;  hm\n'i\Um'>t  OrcUlfiil.  tkinl  Mi tanct/ioii,  iKIkJ-T;  Hi-inmucr  Jiunk- 
uliiiioii,  IS08;  barkentinu  Wrhjoat,  18(JU;  scluwners  liolama  and  Dri'ijoiiiuH, 
l!i7l-'i;  bui'ki'ntinu  J'ortlamt,  187S;  siiip  IVmltrH  Shoir,  1874;  l>arkunti»« 
yV(M  O'Shantrr,  IS7<'t;  barkuntincs  yoiih  lieiul  and  Klikital,  and  HctKHinurs 
Tnixtrr,  Jmnra  A.  (larjirld,  and  one  unuunicd,  1S7U-81.  The  HJiip  l^■<'«^'r;^ 
•S7io/'(  was  tho  largest  and  Htrongest  ship  ever  built  on  tho  I'ucitic  ooatit,  and 
the  sec'dud  in  nunil)cr,  tho  Wild  wood,  built  at  I'ort  Madison  in  1871  'J,  lieing 
the  lii'Kt.  The  iVeniirH  Shovf  wan  designed  by  A.  M.  NinipHon,  ami  Imilt  liy 
Ji'iin  Krnsc.  Tho  joiner-work  was  done  by  r'runk  CiibHon,  the  polixhing  (jf 
tiie  \\(H)il'Work  by  Frudcriek  Mark,  and  the  (tainting  by  I'eter  CiibHon.  .Sliu 
wax  'J.OtJO  tons  burden,  and  her  spars  tho  lincat  ever  seen  in  Liverixiol.  U. 
W.  Simpson  designed  tho  rigging  ami  cnnvus.  The  eabin  wuh  finished  with 
myrtle  wood,  relieved  by  d(Hir-|>oHtsof  Sundwich  Island  taniana  inu  hundxonie 
Manner;  liut  the  Tarn  (j'SliaiiUr  was  tinihhed  still  more  liundHomely  l)y  the 
same  (iinnnu  workman,  F.  Murk.  Tlie  first  voyagt?  of  the  KV-rcz-u  .'■Ao/vwua 
to  San  Fruueiseo,  thcnuu  U)  Liverp<Kil,  loaded  witli  I.JMO  tons  of  wheiit,  coni- 
iiiiiiiilcd  liy  Weslt-y  McAllep.  She  beat  tho  favorite  Sen  I'raneiseo  ship  'i'/ini- 
Jiml'.rr.i  M  days,  an<l  the  tlrilinh  Kiiifi,  a  fast  Sf.iler,  11  days-  .i  triuni;  li  for 
her  liiiihlers.  Slie  cost  ^S(),<XK),  less  than  sueh  a  ship  cvtuhl  be  built  fir  at 
lialh,  Maine.  Tlios  II.  Merry,  iu  Portland  Went  Hhore,  May  1870  and  I'eb. 
ihSJ;  ,S'.  h\  Jtutlfl,,!,  Nov.  '20,  1870. 

From  the  sliip-yurd  of  li.  II.  Luse, at  Umpire  City,  CVkw  IJay,  eiglit  vessels 
wj're  launched  between  lS(il  and  1881,  with  an  aggregate  bunhii  of  !M()  toiiH. 
Tiie  cliiB.-t  of  vessels  built  at  Kmpire  City  was  smaller  thiin  thi!  North  !!( iid 
NcNsels,  several  In-ing  small  steamers  for  use  on  the  bay.  They  were  ih'? 
HchoonerM  llrhirra,  K'lti'  /'ijitr,  and  (  axhinan,  brig  Ituhiyt  Kmiiuft,  and  ateam- 
tug  Ai/i/tu,  and  tho  steamers  Snlillili;  ('(>o<,  nn<l  Ikriha.  'i'iie  Atjih  i  wii.h  the 
liist  vesiiel  buiit  at  this  |)laee,  and  tliu  only  one  before  I8<il).  I'milaud  W'r  t 
Slum;  Feb.  I88_',  '_»«.  At  Marshtield,  Coos  Hay,  K.  H.  Dian  &  (,"0.  have  a 
ship-yard.  Hero  were  built  twenty  vessels  between  I8(i(laiid  I8SI,  of  an  ag- 
gregate eajiueity  of  9,070  tons,  and  ut  other  (Mints  on  tho  Imv  and  river.  The 
first  veNNel  built  at  Marshtield  was  the  steam-tug  Ent'ort.  'I  hen  follo\ve<I  the 
sehouticrs  S'aijhoiind,  Luiiixa,  Morriioii,  Iranhor,  Aiiiiit  Siinijl'ir,  l\iiintiid, 
Sitiiliim;  J<'rilfiinjr,  Lnurtt  A/ni/,  Jinnir  Shllii,  ('.  II.  Mwrhmil,  S'liitu  I'uxn, 
(icunif  C.  I'fikiim,  J.  (/.  \orih,  I'likolti,  and  one  unknown,  tho  liarkentine 
Aiiiiliit,  tho  steauuirs  MenHtu'j'r  and  MVtw/i,  and  tlio  tun  L'^rorl  Xo.  J.  The 
steiimer  ./(((to  was  built  in  Cmts  Itiver,  uml  alno  a  schiM)ner,  name  unkixiwii, 
at  .\arciuville.  Merry  nuikes  mention  of  tho  North  liond  tug  t'vurle'<n,  wliiili 
iH  not,  diiwit  in  the  list. 

The  reputation  of  Coos  Hay  ves.^els  for  <lnrability  onti  siifefv  is  g<Mid,  few 
of  them  having  lieen  lont.  ^I'lie  I'tiinine  W'iiHdii  was  wreeked  nn  the  coaHt 
between  CiM>s  Ituy  and  Hogue  lliver.  The  y/H/iil-«/fi/(o/),  while  dimhargin,' a 
cargo  of  lime  at  cape  Hlaiieo  for  the  light-houNe,  was  set  on  tire  by  the  ^ea 
wanliiiig  down  the  hatciiwuy,  and  entirely  ihstroyed.  The  SiiiiHhinr  wa.n 
w  ri'i'l.ed  oir  Cape  ItiNaiipnintiiient  b}  cap.si/.iug  in  a  sudden  H'|ii»II,  frum  lier 
liinsts  beil'.g  too  tall  and  the  hiHi|)M  ton  suuill  to  allow  tlie  saiU  ti>  be  liWered 
iluiiLly.  I'iii'llniid  \\'<  1I  Shuri\  •lune  |.s7<t,  0.  Several  of  them  have  heen  iu 
the  '  'chuubia  Kivir  trade  «  ver  since  they  were  completed. 

Sliiji  bnilding  in  a  snmll  way  has  been  carried  on  in  the  Umpipm  lliver 
ever  since  IS.'Ul.  Two  Hchooners,  the  I'idiKltif  nud  I'miKini,  weri-  built  alM)ut 
II  mile  and  a  half  below  Scottsbiirg,  by  ( 'lark  and  Ibiker,  in  Ih.m  II,  for  the 
Sail  I'lancisi'ii  traih'.  Or.  Slulinmnii,  May  (I,  \HM.  In  IVi7  the  Hteamcr 
Sniilhiv  was  built  to  run  on  tlie  river.  In  IsOO  .lolin  KriiNe,  Kauer,  and 
Mailtv  1  uilt  tho  Hohoouer  Mnrii  i'li  lu  liind,  at  l^ower  Scottshmg,  fur  the  C  li 
fiirnia  trade,  td.,  .May  IM,  ISO!,  Kiiise  also  built  tho  hcIiiniiii'is /'>f<'//i'i'  and 
ir.  /''.  Ilriiirii  in  18(14  ."1;  llniikiiit'  S/iiiihtiililiiiij  I'n  iiir  ( '(l.l..^  /iiiriil-i'i 
Vwui  I'iivl,  I'M.    A  fuw  vuHcu  huvu  been  built  m  Xilluiifjuk  litky,  ut  lii|-ht 


FLOUR.  m 

draught  and  tonnage.  Ever  since  tlic  filar  ofOrtqon  was  Itinnchcd  from  Ouk 
lalunil  ill  tliu  Wiliumnttc  iu  lH41,8lii|i-l>uil(liug  liiui  been  currivd  ouiii  ail.'sul- 
tory  fuMliiuii  along  <iu  tlio  ('uliiiiil)ia  ituil  Willumutto,  nu  rucut'd  of  wliicli  Iiuh 
lioen  krpt.  An  examination  of  tins  U.  H.  (Jommercf  awl  A'ai'iijalioii  Sl'iliHlira 
from  I8.)U  to  IH.)<t  shows  that  no  tiguruH  arc  givt-n  for  more  than  liitif  tliu 
yvurs,  con8i't|Uciit'y  tlie  infoinnition  gained  ia  uomparativi-ly  wortlili'xg.  In 
tliu  yuarH  guwn,  18M),  I8ri7,  lS(i.'i,  IS(]8  IH77.  there  were  100  %-cf8elM  of  all 
clu8!ie8,  troiu  a  Imrgu  to  a  l)rig,  built  in  Oregon,  ',i\  of  which  were  riiiliiig  wa- 
Belt).  Accordiii;^  to  the  sameautliority,  tticru  were  (M)  8tvam>vci)8elH  in  Oregon 
watui'H  ill  1874;  but  these  returns  are  evidently  imperfect. 

Tiiu  coHt  (if  Hhip-building  as  commrcd  with  liatli,  Maine,  is  in  fnvor  c)f 
Oregon  sLiip-yiirdH,  as  shipiHsrs  have  lK>eii  at  some  pains  iu  the  lamt  ten  or 
iiftcuu  years  to  demonstrate,  as  well  as  to  show  that  Ain<^rican  \v(Kideii  Hhips 
must  HO  ill  di-Mpliico  ICngliHh  iron  vessels,  and  American  shinpitiK,  ^liiili  has 
been  permitted  to  decline,  be  restored.  The  report  of  tlio  I'aeilie  Siieinl 
Sen  nee  Association  on  the  Ift^ndtriUioii  <>/  A  nirriraii  Hhi/ifiiiiij  in  I  hi'  Juirrhju 
'J'rutii',  by  II  coMiinitten  consisting  of  ('.  T.  Ilopkins,  A.  S.  llullidie,  i.  K. 
Thover,  A.  (,'r.iwford,  and  (',  A.  \\'asliburn,  is  un  instructive  pamphlet  of 
some  :il)  |ia;;es,  NJiowing  the  causes  of  decline  anil  the  means  of  iistoriie^  the 
Auiei'iia.i  >liip[iing  interest.  In  ls7.')-(t,  $l,.')i:(,.'>()8  was  |>nid  iiway  in  (lre);<in 
to  l<.rei,;n  Hliip-owners  for  grain  eiiurters  to  Kurope,  whicli  luoney  slmiiM  have 
iR'eii  MiM'd  til  the  state unil  reinvested  in  shiiidiuiidin^^.  Ilonfil  <'/  Tr  </<  A''/'', 
187'i,  liK  1  iiavu  i|Uotcil  the  opinions  of  eoiiinetint  writers  in  tlir  iiist'iiy  of 
i'u.\'('t  Siiun<l  hliipdjuildiiif,',  and  uill  only  refer  here  to  the  follow  i.i;;  pain- 
pl.li  ..-(.  b'lrritli^/i  /.VivVifi  of  tin  i  'omwfirlnl,  I'lnnuiuil,  and  Imliisifinl  l,iif  rmlx 
o/'imj  II,  l,->77,  ;{l-'_';  tiilj'ri/'n  licnunriin  <ir.,  .MS.,  4."»-."i.);  /i'('<'('  ic  ui' rm-ititinl 
tiuiii\l  if  Trriilr,  I,'i77;  and  l/o/iki  m'  Slii/ihiii'iliin/,  l,S(»7.  In  view  of  the  re- 
tpiinnual.s  <  f  eoininuree  in  the  fuiuie,  liie  Orcijon  Kuilwa}  and  Navij^ation 
Oo.  p:tiiy  littve  provided  a  nia;;niiieont  dry-dock  at  Albina,  opposite  I'oriluml, 
whieli  was  I  oiiiplutcd  abo.it  Ibo^t. 

I'lo.ir  taki.i  tliu  i.econd  |  la  e,  in  point  of  time  if  not  of  value,  in  the  list  of 
Uro^^on  iniinnlaeturcs.  Siiieo  the  tinu'  when  wheat  was  eurreiu  y  in  Oiei;on,  it 
liusplaye.l  an  Hnportiint  partiii  the  linaneesof  thecounti-y.  'rakin;;  lu'niiip.'ir- 
atively  recent  view  of  Its  iinportiinee,  the  fact  that  the  wheat  rrnp  im  leased 
from  •J.:U.».<K)I  busliels  in  IS7*>  to  7,4W(.(K10  in  1880,  ostablislies  its  leliitive 
value  to  any  uiid  all  other  |)roduils.  \  \ery  large  pro|H)rtiou  of  tlu'  wheat 
raised  III  (trefoil  was  exported  in  bulk,  but  there  was  also  ii  larL;e  export  of 
maniif:iclur<  d  llour.  Tlie  lirst  to  export  a  full  earj^oof  wheat  direct  to  liiirope 
wa:i  .loep'i  Watt,  who  sent  one  to  l.uerpool  by  tlio  .sallii  ISriiwn  in  I  Mi*.  It 
cost  Walt.*  1, Oil. Ito  make  the  ex|>eriiiienl.  The  Kiiglisli  milleis,  uniii'ipiaint  d 
Willi  th'.'phiinp  W  illamette  grain,  eoiidemned  it  as  swollen,  but  l>oii;^lit  it  at  a 
reilueiMl  pi  ieu,  and  ground  it  up  \«itli  I'inglish  wheat  to  give  \^hitelle.'4s  to  tliti 
llour,  hincj  wliiili  time  they  havo  understisHl  its  value,  d'/vpiv  c't  I'uh.  I.ii'r  in 
<>('.,  .MS. ,  till;  Willi,  iwCiiiiiilirt  Omt'uui^,}i\fi,.,  1  2.  Another  iai>;o  wiiiL  the 
aainu  ye:iriii  tiie  llilnt  Aiiijiii:  'I'lio  year  previous  to  Watt's sliipmeiit  aeargo 
of  wheat  and  tloiir  was  sent  direet  to  Australia  by  the  bark  Il7iii//<r.  An 
curly  as  iMil  II.  K.  Mayes  iiiul  I  .  I(.  Haw  by  of  Va'nihill  had  lO.tHN)  bu.Hliels 
gt'ouinl  11  put  the  I, inn  <  'ity  .Mills  (swe|itiiway  in  the  llooilof  the  lollouhiv'  w  in- 
ter) lor  shijiiiient  to  Liverpool,  taking  it  to  .S.  V.  to  put  it  on  Imaid  a  <  lippi  r 
ship.  <h:  .t/;/(4v,  Jan.  VJ,  iMil.  In  ISli.S  <l,  :it),;UI,i  ininhel.i  of  w  li<  tt  and 'JlKt 
luirreUof  llour,  v  orlh  ^.'tll.t  47,  were  shipped  ilirect  to  I'iiiiopc.  The  trade 
inireiiNed  rapidly,  an<l  in  IS7I  there  were  7I.7I'>  bilsilels  III  wiieat  and  'JS,.S|  | 
luirit'ls  of  Hour  sent  to  foreign  ports,  worth  til,0'.'(i,30'J.  S.  /'.  Jiiilliim,  .\nu, 
20,  l.s7iV 

The  nunilN>r  of  llonring  and  grist  mills  in  the  statu  was  over  a  humlied,  in 
whii'li  iiiore  than  a  inillioii  and  a  i|iiarter  ot  ckjiilal  was  iiiNested,  piiiiliiejii;^ 
uiiiiunIIv  tliiee  and  II  half  mdlioiiH'  worth  of  llour,  Some  of  the  niost  lainoiis 
mills  were  the  following:  Stnndard  .Mills  at  .Milwaukee,  eomplutud  in  iMiO  by 
Kdd.N,  K<  llo^u'.  and  llradbiii  v,  w  hi<'li  could  make  'J.'iO  liurrels  daily.  'I  hit 
Oregon  (  Ity  Mills,  ow iied  by  J.  1).  Millur,  cafiftbU  of  tui uiug  out  ;iUU  barrcU 


730 


MANUFACTURES. 


•"•■/• "  ->"■  -■-.■h.  .".  "■■"..   .  ■...  .,.....,..- 

lir.  t  atti'iii;.i.s  til  ('(iiii|ii'tc  Willi  tliJH  i:iiiii|>aiiy  w<  ri^  iiiutlu  liy  Wyctli  iim 
lii('lli(iiii>t  luiHsiiiiiarit'f,  v.  Iiii'li  wuh  Hiici'o.'sMtul  only  in  w(.'iii'iii;.;i'iiiiii;.;ii  tur 


duily.  This  mill  wan  oiv'inally  crcctwl  in  18(W  to  make  paper,  Init  converteil 
ill  iMiS  iiituulluui'iiig-iiiiii.  TheJiimeriul  Mill  utOrvgoii  Ciiy,  iaiit  tiwiiiil  liy 
8uviri'  ami  ISiiniHidc,  won  capablu  uf  griudinu  TjOO  Lairulo  iluily.  Tiiii  Suleiii 
l'loui'ini{  MilU,  uuiied  by  a  uoiiipauy  organized  iu  187U,  with  a  capital  uf 
f'AlHK)  biiicu  iiiLiuuinotl  to  9'<!00,0()(),  oiul  wliicli  had  A.  UuHh,  thufoinit-iedivor 
of  tliu  Or.  .Stiilinmuii,  uiid  later  a  baukvr  in  Malc-ni,  for  prvHidt-iit,  iiiunii' 
factuiiMl  l.'),U(X)  to  lU.UOU  bariL'U  of  (lour  inonthlv.  Tliulr  flour  took  thu  Icuil 
ill  till'  iiiurkiitri  (if  Kurupc.  Thu  Jcfl'ersou  City  AlilU,  owned  by  Corbitt  mid 
Muck'ity  of  Portland,  ground  10,000  barrels  niouthly.  J.  11.  Foutcr's  mill  ut 
Albany  had  a  capuuity  of  .'JOO  liarruU  daily.  //itleU'it  Jiewurci'ti,  iVi-VS. 

Ill  I..U  ^Tcat  flood  of  ISMI-'J  tho  Island  mill  at  Urt'gon  City,  built  by  thu 
nu'thodiMt  ciimiuiiiy,  and  John  Mi'Loui;liliirH  mill  wuru  both  larrird  away. 
Mi^Loiighl.n'H  mill  wua  in  uhaiguof  Daniel  Harvey,  who  marrit'd  Mi-h  \luv,  tin' 
diK':oi''H  daiiuliter.  llurvey  was  iMirn  in  thu  jutrisli  of  Shellord,  louiity  KHuex, 
Knj^liiiid,  in  la<)4,  He  diedat  I'ortland,  Dec.  5,  lMi8.  Puilluitd  Aihui'uli,  Due. 
lit,  ISCS. 

S.'>liiiuii,  by  tho  procoRM  of  canning;,  ln-comcHakiiidof  inanufiu.-tiircd  ^Modx, 
and  \va.^  om^  of  the  threo  great  Htjiplu.s  of  tliuHtute.  The  Miliiion  of  theColiiiii- 
biii  wi'if  introduced  to  the  iiiarUetx  of  Honolulu,  Valjiaraiao,  and  London,  in 
umetihu.r.  bv  lliu  lludMiiii'.t  ISay  (  .iiiipaiiy,  liefore  any  citi/eii  of  tiic  rnitnl 
hliili'M  hud  I  ...uivd  into  tho  buHiiM'H.s  of  iwiliiioii  lislii.i'.;   in  Oii'goii.    UnKvri'* 

j!,,uii,ri;„„»,  .M.S..  HO;  ir;//,,/  Xur.  i'.  s.  av.  jJu/xiI.,  iv.  ;»(io  70;  //.  low. 

Jiij'',  .'»1,  i.    ")7,  -7tli  cong.  ,'ld  »(NH.;    Vitn  'J't-iiin/iK  Ailn'iitiirf.  1  l."i  (i.     Tin' 

yi'tli  and  tln' 
honii- 
eoiiniiiii|>tiiiii,  thf  Indiaim  being  the  liNheiinen,  and  the  company  able  to  |iti\ 
liiori'  tor  till'  iIhIi  IIi.'iii  the  nii.ssionaiieii.  'i'hu  lir-tt  iiieichaiitH  at  Oie^'on  City 
triideil  u  few  liairelN  to  the  lloiiolulii  iiiereliaiitM  for  unreiined  Hii;^'ar  and  nm 
lii-HCH.  Jleiiiy  liiider  went  to  Oregon  City  in  IH.VJ,  with  the  de.iigii  ol  eHlali 
li^llillg  II  lisheiy  at  the  falln  of  the  Willamette,  but  eiianged  lii.s  mind  uinl 
vent,   to  l)i'llin;,'Iiiim  Uay  m  erect  iiHiiw-miU.     Alioiit  I.S.'>7iloliii  \\ Cst  iM'giiii 

I  lulling  lip  Halt  Hiilmiiii  in  ImirelN,  at  W'eHtport,  on  the  l^ower  Coliimliia.  In 
.S.'i!)  .'-'tiling,  liahiuiii  iV  ('>i.  e.stablialii.'d  ii  Hiniilar  liiiHiiieHM  at  the  month  of 
lio;;iii'  Uiver.  '*/•.  Slitlisiiiiiii,  Ik't.  "J.'i,  iS.Mt.  liut  iiotliiii;;  likt;  a  iniulei  n  TiHliery 
W..M  e.->uilili'«lieil  on  the  Columbia  until  bSdii,  when  \Villiam  llnnie,  ( ie(ii'|,e 
Hume,  and  .\.  S.  llapLjooil  erected  the  (ifst  fuili  preaei'N  iiig  fuetniy  at  Ku;;li' 
liiir,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  in  Wiihkiakiim  eiuinly,  W  iiNhiiigton.  in 
li'i7li  I'lerti  were  M'M'iiteeii  Himihir  eHtubliHlinii  iitH  on  the  river,  ami  in  b' Nil 
tllele  Were  thirty  liv  I'.  The  aveiagi'  eiitt  of  the«(i  linlu'rieN,  vv  iih  Uieir  apjia 
ratii.4  lor  laiining  Milmon,  ami  of  the  lioat8  and  nets  iihciI  in  eat<  hin;;  ti.'sh,  was 
in  till'  iiei  ..hliorliiioil  uf  forty  tlioiiMiml  ilollai.M  each,  m.ikiii;.;  a  Mim  loial  in 
Ve.'Ueil  ill  the  ( 'olnmliia  Itiver  lisherie.s  of  nearly  II  millini  and  a.  half.  The 
Uiimlier  of  pei'Miim  enip!o\ei|  in  the  li.'shing  beii.4iiii,  which  li'.steil  alioiit  four 
Inoiilh.i,  wii.>i  r>i\  thon.  .'iinl,  the  i;r(ater  number  of  whom  were  loi.  ii,  'i'lm 
boaiineii  ri-  ii.snally  Scjinlinav  i.inx,  and  the  men  enipl(>v>'il  in  tl  anneiirH 
p;  ilii  i|ially  ( 'hiiiCM'.  .\  few  women  were  hired  to  put  on  ubeU,  at  vi  hiih  l\u\ 
Were  viry  I'spert.  The  mechanics  were  imiially  .Americamt.  The  followin.,' 
bIiowi  the  increacu  of  the  Milmoii  eatc'  lor  ten  yeai'H,  by  the  mimlier  of  ciihi  h 
put  iijp:  |..o!»,  •J.i,7til);  l;.7<t  •Jlt,7.Ui;  I.S7I,  ."(•..soii;  IK",  -l.'l.COii;  l;>7.l,  l(>-',7;t.i; 
1..7I.    •.".il.o.'l;  |,s7,-|,  '.MI.oUO;  I,s7(l.  4;i.H,7:ti»;    l,s77.  ..X..'-'SS;  |s7\   n.),!il7; 

I.ST'.I,  i;i.S.t)ll|.  Alio  /',in,„i,l  X.  /'.  Cii(l-I,  AllUi'  l."i,  IS,SO.  The  proiliiitlon 
\arii'd  VMih  ilillereiit  >ear.-4,  tin' milinoii  in  H'line^e.ii'H  iippeiiring  to  avoid  lie' 
(olumbia  and  all  the  principal  liM!iiiig.;.',i'<iiiniU.  There  wii.sa  laliin;;  olV  in 
ll'T'i'i  for  the  wnole  I'aeiiie  eoa.it,  amoiiiiliiig  to  marly  l(K),(HH>  caxi  h  from  the 
eateli  of  the  previoiiM  year,  .\ller  the  linhing  heaHoii  wan  over  Home  of  tin 
eanneiies  piil  up  beef  and  mutton,  to  iitili/e  their  faeilitien  and  round  out  tie 
ye.ir'M  buHim'NM. 

Tlieevpoitof  eaniied  Nalmon  did  not  eommeliee  until  bS7l,  when  .'iO.OIHl 
eIlHl'^-  Were  lApol'teil,  which  lea  I  i. 'el  li<l,"iO,()(Ht.  In  |S7''.  Mil. I, (Hill  ca«es  Wi'iv 
■old  abroad,  which  rualizud  tfl,ti,>0,IX)0,  and  the  following  year  -Kl'iOtK)  uaaer, 


bringing 

of  the  tr 

ab  y  k'HH 

Kb.  4,  J 

bringing 

1'iie  1 

in  .\pril 

tt  eajiital 

.b  hn  Aih 

Henry  ]■' 

Lew  in,  ai 

ehusett.'i, 

eiiiabliNhi 

liner,  a 

erected  a. 

fiHh  and  w 

and   letur 

March  Is,* 

coinliiion. 

l.S7.i;  /',, 

i!e.sii| 

Coijliille 

fisln  ry  I 

llien.si.'  i| 

I  nipipia 

tile  (orii    ... 

Ilol-ne.s  lefii 

Ii  !     ■  -, 

fl  iiimh  I 

oy  U'r.s 

and  oti.. .    , 

and   iiiaikei 

J."*;  iSV'/fi//'.* 

l.aw.s  lia 

The.>ie  in'iN  i 

tiie  young  u 

eM'iilii;,'  to  ,S 

II  1  salmon;  t 

t.\  -four  feet  I 

"'.    /.f/icv,   I; 

>noil,  jl.  has  I 

^'    in  the  li.sl 

fore  I  lull  rivi 

liiililin,  \i,\ 

'i»«'i'H.      ,\ni, 

ill  the  Cohim 

'I'he   main 

bVVi,  when  a 

•'K''  ing  a  wi 

'■'i.e'iy.  (;,.| 
^  ice.|ircNi(||.i,( 
I'ccloi',    .lo.sej 

^*'  r.'  ilii'ei'tiii, 
III..!  hine  in  I'l 
l.iiin  county, 
the  right  oi  w 

I'  '  .lllul  ,„„|   („ 

J'  'w.  IS  on  the 
t'lu  firiiii,'  "1  CI 


II 


l<'^ 

.  a 

ut 

|Ua 

I 

Ol 

rel 
I  alioiiiid 
III 
in 
III 


SALMON  AND  WOOLLEN  GOODS. 


731 


bringing  over  two  and  a  Imlf  niilliona  uf  dollarg,  wliicli  is  a)>oiit  the  maximum 
of  the  truiio,  ii  few  tliuuHunil  more  |Mtukugu8  l>«)ing  m>U\  in  \H'H,  utul  I'uUHidcr- 
nl<  y  IcBH  in  1M71).  Kevirw  of  IkhiiiI  of  tratiu,  lt>"0,  in  /'orllnnil  Siainlnnt, 
lib.  4,  187i).  Tiiu  {iroduutiou  uf  I8hl  w uh  ouO.OUU  ca8e«  uf  4.S  {Kjundx  vacli, 
bringing  iivi>  dulluiH  u  uase. 

'I'lic  iMirtiul  fuihiru  uf  Huvcnil  yunra  alarmed  caintuliHtH  and  lu^iHlutors;  nnd 
in  April  iHTii  tliu  Oregon  and  WuMliington  Fish  I'ropugating  (Jompiiny,  with 
a  rapital  of  $.'U),(KN),  was  incorporated.  Tiie  otlicerH  of  thi.>i  i'oni|iiuiy  wcvo 
JiJm  Adair,  Jr,  prcHidi'nt,  J.  W  .  L\n>]i.  vice-president,  J.  («.  Mej,'Ur  HnTftary, 
liein-y  Failing  treasurer,  with  .1.  /\tlair,  •!.  (i.  Meglvr,  tlolin  West.  * '.  M. 
Lewis,  un<i<l.  W.  Cook  directors.  LivingstiMi  8tone  of  ('iiarlcMtowii,  .Mas.sa- 
elniiietts,  was  elumeii  to  eundnct  the  experiment.  A  locutiuu  for  a  liatcliing 
esiahliHhnit'Mt  was  selected  at  the  junction  of  Clear  creek  with  tiie  ( ''ackaniiis 
Jtner,  a  few  miles  from  Oregon  City,  where  the  necessary  Imilditigs  wero 
ei'tcteil  and  a  million  eggs  ]tut  to  hatch,  of  which  seventy-live  iMM'cintlK'camo 
tisli  anil  were  iilaced  in  the  river  tu  follow  their  ordinary  haliits  of  iiiigialiou 
and  return.  In  this  manner  the  italmon  product  was  rendered  secure.  In 
Muich  ISHI.  'J,  l.')(),()0()tish  were  turned  out  of  the  hatching-house  in  a  lualtiiy 
eoiidiiion.  < th/iiijiiu  (oiiriir,  .April  '2'2,  1.S81;  i'ortlaiiU  IVint  Shun,  August, 
l!i7'';  /'iirlliiiid  ()r< civilian,  .May  -<»,  IS77. 

lU'siiles  the  Ciiluinbia  lti\cr  tisheries,  there  were  others  on  the  ''mpipia, 
CiMjuille,  and  Kd^iic  iImms,  wiiercKalmon  are  put  up  in  barieis.  'I'lic  < 'ixjuillu 
li-.!niy  put  up  ;i7,lM;()  kirrels  in  IS.^^J.  .V.  /•'.  C/uunii/i',  .Vug.  I.'t,  lss|.  liu- 
iKi  iiHc  ipiantiiics  III'  halnion-triiut  uf  excellent  llainr  have  litM'ii  iuuud  in  tiio 
I  ni|iiplM,  Klaiuiith,  l.iidi,  luid  other  Huuthi  :'n  sticaui.s.  In  the  Kl;iinalli,  i>t 
t!u'  liiril  iMi  (he  l.inkvilie  read,  thiy  have  been  m  ii  in  slioals  so  druse  that 
hnrse.s  refu.ied  to  pa.ss  o\  cr  tin  in.  In  bust  Jiivcr,  in  J^ike  cnuiity,  the  sui  ker 
Ii  it  alioundi'd  in  the  same  slmals  during  .\pril  and  .Mi.y.  .Sturgemi,  tnim ml, 
tl  uiiiih  r,  and  ntlur  edible  IImIi  vire  plentiful  along  the  I'liast.  ^illll'  I  sij'j, 
oy  U'i's  in  cuii.'iiilei'able  ipiantitiis  have  been  tiiiiiipcd  fi'om  'rillaiiK  'k  !!ay; 
and  ollii  :-  riliell-lish,  iiaiiiily,  ciabs,  sliriiu|  s.  and  iiiilmsiIh,  wire  i.liuiulaiit, 
auil  marketidile.  (h;  Sliiliiinun,  Nov.  .'I,  Itili'J;  Or.  t.Mj''4.  IHmk,  lN7'i,  ii. 
l.'c  Sj.inir.-,  I.,:  iViry 

Liw.s  have  been  enacted  for  the  presorvutioii  of  both  salmin  and  uyNters. 
'i'licse  acts  leuiilatc  the  si/c  ol  ilie  iiicshcs,  u  liicli  are  >>\  inches  long,  Vi  |ieiiiilt 
till'  young  Milmoii  to  escape  tliii>u;.;li  tlieiii;  and  I  niliiliit  iisliiiig  fi>  <ii  Salu  d.iy 
»■'.  ciiiii','  to  ,Sum'..iy  eveui;ig  of  e\e:y  >vei  k  in  tlw  tea.son,  for  thi>  ,.roli  ciimi  i.f 
a  I  sihuiin;  and  loiiiid  the  UHci.f  tlicdrcdj 
ty-fotir  feet  in  depth  at  l>w  tidv  on  oyster 

(>/ .  J.tiir.i,  |.s7(i,  7.  \\  ith  regard  t^  the  prcserxati'iii  and  propi!'.;iiiiuu  ot  lal 
nmn,  il.  has  been  recently  diMinercd  tli:it  the  ^paw  n  throw  n  into  the  (  ihiuiUu 
fi  in  the  ti.sheries  is  nut  wasted,  but  hati  I'.cs  in  that  >.tii  am,  and  th.it  tiiere- 
fi.rc  iliat  river  U  a  iialiiral  pi.scii'iiliural  cronnd.  Cixjiiillv  ( 'ihf  //<  rn/il,  in  .V,  /■'. 
Jiiil.itiii,  N'oN .  I.'t,  Issil.  'I'lie  ^iunii!  doi  s  not  appear  to  1h^  true  of  the  iioillicrn 
rixers.  .Another  dill'erence  i.i  in  the  time  of  i>;iliriii.;  the  rivers,  which  is  .Apiil 
in  the  ( 'oluiiibia,  and  .\iigu.-it  i;i  the  I'lupipia  and  <  'mpiille. 

'the  iiiaiiiiracture  of  On  .-uii  wool  iiiui  g  loiU  wai  neglected  until  Apr. I 
is.iti,  when  a  I'liiit  stock  as  >oriaiiiiii  wui  loiiiud  at  Salcin  for  the  pii'|»>Hi'  of 
eirc.iiig  a  woi.lleii mill,  .loncph  Watt  was  thr  prime  mover.  William  II. 
lii' tor  was  supeiiiiliudeiil  ul  construction,  and  went  east  to  piiii  Ii.imc  ma- 
c!.i;i.'ry.  (Icolgc  II,  V\  illliiiiis  was  pieMideiil  of  the  c.iinpany,  Allied  Stallion 
\  iri-presidrnt.  •lo.M'iili  ( i,  Wiihoii  N,'i  iviai'N ,  and  .1.  |).  Iloon  t>i'aHUr<  r.  Wiitt, 
i.rrtor,  .liKHcph  Moliiian,  L.  F,  *  •rover,  l)aui<l  \\alih>,  and  F.  M.  Itiiiiiiun 
\M  !■'•  directors,  Jlrmni'n  f^iih  III  hn.,  \'',\.  \\,.lt  \  llailur  hinl  n  i.iiding- 
iii^. chine  in  I'ulk  loiinty  in  IVMi,  mid  tin  le  appeals  tohaxc  Urn  iiiiotlier  iii 
Lihii  county,  u  iiich  wasdestroMil  by  lire  in  I'tiiJ.  'I'he  cii'M|i(i>iy  punhaxeil 
thr  right  of  way  to  bring  the  water  of  the  .Santiam  Kiver  to  Salem,  building 
a  r.iiiul  and  taking  it  across  (  hemekelaCii  ik,  nluknl^'  it  one  of  iii<  lioi  wnter- 
ji  nMH  on  the  I'iii'ilic  coast.  Its  cuiiipletion  m  lleccmU'r  was  celtlnalid  by 
tiic  tiring  uf  cuiinuu.     Xliu  incurpuruliuu  uf  the  cuni|iMny  u«  a  muautuclurint^ 


w  here  the  water  is  less  tliiin  iwcii- 
ied.<,  or  thr  waste  of  yullligoystcls. 


732 


MANUFACTUKES. 


and  water  company  followed,  and  in  tliu  fall  uf  1S.17  two  acti*  of  woollen  ma< 
chiiiory  wi'ic  put  lu  iiioiiuii,  'I  iiugooiU  inuniifucluivil,  I>liinket8,  lluiint'lH,  aii<l 
cuBuviiicreH,  wcro  :,'xiilljltc'(t  lit  lito  lii'.st  tiuitu  tair  ot  (.'iilit'iniiiii.  ill  IIS.VS,  liciii^ 
tliu  hi'.-a  i.'luUi  laudo  (111  tliu  J'lioitic  cmitit  (if  tliu  I  iiitcil  SUitiit  liy  iiKMlcrn  tim- 
chiiii'iy.  lii  ItSiH)  the  cupiiciiy  (it  tliu  mill  w:iii  diiiililt'd,  tliu  c(iiii|iuiiy  pniit- 
jiL'ix-d,  iiiid  ill  iH')',i  liuilt  »  lai'f^u  Uiuirin^'  mill  tii  iiiih/c  its  wutia--|)(i\vur.  'I'iic 
cuiiul  wliioli  liroiiglil  the  >Siiiuittiii  into  Naluiii  \«u.s  IcitH  tliiiii  a  niiU;  in  leiij^ih 
and  liiid  a  fuU  ui  4J  fi^ut.  Tho  wuter  Vfua  i-.\liuii!<tlei»H,  ii.'id  there  wkh  laid  ihu 
louiidiitioiiJ  ui  tiiilitiiiied  fuciliticu  fur  iiiuiiutiictui(.'4  at  >aleiii. 

The  liiiiiding  of  the  Willaniutiu  wooUeii-niiil  at  Sulein  wa.s  a  great  inccntivo 
to  w<iol^i'(iv«iijg.  'Iho  amount  of  wool  prodiieed  in  Oregon  in  IhiiO  was 
'JJO.IHM  |)oiiiidi<,  n<it  OM  much  as  tliu  .Suleiii  mill  reiitiiied  ala  r  it  was  eiilargud, 
which  wu;*  400.000.  IJiit  in  lt>70  the  wiiol  ero|i  ol  the  ntJite  wan  l..i(h>,o,),», 
and  in  i.i.iO  over  eight  million  of  iiouiidH  wcru  exiwirted.  iidnril  <</  Triul>  J,'i- 
vivir,  lh77i  l.'i;  i'auijic  J\'orlh-iiri't,  4.  The  Salem  mill  luirneil  to  the  ground 
ill  May  H7U,  Lint  in  the  mean  time  u  nninber  of  otheiM  li-id  heeii  eneted.  In 
18>.iJ  \v'.  J.  Liniiviilc  and  otliers  (H^tiiioned  the  neiiate  fur  a  charter  for  u 
wu..Le:i  mantifiiclui'ing  couiiiany,  wiiich  was  reftiHcd.  <in  tiie  gniiind  that  tiii! 
c'inHtitiiticiii  (if  the  atato  lorltado  dealing  coi'|Miraliiiii!t  liy  H|iei.'iul  lawn  e.\e('|it 
for  uiuiiicijKd  iiurpobeK.  Or.  Joitr.  Si miU;  IMU,  ti.«,  7-'<.  In  Isiita  wiHilleii-mid 
>vu.>u.vci.ed  all.llciiilulc,  which  was  running  in  ISiiO,  and  'turning  out  lluiiiicU 
by  til  )  ihousnucl  yanis,'  but  wliich  lia;i  Hince  liceii  Hiisiicnded.  Or.  Stil.  sniini, 
Aluy  7,  \M''>;  J^tudi's  Scruji-iJooL;  U'J.  The  Dregcm  v  uy  WimiLcii  .Mill  wan 
in-ojctieil  iiM  c.irly  118  l.S.i'.*,  allhuugli  not  built  imuI  ls(it-.'i.  The  incurpora- 
tii/li  pa,>ei'8  were  tiled  Dec.  ',i\,  \M2,  in  the  oliice  uf  the  Hceretary  uf  Htatc. 
'J lie  iiR(ini:)rat(ir8  were  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  L.  D.  C  l^tourettu,  Artlinr  \Va;iitT, 
\\.  W .  I;u  k,  William  W  liiilock,  1'.  iSarday,  Danid  liarviy,  <i.  il.  .\ikiii- 
8.111,  .1.  L.  IJaiow,  .(ohii  1).  Dement,  W.  <,'.  DeiiKnt,  l».  I'.  I  liom|>s<iii,  Wil- 
liuiii  ll^.ii  w,  W.  ( '.  Johntion,  and  A.  il.  iS.eele.  Capital  HUick,  ;^iiO,(l>M.  Or. 
yt (•.'//.'<.  .hill.  HI,  l.'iO-'.  I'ivc  lots  were  piirchiised  of  Harvey  fur  );fl'J,(N)i),  and 
w..t(!r  piiv.  cr  )  uuraiueed.  'ihu  building  was  of  lirick  and  atone,  1:><S  by.'iJleet, 
nil  .  twi.storiei  hi;di.  Joel  I'alliier  ^^aH  elccied  president  of  tin:  ciiliipaliv, 
li,  was  d  signo  i.  os  we  are  toM,  to  concentrate  capital  at  Orejfon  I'ity.  litirL'n 
KiilirpriKi.i,  M  t.,  0--S.  U.ick  relnlei*  how  when  tluy  had  built  i.'e  mill  the 
direct  MS  coul  I  f^o  no  further,  having  mo  nidiiey  to  buy  the  wo(d  to  hUirtwii.ii, 
nnlil  he  8iic(U;'(le(l  in  iKirrowiiig  itfroin  the  Imnkof  Ih'itivh  Columbia.  \  few 
nil  II  boiig!it  u,i  all  the  stock,  und  hoiiw^  of  the  (irigiiial  hoi  lern  realized  nothing, 
unio.i.';  wiiom  v.aR  Ibii.k,  wiiosu  ]ilace  unioiig  the  projectors  of  enterpriser  Ih 
cousp.cuous  if  not  remunerative.  1  he  entvrpiiitu  was  huccchhIiiI  from  the 
H.ai'i..  The  mill  livgan  by  making  flannels,  but  Kooii  iiianufui  itiieil  all  kimls 
of  wooUuii  goods.  It  was  (li'stroycil  by  liii' in  iMi^,  and  rebuilt  in  the  follow- 
ing year,  in  point  of  capiiciiy  and  means  of  every  sort,  the  Oregon  City  noil 
V'u.s  tho  llrst  in  the  I'tate.  ItNi.niiiial  c(iusum[itionol  mooI  wiimiioi  much  short 
(if  a  iiiilliuii  pounds,  mid  the  valutMif  the  goods  niannfactured  from  forty  tolur- 
tyiiMi  tlii>usand  dollars  a  nioiitli.  A  wbuleaalu  <  Kithiug  nuinnlaclory  in  cim. 
iii'ction  Willi  the  null  employx  from  fifty  to  sixty  cutu'i-smid  tiiilors  in  wmk 
ing  up  twci  lis  and  cassiiiures  into  gisxls  for  th<'  market.  This  l>ran<'li  of  tiie 
biisines;,  was  represent!  d  in  .S.  I"',  by  a  lirtii  wlmli  inatKUacturex  Ongon  Cuy 
cloihs  iiiio  goods  to  the  value  of  i:'4«Hl,(KKi  aiinnali>  .  The  mill  •  iiiployed  |.>0 
operaiives,  to  wlioiii  it  paid  !?'.Nt,0(K»  a  year  in  wfcieH.  /Iilinl'i  /,'.  «»>nrc(«,  I l."i 
-ti,  A  lire  ill  I'Vliiiiitry  IHrtl  dentii'yeil  a  iHirtioii  •!  the  mill,  wiii'  h  siistniiied 
a  loss  of  jl-'O.tKK).     'I  lu)  wo(d-grow<  rs  of  NVasco    ounfy  at  one  time  eonteiii- 

I  dated  litbiug  up  the  ulmndoncil   mint  building  at    'i  he  Dalles   ,or  u  W(M>llen 
UI  t(>ry,  but  iMier.  with   I'ortland  capitalists,  making  iirMUigenienta  to  en^ct  a 
Lii'ge  I   ill  at  Ihu  tall  of  I>ps  Chutes  Kner. 

Ahoviier  wisilleiiiiiill  wan  established  ut  Krownsvillr  ni  IN75,  with  four 
uf  ■Mkchinery,  which  could  niatnitncture  twceiU.  <tot-Nkins,  cjix'iinierus, 
■vtak  HaiinelH.  aiiu  blankets.  Il'<  sabs  were  nlHUit  .<<l.iO,*KN)  ai  nnully,  on 
ikl-iip  capital  ot  $3l>.<M)0.  {.,11111  comity  had  a  liosiery  laetury  also.  At 
■(}.  aLo,  tkwv  was  »  lio»iury-uuil,  ealiiwl  Tliu  ftuMBi,  uwiiud  b^'  A.  L. 


O 


;C 


Rtinion. 
carding  i 
valno  of 
of  two  U 
quality. 
The  I 
any  in  tli 
Used. 
b««uty  of 
Haniu  kirn 
188.*>  was 
$840,000  < 

'iho 
naates  of 
pion<;ers 
inachiner 
ton  and 
Nublu  &,  I 
in  I'ortluii 
ley,  and  1 
ArijitK,  Jul 
out  a   var 
by  l».   F.  : 
short  time 
foundery  a 
for  fifteen 
Nation,  a  v 
18«l.!  this  fo 
farms  an  tli 
goii.     .Sinct 
stuto  ns  rcij 
centres  for 
tmfiic. 

Tho  proa 

marked  npo 

Marion,  Cla 

presenuu  in  < 

tliu  value  of 

clay  Iwing  t 

M'orld.     Till 

in  the  vicini 

rortland,  at 

Kipiiilly  I 

croppings  Ik 

wcso  of  Tort 

ttt  either  em 

BmitliNliop, 

ot  iron  ore  u: 

'I'he  ()sw( 

mitn,  .Ian.  I! 

fifty  per  ccnl 

tons  III  the  il 

is  aiiulher  ex 

wiis  forniud 

Iron  f.'ompan 

to  ei-oet  worl 

ing  the  watei 

(Capital  stock 

ill  Oifgon,  tl 

CliArlu  Uiin 


IRONWORKS. 


733 


Stinion.  It  Iiad  the  only  knitting-machinoa  in  the  atate,  and  did  ita  own 
carding  and  Mpinning.  A  wiiuUeii-iiiili  at  Aahlanil  iiiiuiufaotured  goudH  to  tlie 
valiio  of  from  forty  to  fifty  thouaan<I  doUam  annually,  and  was  the  |)ri>|M;rty 
of  two  or  three  men.  Its  gooda  were  in  groat  diuiuuid,  being  of  oxcuUunt 
(jiittlity. 

'I'liu  woollen  manufacture*  of  the  Pacific  coaat  •'ccgI  in  general  oxcnllenco 
any  in  tlio  United  States,  which  is  due  to  tho  superior  ((uality  of  tim  wo<d 
UHC'd.  The  bloiilcets  made  at  the  Oregon  millH,  for  tineness,  Hoftiieiui,  and 
bcAUty  of  linish,  arc  unc«|ualled  except  liy  tlioMO  i:iadc  in  California  from  tho 
aaniu  kind  of  wool.  Tlie  total  amount  invested  in  tlieso  manufu^-turus  in 
1H8.'>  wna  niMiit  half  a  million;  ^tUO.OOO  worth  of  material  woa  used,  and 
$840,000  worth  of  fabric  n>anufacturcd  annually. 

'ihe  tirat  iron-founding  ilone  in  Oregon  wua  about  1858.  Davis  &  Mo- 
iiasti's  of  Portland,  and  tlie  Wdlametto  Iron- Works  of  Oregon  City,  were  the 
pioneers  in  this  industry.  At  the  latter  were  built,  in  I8.'>U,  the  enuiues  and 
muchinery  for  the  tirst  two  steam  aaw-mills  in  tliu  euateni  portion  of  Washing- 
ton luid  Oregon.  These  two  mills  were  for  Ituble  &  Co.  at  Walla  Walla  and 
Noble  it,  ('().  at  The  Dalles.  Aceordmg  to  liittcU,  boiler-making  was  begun 
in  Portland  aa  early  oa  ISo*2.  Renoiircfn,  U.'t8.  A.  Koasi,  F.  liurtels,  K.  Hur- 
ley, and  D.  Smith  were  tho  owners  of  tho  Willamette  Irrm  Foundry.  Or, 
Anjiix,  July.l,  I8(i8.  Tho  Salent  iron-works  were  erected  in  ISOO,  and  turned 
out  a  variety  of  machinery,  engines,  and  castings.  They  wore  owne  1 
by  11.  F.  Drake,  who  came  to  (jalifornia  in  l8ol,  and  after  mining  for  a 
short  time  settled  at  Oregon  City,  where  he  ronuiined  until  he  built  hia 
foundery  at  8alem.  His  fon<man,  .lohn  llobnan,  hud  ciiargo  of  the  worka 
for  filteen  years,  and  employed  1*2  men.  J/iUfll'n  JlvimiirirH,  l))i.'l-4.  John 
Nation,  a  well-known  iron-uorkcr,  was  at  first  asso<natud  with  Drake.  In 
I80'J  this  foundery  built  a  jtortable  engine  of  eight  liorse-|iower,  t<i  bo  used  on 
farms  tm  the  motive  tM>wer  of  thraaliing-machinc«,  the  tirst  of  its  kiinl  in  Ore- 
gon. iSinue  that  iM-rUKl  founderiea  have  been  )>luiited  iti  dilVerent  parts  of  tho 
state  ns  rc(|uinMl  bv  local  business,  Portland  and  The  Dalles  Iteing  the  chief 
centres  for  the  trade  on  account  of  the  <leinauils  of  steamboat  uiid  railroad 
traiiic. 

The  presence  of  iron  or^  in  •; -iny  parts  of  Oregon  has  U.'en  fretiuciitly  re- 
marked upon.  It  is  known  to  exist  in  the  eouiitics  of  Columbia,  Tilluiiiook, 
Murion,  Clackamas,  and  in  the  southern  counties  of  ilackson  and  Coos.  Ita 
prenenee  in  connection  wiih  tir<M.'!ay  is  coiisidered  one  of  tlio  iMist  pi'iM>fs  of 
the  value  of  the  coiil-tielils  of  Oregon,  the  ju\ta|H>8ition  of  eoal,  iron,  and  liru- 
chiy  lieiiig  thu  sanui  here  as  in  the  coalU'aring  rttgioiis  of  other  [larts  of  tho 
world.  The  nioHt  iiii|)ortant  or  l)est  ki»<«ii  of  tii"  iron  beds  of  the  Htuto  are 
in  the  vii'initv  of  Oswego,  a  small  town  «>n  the  WilUinetUs  six  miles  south  o( 
Portland,  aud  extending  to  the  Clu'halem  valley,  tiltcen  miles  from  that  city. 

K(|iiiill\  rich  beds  of  the  on- are  founcl  near  >t  Helen,  and  from  ihe  out- 
cropiiings  between  these  two  |Hiints  the  depoHit  seeiiis  to  curve  around  to  tho 
wcHu  of  I'ortlanil,  and  to  extend  for  twenty  live  miles,  with  the  richest  beda 
at  I'itlier  end.  At  St  Helen  theorr  has  never  l>e<'ii  workud,  exue|>t  in  a  black- 
siiiitlis|io|),  whetv  It  has  Imm-ii  converted  into  Iioihc  siuKt'*.  .Several  varieties 
ot  iron  ore  exist  in  the  stiite,  inclu<liiig  tlie  chroiiiites  of  .losenliine  county. 

The  Oswego  iron  wiim  testol  iii  IW02,  ami  fxuii'l  to  Ik;  excellent.  Or.  >i{atf»' 
ntoii,  .Inn.  lOand  Feb.  )),  IMi:{.  <V.  .4  >'/h«,  luii.  'J4,  I.S(U.  it  yiehlH  alMiut 
tifty  per  cent  of  piirt!  Metal;  aii<i  it  isestmutt.  .t  that  tlcre  arc  ^tixty  Ihousund 
tons  III  the  immediate  vie)  .ity  of  this  place,  while  less  than  three  niihm  away 
is  another  extcnsivf  dci.iait.  fitmi  twelxe  to  lilteeii  leet  in  depth.  A  coiii|>any 
WHS  formed  at  Portland  February '.!4.  Ihit.>.  under  the  name  of  thcOrcuou 
Iron  ('Oinpaiiy,  to  iiianufaetnre  inm  from  tin  mv  at  Oswego,  which  pioccoiiod 
to  eroct  worki  at  this  place,  Siiukir  ( 'reek,  '  «  outlet  of  a  small  lake,  lurnish- 
iiig  the  water-iviwer.  Pr»-^ia<lent,  W  S.  luio  i.  viceprcsiih'nt,  H.  C.  Le(mai'dt 
capital  stock,  v^),OUO,  divitltpil  among  'JOHtoekholders,  nKwt  of  whom  reiidml 
in  Oregon,  the  remainder  in  .S.  F.  The  iiicorponitoi-a  \»v«rc  Louis  McLane, 
Charles  Diinou,  W,  2:i.  Ladd,  Ueury  Faiiuig,  \.  M.  Starr,  U.  D.  Oruun,  wid 


734 


MANUFACTURES. 


H.  r.  Leonard.  The  Btnck  ««•  moilcllcil  nftt-r  tlic  Ttarnum  ntock  at  Lime 
Kook,  ('(iniii'cticiit,  aikI  wiih  put  up  liy  (>.  I>.  Williur  of  that  Htatc  Itx  fciiiii- 
datioiifi  wcru  laid  on  thu  l>eil-r(H-k  at  a  ilcptii  of  lt(  foct,  ami  it  waH  coiiatniL'U'il 
<if  Hdliii,  dry  Ht«)iu'-w<irk,  ooveriiij;  a  Hpaoo  of  thirty-six  Hi|iiai'e  Icct.  Xiio 
Ktui'k  itHvlf  waH  liiiiltof  licwn  Htoiu%  oi>taiiuMl  on  the  ground;  wah  tliirty-foiir 
f.i-t  Hi|iiarc  at  the  Imihc,  tiiirty-t««»  foi^t  liigh,  and  twontv-six  fctit  Hi|iiar)-  at 
the  top.  On  top  of  tlic  Htacl(  wax  a  chiinncy,  liuilt  of  liriok,  forty  ft't't  lii^h, 
and  containing'  th«<  oven  for  heating  thtt  air  for  thi-  ItiuMt.  This  diAnii'tci'  of 
tliu  top  of  till'  lower  pyramid  in  whicli  the  Mniidtinj.;  takeH  iilm^u  wim  ten  feet. 
1'iie  lilowdioUHe  was  liuilt  on  the  ground  near  the  titack.  I'liu  niaehinery  f>ir 
driving,'  tiio  air  wax  propelled  liy  water.  'I'he  iihiHt  waH  ful'ni^<lled  l>y  two 
Mow  inv;  eylinderH  of  wood,  live  feet  in  diameter  an<l  six  feet  Htrok<.'.  Clmi- 
eoal  Max  i'mmI  tor  fuel.  Tim  cai-ncity  of  ilie  works  was  deHi^jnetl  to  lie  tm 
tons  in  twenty-four  hours.  The  ore  to  li«  tested  was  the  variety  known  as 
lirown  henuitite,  and  it  was  found  to  yield  from  forty-six  totteventy  per  eent 
(if  pure  iron.  'I'he  tinilH-r  for  making  ehareo.:!  was  in  thti  innn'.di.it'i  vicinity, 
and  every  cirenmHtunce  tteennfd  to  promise  Huccess.  The  works  reiM'hed  com- 
pletion in.lnnu  IMI7,  havin;^  coHt  i!l|'J(t,(NM).  'I'he  tirst  run  was  ni.idu  on  Iho 
'Jttll  of  Auj^ust,  six  toliH  of  )^'ood  metal  lieiiiir  produced,  which,  on    Infill).;   sent 

to  the  S,  F.  founderieH,  was  pronounced  a  superior  aitide.  My  t!ie  first  of 
Octolier  the  Ore^^on  Iron  < -o.  had  m.ule  '.'-'.'i  tons  of  pig  iron,  costing  to  m.iku 
t^^enty-nine  dollars  |M!r  ton,  exclusive  of  interest  on  capital  and  taxes.  'I'lni 
I'vperinient,  for  experiment  it  was,  proving  that  iron  could  Im  jirodiiic  I 
inure  cheaply  in  ()r>'gon  than  in  other  parts  of  tin?  l'.  S.,  thou;,'h  not  so  cheaply 
li_\  half  as  in  Kngland,  was  NatiNfactory  to  those  who  had  no  capital  in  tliu 
enterprise,  if  not  to  those  who  had.     The  cost  was  distrilmted  as  tollows: 

KiU  Itnshcis  of  charco.'d,  costing  at  the  furnace  K  centH $\',\  'JS 

SM  pounds  lime,  costing  at  furnace  -t  cents .'I  .'I'J 

4.!)7(>  pounds  of  ore,  costing  at  the  lurnacu  i2.M)  it  ton Ti  .".'.) 

Luliur  reducing  ore,  i>er  ton 0  Ii7 

JJmime'n  /ti-murrrit,  211)-2'J;  «>»■.  C:hi  KntrrpriKe,  .Tune  8,  18(57;  Chcbini^n 
('iiinih/  Itt'noiirirH,  I.  ,1.  Uosh  llrowne,  in  his  very  readalilc  wurk.  the /.'c."!!.)//-..  < 
itflhr  /'iiriiir  Stii/i H  (iiiil  Ti rritiiiii ",  '2'2i)  I,  |)ulihshed  at  S.  I",  in  lS(i!(,  gi\ei 
the  relative  cost  of  producing  iitin  in  i'lnglnnd  auil  the  I'nited  States.  .\n 
i-staliliHlimont,  he  says,  capalile  of  making  l(l,(M)i)  tons  annually  in  this  comi- 
tiy  would  cost  altogether,  with  the  lapitid  to  cairy  it  on,  ^J.tXNt.tKMI,  wlidu 
in  Knglaiid  the  same  estalilishnn'nt,  uitli  the  nu'ans  to  carry  it  on,  would  coit 
9'<(N),(NM).  At  the  Hame  time  the  intere.it  on  the  .American  capital  won!  I 
t'xceeil  that  on  the  English  capital  l>y  !:<r.'(),(MH).  In  the  I'.  S.  a  lair  axera c 
eost  of  producing  |)ig-iron  wa:«  not  le.s  than  f*;!.")  pi-r  ton,  while  in  Mn.'dand 
nnd  Wales  it  was  ^11,  to  which  should  lie  added  the  dillerencu  callseil  !>, 
the  greater  rate  of  interest  in  the  l'.  S.  Sen  also  Litiijli-ii'i  Trtuli'  l'(i<\,  i. 
l»   lO-  I'Kflhiiil  Or.</(/;(iVM(,  duly '-'S,  |S«HI. 

Owing  to  an  error  in  liuilding  the  stack,  which  limited  the  prodiu'tion  of 
nietal  to  eight  tons  |K'r  diem,  the  works  were  dosed  in  IMI',1,  after  turidng  out 
'.',  t(M)  tons.  .Sonn?  of  the  iron  manufactured  was  made  up  into  stoves  a\  I'ort- 
land,  and  some  of  it  in  the  construi-tion  <if  Lidil  >V.  Tiitou's  hank.  It  sold 
r  ailily  in  S.  !•'.  at  tin-  highest  market  (irice,  where,  ow  ing  In  IsMsig  rather  soit, 
H  was  ndxed  with  Scotch  pig.  In  |S7tthe  works  woe  reopened,  anil  r.'iii 
for  two  years,  producing  .''»,(KK)  tons.  In  IH77  they  were  sold  to  t he  Oswe;.'o 
Iron  Company,  under  whose  mamig<'mi-nt  it  was  thought  the  production 
e  iiild  liu  made  to  reacli  rKM)  tons  u  month.  The  stilus  for  l.s.sl  exceeih  d 
(^l.'iO.tHK). 

One  serinus  disndvniitago  in  Aineltlng  iron  in  Orognn  was  the  lack  of  lime 
r<H'k  in  the  vicinity  of  the  iron  heels,  and  the  cost  oj'  lime  oStaincd  formeily 
from  San  ■Inan  l;<land  or  from  Santa  <  'ru/.  in  ( 'aliforiiia,  and  rec<>iitly  from  New 
T.icoma.  Ijiuiestor.e  has  often  Is'en  re|iorti-<|  dincovt-iiMl  \\\  various  parts  if 
thu  ittttt«,  but  iiu  liuio-t^uiirriMM  uf  any  cKtMiit  Itavu  yot  bcoii  o^iuiiuJ  with  kilui 


LIME  AND  SALT.  |W 

for  linrning  lime  for  market;  an<l  the  want  wna  greatly  felt  in  honse- 
building,  ns  well  aa  in  nianufacturcfi.  Thu  nnly  niinuritl  of  tliix  chamcter 
M'hicli  liiui  lieen  worlteil  in  Oregon,  or  rather  in  Washington  (for  tlie  works  w  oro 
on  tlio  north  Ixuik  of  tlio(Joiuiiiliia,  though  the  rockii  were  found  on  Utlh  Hides 
of  the  river),  is  ii  native  eenient,  orgyiwuin,  olitained  from  the  l)owIders  in  tiiu 
n<-iglilH>rh(MHl  of  Aiitoria.  It  was  proitalily  the  Mtnio  mck  ho  often  pronounoeil 
liincstoni-  liy  the  di»coverem  in  dillerent  partaof  the  Htute.  As  early  .'is  IsM 
Borne  military  ollicera  at  Astoria  Imrned  some  of  the  roek,  and  pronounced  it 
linicHtone.  A  year  or  two  later  a  kiln  of  it  was  Imrned  an<l  Mhippe<l  to  I'ort- 
land,  to  Ik!  Hold  for  lime.  But  the  barge  on  which  tiio  iMirrcls  were  loailed  was 
sunk  in  the  river  with  the  cargo,  w-Jiich  remained  under  water  until  IS(i4, 
when  the  liargi!  U^ing  raiHed,  it  was  fonnil  the  Imrrels  had  gone  to  pieces,  hut 
their  contents  wero  solid  nn-k.  On  these  facts  coming  to  the  notice  of  the  Ore- 
gon Steam  Navigation  Company,  the  olUcerH  c<mtractcd  with  .loscpli  .letlem 
of  I'ortland  to  furnish  TtOU  barrels  in  a  t;!ven  time  for  the  foundations  of  their 
warehouse  in  I'ortland.  MrJetFers  proceeded  to  build  a  kiln  and  burn  the  roik 
o:i  the  premim-Hof  .lohn  Adair,  at  npjier  Astoria,  without  consulting  the  owner. 
When  ih(!  )ii-Mt  kiln  ha<l  tunir.d  out  100  bamds  of  cement  the  woi-k  was  intcr- 
fereil  with  by  Mr  Adair  and  others,  who  claimed  an  interest  in  the  prolits 
a  I  owners  of  the  nn-ks  and  g''ound.  A  comivmy  was  then  formeil,  whicli  tilled 
the  contract  with  tho  navi;;ation  ccmipuny,  and  had  1(H)  barrels  more  to  sell. 
The  niascms  fMumloiislakitig  it  that  it  contkincd  lumps  which  remained  hard, 
nnii  gave  tlieni  annoyance  in  the  use.  'i'lio  plan  was  then  conceived  nf  gri:id- 
ing  the  cement  to  nmke  it  uniform  in  consistency,  and  works  were  erected  for 
this  purpote  on  tho  north  side  of  thi^  Cohunbia,  by  J.  It.  Knapp,  at  a  place 
whicli  ri'ccivcd  the  r.amo  of  the  niainifacturer.  This  article  ln'caine  known  in 
the  miirUet  as  Oregon  <'cment.  <  )f  ((uarrying  stone,  few  varieties  have  been  dis- 
coverccl  in  Oregon.  This  is  greatly  due  to  the  overllow  of  Itasalt,  which  has 
capped  and  e(»ncealed  the  other  formations.  On  Milton  ("reek,  near  St  Ib'len, 
was  fiiuiid  a  bed  of  sandstone,  which  was  (piarried  for  tlie  I'ortland  market; 
nnd  H.indsione  is  reported  at  various  lix-ivlities,  but  before  the  Milton  creek 
discovery  stone  was  brought  from  lk<llingliant  llay  in  Washington  to  buihl 
tho  custonihousean<l  post-ollice  nt  I'ortland;  and  the  custom-house  at  Astoria 
was  built  of  ro  k  taken  out  of  thu  surnmnding  hills. 

In  Marion  county,  ami  in  other  parts  of  the  state,  as  well  as  in  T'larkc 
county,  W'aNhington,  near  Ix'wis  liivtr,  a  yellowisli  and  a  bluihh  ^'ray  marl  is 
fouiiil,  which  when  lirst  ipiarried  is  easily  I'ut  into  any  shape,  but  on  I'xposuru 
to  the  air,  liaidi'ns  iiud  forms  stone  suitable  fnr  many  purposes,  though  always 
rather  fiiulilc.  Manbls,  diHir-sills,  ovens,  and  many  other  things  are  cut  out 
of  tliis  stniii'  and  sold  to  the  farmers  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  who  use  it  in 
]ila<'c  if  brick  in  building  cliimneys.  Itlack  nuirlile  has  been  foiin<l  on  tiM 
north  side  of  till' Columbia,  in  the  Lewis  Hiver  liighlauils.  A  beaulil'ul  and 
very  hard  m  hite  marble  has  been  i|U«rrieil  in  Jackson  county,  win  re  it  liciiuno 
nn  article  of  commerce,  limited  to  that  portion  of  tli<!  state-.  No  other  cum- 
inon  minerals  have  been  apiilied  to  the  uses  of  mankind,  with  the  exception 
<if  sail.  In  IHOI  tho  manufacture  of  salt  from  brine  olitained  fnnii  wells 
tlug  at  the  foot  of  a  hi;;h  range  of  hills  six  miles  simtlieast  of  Oakland,  in 
]>ouglas  county,  was  attempted,  and  was  so  far  siu'cessfiil  that  abmit   1,000 

IHiiinds  weie  obtainiMl  daily  from  the  evajMiration  of  two  furnaces.     The  pni- 
ectoi-s  of  this  enteri)ri.se  were  |)illaril,  Ward,  and  Motjro.     Tito  works  wero 
run  for  a  period,  ami  then  closed. 

On  the  farm  of  Knoch  Meeker,  alsint  the  north  line  of  Multnomah  county, 
was  a  Halt  spring,  similar  to  those  in  himglas  county,  and  situated  Himilarly, 
nt  the  fiHitof  a  range  of  high,  timbered  mountains.  .Meelter  ileepcucd  tho 
wi  II  aliiiiit  twenty-seven  feet,  and  made  a  little  salt  by  boiling,  as  itn  experi- 
ment.     In  this  well,  at  the  depth   mentioned,  the  workmen  c.iinu  'i|ion  the 

charred  w I  of  a  camp-tire,  the  sticks  arraiejcd,  w  ithout  doubt,  by  the  hand.t 

of  men.  The  salt  aii)H>areil  gistd,  but  had  a  hitter  taste.  In  IN(i7  Henry  C. 
Victor  leased  the  salt-spring  and  land  ailjoining,  with  a  vii^w  to  establishing 
tho  manufacture  of  salt.    Works  were  erected,  which  mado  about  two  Ijl's  pur 


738 


MANUFACTURES. 


d.iy  for  BCTcral  mnntha,  but  tlio  returns  not  lieing  wtinfactory,  they  were 
cloNvil,  un<l  tliu  nianufoctiiro  woa  never  niaumtid.  Tho  salt  niadi!  at  tlieita 
viirks  ^Tuniiltttuil  in  ul>out  the  fineni-M  uituil  in  Baiting  Imttei-  for  whicli  niir- 

IHNw,  luiil  fur  curing  incata,  it  wna  8U[H:riur  to  any  in  the  market,  liein;;  itlHio- 
utelv  pure,  as  u-ua  pruvcd  by  cheniiual  tustit.  A  winple  of  it  waa  taken  to 
tho  i'ariH  expoaition  by  Uhtkc,  one  of  the  California  coniniisiiionerH.  lli^iiry 
C  Victor  WU8  liom  Oct.  II,  1828,  in  I'enuHylvania.  Hi*  parentH  rentovi-d 
to  .SimiliiHky,  Ohio,  in  hi*  boyhoo<I,  and  ho  waa  educated  at  un  ucntluiny  in 
Norwulk.  lie  studied  naval  engineering,  and  entered  the  service  nf  tiio  U. 
S.  alx)Ut  the  time  i'orry's  ex|K>dition  was  fitting  for  Japan,  and  sailed  in  tho 
Nan  Jnriiitu.  He  was  in  Chinese  waters  at  the  time  of  the  opium  war  with 
the  Kngliitli,  and  diatinguinhed  himself  at  tho  taking  of  the  liarriero  forts,  lio- 
comiu;;  a  favorite  with  Sir  John  Ilowering,  with  whom  ho  afterward  corrc- 
B|>on(lcd.  After  three  years  in  Asiatic  ports,  he  roturnetl  to  tho  U.  S.  and  was 
soon  after  Hent  to  the  coast  of  Africa.  The  locality  and  tho  time  suggested 
controversies  on  the  slavery  ijuestion  and  slave-trade.  Victor  was  in  opposi- 
tion to  sonic  of  the  officers  from  tho  southern  states,  and  in  a  contiDversy  in 
which  u  southerner  woa  very  insulting,  gave  his  superior  otiicor  a  blow.  For 
this  oll'ense  he  was  suspended,  and  sent  home.  Shortly  after  being  restored 
to  service  came  tho  war  for  tlie  union,  and  he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
blockading  sfpiadron  lieforu  Charleston.  In  Febniary  1803  hu  brought  the 
spleudid  prize,  Priiicent  Ituytil,  to  I'hiladelphia;  shortly  after  which  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Pacific.  While  cruising  along  tho  Mexican  coast,  fever  pros- 
trated a  Inrgo  {wrtion  of  tho  crew,  Victor  among  the  rest,  who,  having  had 
tlie  dangerous  African  fever,  wiu  unfitted  bv  it  for  duty,  Lnil  resigned. 
While  at  Mnnzanillo  hu  made  a  survey  of  tho  lake  extending  from  this  port 
toward  tho  city  of  Colinia,  which  lioconies  dry  at  some  seasons  and  breeds 
pestilence,  M'ith  u  view  to  cutting  a  canal  to  tho  sou  and  letting  in  the  salt 
water.  Selini  E.  Woodworth  of  8.  F.  joined  with  him  and  several  others  iu 
fonning  a  coni|>any  for  this  work.  An  agent  was  omnloyod  to  visit  tho  city 
ot  Mexico,  anil  get  tho  consent  of  the  govomiaent  to  tiio  scheme.  Permission 
was  ol*taineil,  but  tho  vessel  lieing  so<m  after  brought  to  S.  F.  with  a  disabled 
crew,  and  Victor's  resignation  following,  put  an  end  to  tho  canal  scheuu!,  so 
fur  as  itH  ))roiectors  were  concerned.  Ihe  year  following,  18(i4,  Victor  went 
to  Ori'L'oii  and  engaged  in  several  enterprises,  ehictly  concerning  coal  and  salt. 
Like  niiiny  others,  they  were  premature.  Mr  Victor  perished  with  tho 
fdunderin;^  of  tlie  steamer  I'ar{fir,  in  Novomltcr  187S,  in  company  with  alxiut 
300  others,  llis  wife  waa  Frances  Fuller,  whoso  writings  ore  ijuoted  in  my 
work. 

]'a|>er,  of  a  coarse  quality,  was  first  made  at  Oregon  City  in  1807,  but  the 
building  erected  proved  to  l>u  not  adapteil  to  tho  business,  and  was  sold  for  a 
flouring  mill  after  running  one  yenr.  Uuck'ii  Enter jfrtHex,  MS.,  4  .').  Tho 
originator  of  the  enterprise,  W.  W.  Buck,  then  built  another  mill,  with  capital 
furnished  l>y  the  publisher  of  the  Orvijoniait,  and  was  successful,  manufacturing 
printing  ami  wrajiping  ]Niper,  which  was  all  consumed  in  and  about  Portland. 
A'atA'w  Or.,  'JJ.');  Adanui'  Or.,  31;  HilteWn  RfHoiirrrii,  030. 

The  pnHtuction  of  turpentine  was  commcnce<l  at  Portland  in  180.1,  by  T.  A. 
^Voo<l.  The  factory  was  dustroycd  by  lire  in  1804,  after  which  this  article 
was  wliolly  imported,  although  the  fir  timber  of  Oregon  afforded  immense 
quantities  of  the  raw  material,  many  old  trees  having  deposits  an  inch  or  uioro 
in  thickness  extending  for  twenty  feet  lietween  layers  of  growth.  Dut  tho 
high  price  of  labor  on  tho  Pacific  coast  at  tho  p«rio<l  mentioned  waa  adverse 
to  its  muM.tfacturc,  and  the  close  of  tho  civil  war,  allowing  North  Carolina 
to  resunu)  trade  with  tho  other  atatus,  brought  down  the  price  Iwlow  the  coat 
of  production  in  Oregon. 

I'ottcry  beaan  to  uu  inannfaoturod  at  Buena  Vista  about  1805,  from  clay 
fouml  ut  that  inaco.  For  several  years  the  business  languished,  the  proprietor, 
A.  N.  Smith,  Ijoing  unable  to  introduce  his  goods  into  gcueml  use.  Sulioe- 
quently,  however,  the  Huena  Vista  works  employed  over  fifty  men,  and  fur- 
nished uU  descriptions  of  stouewa.o,  tirubriuk,  sowur-pipes,  and  gurduupota 


FLAX  AND  LEATHER. 


7S7 


eqnal  to  tho  beat.  Rnxmrrr*  Or.  and  Wa»h.,  1881,  70-1.  Soap,  for  all  pur* 
puMVH,  wiw  loiiK  imported  into  Oregon,  the  rirat  factory  being  eatablishoi  in 
I'urtlaiia  in  I86:>,  by  \V.  B.  Mewl.  Or.  ^rj/iw,  Juno  7.  I8«2.  In  18;,j  K. 
Irving  comnieneeil  the  manufacture  of  thia  article,  and  being  joined  bv  <>. 
A.  Uubb,  tho  Urecun  Standard  Soap  Comiianv  waa  formed,  which  turnof  o  it 
fifteen  varieties  of  Moap,  and  wua  tiie  aecond  majiiifoctory  of  thia  kind  on 
the  rocitiu  coast.  Heview  Uwinl  of  TrmU,  1877,  1-;  llUlril'*  ItrHouni-H,  7iJ». 
Vinegar  won  niuilo  fur  market  at  I'orthuid  and  Uutteville,  to  the  amount  of  four 
hundred  thounund  gallon*  annually. 

Fruit-tlrying  wan  carried  on  at  Oregon  City  and  other  pointa  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  but  no  reliable  tigures  are  At  Im  found  concerning  tnia  indimtry, 
which  is  divided  up  amooff  individual  fruit-raiser*.  I'atcnted  ntovuble 
dryers  were  used,  w  hich  could  be  sot  up  in  any  orcliard.  I'lunis,  prunes,  |)eara, 
and  apples  were  the  fruits  commonly  dried,  and  their  excellence  was  unxur- 
posMcii,  tho  fruit  lieing  tine,  and  the  method  of  preserving  leaTing  the  flavor 
unexhausted,  anil  eucli  separatt!  slice  clean  and  whole. 

A  flax-mill  was  cstablishetl  at  Allmny  in  1877.  which  manufactured  .^OOO 
pounds  of  linen  twines  and  threa«ls  iter  month.  The  flnx  was  grown  in  Linn 
county,  by  tenant  farmers,  who  worked  on  shares  fur  one  thinl  of  the  crop  at 
twelve  cents  a  [lound  for  the  fibre,  and  the  market  price  for  the  see<l.  The 
mill  company,  having  two  thinUof  the  crop  for  rental,  only  paid  for  one  third 
of  the  ilax  used,  which  left  tliem  a  pnifit  of  about  ^,000  a  year  in  the  fac- 
tory. Tho  seed  produced  was  worth  |Mo  an  acre.  It  had  long  liiien  known  that 
flax  was  a  native  iiroiluct  of  Oreuou.  It  woa  discovered  by  experiment  that 
the  cultivation  of  it  was  favoretl  by  the  soil  and  clinwte.  Linseed  oil  won  first 
manufiictured  at  Sulcm.  Tho  comiiany  w»  incorporated  in  Novcmlwr  1800. 
Their  machinery,  having  a  capacity  for  crushing  .'tU.OOO  bushels  of  seed  per 
annum,  wusshipptd  around  Cape  Horn,  and  since  1807  the  Pioneer  Oil  Mill  lias 
liecii  running,  its  capacity  Itcing  increaswl  to  00,000  busho's.  Browne  Salem 
Vine,  1871,  1874;  UiO'iy'"  Or.,  MS.,  80;  U.  S.  A'jrir.  Jlepf,  1872,  4ol.  T<»w 
for  upiiolstoring  was  made  at  this  establishment.  The  tiure  of  Oregon  flax  is 
very  lino  and  Htroiijj,  with  a  peculiar  silkinesa  which  makea  it  e<iual  to  the 
best  used  in  the  inuuufacture  of  Irish  linens. 

The  first  tannery  in  Oregon,  other  than  huusehold  ones,  was  that  of  Daniel 
H.  Lownsdulo,  on  Tanner's  Creek,  just  liock  of  tho  orif,'inal  Portland  lund 
claim.  Here  wnx  made  the  leather,  valued  ut  9', 000,  which  purchased  Petty- 
glove's  interest  in  the  town.  The  manufacture  of  this  article  has  not  l>ccn 
what  the  natural  resources  of  the  country  warranted  until  recently.  Small 
tanneries  existed  at  several  iiliices,  including  Portland,  Salem,  Eugene  ('ity, 
DruwuHvillo,  CcMpiille  City,  Pnrkersburg,  and  Milwaukee.  Lcinenwelxir  & 
Co.  of  upjier  Astoria  first  connected  the  nmnufacture  of  leather  with  tiio 
making  of  JKwts  and  shoes,  The  Oregon  lA-ather  Manufacturing  Company 
was  incoriMjruted  in  1878,  A.  W.  \Vat4-t'8,  president.  Tho  company  cmployi  d 
conviet  lalM>r,  and  tiirneil  out  .'tt),000  sides  annually,  at  a  goo<l  proiit.  J/iltrli'M 
Ili-Hditra')!,  4i)r>.  Hoots  and  sIiooh  were  made  extenHivcly  by  several  firms. 
Aikin,  who  Inmau  the  manufacture  in  a  small  way  at  Portland,  in  18.*>U,  was 
later  luwociated  with  Selling  &  Co.,  and  ha<l  a  profitalilu  trade  with  Idaho 
and  Montana.  The  Oregon  Uoot,  Shoe,  and  Leather  Manufacturing  (Join- 
iwny  of  Portland  is  the  sucoussor  to  HibbanI  h  Hrazce  who  begun  iiianu- 
lacturing  in  1873,  and  projecte<l  tho  ne\«  coin[)any  in  1881,  which  employed 
fifty  workmen.  The  factory  of  1).  i^'inenweltcr  t  Co.  at  Astoria  cost  940,000, 
employed  35  workmen,  and  manufactured  $78,000  worth  of  goods  annually. 
Gloves  of  the  coarser  sort  were  ma«lc  at  two  places  in  i'ortland,  and  one  place 
in  Eugene  City.  Saddle  and  haniesa  making  was  carrieii  on  in  every  town  of 
any  imi)ortance,  but  only  to  tupplv  the  liMsal  demand.  Wagons  and  carriages 
weiv  also  nuuiufttcture«l  tea  limito«l  extent  Hroomsand  brushes  were  ma<lc  at 
Portland.  Malt  licjuort  were  nro«luce<l  at  thirty  four  ililferent  breweries  in  tho 
state,  to  tho  amount  of  24,000  liarreU  per  auntmi.  PortUnd  early  enjoyed  a 
spice  aii«l  coflee  mill,  candy  factory,  and  various  other  minor  imlustries. 

Manufactures  which  are  secondiu;y  to  trade  are  slow  iu  devulopuuiut,  the 
Hut.  Oa..  Vou  IL   47 


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MINES  AND  MINING. 


country  lacking  population  and  excess  of  capital.  But  the  requirements  for 
becoming  a  manufacturing  state  are  present  in  abundance  in  water-power,  tim- 
ber, minerals,  and  tlie  means  of  rapid  transportation,  and  out  of  tlie  small 
beginnings  liere  referred  to  as  proof  of  what  our  generation  of  men  have  ac- 
complished in  the  face  of  unusual  obstacles,  another  generation  of  their 
descendants  will  be  able  to  evoke  grand  results. 


MINES  AND  MINING. 

I  have  not  yet  particularized  the  mineral  resources  of  Oregon,  except  as  to 
iron  mentioned  incidentally  alon^  with  manufactures.  Gold,  as  a  precious 
metal,  has  exercised  a  great  influence  in  the  progress  of  the  country.  It 
gave  the  people  a  currency  which  emancipated  them  from  the  thraldom  of 
wheat-raising  and  fnr-huuting,  by  whicii  alone  any  trade  could  be  car- 
ried on  nreviously.  It  improved  their  farms,  built  mills  and  steamboats, 
chartered  ships,  and  loaded  them  with  goods  necessary  for  their  comfort.  It 
enlarged  their  mental  and  social  horizon,  and  increased  their  self-respect.  It 
was  California  gold  which  first  revolutionized  pioneer  Oregon.  But  there 
was  gold  in  Oregon  sufficient  for  her  needs,  had  it  been  known.  James  D. 
Dana,  of  Wilkes'  exploring  expedition,  remarked  upon  the  appearance  of 
Bouthem  Oregon,  and  its  resemblance  to  otlier  gold-bearing  regions,  as  early 
as  1841.  Ten  years  later  John  Evans  waa  appointed  U.  S.  geologist  to  insti- 
tute researches  on  the  main  line  of  the  public  land  surveys  about  to  be  com- 
menced in  Oregon,  and  was,  through  the  petitions  of  the  Oregon  legislature, 
continued  in  the  service  for  several  years.  Evans  was  thoroughly  identified 
with  the  study  of  Oregon  geology.  He  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
Feb.  14,  1812;  educated  at  Andover,  studied  medicine,  and  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Kobert  Miles  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  He  was  appointed  assistant  to 
David  Dale  Owen  to  prosecute  some  geological  surveys  in  the  west,  and  soon 
after  completing  this  work  was  sent  to  Oregon.  He  died  of  pneumonia  at 
Washington  city,  April  20,  1861.  SUtimana  Journal,  xxxii.  311-18;  Or, 
Statesman,  May  20,  1861.  But  aside  from  satisfying  the  government  of  the 
value  of  its  territories  in  a  general  way,  these  scientific  surveys  had  little 
bearing  upon  the  actual  development  of  mineral  resources.  Gold  deposits 
were  always  discovered  by  accident  or  the  patient  search  of  the  practical 
miner. 

Following  the  discovery  of  the  placer  mines  of  Boguo  River  Valley  in 
1851  was  the  discovery  of  the  beach  mines  in  1852,  on  the  southern  coast  of 
Oregon.  Late  in  1853  more  than  a  thousand  men  were  mining  south  of  Coos 
Bay.  Then  came  other  discovericR.  nud  finally  the  current  of  gold-seeking 
w.ts  turned  into  eastern  Orego  iltogethcr  ignoring  the  western  slopes 

of  the  Cascades,  where  mining  us  were  marked  out,  prosp«cted,  a  pocket 

or  two  of  great  richness  found  exhausted,  and  the  district  abandoned. 

Tlioso  things  have  been  spoken  ol  as  they  occurred  in  the  settlement  of  tliu 
country. 

The  actual  yield  of  the  mines  could  not  be  determined.  About  Jackson- 
ville and  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Illinois  River  they  were  very  rich  in  spots. 
While  five  dollars  a  day  only  rewarded  the  majority  of  miners,  it  was  not 
uncommon  to  find  nuggets  on  the  Illinois  weighing  forty-six,  tifty-eigiit,  or 
seventy-three  ounces,  aac.  Union,  April  23,  tfuly  28,  and  Sept.  10,  1858; 
Dana^n  OrealWest,  284.  The  Jacksonville  mines  also  yielded  frequent  lumps 
of  gold  from  six  to  ten  ounces  in  weight.  The  introduction  of  hydraulics 
in  mining  about  1857  redoubled  the  profits  of  mining.  As  much  as  $100,000 
was  taken  from  a  single  beach  mine  a  few  miles  north  of  the  Coquillo  River. 
About  the  spring  oL  1859  quartz  mines  wera  discovered  in  Jaoksou  county, 
which  yielded  at  the  croppings  and  on  top  of  the  vein  fabulous  sums,  but 
wiiich  soon  pinched  out  or  was  lost. 

About  1857  a  discovery  was  made  of  gold  in  the  bed  of  the  Santiam  and 
its  branches  in  Marion  county,  but  not  in  quantities  to  warrant  minini^, 
although  A  limited  extent  of  ground  worked  the  foUowiog  two  years  paid 


QUARTZ  MINES. 


739 


from  four  to  six  dollars  a  day.  Or.  StcUeimuin,  Aug.  II,  1857,  Sept.  28,  1858; 
Or.  Argus,  Aug.  20,  1859.  In  1860  reputed  silver  quartz  was  found  on  both 
the  Santiam  and  Molmlla  rivers,  and  many  claims  were  located.  But  it  was 
not  until  1863  that  undoubted  quartz  lodes  were  discovered  in  the  Cascade 
Mountains  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Santiam.  A  camp  called  Quartzville  was 
established  at  a  distance  of  about  fifty  miles  from  Salem  and  Albany  in  the 
autu^nn  of  that  year,  and  in  the  following  season  some  of  the  leads  were 
slightly  worked  to  show  their  character,  and  yielded  twenty-one  dollars  to 
the  ton,  a  little  more  than  half  in  silver.  Portland  Oregonian,  July  29,  1864. 
The  most  noted  of  the  veins  in  the  Santiam  district  was  the  White  Bull  lode, 
situated  on  Gold  Mountain,  where  a  majority  of  the  leads  were  found.  It  was 
eight  feet  wide  and  very  rich.  The  Union  company  of  Salem  removed  a 
bowlder  from  one  of  their  claims,  under  which  they  found  first  a  bed  of  gravel 
and  earth  several  feet  in  depth,  then  bastard  granite,  and  beneath  that  a 
bluish  gray  rock  with  silver  in  it.  Beneath  the  latter  was  a  layer  of  decom- 
posed quartz  overlying  the  true  gold-bearing  quartz.  Out  of  this  mine  some 
remarkable  specimens  were  taken.  The  hard  white  rock  sparkled  with  points 
of  gold  all  over  the  surface.  In  some  cavities  where  the  quartz  was  rotten, 
or  at  least  disintegrated  and  yellowed,  were  what  were  called  eaglo's-nests; 
namely,  skeins  of  twisted  gold  fibres  of  great  fineness  and  beauty  attached  to 
and  susi)ended  from  the  sides  of  the  opening,  crossing  each  other  like  straws 
in  a  nest,  whence  the  name.  This  variety  of  gold,  wnich  is  known  as  thread 
gold,  was  also  found  in  the  mountains  of  Douglas  county. 

The  Salem  company  took  out  about  $20,000  worth  of  these  specimenB,  and 
then  proceeded  to  put  up  a  quartz-mill.  But  the  mine  was  soon  exhausted, 
and  the  treasure  taken  out  went  to  pay  the  expenses  incurred.  This  out- 
come of  the  most  famous  mine  discouraged  the  further  prosecution  of  so  costly 
an  industry,  and  the  Santiam  district  was  soon  known  as  a  thing  of  the  past. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  experts  that  the  gold  was  only  superficial,  and  that  the 
true  veins  were  argentiferous.  A  company  as  late  as  1877  was  at  work  on  the 
Little  North  fork  of  the  Santiam,  which  heads  up  near  Mount  Jefferson, 
tunnelling  for  silver  ore.  At  different  places  and  times  both  gold  and  silver 
have  been  found  in  Marion  and  Clackamas  counties,  but  no  regular  mining  has 
ever  been  carried  on,  and  the  development  of  quartz-mining  by  an  agricuTtual 
community  is  hardly  to  be  expected.  Surveyor-general's  rept,  1868,  in  Zabria- 
kir,  1046-7,  MS.,  Sec.  Int.  Rept,  1857,  321-0, 40th  cong.  3d  sess. ;  Albany  Regis- 
ter, July  28,  1871;  Corvallia  Oazptte,  Sept.  1,  1876.  I  have  already  spoken  of 
tlie  discovery  of  the  mines  of  eastern  Oregon,  and  its  effect  upon  the  settle- 
ment and  development  of  the  country.  No  absolutely  correct  account  has  ever 
been  kept,  or  could  be  given,  of  the  annual  )>roduct  of  the  Oregon  mines,  the 
gold  gomg  out  of  the  state  in  the  hands 'of  the  private  persons,  and  in  all 
directions.  In  1864  the  yield  of  southern  and  eastern  Oregon  together  was 
11.900,000.  The  estimate  for  1867  was  $2,000,000;  for  1869,  $1,200,000;  for 
1887-8,  over  $1,280,000;  and  for  1881,  $1,140,000.  Revieio  Hoard  of  Trade, 
1877,  34;  Ried'a  Progress  of  Portland,  42;  Pacific  North-west,  32-3;  llUtelVs 
Resources,  290.  The  annual  yield  of  silver  has  been  put  down  at  $150,000, 
this  metal  being  produced  from  the  (quartz  vein^  of  Qrant  and  Baker  counties, 
the  only  counties  where  quartz-niining  may  be  said  to  have  been  caiTied  on 
auccessfully. 

The  Virtue  mine  near  Baker  City  deserves  special  mention  aa  the  first 
quartz  mine  developed  in  eastern  Oregon,  or  the  first  successful  quartz  opera- 
tion in  the  state.  It  was  discovered  in  1863  by  two  men  on  their  way  to 
Boisii,  who  carried  a  bit  of  the  rock  to  that  place  and  left  it  at  the  office 
of  Mr  Rookfellow,  who  at  once  saw  the  value  of  the  quartz,  and  paid  one 
of  the  men  to  return  and  point  out  the  place  where  it  had  been  found.  Upon 
tracing  up  other  fragments  of  the  quartz,  the  ledge  from  which  they  camo 
was  discovered  and  Rockfellow's  name  given  to  it.  Walla  [Valla  Statesman, 
Sept.  5,  1863;  Idaho  Silver  City  Aixilancke,'Sov.  11,  1876;  Portland  Oregonian, 
Sept.  16  and  Oct.  7,  1863.  The  Pioneer  mine  and  two  other  lodes  were  dis- 
oovored  at  the  aame  time.    An  aroatra  was  at  once  put  up,  and  the  Rook* 


T40 


MINES  AND  MINING. 


fellow  mine  tested.  The  first  specimens  assayed  by  Tracy  and  King  of  Port- 
land showed  $1,3C0  in  gold  and  $20  in  silver  to  the  ton.  Id.,  May  17,  1864. 
In  the  spring  of  1864  Rockfellow  took  J.  S.  lluckel  of  the  O.  S.  N.  Co.  into 
partnership,  and  two  arastras  were  put  at  work  on  the  ore  from  tliis  mine. 
A  little  village  sprang  up  near  by,  of  miners  and  artisans,  dependent  upon  the 
employment  afforded  by  it.  In  July  $1,250  was  obtained  out  of  1,500  pounds 
of  rock.  The  gold  was  of  unusual  fineness,  and  worth  $19.50  per  ounce.  /7., 
July  21,  1864.  A  tunnel  was  run  into  the  hill,  intended  to  tap  the  several 
ledges  at  a  depth  of  300  to  500  feet,  and  a  mill  was  erected  on  Powder  River, 
seven  miles  from  the  mine,  on  the  travelled  road  to  Bois<i.  It  liad  a  cap.n,city 
of  20  stamps,  but  ran  only  12.  It  began  crushing  in  October,  and  shut  down 
in  November,  the  trial  being  entirely  satisfactory.  In  &Iay  1865  it  started 
up  again,  crushing  rock,  the  poorest  of  which  yielded  $.30  to  $40  to  the  ton, 
and  the  best  $10,000.  Up  to  this  time  about  $75,000  had  been  expended  on 
the  mine  and  mill.  A  large  but  unknown  quantity  of  gold  was  taken  out  of 
the  mine.  Rockfellow  k  Huckel  sold  out,  and  about  1871-2  a  company,  of 
M'hich  Hill  Beachy  was  one  and  James  W.  Virtue  another,  owned  and  worked 
the  mine.  It  took  the  name  of  the  Virtue  Gold  Mining  Company.  In  the 
mean  time  Baker  City  grew  up  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  mill,  where 
Virtue  followed  assaying  and  banking,  dependent  largely  upon  the  mine,  and 
which  became  the  county  seat.  In  1872  the  new  company  erected  a  steam 
mill  with  20  stamps,  and  other  buildings,  and  employed  a  much  larger  force, 
extending  tunnels  and  shafts.  In  1876  a  shaft  was  down  600  feet,  connecting 
with  the  various  levels,  and  the  vein  had  been  worked  along  the  line  of  the 
I'jad  1,200  feet.  The  quartz  is  of  a  milky  wliiteness,  hard,  out  not  difficult 
to  crush.  It  yields  from  $20  to  $25  per  ton,  with  a  cost  of  $'5  for  mining  and 
milling.  All  the  expenses  of  improvements  have  been  paid  out  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  mine,  which  is  making  money  for  its  ownei's.  A  foundery  was  es- 
tablished at  Baker  City  in  connection  with  the  mine,  which  besides  keeping 
it  in  repair  has  plenty  of  custom-work. 

The  Emmet  mine,  500  feet  above  the  Virtue,  had  its  rock  crushed  in  the 
Virtue  mill,  and  yielded  $22.50  per  ton.  Baker  City  Bnl  Rock  Democrat,  Feb. 
14,  1872;  Silver  City  Avalanche,  Jan.  8  and  Nov.  II,  1870. 

Among  the  many  veins  of  gold-bearing  quartz  discovered  simultaneously 
in  the  early  nart  of  1860,  that  found  by  the  Hicks  brothers  returned  thirty 
ounces  of  gold  to  a  common  mortarful  of  the  rock.  On  the  13th  of  January 
George  Ish  discovered  a  vein  in  an  isolated  butte  lying  twelve  miles  from 
Jacksonville,  in  a  bend  of  Rogue  River,  which  yielded  on  the  first  tests  twelve 
dollars  to  every  pound  of  rock.  Two  bowlders  taken  from  the  surface,  weigh- 
ing forty  and  sixty  pounds  respectively,  contained  one  pound  of  gold  to  every 
five  pounds  of  rock.  No  part  of  the  rock  near  the  surface  contained  less  than 
ten  dollars  to  the  pound,  and  from  a  portion  of  the  quartz  fifteen  dollars  to 
the  pound  was  outained.  The  first  four  hundred  pounds  contained  404 
ounces  of  gold.  From  a  piece  weighing  four  pounds,  twelve  and  a  half 
ounces  of  gold  were  obtained;  800  pounds  of  rock  produced  60  pounds  of 
amalgam.  John  E.  Ross,  who  had  a  claim  on  this  butte  called  Gold  Hill, 
realized  an  average  of  $10  to  the  pound  of  rock.  One  piece  weighing  14 
poun<ls  gave  up  36  ounces  of  gold.  Sac.  Union,  Feb.  16  and  27,  1860;  North' 
em  Yreka  Journal,  Feb.  9,  1860;  Siskiyou  County  Affaim,  MS.,  24.  The 
rock  in  the  Ish  vein  was  very  hard  and  white,  with  fine  veins  of  gold  cours- 
ing through  it,  filling  and  wedging  every  crevice.  It  appeared  to  be  a  mine 
of  almost  solid  gold.  Thomas  Cavanaugh,  one  of  the  owners,  refused  $80,- 
000  for  a  fiftli  interest,  Ish  and  his  partners  went  east  to  purchase  machinery 
to  crush  the  quartz.  In  the  mean  time  the  casing  rock  was  being  crushed  in 
an  arastra,  and  yielded  $700  a  week,  while  the  miners  were  taking  out  quartz 
nreifaratory  to  setting  up  the  steam  mill  which  had  been  purchased.  When 
leas  than  600  tons  of  quartz  had  been  mined  it  was  found  that  the  vein  was 
detached,  and  to  this  day  the  main  body  of  the  ore  has  not  been  found. 
The  expenses  incurred  ruined  the  company,  and  Gold  Hill  was  abandoned 
after  #130,000  had  been  taken  out  and  expended.  Surveyor-general'i  rept,  in 


.    GRAVEL-MINING. 


741 


Zabrisl'if,  1041.  Nor  waa  the  Ish  mine  the  only  instance  of  rich  quarts. 
When  veins  liegan  to  be  looked  for  they  were  found  in  all  directions.  A 
mine  on  Jacksou  Creek  yielded  forty  ounces  of  gold  in  one  week,  the  rock 
beinpr  pounded  in  a  common  mortar.  In  May  a  discovery  was  made  on  the 
head  of  Applegate  Creek  which  rivalled  the  Ish  mine  in  richness,  producing 
97  ounces  of  gold  from  22  pounds  of  rock.  Ten  tons  of  tiiis  quartz  yielded 
at  the  rate  of  $2,352  to  the  ton.  iS^au  Union,  Aug.  30,  1860,  and  March  15, 
1861;  Or.  Statesman,  March  18,  1861. 

Notwithstanding  that  a  number  of  these  flattering  discoveries  were  made, 
quartz-mining  never  was  carried  on  in  Jackson  county  to  any  extent,  owing 
to  the  expense  it  involved,  and  the  feeling  of  insecurity  engendered  by  the 
experiments  of  1860.  In  1866  the  Occidental  Quartz  Mill  Company  was  or- 
ganized, and  a  mil!  with  an  engine  of  24  horje-power  was  placed  on  the  Daven- 
port lead  on  Jackson  Creek.  Arastras  were  generally  used,  by  which  means 
much  of  the  gold  and  all  of  the  silver  was  lost.  Within  the  last  dozen  years 
several  mills  have  been  introduced  in  different  parts  of  southern  Oregon. 
The  placers  have  been  worked  continuously,  first  by  Americans  and  after- 
wards by  Chinamen,  who,  under  certain  taxes  and  restrictions,  have  been 
permitted  to  occupy  mining  ground  in  all  t"ie  gold  districts  of  Oregon,  al- 
though the  constitution  of  the  state  forbids  any  of  that  race  not  residing  in 
Oregon  at  the  time  of  its  adoption  to  hold  real  estate  or  work  a  mining  claim 
therein.  The  first  law  enacted  on  this  subject  was  in  Decen<ber  1860,  when  it 
was  declared  that  tliereafter  '  no  Chinaman  shall  mine  gold  in  this  State  un- 
less licensed  to  do  so  as  provided,'  etc.  The  tax  was  82  per  month,  to  l)e  paid 
every  three  months  in  advance,  and  to  be  collected  by  the  county  clerk  of 
each  county  where  gold  was  mined  on  certain  days  of  certain  months.  Any 
Chinaman  found  mining  without  a  license  was  liable  to  have  any  property  be- 
longing to  him  sold  at  an  hour's  notice  to  satisfy  the  law.  Ten  per  cent  of 
this  tax  went  into  the  state  treasury.  If  Chinamen  engaged  in  any  kind  of 
trade,  even  among  themselves,  they  were  liable  to  pay  $50  per  month,  to  be 
collected  in  the  same  manner  as  their  mining  licenses.  Or.  Laws,  1860,  4*J- 
52.  The  law  was  several  times  amended,  but  never  to  the  ailvantage  of  the 
Chinese,  who  were  made  to  contribute  to  the  revenues  of  the  state  in  a  liberal 
manner. 

The  product  of  the  mines  of  Jackson  countj'  from  1851  to  1866  has  been 
estimated  at  a  million  dollars  annually,  whicli,  from  the  evidence,  is  not  an 
over-estimate.  Hinei"  Or.,  288;  Oilfry'a  Or.,  MS.,  51-3. 

The  fir«t  to  engage  in  deep  gravel-mining  was  a  company  of  English  capi- 
talists, who  built  a  ditch  five  miles  long  in  Josephine  county,  on  Galice  Cicek, 
in  1875,  and  found  it  pay.  A  California  company  next  made  a  ditch  for 
bringing  water  to  the  Althouse  creek  mines  in  the  same  county.  The  third 
and  longer  ditch  constructed  was  in  Jackson  county,  and  belonged  to  D.  P. 
Thompson,  A.  P.  Ankeny  &  Co.,  of  Portland,  and  is  considered  the  best  niiii- 
ing  property  in  the  state.  It  conducted  the  water  a  distance  of  twenty-three 
miles  to  the  Sterling  mines  in  the  neighborhood  of  Jacksonville.  Another 
ditch,  built  in  1878,  eleven  miles  long,  was  owned  by  Klipfcl,  Hannah  &  Co., 
Jacksonville,  and  by  Bellinger,  Thayer,  Hawthorne,  and  Kelly  of  Portland. 
It  brought  water  from  two  small  lakes  in  the  Siskiyou  Mountains  to  Applegate 
Creek,  and  cost  $.30,000.  Ashland  Tidincis,  Sept.  27,  1878.  The  results  were 
entirely  satisfactory.  A  company  was  formed  by  VV.  R.  Willis,  at  Roseburg, 
in  1878,  with  a  capital  of  half  a  million  for  carrying  on  hydraulic  mining  on 
the  west  bank  of  Applegate  Creek.  They  purchased  the  water  richts  aud 
improvements  of  all  the  small  miners,  and  took  the  water  out  of  tlie  creek 
above  them  for  their  purposes.  J.  C.  Tolman  of  Ashland  in  the  same  year 
brought  water  from  the  mountains  to  the  Cow  Creek  mines.  The  Chinamen 
of  Rogue  River  Valley  also  expended  $25,000,  about  this  time,  in  a  ditch  to 
bring  water  to  their  mining  ground,  and  with  good  results.  Duncan's  South- 
(r;i  Oc,  MS.,  10.  Thus,  instead  of  the  wild  excitement  of  a  few  years  in 
which  luck  entered  largely  into  the  miner's  estimate  of  his  coming  fortune, 
there  grew  up  a  permanent  mining  industry  in  Jackson  county,  requiring  the 


742 


MINES  AND  MINING. 


investment  of  capital  and  making  sure  returns.  In  a  less  degree  the  same 
nay  be  said  of  Dougias  county,  and  also  of  Coos  when  the  hydraulic  process  is 
applied  to  the  old  sea-beaches  about  four  miles  from  the  ocean,  which  are  rich 
and  extensive. 

It  was  not  until  1866  that  silver  ledges  received  any  attention  in  southern 
Oregon.  The  first  location  was  made  one  mile  west  of  Willow  Springs,  in 
Rogue  River  Valley,  on  the  crest  of  a  range  of  hills  running  parallel  witu  the 
Oregon  and  California  road.  This  was  called  the  Silver  Mountain  ledge,  was 
eight  feet  in  width  at  the  croppings,  and  was  one  of  three  in  the  same  vicinity. 
Jacksonville  Reporter,  Jan.  13,  1866;  Jacksonville  Reveille,  Jan.  11,  1866; 
Portland  Oregonian,  Jan.  27,  1866.  In  the  following  year  silver  quartz  was 
discovered  in  the  mountains  east  of  Roseburg.  Some  of  the  mines  located  by 
incorporated  companies  in  Douglas  county  were  the  Monte  Rico,  Gray  Eagle, 
Excelsior,  and  Last  Chance,  these  ledges  being  also  gold-bearing.  This  group 
of  mines  received  the  name  of  the  Bohemia  district.  E.  W.  Gale  and  V. 
Peters  were  among  the  first  discoverers  of  quartz  in  Douglaa  county.  Roseburg 
Ensign,  Sept.  14  and  21,  1867;  Salem  Willamette  Farmer,  July  9,  1870.  On 
Steamboat  Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Umpqua,  James  Johnson,  a  California  miner, 
discovered  a  gold  mine  in  quartz  which  assayed  from  $500  to  $1,000  to  the 
ton.  Owing  to  its  distance  from  the  settlements  and  the  ditBculty  of  making 
a  trail,  it  was  neglected.  The  Monte  Rico  silver  mine,  iu  the  Bohemia  dis- 
trict, yielded  nearly  two  hundred  dollars  per  ton  of  pure  silver.  In  1868  the 
Seymour  City  and  Oakland  mines  were  located,  all  being  branches  of  the  same 
great  vein.  John  A.  Veatch  describes  the  Bohemia  district  as  pertaining  as 
much  to  Lane  as  Douglas  county,  and  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  ridge  sepa- 
rating the  waters  of  the  Umi>qua  and  Willamette.  He  called  it  a  gold-bearing 
district,  with  a  little  silver  in  connection  with  lead  and  antimony.  Specimens 
of  copper  were  also  found  in  the  district.  /(/.,  July  12,  1869.  John  M.  Foley, 
ill  the  Roseburg  Ensign  of  August  29,  1868,  describes  the  Bohemia  district  as 
resembling  in  its  general  features  the  silver-bearing  districts  of  Nevada  and 
Idaho.  There  is  no  doubt  that  gold  and  silver  will  at  some  period  of  the  fu- 
ture be  reckoned  among  the  chief  resources  of  Douglas  county,  but  the  rough 
and  densely  timbered  mountains  in  which  lie  the  quartz  veins  present  obsta- 
cles so  serious,  that  until  the  population  is  much  increased,  and  until  it  is  less 
easy  to  crerte  wealth  in  other  pursuits,  the  mineral  riches  of  this  part  of  the 
country  will  remain  undeveloped. 

The  other  metals  which  nave  been  mined,  experimentally  at  least,  in 
southern  Oregon,  are  copper  and  cinnabar.  Copper  was  discovered  in  Jose- 
phine county  on  the  Illinois  River  in  1856,  near  where  a  \'ein  called  Full 
Creek  was  opened  and  worked  in  18G3.  The  first  indications  of  a  true  vein  of 
copper  ore  were  found  in  1859,  by  a  miner  named  Hawes,  on  a  hill  two  miles 
west  of  Waldo,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  famous  Queen  of  Bronze 
mine,  and  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  latter.  The  Queen  of  Bronze  was  pur- 
chased by  De  Hierry  of  San  Rafael,  California,  who  expended  considerable 
money  in  attempts  to  reduce  the  ore,  which  he  was  unable  to  do  profitably. 
Tiie  Fall  Creek  mine  was  also  a  failure  financially.  Its  owners — Crandall, 
Moore,  Jordan,  Chiles,  and  others — made  a  trail  through  the  mountains  to 
the  coast  near  the  mouth  of  Chetcoe  River,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  where 
there  was  an  anchorage,  superior  to  that  of  Crescent  City,  from  which  to  Blii[) 
their  ore,  but  the  expenditure  was  a  loss.  In  this  mine,  as  well  as  in  tlio 
Queen  of  Bronze,  the  ore  became  too  tough  with  pure  metal  to  be  mined  by 
any  means  known  to  the  owners. 

The  first  knowledge  of  cinnabar  in  the  country  was  in  1860,  when  R.  S. 
Jewett  of  Jackson  county,  on  showing  a  red  rock  in  his  mineral  collection  to 
a  traveller,  was  told  that  it  was  cinnabar.  The  Indians  from  whom  ho  had 
obtained  it  could  not  be  induced  to  reveal  the  locality,  so  that  it  was  not  until 
fifteen  years  later  that  a  deposit  of  the  ore  was  found  in  Douglas  county,  six 
miles  east  of  Oakland.  The  reason  given  for  concealing  the  location  of  tlio 
cinnabar  mine  was  that  the  Indians  had,  by  accident,  and  by  burning  a  largo 
fire  on  the  rook,  salivated  themselves  and  their  horses,  after  which  tliey  had 


gooil. 


COAL-FIELDS. 


743 


a  superstitious  fear  of  it.  Rogue  River  John,  on  seeing  Jewett  throw  a  piece 
of  the  rock  upon  the  tire,  left  his  house,  and  could  not  be  induced  to  return. 
Portland  Wejtl  Short,  Nov.  1878,  73.  The  owners  erected  a  fumaco  capable 
of  retorting  six  hundred  pounds  per  day  to  test  the  mine,  and  obtained  an 
average  of  forty  dollars'  worth  of  uuickDilver  f rbm  this  amount  of  ore.  The 
mine  was  then  purchased  by  the  New  Idria  company,  which  put  up  two  fur- 
naces, capable  of  retorting  three  tons  daily.  The  assay  of  the  ore  yielded 
from  sixty  to  eighty  pounds  of  pure  quicksilver  per  ton.  Fuel  being  plenty 
and  cheap  made  this  a  profitable  yield.  The  mine  was  owned  entirely  in  Ore- 
gon. The  officers  were  A.  L.  Todd  president,  A.  C.  Todd  secretary,  J.  P. 
Crill  treasurer,  J.  W.  Jackson  superintendent,  T.  S.  Rodabaugh  agent.  Uill, 
Rodabaugh,  and  Jackson  composed  the  board  of  directors.  The  cost  of  open- 
ing up  the  Nonpareil  mine  was  $40,000.  Rosehurg  Plaiifdecder,  Sept.  20,  1879. 
Partial  d'scoveries  of  tin  have  been  made  in  Douglas  county,  but  no  mine  has 
yet  been  found.  Among  the  known  mineral  productions  of  the  southern 
counties  are  marble,  salt,  limestone,  platina,  borax,  and  coal.  The  latter 
mineral  was  discovered  about  the  same  time  near  the  Columbia  and  at  Coos 
Bay. 

Tlie  first  coal  discoveries  at  Coos  Bay  were  made  in  1853  near  Empire  City 
and  North  Bend.  The  first  to  be  worked  was  the  Marple  and  Foley  mine, 
about  one  mile  from  the  bay,  which  was  opened  in  1854.  It  was  triecf  on  the 
steamer  Crescent  City  in  May  of  that  year,  and  also  in  S.  F. ,  and  pronoimccd 
gooil.  S.  F.  Alta,  May  6,  12,  1854.  The  first  cargo  taken  out  was  carried  in 
wagons  to  the  bay,  and  transferred  to  flat-boats,  which  conveyed  it  to  Empire, 
where  it  was  placed  on  board  the  Channel/  for  S.  F.  The  vessel  was  lost  on 
the  bar  in  going  out,  but  soon  after  another  cargo  was  shipped,  which  reached 
its  destination,  where  it  was  sold  at  a  good  profit.  This  mine  was  abandoned 
on  further  exploration,  the  next  opened  being  at  Newport  and  Eastport,  in 
1858.  James  Aiken  discovered  these  veins.  Tlio  Eastport  mine  was  opened 
by  Northrup  and  Symonds,  and  the  Newport  mine  by  Rogers  and  Flannagan. 
Tlie  early  operations  in  coal  at  Coos  Bay  were  expensive,  owing  to  the  crudi- 
ties of  the  means  employed.  The  Eastport  mine  Has  sold  in  1868  to  Charles 
and  John  Pershbaker,  and  subsequently  to  another  company.  According  to 
the  S,  F.  Times  of  March  6,  I8(j9,  the  purchasing  company  were  J.  L.  Pool, 
Howard,  Levi  Stevens,  I.  W.  Raymond,  J.  S.  Dean,  Oliver  Ellridge,  Claus 
Spreckels,  and  W.  H.  Sharp.  Rogers  sold  his  interest  in  the  NeW[)ort  mine 
to  S.  S.  Maun,  These  two  minas  have  l.een  steadily  worked  for  sixteen  years, 
and  are  now  in  a  better  condition  than  ever  before.  Several  others  have 
been  opened,  with  varying  success,  the  Southport  miue,  opened  in  1875,  being 
tlic  only  successful  lival  to  Newport  and  Eastport. 

The  coal-fields  at  Coos  Bay  appear  to  extend  from  near  the  bay  to  a  dis- 
tance of  five  miles  or  more  inland,  through  a  range  of  hills  cropping  out  in 
gulches  or  ravines  running  toward  the  bay,  and  ou  the  opposite  'ido  of  the 
ridge.  The  strata  lie  in  horizontal  planes,  having  in  some  jilaces  a  slight  in- 
clination, but  generally  level,  and  have  a  thickness  of  from  eight  to  ten  feet. 
They  are  easily  reached  by  from  three  to  five  miles  of  road,  which  brings 
them  to  navigablo  water.  The  same  body  of  coal  underlies  the  spurs  of  the 
Coast  Range  for  hundreds  of  miles.  It  has  been  discovered  in  almost  eveiy 
county  on  the  west  side  of  the  Willamette,  and  along  tlie  coast  at  Port  Orfonf, 
Yaquma  and  Tillamook  bays,  on  the  Nehalem  River,  and  in  the  highlunda  of 
tlioColumliia.  A  large  body  of  it  exists  within  from  one  to  seven  miles  of  the 
river  in  Columbia  county.  Discoveries  of  coal  have  also  been  made  in  eastei'u 
Oregon,  near  Canon  City,  ond  on  Snake  River,  three  miles  from  Farewell 
bemi.  Uoschurif  Jndependint,  Nov.  1,  1879;  Oregon  Facia,  15-10;  Corvaltix 
Gazette,  Anrii  13,  1867;  Portland  Went  .Shore,  Feb.  1870,  and  Jan.  and  Marcii 
1877;  S,  F.  AJtning  and  Scientific  Presn,  Doc.  14,  1872;  Ooze's  Remurces  n/ Voon 
Coniitif,  45-50;  Browne's  Resources,  237;  Resources  of  Southern  Or..  10-12. 

With  regard  to  the  quality  of  the  coals  in  Oregon,  they  were  at  tirst  clu^ised 
by  geologists  with  the  brown  lignites.  'This  name,' says  the  Astorian  of 
Aug.  29,  1879, '  is  an  unfortunate  oue,  as  it  is  now  proved  that  the  coals  called 


744 


IMPORTS  AND  EXPORTS. 


lignites  aro  not  formed  of  wood  to  any  greater  extent  than  are  the  coals  of  the 
carboniferous  period.  It  gives  the  impression  o(  an  inferior  coal,  which  in  the 
main  is  a  mistaken  idea,  for  coals  of  every  quality,  and  fit  for  all  uses,  can  be 
found  in  the  so-called  lignites  of  the  Pacific  coast.'  An  analysis  of  Coos  Bay 
coal,  matle  in  1877,  gave  water  9.87,  sulphur  3.73,  ash  10.80,  coke  50.00,  vola- 
tile gases  20.40.  S.  F.  Call,  June  23,  1867.  Another  analysis  by  Evans  gave 
carbon  iu  coke  60.30,  volatile  gases  2o.50,  moisture  9.00^  ash  4. 70;  specific 
gravity  1.384.  Or.  StaUaman,  Aug.  18,  1857.  It  varies  in  appearance  and 
cliaracter  in  different  localities.  At  Coos  Bay  it  is  described  as  a  clean,  black 
coal,  of  lustrous  chonchoidal  fracture,  free  from  iron  pyrites,  with  no  trace  of 
sulphur,  burning  without  any  disagreeable  odor  and  comparatively  little  ash. 
It  cakes  somewhat  in  burning  and  gives  off  considerable  gas.  This  descrip- 
tion applies  equally  well  to  the  coal  on  the  Columbia  River,  where  it  is  has 
been  tested,  and  to  the  mines  on  Puget  Sound.  In  certain  localities  it  is 
harder  and  heavier,  and  the  same  mine  in  different  veins  may  contain  two  or 
more  varieties.  Later  scientists  speak  of  them  as  brown  coals,  and  admit 
that  they  are  of  more  remote  origin,  and  have  been  subjected  to  greater  heat 
and  pressure  than  the  lignites,  out  say  that  they  occupy  an  intermediate 
position  between  them  and  tlie  true  coals.  U.  S.  II.  Ex.  Doc.,  x.  206,  42d 
cong.  2d  sess.  It  would  be  more  iutelligent  to  admit  that  nature  may  ])roduce 
a  true  coal  different  from  those  in  England,  Pennsylvania,  or  Australia. 

The  cost  of  producing  coals  at  Cooa  Bay  is  one  dollar  a  ton,  and  fifteen 
cents  for  transportation  to  deep  water.  Transportation  to  S.  F.  is  two  dol- 
lars a  ton  in  the  companies'  own  steamers  of  seven  and  eight  hundred  tons. 
In  1856  it  was  ^13  per  ton,  and  coal  $40.  The  price  varies  with  the  market. 
Relatively,  Coos  Bay  coal  holds  its  own  with  the  others  in  market.  The 
prices  for  1873  were  as  follows:  Sidney,  $17;  Naniamo  (V.  I. ),  $IG;  Bellingham 
Bay,  $15;  Seattle,  $16;  Rocky  Mountain,  $16;  Coos  Bav,  $15;  Monte  Diablo 
(Cal.),  $12.  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Jan.  14,  1873.  Prices  have  been  lowered  several 
dollars  by  competition  with  Puget  Sound  mines.  The  value  of  the  coals 
exported  from  Coos  Bay  iu  1876-7  was  $317,475;  in  1877-8  it  was  $218,410; 
and  in  1878-9  it  was  $150,255.  This  falling-off  was  owing  to  competition 
with  other  coals,  foreign  and  domestic,  and  the  ruling  of  lower  prices  for 
fuel.  Still,  as  the  cost  of  Coos  Bay  coals  laid  down  in  S.  F.  is  less  than  four 
dollars,  there  is  a  good  margin  of  profit. 


IMPORTS  AND  EXPORTS, 

I  will  now  givea  few  statistics  concerning  imports  and  exports.  In  1857 
Oregon  had  60,000  inhabitants,  and  shipped  60,000  barrels  of  flour,  3,000,000 
pounds  of  bacoa  and  pork,  250,000  pounds  of  butter,  25,000  bushels  of 
apples,  $40,000  worth  of  chickens  and  eggs,  $200,000  worth  of  lumber,  $75,- 
OUO  worth  of  fruit-trees,  $20,000  worth  of  garden-stuff,  and  52,000  head  of 
cattle,  the  total  value  of  which  was  $3,200,000.  The  foreign  trade,  if  any, 
was  very  small.  In  1861  the  trade  with  California  amounted  to  less  than 
two  millions,  which  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  the  greater  home  consump- 
tion caused  by  mining  immigration,  and  the  lessened  production  consequent 
upon  mining  excitement.  This  year  the  imports  from  foreign  countries 
amounted  only  to  $l,,300,  and  the  exports  to  about  $77,000.  During  the 
next  decade  the  imports  had  reached  about  $700,000,  and  the  exports  over 
$800,000.  In  1881  the  imports  were  a  little  more  than  $859,000,  and  the 
direct  exports  $9,828,905,  exclusive  of  the  salmon  export,  which  amounted  to 
$2,7<')0,00(),  and  the  coastwise  trade,  which  was  something  over  six  nallions, 
making  an  aggregate  of  more  than  eighteen  and  a  half  millions  for  1881,  or 
an  increase  of  almost  a  million  annually  for  the  twenty  years  following  1800. 
/?f »(/'(»  ProijrexH  of  Portland,  42;  HitleU'a  Reaotirces  Pacific  North-tcfyi-.  57-  t; 
Smulle;i'H  HiMt.  N.  P.  R.  It.,  374.  The  increase,  however,  was  gradiil  iintil 
1874,  when  the  exports  suddenly  jumped  from  less  than  $700,000  to  n  arly  a 
million  and  a  half,  after  which  they  advanced  rapidly,  nearly  doubling  iu 
1881  the  value  of  1880. 


COMMERCE. 


745 


The  importa  to  Oregon  have  consisted  of  liquors,  glass,  railway  iron,  tin, 
und  a  few  minor  articles  which  come  from  England;  coal  cornea  from  Ana- 
tralia  as  ballast  of  wheat  vessela;  general  merchandise  from  China;  rioe, 
BU'.;ar,  and  molasses  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands;  and  wool,  ore,  and  hides  from 
British  Columbia.  The  exports  from  Oregon  consist  of  wheat,  oats,  flour, 
lumber,  coal,  wool,  salmon,  canned  meats,  gold,  silver,  iron,  live-stock,  hops, 
potatoes,  hides,  fruit,  green  and  dried,  and  to  some  extent  the  products  of 
the  dairy.  A  comparative  statement  of  the  principal  exports  is  given  for  the 
year  ending  August  1878,  in  Rcid's  Pror/rem  of  Portland,  a  pamphlet  pub- 
lished in  1879  by  the  secretary  of  the  Portland  board  of  trade. 

1877-8.  1876-7. 

Salmon  to  S.  F.,  in  cases,  value f980,956      $1,750,350 

Wheat,  flour,  oats,  hops,  potatoes,  lumber,  hides, 
pickled  salmon,  treasure,  and  all  domestic  prod- 
ucts from  the  Columbia  to  S.  F.,  except  wool 

and  coal 3,765,687       2,332,000 

Wool  exports  via  San  Francisco . .      998,305  7.>6,C0O 

Coal  from  Coos  Bay  21«,410  317,475 

Lumber  from  Coos  Bay  and  the  coast 151,234  173,307 

Total  to  San  Francisco $6, 124,492  $5,329, 192 

Wheat  and  flour  direct  to  the   United  Kingdom, 

value 4,872,027  3,552,000 

Canned  salmon  direct  to  Great  Britain,  value 1,326,056  737,830 

Beef  and  mutton,  canned  and  uncanned,  value 133,895  365,733 

Wheat,  flour,  and  other  products  to  the  Sandwich 

Islands  and  elsewhere,  value 637,636  386,000 

Gohl  and  silver  from  Oregon  mines,  value 1,280,807  1,200,000 

Cattle  to  the  eastern  states,  etc 270,000          ...    

$14,644,973     $11, .571, 355 

Increase  in  one  year 3,073,618 

The  number  of  vessela  clearing  at  the  custom-house  of  Portland  and  Astoria 
for  1880  was  141,  aggregating  213,143  tons  measurement;  93  of  these  vessels 
were  in  the  coastwise  trade,  the  remaining  48,  measuring  40,600  tons,  were 
employed  in  the  foreign  trade.  In  1881  the  clearances  for  foreign  ports  from 
Portland  alone  were  140,  measuring  130,000  tons,  ani  the  clearances  for 
domestic  ports,  including  steamships,  were  not  less  than  100,  making  an 
increase  in  the  number  of  sea-going  vessels  of  ninety-nine. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

LATER  EVENTS. 

1887-1888 

Recent  Developments  in  Railways— Progress  op  Portland— Architec- 
ture AND  Organizations — East  Portland — Iron  Works — Valce  of 
Property — Mining  -  Congressional  Appropriations — New  Counties 
— Salmon  Fisheries— Lumber — Politioal  Affairs — Public  Lands — 
Legislature — Election. 


Taking  a  later  general  view  of  progress,  I  find  that 
the  multiplication  of  railroad  enterprises  had  become 
in  1887-8  a  striking  feature  of  Oregon's  unfolding. 
In  this  sudden  development,  the  Northern  Pacific  had 
taken  the  initiative,  causing  the  construction  of  the 
lines  of  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Com- 
pany, the  formation  of  the  Oregon  and  Transconti- 
nental and  other  companies,  and  finally  the  control 
for  a  time  of  the  Northern  Pacific  by  the  Oregon 
interest.'  That  these  operations  miscarried  to  some 
extent  was  the  natural  sequence  of  overstrained 
effort.  The  city  of  Portland,  and  to  a  considerable 
extent,  the  state,  suffered  by  the  neglect  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Terminal  Company  to  construct  a 

1 1  have  already  referred  to  the  0.  R.  &  N.  co.'s  origin  and  management 
in  1879-83,  but  reference  to  the  methods  employed  by  Villard  will  not  be 
out  of  place  liere.  He  gained  an  introduction  to  Oregon  through  being  the 
financial  agent  of  the  German  bond-holders  of  the  Or.  and  Cal.  R.  R.,  and  a 
year  afterward  was  made  president  of  this  road  and  the  Oregon  Steamtihip 
CO.,  of  which  HoUaday  had  been  president,  through  the  action  of  the  bond- 
holders in  dispossessing  Holladay  in  1875.  In  1872  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  Oregon  Steam  Navigation  co.,  on  the  Columbia  river,  had  been  sold  to 
the  Northern  Pacific  R.  R.  co.,  and  was  largely  hypothecated  for  loans,  or 
on  the  failure  of  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  divided  among  the  creditors  as  assets. 
This  stock  was  gathered  up  in  1879  wherever  it  could  be  obtained,  at  a  price 
much  below  its  real  value. 


RAILROADS. 


747 


bridge  over  the  Willamette  river,  and  erect  depot 
buildings  on  the  west  side."  These  drawbacks  to  the 
perfection  of  railroad  service  were  removed,  so  far 
as  a  bridge  is  concerned,  in  June  1888,  when  the 
Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company  completed 
one,  which  was  followed  soon  after  by  the  erection  of 
the  present  union  dep6t. 

In  the  meantime  two  important  changes  took  place 
in  the  railway  system  of  the  state.  Negotiations 
had  been  for  three  years  pending  for  the  purchase  of 
the  bankrupt  Oregon  and  California  railroad,  which 
were  renewed  in  January  1887.  The  terms  of  the 
proposed  agreement  were,  in  effect,  that  the  first 
mort<^age  bond-holders  *  should  be  paid  at  the  rate  of 
110  for  their  new  forty -years'  gold  five  percent  bonds, 
guaranteed  principal  and  interest,  by  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  Company  of  California,  together 
with  four  pounds  in  cash  for  each  old  bond;  the  new 
bonds  to  be  issued  at  the  rate  of  $30,000  per  mile, 
and  secured  by  a  new  mortgage,  equivalent  in  point 
of  lien  and  priority  to  the  first  mortgage,  and  bearing 
interest  from  Julv  1,  1886.  Preferred  stockholders 
would  receive  one  share  of  Central  Pacific,  together 
with  four  shillings  sterling  for  each  preferred  share, 
and  common  stockholders  one  share  of  Central 
Pacific  and  three  shillings  for  every  four  common 
shares.  The  transfer  actually  took  place  on  the  first 
of  May,  1887,  and  the  road  was  completed  to  a 
junction  at  the  town  of  Ashland  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember of  that  year.  This  sale  gave  the  California 
system  the  control  of  the  trunk  line  to  the  Columbia 
river,  and  gave  encouragement  to  the  long  contem- 
plated design  of  its  managers  to  extend  branch  lines 
eastward  into  Idaho  and  beyond.  The  Southern 
Pacific  Company  also  purchased  the  Oregon  railway 


I 


'The  obstructing  influence  in  the  bridge  matter  was  the  N.  P.  co.,  whose 
consent  was  obtained  only  after  tlie  return  to  power  of  Villard. 

*  Suits  of  foreclosure  had  been  entered  in  the  U.  S.  circuit  court  at  Port- 
land, Deady,  judge,  which  were  dismissed  June  4,  1888,  on  petition  of  the 
S.  P.  CO. 


748 


LATER  EVENTS. 


in  1887,  which  had  been  sold  in  1880  to  William 
Reid  of  Portland. 

At  the  same  time  the  Union  Pacific,  having  modi- 
fied its  views  since  the  period  when  it  was  oft'ered  an 
interest  in  the  Oregon  Kailroad  and  Navigation  Com- 
pany, desired  to  secure  a  perpetual  lease  of  this  prop- 
erty. To  this  proposition  the  Oregon  people  were 
largely  friendly,  because  it  would  change  the  status 
of  the  road  from  a  merely  local  line  to  a  link  in  a 
through  line  to  Omaha,  the  other  link  being  the 
Oregon  Short  Line  railroad,  a  Wyoming  corporation, 
but  controlled  by  the  Union  Pacific.  The  lease  was 
signed  January  1,  1887,  and  was  made  to  the  Oregon 
Short  Line,  the  rental  being  guaranteed  by  the 
Union  Pacific  at  five  per  centum  of  the  earnings  of 
the  demised  premises.* 

Seeing  in  this  arrangement  a  future  railroad  war  in 
which  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Union  Pacific  would 
be,  if  not  equal,  at  least  coincident  sufferers,  Villard, 
who  had  regained  his  standing  in  the  company  by 
coming  to  its  relief  with  funds  to  construct  the  costly 
Cascades  division,  desired  to  make  the  lease  a  joint 
one,  by  which  means  the  threatened  competition 
should  be  avoided.  But  competition  was  not  unde- 
sirable to  the  people,  who  had  more  cause  to  fear 
pooling.  Besides,  it  was  but  natural  that  the  North- 
ern should  wish  to  occupy  all  the  country  north  of 
Snake  river  with  its  own  "eeders,  and  to  confine  the 
Oregon  road  to  the  coui  cry  south  of  it.  But  the 
wheat  region  of  eastern  Washington,  and  the  rich 
mineral  region  of  northern  Idaho,  were  the  fields  into 
which  Oregon  wished  to  extend  its  business.  These 
points  being  brought  forward  in  the  discussion  of  the 

*It  was  necessaiy  to  pass  a  special  act  giving  authority  to  the  0.  B.  &  N. 
to  make  the  lease.  The  legislature  after  much  argument  passed  it;  it  Mas 
not  signed  by  Gov.  Pennoyer,  but  became  a  law  without  his  signature.  Ac- 
cording to  the  corporation  laws  of  Oregon,  the  lease  of  any  railway  to  a 
parallel  or  competing  line  is  prohibited.  But  a  good  deal  of  the  opposition 
to  the  lease  came  from  the  Oregon  Pacific,  or  Yaquina,  R.  R.,  which  desired 
as  much  territory  as  it  conid  by  any  means  secure  in  eastern  Oregon,  and 
feared  so  strong  a  competitor  m  the  U.  P.  B.  K. 


GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


74d 


propesed  joint  lease,  il  was  endeavored  to  smooth  the 
way  to  an  agreement  by  conceding  to  the  Oregon  line 
the  carrying  trade  arising  over  a  portion  of  the  North- 
ern feeders. 

The  agreement  gave  the  right  and  power,  after 
July  1,  1888,  for  ninety-nine  years,  to  the  Oregon 
Short  Line  and  Northern  Pacific  companies  jointly 
to  manage,  operate,  and  control  the  Oregon  Railroad 
and  Navigation  Company's  railroad ;  to  'fix  rates  of 
transportation,  to  dispose  of  the  revenues  equally  be- 
tween them,  and  to  pay  equally  the  rental  agreed 
upon  in  the  original  lease.  It  being  apparent  to  the 
enemies  of  this  arrangement  that  the  majority  of  the 
directors  of  the  Oregon  company  would  be  persuaded 
to  sign  the  lease,  a  temporary  injunction  v  u  .  applied 
for  in  the  state  circuit  court  by  Van  B.  De  La;.hmutt, 
mayor  of  Portland,  which  injunction  wa*  granted 
March  1888,  upon  the  ground  of  violat'o  \  of  Oregon 
law.  It  was  subsequently  dissolved,  and  tlo  loase 
went  int«  effect  in  July  of  that  year.  None  of  the 
parties  to  the  agre^^ment  pretended  that,  it  would 
; itand  a  legal  test,  but  knew  tha«  it  was  liable  to  be 
abrogated  at  any  time  when  circumstances  should 
make  it  repugnant  to  either  of  the  joint  lessees.* 

The  Oregon  Pacific,  a  name  given  to  the  Corvallis 
and  Yaquina  Bay  railroad,  subsequent  to  the  incep- 
tion, was  completed  to  Albany  in  1886,  where  a  bridge 
over  the  Willamette  was  formally  opened  on  the  6th 
of  January,  1887.'     It  was,  and  still  is,  making  its 

*  That  is  on  the  existing  or  f  utnre  feeders  of  the  N.  P.  between  Pend 
d'Oreille  lake  ani  Snake  river,  and  option  was  allowed  to  use  either  route  to 
tide-water — via  Portland  or  Taconia;  but  unless  specially  consigned  other- 
wise, this  traffic  should  take  the  Oregon  route. 

•It  is  not  clear  to  n»e  what  was  Vulard's  motive  for  wishing  to  join  in  the 
U.  P.  's  lease.  The  motive  of  that  company,  which  the  Central  Pacido  had 
kept  out  of  California,  in  desiring  to  come  to  the  Pacific  coast  is  easy  to  com- 
prehend. The  0.  R.  &  N.  erred,  in  my  judgment,  in  yielding  the  control  of 
the  best  railroad  property  on  the  northwest  coast  to  a  company  with  the 
standing  of  the  U.  r.  The  Southern  Pacific  will  show  its  hand  in  competition 
soon  or  late,  and  will  build  more  feeders  than  the  U.  P.,  while  the  N.  P.,  on 
the  other  aide,  will  make  the  most  of  its  reserved  rights,  thus  narrowing 
down  the  territory  of  the  leased  road. 

'  The  first  freight  train  to  enter  Albany  was  on  Jan.  13,  1887. 


' 


m 


LATER  EVENTS. 


way  eastward  from  that  town,  through  a  pass  at  the 
head  waters  of  the  Santiam  river.  From  the  summit, 
which  Jn  4,377  feet  above  sea  level,  the  descent  was 
easy  and  from  Des  Chutes  river  the  route  laid  out 
passed  through  a  farming  country  equal  in  produc- 
tiveness to  the  famous  wheat-growinjj  basin  of  the 
Columbia  in  Washington,  taking  in  the  Harney  and 
Malheur  valleys,  running  through  a  pass  in  the  moun- 
tains to  Snake  river  and  thence  to  Boise,  there  to 
connect  with  eastern  roads.  The  road  at  Yaquina 
connects  with  the  Oregon  Development  Company's 
line  of  steamers  to  San  Francisco.  The  last  spike 
was  driven  January  28,  1887,  on  a  railroad  from  Pen- 
dleton in  eastern  Oregon  to  the  Walla  Walla,  and 
other  extensions  of  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Naviga- 
tion Company's  lines  speedily  followed. 

The  Portland  and  Willamette  vallev  railroad  is  an 
extension  of  the  narrow  guage  system  of  the  western 
counties  before  described.  It  was  carried  into  Port- 
land along  the  west  bank  of  the  Willamette,  in  the 
autumn  of  1887,  and  affords  easy  and  rapid  transit  to 
the  suburban  residences  within  a  few  miles  of  the  city 
by  frequent  local  as  well  as  through  trains.* 

Portland  improved  rapidly  between  1880  and  1888. 
It  left  off  its  plain  pioneer  ways,  or  all  that  was  left 
of  them,  and  projected  various  public  and  private 
embellishments  to  the  city.  It  erected  two  theatres, 
and  a  pavilion  in  which  were  held  industrial  exhibi- 
tions. A  beautiful  medical  college  was  a  triumph  of 
architecture.  Th'j  school  board,  inspired  by  the  dona- 
tion of  $60,000  to  the  school  fund  by  Mr  Henry 
Villard,  indulged  in  the  extravagance  of  the  most 
elegant  and  costly  high-school  building  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  several  new  churches  were  erected.  Citi- 
zens vied  with  each  other  in  adopting  tasteful  designs 

*  Twenty  paBgeneer  traini  arrived  and  departed  daily,  exclusive  of  sub- 
urban trains.  Six  lines  had  their  terminus  there.  Over  30  freight  trains 
arrived  and  departed — a  great  change  from  the  times  of  1883. 


NOTABLE  ENTERPRISES. 


751 


for  their  residences;  parks  and  streets  were  im- 
proved ;  street-car  lines  added  to  the  convenience  of 
locomotion  ;  business  blocks  arose  that  rivalled  in 
stability  those  of  older  commercial  cities;  and 
wharves  extended  farther  and  farther  along  the  river 
front. 

In  May  1887  articles  of  incorporation  were  filed  by 
a  number  of  real  estate  brokers,  who  formed  a  Real 
Estate  Exchange.  The  object*  of  the  corporation,  as 
expressed,  was  laudable,  and  their  number  promised 
success,  and  the  erection  of  a  handsome  Exchange 
building.  The  military  companies  built  themselves 
an  armory  on  an  imposing  design,  and  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  followed  with  a  structure 
of  great  merit,  while  a  building  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Portland  Library,  and  destined  to  he  occupied 

»  The  incorporators  were  Ellis  G.  Hughes,  W.  F.  Creitz,  T.  ratteraon,  J. 
P.  0.  Lownsdale,  L.  M.  Parrish,  and  L.  D.  Brown.     The  avowed  object  of 
the  Ileal  Estate  Exchange  is  to  secure  a  responsible  medium  of  exchange  of 
equal  benefit  to  buyer  and  seller,  to  equalize  commissions,  to  foster  the 
growth  of  the  state,  encourage  manufactures,  and  invite  capital  and  immi- 
cration.     The   list  of  jitock-holdera   is  as  follows:  L.  F.  Grover,  Ellis  G. 
Hughes,  A.  W.  Oliver,  Eugene  D.  White,  E.  J.  Haight,  Frank  E.  Hart,  John 
Kieman,  Geo.  Marshall,  A.  B.  Manley,  Robert  Bell,  J.  W.  Cook,  Philo 
Holbrook,  M.  B.  Rankin,  H.  C.  Smithson,!  A.  E.  Borthwick,  L.  M.  Cox,  Geo. 
Woodward,  John  Angel,  H.  D.  Graden,  J.  F.  Buchanan,  Fred.  K.  Arnold, 
E.  W.  Cornell,  L.  M.  Parrish,  Geo.  E.  Watkins,  H.  B.  Oatman,  R.  B.  Curry, 
J.  L.  Atkinson,  D.  W.  Wakefield,  A.  W.  Lambert,  W.  F.  Crietz,  T.  Patter- 
eon,  W.  A.  Daly,  T.  A.  Daly,  J.  Fred.  Clarke,  Geo.  Knight,  Geo.  P.  Lent, 
A.  J.  Young,  Van  B.  De  Lashmutt,  B.  F.  Clayton,  J.  P.  O.  Lownsdale,  P. 
W.  Gillette,  David  Goodsell,  H.  D.  Chapman,  Ward  S.  Stevens,  J.  W.  Ogil- 
bee,  C.  M.  Wiberg,  S.  B.  Riggen,  R.  H.  Thompson,  Geo.  L.  Story,  Wm  Al. 
Killingworth,  W.  K.  Sinitli,  8.  M.  Barr,  E.  E.  Lang,  L.  D.  Brown.  James 
E.  Davis,  Ed.  Croft,  Benj.  I.  Cohen,  J.  W.  Kern,  J.  G.  Warner,  E.  M.  Sar- 
gent, Sherman  D.  Brown,  W.  L.  'Vallace,   E.  Oldcndorfif,  John  M.  Cress, 
Mert  E.  Dimmick,  D.  H.  Steams,  W.  G.  Telfcr,  Edward  C.  Harvey,  L,  L. 
Hawkins,  D.  P.  Thompson,  Frank  Dekum,  Dudley  Evans,  E.  D.  McKee, 
Jasnes  Steel,  T.  A.  Davis,  A.  H.  Johnson,  John  McCracken,  Donald  Macleay, 
Ed.  S.  Kearney,  C.  A.  Dolpli,  J.  N  Dolph,  Henry  Failing,  N.  L.  Pittoek,  R. 
M.  Demeal,  A.  L.   Maxwell,  Proston  C.  Smith,  C.  J.  McDougal,  Jamen  K. 
Kelly,  John  H.  Mitchell,  W.  A.  Jones,  C.  W.  Roby,  Wm  P.  Lor.l,  A.  N. 
Hamilton,  J.  A.   Strowbridge,  John  Gates— 95  members.     Two  are   U.  S. 
senators,  two  ex  U.  S.  senators,  1'2  are  capitalists  and  bankers,  one  judge  of 
the  sup.  ct,  one  mayor  of  Portland,  one  postmaster  of  Portland,  2neMapaper 
men,  one  a  major  in  the  U.  S.  army,  4  attorneys-at-law,  8  merchants,  one 
manager  of  Wellp.  Fargo  k  Co.'s  express,  one  R.  R.  agent,  and  tlio  remain- 
der brokers  and  real  estate  dealers,  40  of  whom  are  tlie  holders  of  seata  in 
the  exchange.     Rooms  have  been  taken  for  the  pretent  at  the  corner  of  Stark 
and  Second  ste.     Tlie  admission  fee  was  at  first  $50,  but  was  soon  increased 
to  $\00.    No  more  than  100  seats  will  be  sold,  aud  the  quarterly  duea  are 
fixed  at  915. 


758 


LATER  EVENTS. 


by  that  institution,  was  built  by  subscriptions  obtained 
chiefly  by  its  first  president,  Judge  Deady.  An  im- 
mense hotel,  costing  nearly  a  million  dllars,  and  an 
art  glass  manufactory  were  added  in  1888. 

East  Portland  shared  in  the  prosperity  of  the  greater 
city,  and  having  a  larger  extent  of  level  land  for 
town-site  purposes,  offered  better  facilities  for  building 
cheap  homes  for  the  working  classes.  The  Portland 
Reduction  works  was  located  there,  and  opened  in  the 
spring  of  1887,  for  smelting  ores  from  the  mines  of 
Oregon  and  Idaho.  Street  cars  were  introduced  here 
in  1888,  connecting  with  West  Portland  by  means  of 
a  track  laid  on  a  bridge  over  the  Willamette  at  Mor- 
rison street,  and  with  Albina  by  another  bridge  across 
the  ravine  which  separates  them.  The  extensive  ware- 
houses and  other  improvements  of  the  Northern  Pa- 
cific railroad  were  at  Albina,  which  thus  became  the 
actual  terminus  of  that  road,  and  of  all  the  transcon- 
tinental roads  coming  to  Portland.  A  railroad  across 
the  plains  northeast  of  East  Portland  carried  passen- 
gers to  the  Columbia,  opposite  Vancouver,  and  brought 
that  charming  locality  into  close  neighborhood  to 
Portland. 

At  Oswego,  a  few  miles  south  of  Portland,  the 
Oregon  Iron  Company's  works,  which  in  1883  were 
closed  on  account  of  the  low  price  of  iron,  and  the 
incapacity  of  the  furnaces  to  be  profitably  operated, 
were  reopened  in  1888  by  the  Iron  and  Steel  Works 
Company,"  employing  over  three  hundred  men.     The 

"  Albina,  as  I  have  otherwheres  shown,  was  founded  by  Edward  Riisaell, 
but  the  property  was  sold  in  1879  to  J.  B.  Montgomery  before  the  N.  P.R.R. 
CO.  selected  the  site  for  its  terminal  works.  This  save  it  importance,  en  the 
machine  shops  of  the  Terminal  co.,  N.  P.,  the  O.  R.  &  N.,  and  the  U.  &  C. 
cos  were  located  there,  to  which  are  now  added  those  of  the  8.  P.  R.  R., 
making  in  all  quite  a  village  of  tubstantial  brick  buildings  with  rnofi  of 
slate  in  the  railroad  yard^.  Montgomery  dock  has  an  area  of  200x500  feet, 
and  has  had  as  much  as  600,000  bushels  of  wheat  stored  in  it  at  one  time. 
In  1887  42,030  tons  were  shipped  through  it.  The  Columbia  River  Lumber 
and  Manufacturing  oo.  keeps  an  extensive  lumber  yard  at  Albina.  The 
owners  are  J  B.  Montgomery  and  Wm  M.  Colwell.  All  these  large  enter- 
prises, together  with  the  iron  works,  employ  many  laborer8,.who  And  pleaaant 
homes  in  All)ina. 

"  S.  O.  Reed,  Wm  M.  Ladd,  P.  C.  Smith,  C.  E.  Smith,  J.  F.  Watson,  the  Or. 
Tranaoontiueutal  co.,  aud  soma  eutera  oapitalidta  oonstituted  the  company. 


SUBSTANTIAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 


7S8 


water  power  at  Oregon  City,  which  ever  since  1841 
had  been  a  source  of  discord,  and  had  constituted  at 
times  an  injurious  monopoly,  had  finally  come  into  the 
liands  of  a  syndicate  of  Portland  and  Oregon  City 
men,  who  designed  to  make  the  latter  place  wliat 
nature  intended  it  to  be — the  great  manufacturinsj 
centre  of  the  state.  * 

The  estimated  value  of  property  in  Multnomah 
county  at  the  close  of  1887  was  $27,123,780,  and  the 
value  of  transfers  for  that  year  about  $6,000,000. 
The  immigation  to  the  state  numbered  nearly  fifty 
thousand,  and  the  importation  of  cash  was  estimated 
at  $19,221,000.  AH  parts  of  the  state  partook  of  the 
new  growth.  Salem  had  received  the  splendid  state 
asylum  for  the  insane,  and  the  schools  for  tiio  blind 
and  the  deaf  and  dumb,  a  manufactory  of  agricultural 
machinery,  and  other  substantial  improvements,  be- 
sides a  woman's  college,  and  a  public  school  building 
in  East  Salem  costing  $40,000. 

The  county-seat  of  Yamhill  county  had  been  re- 
moved to  the  flourishing  town  of  McMinnville.  Cor- 
vallis,  Albany,  Eugene,  and  the  towns  in  southern 
Oregon,  of  which  Ashland  was  in  the  lead,  all  throve 
excellently. 

'■^The  0.  R.  &  N.  co.  held  formerly  (ill  lint  a  few  shares  of  the  Willamette 
Transportation  and  Locks  co. 'a  stock,  which  latter  company  owned  tlie 
locks,  canal,  hasin,  and  warehonse  on  the  east  side  of  the  falls,  witli  all  tho 
water-power  of  the  falls,  and  the  land  adjoining  on  hoth  aides.  An  Oregon 
City  CO.  owned  750  shares  of  the  land  on  the  west  side,  including  tluit  not 
owned  by  the  W.  T.  &  L.  co.  The  new  organization  owns  all  of  the  land, 
property,  stocks,  and  water-power,  purchasing  the  O.  R.  &  N.  co.'s  shares 
and  all  its  interest.  It  proposes  to  give  the  nece.-isary  land  on  the  west  side 
free,  with  water-power  for  10  year.s  rent  free,  to  any  persons  who  will  build 
and  operate  manufactures.  It  is  also  proposed  to  construct  a  suspension 
toU-liridge  across  the  Willamette,  provided  the  proper  authorities  do  not 
build  a  free  bridge,  as  they  may  do.  The  0.  R.  &  N.  would  not  sell  any 
part  of  its  holding  without  selling  all,  tlierefoi-e  the  now  company  wore  forced 
to  purchase  the  locks,  which  gave  them  adilitional  facilities  for  tlie  use  of 
the  water-power.  The  state  iias,  however,  by  law  the  right  and  option  to 
buy  the  locks  on  the  1st  of  January,  185)3,  at  their  then  value,  and  it  is  feared 
that  this  may  delay  the  use  of  the  power  until  this  option  is  disposed  of  by 
legislation.  The  land  and  power  were  pooled  on  equal  terms  without  refer- 
ence to  value,  and  the  locks  were  estimated  at  WOO, 000.  This  is  paitl  by  a 
mortgage  on  the  whole  property  running  12  years,  bearing  interest  for  6 
years  at  4  per  cent,  ami  for  the  next  7  years  at  5  per  cent.  The  pros't  of  the 
00.  ia  E.  L.  Eastham  of  Oregon  City, 
IIisT.  OH.,  Vol.  n.   48 


764 


LATER  EVENTS. 


Mining  also  had  a  strong  revival  in  the  southern 
and  eastern  counties,  while  new  discoveries  and  re- 
discoveries were  made  in  the  Cascade  range  in  Marion 
and  Clackamas  counties.  No  mining  furore  is  likely 
ever  to  take  place  again  in  this  state,  if  anywhere  in 
the  northwest.  Placers  such  as  drew  thousands  to 
Rogue  river  in  1851,  and  to  John  Day  river  in  1862, 
will  probably  never  again  be  discovered.  The  hy- 
draulic gravel  mines  of  Jackson  and  Josephine  coun- 
ties have  proved  valuable  properties,  and  a  few 
quartz  mines  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  state  have 
returned  good  profits.  The  reduction  works  at  East 
Portland  were  erected  to  reduce  the  ores  of  the 
CoBurd'  Alene  silver  district  chiefly."  Much  Oregon 
capital  had  become  interested  in  CoBur  d'  Alene,  and 
also  in  the  recently  discovered  mines  of  Salmon  river  in 
eastern  Washington,  which  were  found  upon  the  Chief 
Moses'  reservation,  which  is  in  the  Okanagan  country 
of  the  upper  Columbia,  once  hastily  prospected  by 
miners  in  the  Colville  mining  excitement,  but  only 
known  to  contain  quartz  mines  since  1887.  The  total 
gold  product  of  Oregon  in  1887  was  over  half  a 
million,  and  of  silver  about  $25,000. 

Although  there  is  no  lack  of  building  stone  in 
Oregon,  if  county  statistics  may    be  believed,'*  the 

"The  CcBur  d'  Alene  furnishea  galena-silver  ores.  The  Sierra  Nevada 
mine,  yielding  ore  consisting  of  galena  and  carbonates,  is  said  to  average 
$94.79  in  leaiiand  silver.  A  block  of  galena  weighing  760  pounds  assayed 
69  per  cent  lea,<l,  and  .f  1 10  in  silver  per  ton.  Some  of  the  specimens  are  of 
rare  beauty,  the  silver  being  in  the  form  of  wire  intermingled  with  crystals 
of  carbonate,  arranged  upon  a  back  ground  of  a  dark  metallic  oxide,  and 
appearing  like  jewels  in  a  velvet  linoticase.  Some  of  the  prominent  mines 
are  the  Hunker  Hill,  Sullivan,  tlie  Tyler,  the  Ore-or-no-go,  and  the  Tiger. 

'•  Tlio  mineral  resources  of  the  several  counties  are:  Baker:  Bold  in  (juartz 
and  placers,  silver  in  lodes,  copper,  coal,  nickel  ore,  cinnabar,  building 
stone,  limestone  and  marble.  Benton:  coal,  building  stone,  gold  in  beach 
sand,  iron.  Clackamas:  iron  ore  and  ochres,  gold  in  quartz,  copper,  galena, 
coal,  building  stone.  Clatsop;  coal,  potter's  clay,  iron  ore,  jet.  Colunjbia: 
iron  ore,  coal,  manganese  ore,  salt  springs.  Coos:  coal,  gold  in  beach  sand, 
streams,  and  quartz,  platinum,  iridosmine,  brick  clay,  chrome  iron,  magnetic 
sands.  Crook:  gold  in  placers.  Curry:  iron  ore,  gold  in  river  beds  and 
beach  sands,  platinum,  iridosmine,  chrome  iron,  borate  of  lime,  build' 
ing  stone,  silver  and  gold  (doubtful).  Douglas:  gold  in  lodes  and  placers, 
nickel  ores,  quicksilver,  copper,  native  and  m  ore,  ooal,  salt  springs,  chrome 
iron,  platinum,  iridosmine,  natural  cement,  building  stone.  Gilliam:  coal. 
Qrant:  gold  in  lodea  and  placers,  silver  iu  lodes,  coal,  irou,    Jaoksoa:  gold 


GOVERNMENT  IMPROVEMENTS. 


766 


fact  remains  that  but  one  quarry  is  known  to  produce 
good  building  material,  and  that  one  is  at  East  Port- 
land, from  which  was  taken  the  stone  used  in  erecting 
the  lighthouse  at  Tillamook.  The  difficulty  of  obtain- 
ing suitable  material  for  the  jetty  being  constructed 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  has  delayed  the  work, 
and  occasioned  loss  to  contractors.  As  much  as 
$20,000  was  expended  in  exploring  for  good  rock  for 
this  purpose  in  vain,  a  liinited  supply  being  found  at 
one  place  only  on  the  river.  Yet  there  is  known  to 
be  an  abundance  of  good  stone  in  the  mountains  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke  river,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia;  but  a  railroad  of  fifteen  miles  is  required 
to  bring  it  to  the  coast,  and  $150,000  will  have  to  be 
expended  out  of  the  appropriation  for  the  work  of 
improving  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia. 

The  plan  of  this  work  is  to  construct  a  low-tide 
jetty  from  near  Fort  Stevens,  four  and  a  half  miles 
in  a  slightly  convex  course  to  a  point  three  miles 
south  of  Cape  Disappointment.  It  is  intended  both 
as  a  protection  to  Fort  Stevens,  and  as  the  means  of 
securing  deep  water  in  the  channel.  The  cost  is  com- 
puted at  $3,710,000,  and  of  this  only  $287,500  had 
been  appropriated  in  1887.  The  work  was  begun 
under  the  appropriation  act  of  July  5,  1884.  So  far 
as  it  has  progressed  its  effect  on  the  entrance  to  the 
river  has  proven  satisfactory.  The  lack  of  depth  in 
the  channel,  which  it  is  the  intention  to  keep  at  thirty 
feet,  prevents  American  vessels  with  deep  bottoms 
from  entering  the  river,  while  the  light-draught 
British  iron-bottomed  vessels  secure  the  trade. 

in  lodea  and  placers,  quicksilver,  iron,  graphite,  mineral  waters,  coal,  lime- 
stone, infusorial  eartli,  building  stone.  Josephine:  gohl  in  lodes  and  placers, 
eopprr  ores,  limestone  and  marhlo.  Klamath:  mineral  waters,  Jjiike: 
L-^ral  waters.  Lano:  gold  in  quart?:  and  placers,  zinc  ores.  Linn:  gold 
in  quartz  and  placers,  copper,  galena,  zinc  blonde.  Malheur:  nitrate  beds, 
alkaline  salts.  Marion:  gohl  ami  silver  in  quartz,  limest(mo,  bog  iron  ore. 
Morrow:-  -.  Mutlnomah :  iron  ore,  building  stone.  I'idk:  building  stone,  salt 
springs,  limestone,  mineral  waters,  iron  pyrites.  Tillamook:  gold  in  beach 
sands,  coal,  rock  salt,  iron  pyrites,  building  stone.  Umatilla:  goM  in  lodea 
and  placers,  coal,  iron.  Union:  gold  in  lodes  and  placers,  silver  in  lodes, 
hersite,  ochre.  Wallowa:  gold  m  lodes,  silver,  copiwr,  building  stones. 
Watcn:  mineral  waters.  Yamhill:  mineral  springs,  iron  pyrites.  /(/,,  Jan. 
2,  1888.     This  in  part  only. 


756 


LATER  EVENTS. 


The  state  of  Oregon  is  much  indebted  to  the  efforts 
of  United  States  Senator  J.  N.  Dolph  for  the  govern- 
ment aid  granted  in  improving  the  Columbia,  as  well 
as  some  lesser  waterways.  The  drahiage  area  of  the 
Columbia  is  estimated  by  him  to  be  greater  than  the 
acrnrre^rate  area  of  all  New  Ensfland,  the  middle  states, 
and  Maryland  and  Virginia ;  and  the  far  larger 
portion  lies  east  of  the  Cascade  range,  which  has  no 
other  water-level  pass  from  the  northern  boundary  of 
Washington  to  the  southern  line  of  Oregon.  This 
pass  is  monopolized  by  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navi- 
gation Company's  track  on  the  south  side,  and  by  a 
railway  portage  of  the  same  corporation  on  the  north 
side.  The  government  has  undertaken  to  facilitate 
free  navigation  by  constructing  locks  at  the  upper 
Cascades  and  improving  the  rapids,  but  the  work  is 
costly  and  proceeds  with  the  proverbial  tardiness  of 
government  undertakings,  where  appropriations  are 
lield  out  year  after  year  with  apparent  reluctance, 
while  the  treasury  is  overflowing  with  its  surplus. 
Tlie  work  has  been  going  on  for  eight  or  ten  years, 
during  which  time  only  about  half  the  ^-2,205,000 
icquired  has  been  appropriated.  The  river  and 
harbor  line  passed  by  congress  in  1888,  and  warmly 
advocated  by  the  Oregon  senators,  was  shaped  by 
them  to  carry  forward  these  important  improvements. 
Another  improvement  advocated  by  Dolph  is  a  local 
railway  at  the  Dalles,  which  will  cost  $1,373,000. 
Besides  this,  the  rapids  of  the  Columbia  above  the 
mouth  of  Snake  river  will  require  to  overcome  them, 
tlie  expenditure  of  $3,005,000;  that  is,  the  sum  of 
$5,440,500  will,  it  is  believed,  open  to  competition  a 
distance  of  750  miles.  This  will  have  the  effect  to 
clieapen  freights,  which  now  are  entirely  in  the  hands 
of  the  railroad  combination,  except  on  the  lower 
Columbia.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  these  improve- 
ments will  be  made  at  no  very  distant  day,  when  the 
Columbia  will  be  a  continuous  waterway  reaching  1,000 
miles  into  the  interior  of  the  continent.     The  Oregon 


COAST  COUNTIES. 


767 


delegation  in  Washington  was  very  persistant  at  this 
period  in  claiming  appropriations  for  })ublic  works." 
Senator  Mitchell  obtained  $80,000  for  the  erection  of 
a  first-class  lighthouse  near  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua 
river ;  $15,000  for  a  site  and  wharf  at  Astoria  for  the 
use  of  the  lighthouse  department,  and  asked  for 
money  to  construct  the  revetment  of  the  Willamette 
at  Corvallis. 

The  coast  counties  developed  very  gradually, 
although  they  received  a  part  of  the  immigration, 
and  were  finally  prosperous.  Scottsburg  projected  a 
railway  which,  if  it  can  be  extended  to  Coos  bay,  should 
be  a  good  investment.  At  Sinslaw  a  settlement  was 
made,'*  with  three  fish-canning  establishments,  and  a 
saw-inill.  There  being  a  good  entrance  to  the  river, 
the  bottom  lands  rich,  the  water  excellent,  and  the 
climate  healthful,  this  section  offered  attractions  to 
settlers,  and  a  railroad  miL''ht  be  made  to  connect  with 
one  from  Scottsburg. 

Yaquina,  from  the  opening  given  it  by  the  Oregon 
Pacific,  and  a  line  of  steamers  to  San  Francisco,  made 
considerable  growth,  assumed  pretensions  of  a  fashion- 
able resort,  and  planned  to  erect  a  large  hotel  a  few 
miles  south  of  the  bay,  where  hunting,  fishing,  and 
beach  driving  were  guaranteed  the  tourist.  Little 
change  had  been  effected  in  the  more  northern  coast 
counties. 

In  eastern  Oregon  two  new  counties  were  organize"! 
— Morrow  county,  named  after  Governor  Morrow, 
with  the  county  seat  at  Heppuer,  and  formed  out  of 
the  south-west  portion    of  Umatilla;   and   Wallowa 

*'  Dolph  has  been  at  some  pains  to  prepare  a  Mil  for  expending  .Sl'JO.OOO,- 
000  in  coast  defences,  according  t.)  the  rcconinienikitinn  of  a  coniniisMJoii 
appointed  to  rojKirt  upon  the  subject.  It  appropriates  fc^'JT.OOO.lKM)  for  tlio 
defence  of  San  Francisco  harbor;  .§'2,S19,(K)0  for  tiio  defence  of  tlie  mouth  of 
the  Columbia;  and  §504,000  to  tiio  harbor  of  San  Diego. 

'"George  M.  Miller,  of  Eugene,  is  the  founder  of  Florence,  altliough 
Pavid  Morse  Jr,  of  Empire  City,  made  an  'addition'  to  tlie  town.  Lots  aio 
worth  from  $25  to  $50  and  JjlOO.  The  Florence  ('aiming  co.  employs  SO  nu  ii 
with  40  boats,  besides  45  Chinese.  The  Lone  Star  Packing  co.  employ  .'i'i 
men,  10  boats,  and  .S5  Chinese.  The  Elmore  Packing  co.  employs  .SO  men, 
40  boats,  and  65  Chinese.  The  three  establishnieuts  put  up  1,700  cabes 
daily. 


I 


m 


LATER  EVENTS. 


county,  formed  out  of  a  portion  of  Union,  with  the 
county  seat  at  Joseph."  Railroads  were  being  rapidly 
constructed  from  all  directions  toward  the  main  lines 
to  carry  out  the  crops,  wool,  and  stock  of  this  division 
of  the  state.  The  wool  clip  of  1887,  which  was 
shipped  to  Portland,  was  12,534,485  pounds,  the 
greater  portion  of  which  was  from  eastern  Oregon. 
The  movement  at  Portland  of  wheat  and  flour  for 
1887  equalled  the  bulk  of  the  wheat  production  of 
Oregon  and  eastern  Washington  combined. ^^  Lump- 
ing the  receipts  of  Willamette  valley  and  eastern 
Oregon  and  Washington  wheat,  there  were  received 
at  Portland  3,927,458  centals,  against  5,531,995  re- 
ceived in  1886;  and  302,299  barrels  of  flour  against 
354,277  for  the  latter  year.  Of  this  amount,  553,920 
centals  of  wheat,  and  165,786  barrels  of  flour,  were 
from  the  Willamette  valley.  A  fleet  of  73  vessels, 
registering  93,320  tons,  was  loaded  with  grain  at 
Oregon  wharves. 

There  has  been  a  steady  decline  in  salmon  canning 
on  the  Columbia  since  1883,  falling  from  630,000 
cases  to  400,000  in  1887.  This  may  reasonably  be 
attributed  to  the  over-fishing  practised  for  several 
years  consecutively.  Nature  does  not  provide 
against  such  greed,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  art  can  do 
it.  The  government,  either  state  or  general,  should 
assume  control  of  this  industry  by  licensing  a  certain 
immber  of  canneries,  of  given  capacity,  for  a  limited 
|)eriod,  and  improving  the  hatcheries.  Otherwise 
there  is  a  prospect  that  the  salmon,  like  the  buffalo, 
may  become  extinct. 

Although  Oregon  built  the  first  saw-mills  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  enjoyed  for  a  few  years  the  monop- 
oly of  the  lumber  trade  with  California  and  the  Ha- 

"  The  name  of  Joseph  ia  given  in  roinembranco  of  the  Nez  Perc^  chief 
of  that  name,  who  formerly  made  his  home  in  this  valley,  and  young  Joseph, 
his  son,  who  led  his  band  in  the  war  of  1877.  The  first  commissioners  of 
Wallowa  CO.  were  James  McMasterton  an<l  J.  A.  llunhed.  The  tirst  com- 
mi  ;sioners  of  Morrow  were  William  Douglas  and  A.  Rood. 

'**  A  portion  of  the  wheat  crop  of  Washington  was  carried  to  Tacoma  via 
the  Cascade  branch  in  1887. 


LUMBER. 


759 


waiian  islands,  since  the  establishment  of  the  immense 
lumbering  and  milling  properties  on  Piiget  sound, 
chiefly  controlled  by  capital  in  San  Francisco,  it  has 
been  difficult  to  market  Oregon  lumber,  except  on 
suff*erance  from  the  great  lumber  firms.  In  1885, 
however,  the  experiment  was  made  of  sending  cargoes 
of  lumber  to  the  eastern  states  direct  by  rail,  which 
has  resulted  in  a  trade  of  constantly  increasing  im- 
portance, having  grown  from  1,000,000  feet  to  10,000,- 
000  feet  monthly.  The  market  is  found  everywhere 
along  the  line  from  Salt  Lake  to  Chicago.  The  lease 
to  the  Union  Pacific  of  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Nav- 
igation Company's  lines  will  facilitate  this  traffic.  This 
trade  belongs  at  present  solely  to  Oregon,  and  is  inde- 
pendent of  the  100,000,000  feet  exported  annually  to 
Pacific  coast  markets.'* 

•»  In  many  ways  the  improvement  in  local  institutions  might  be  noted. 
A  fruit  grower's  association  was  formed,  Dr  J.  R.  Canlwell,  president, 
which  held  its  first  annual  meeting  Januarys,  1887.  On  the  11th  of  the 
same  month  the  Portland  Produce  Exchange  was  organized.  The  state 
board  of  immigration  transferred  its  office  to  the  Portland  board  of  trade  in 
Sept.  1887.  A  Gatling  battery  was  added  to  the  military  organizations  of 
Portland.  On  April  7,  1886,  the  Native  Sons  of  Oregon  organized.  On  the 
17  th  of  August,  1887,  the  corner  stone  of  tiie  new  Agricultural  college  was 
laid  at  Corvallis.  The  state  has  done  nothing  to  withdraw  the  Agricultural 
college  from  the  influences  of  sectarianism.  The  Southern  Methodist  State 
Agricultural  college,  as  a  local  newspaper  calls  it,  will  not  rise  to  the  stand- 
ing which  the  people  have  a  right  to  demand  for  it  until  it  becomes,  as  con- 
gress intended,  a  part  of  the  state  universitj'.  A  free  kindergarten  system 
was  inaugurated  in  Portland;  and  a  Woman's  Exchange  opened,  which  gave 
cheap  homes  to  homeless  women,  with  assistance  in  finding  employment. 
The  Teachers'  National  convention  of  1888  at  San  Francisco  showed  the  work 
of  the  Portland  schools  to  be  very  nearly  equal  to  the  best  in  the  United 
States,  and  superior  to  many  of  the  eastern  cities.  Albany,  since  the  incep- 
tion of  the  Oregon  Pacific  R.  R.,  has  gained  several  new  business  institutions. 
The  railroad  round-house  and  shops  were  located  there.  Among  its  manu- 
factories were  extensive  flouring  mills,  furniture  factories,  wire  works,  iron 
foundries,  and  a  fruit  packing  establishment.  An  oj)era  house  was  erected 
by  a  joint  stock  company,  and  a  public  school  budding  costing  .?20,000. 
The  aggregate  cost  of  new  buildings  in  1887  was  $160,000,  with  a  popula- 
tion oF  3,500.  The  electric  light  system  has  been  introduced.  The  water 
power  furnished  by  the  Albany  and  Santiam  Water,  ditch,  or  canal  com- 
pany, with  a  capacity  of  20,000  running  feet  per  minute,  invites  industries 
of  every  kind  depending  upon  geared  machinery. 

Roseburg  in  Douglas  county  took  a  fresh  impetus  from  the  completion 
of  the  Oregon  and  California  R.  R.  The  county  of  Douglas,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  11,000  and  a  large  area,  shipped  in  the  year  endinff  August,  1887, 
269  tons  of  wool,  5,073  tons  of  wheat,  436  tons  of  oats  and  other  grains, 
288  tons  of  flour,  8  tons  of  green  fruit,  61  tons  of  dried  fruit.  This  being 
done  wit  I  no  other  outlet  than  via  Portland,  was  an  indication  of  what 
might  be  looked  for  on  the  opening  of  the  country  south  of  Roseburg. 


760 


LATER  EVENTS. 


The  administration  of  Governor  Moody  was  a  fair 
and  careful  one,  marked  by  no  original  abuses, 
although  it  failed  to  correct,  as  it  was  hoped  it  would 
have  done,  the  swamp-land  policy,  by  which  the  state 
had  been  robbed  of  a  handsome  dower.  The  legisla- 
ture of  1878  had  endeavored  to  correct  the  evil  grow- 
ing out  of  the  legislation  of  1870,  but  Governor 
Thayer  had  so  construed  the  new  law  as  to  render  it 
of  no  effect  in  amending  the  abuses  complained  of;" 
and  Governor  Moody  had  not  interfered  with  the 
existing  practices  of  the  swamp-land  board.  Here, 
then,  was  a  real  point  of  attack  upon  a  past  adminis- 
tration, when  a  democratic  governor  was  elected  in 
1886."  Governor  Sylvester  Pennoyer  was  quite  will- 
ing, and  also  quite  right  to  make  it,  and  doubtless 
enjoyed  the  electrifying  effect  of  his  message  to  con- 
gress, in  which  he  presented  a  list  of  swamp-land 
certificates  aggregating  564,969  acres,  on  which 
$142,846  had  been  unlawfully  paid,  and  suggested 
that  while  settlers  should  be  protected  in  possession 
of  a  legal  amount  legally  purchased,  the  money, 
which  under  a  "  misapprehension  "  had  come  into  the 
treasury  from  other  persons,  should  be  returned  to 
them  ;  and  "the  state  domain  parcelled  out,  as  was 
the  intent  and  letter  of  the  law,  to  actual  settlers  iu 
small  quantities."  Further,  the  new  board  of  school- 
land  commissioners  "  prepared  a  bill,  which  embodied 


th<| 

lee 

vel 

voil 

la\ 

aci 


^  I  have  already  given  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  law  of 
1870  was  passed,  and  with  what  motive.  The  legislature  of  1878  had  en- 
acted that  all  applications  for  the  purchase  of  these  lands  from  the  state 
which  had  not  hoen  regularly  made,  or  being  regularly  made  the  20  per 
cent  required  by  law  had  not  been  paid  before  Jan.  17,  1879,  should  be  void 
and  of  no  effect.  But  it  appeared  that  the  board,  consisting  of  the  governor, 
secretary  and  treasurer,  had  issued  deeds  and  certificates  to  lands  which  had 
not  been  formally  approved  to  the  state  by  the  secretary  of  the  interior,  and 
to  wliicli,  consequently,  it  had  no  show  of  title.  It  had  issued  deeds  and 
certificates  for  amounts  in  excess  of  .320  acres — all  that  by  law  could  be  sold 
to  one  purchaser — selling  unsurveyed  and  unmapped  lands  in  bodies  as  large 
as  .W.OtX),  60,000,  or  1.33,000  acres,  and  otherwise  encouraging  land-grabbing. 

'^•The  secretary  of  state  under  Gov.  Moody  was  R.  P.  Earhart;  and  the 
treasurer  EJdward  Hirsch.  They  constituted  with  the  governor  the  board 
land  cf)mmissioners. 

'^■^The  new  board  consisted  of  Oovernor  Pennoyer,  secretary  of  state, 
Cieorgo  W.  McBride,  and  Edward  Hirsch,  who  had  been  treasurer  through 


LAND  MATTERS. 


m 


the  views  of  the  governor,  and  presented  it  to  tlie 
legislature  with  a  recoramendation  that  it.or  soiuethinir 
very  like  it,  should  be  enacted  into  a  law.  It  declared 
void  all  certificates  of  sale  made  in  defiance  of  the 
law  of  1878,  but  provided  that  actual  settlers  on  320 
acres  or  less  should  be  allowed  to  perfect  title  without 
reclaiming  the  land,  upon  payment  of  the  remaining 
80  per  cent  before  January  1,  1879.  Upon  the  sur- 
render of  void  certificates  the  amount  paid  thereon 
should  be  refunded  ;  and  a  special  tax  of  one  mill  on 
a  dollar  of  all  taxable  property  in  the  state  should  be 
levied,  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  the  payment  of 
outstanding  warrants  made  payable  by  the  act.  Suit 
should  be  brought  to  set  aside  any  deed  issued  by  the 
board  upon  fraudulent  representation.  The  reclama- 
tion requirement  of  the  law  of  1870  was  dispensed 
with,  and  any  legal  applicant  who  had  complied  with 
the  provisions  of  that  act,  including  the  20  per  cent 
of  the  purchase  price,  prior  to  January  1879,  should 
be  entitled  to  a  deed  to  not  more  than  640  acres,  if 
paid  for  before  1889.  All  swamp  and  overflowed 
lands  reverting  to  the  state  under  the  provisions  of 
the  act  should  be  sold  as  provided  by  the  act  of  1878; 
but  only  to  actual  settlers,  and  not  exceeding  320 
acres  to  one  per^jn.  Any  settler  who  had  purchased 
from  the  holder  of  a  void  certificate  should  be  en- 
titled to  receive  the  amount  of  money  paid  by  him  to 
the  original  holder,  which  should  be  deducted  from 
the  amount  repaid  on  the  surrender  of  the  illegal  cer- 
tificate. Such  an  example  of  justice  had  not  sur- 
prised the  people  of  Oregon  since  the  days  of  its 
founders.  According  to  the  rep;)rt  of  the  board  for 
1887  the  school  fund  will  save  nearly,  if  not  quite,  a 
million  dollars  by  the  rescue  of  these  lands  from  fraud- 
ulent claimants, 


several  previous  terms.  McBrido  was  a  republican  and  Iiail  l)een  speaker  of 
the  lunno  in  1885.  Ho  was  the  younger  son  of  JauiLM  McBrlilo  the 
pioneer,  and  brother  of  .Jainei  MoBrido  of  SV'n.,  .Joliii  R.  McBrido  of  Qtali, 
and  Tho'.nn  MoBride,  attorney  of  the  4 tli  judicial  district  of  Or.  An  up- 
right and  talented  young  man. 


7«t 


LATER  EVENTS. 


The  legislature  of  1887  proposed  these  amendments 
to  the  people,  to  be  voted  upon  at  a  special  election : 
First,  a  prohibitory  liquor  law  ;  second,  to  allow  the 
legislature  to  fix  the  salaries  of  state  officers;  third, 
to  change  the  time  of  holding  the  general  elections 
from  June  to  November.  All  failed  of  adoption.  J. 
H.  Mifcchell  was  again  chosen  United  States  senator. 

The  free  trade  issue  in  1888  caused  the  state  to 
return  a  large  republican  majority,"  and  again  gave  to 
that  party  the  choice  of  a  United  States  senator  to  suc- 
ceed Dolph.  Herman  was  elected  congressman  for  a 
third  terra.  The  financial  condition  of  the  state  was  ex- 
cellent,the  total  bonded  debt  being  less  than  $2,000,  and 
outstanding  warrants  not  exceeding  $54,000. 

Thus  was  built  up,  within  the  memory  of  living 
men,  a  state  complete  in  all  its  parts,  where,  when 
they  entered  the  wilderness,  the  savage  and  the  fur- 
hunter  alone  disturbed  the  awful  solitudes.  Whom 
the  savage  then  spared,  king  death  remembered,  beck- 
oning more  and  more  frequently  as  time  went  on  to 
the  busy  toilers,  who  in  silence  crossed  over  Jordi.n 
in  answer  to  the  undeniable  command,  and  rested  from 
their  labors." 

I 

*'  The  democrats  elected  only  25  out  of  the  90  members  of  the  legislature. 
Tlie  repul)lican  majority  was  about  7,000. 

''*  I  tiiid  in  the  archives  of  the  Pioneer  association  for  1887  mention  of  the 
death  of  the  following  persons,  most  of  whose  names  are  recorded  in  the  immi- 
grant lists  of  the  first  vol.  of  my  Hkt-try  of  Oreijon:  Capt.  William  Sliaw 
(immigrant  of  1844)  died  at  Howell  prairie,  20th  January,  1887.  Capt. 
Charles  Holman  (arrived  1862)  died  at  Portland  3d  July,  1886;  Prof.  L.  J. 
Powell  (1847)  died  at  Seattle  17th  August,  1887;  David  Powell  (1847)  died 
near  East  Portland  8th  April,  1887;  Peter  Scholl  (1847)  died  near  Hillsboro' 
in  November,  1872;  Mrs  Lucinda  Spencer,  (1847)  daughter  of  Tliomas  and 
Martha  Cox,  died  ,30th  of  March,  1888;  Mrs  Sarah  Fairbanks  King,  (1852) 
who  was  Mrs  George  Olds  when  she  came  to  Oregon,  died  19th  January, 
1887;  Solomon  Howard  Smith,  of  the  Wyeth  party  of  18.32,  died  on  Clatsop 
plains  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  65  years;  he  was  born  December  26,  1809  at 
Lebanon,  N.  I^.;  Alvin  T.  Smith  (1840)  .ied  in  1887  at  Forest  Grove;  he 
wa-i  one  of  the  ndependent  missionaries,  and  was  born  in  Branford,  Conn., 
Nov.  17,  1892,  His  first  wife  being  Abigail  Raymond,  who  died  in  1856» 
when  he  retur<  1  to  Conn.,  and  married  Miss  Jane  Averill  of  Branford, 
who  survived  h  ;  Mrs  Mary  E.  Frazer,  nee  Evans,  born  in  Newburyport, 
Mass.,  Dec.  13,  16,  who  married  Thomas  Prazer,  and  came  to  Oregon  in 
1853,  died  in  Po,    and  21st  April,  1884. 

In  1886  there  ied  of  Oregon's  pioneers  the  following:  Jan.  21st,  Mrs 
Clara  B.  Daniwa    Stearns,  bom  in  Oregon,  wife  of  D.  H.  Steams,  and  only 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


763 


It  is  a  pleasure  to  the  historian,  who,  by  closely 
folli)winij  the  stream  of  events,  has  identified  himself 
with  the  characters  in  his  worlc,  to  observe  with  what 
unfailing  justice  time  makes  all  things  even.  At  the 
annual  nieetmg  of  the  Oregon  Pioneer  association  at 
Portland,  in  1887,  Matthew  P.  Deady,  acting  as 
speaker  for  the  city,  presented  to  the  association  a 
life-size  portrait  of  John  McLoaghlin,  which  was 
afterward  hung  in  the  state  capitol,  "  where,"  said  the 
speaker,  "  you  may  look  at  it  and  show  it  to  your 
children,  and  they  to  their  chileren,  and  say  :    *  This 


ed 
ro' 
nd 
52) 

Hat 
Ihe 


Irs 


daughter  of  Mrs  Abigail  Scott  Duniway,  at  Portland;  George  P.  Treban 
Jail,  'il^t  at  Portland;  Mrs  M.  J.  Saylor  Jan  24th  at  McMinnville;  Simeon 
Alber  (185.3)  at  McMinnville  Jan.  24;  Frank  Hedges  at  Oregon  city  Feb. 
2'2d;  Samuel  A.  Moreland  at  Portland  March  19th;  W.  McMillan  at  Fast 
Portland  April  26th;  Mrs  J.  A.  Cornwall  (1846)  at  Eugene  May  2d;  Elijah 
Williaui-j  at  East  Portland  May  T'th;  James  Johns,  founder  of  the  town  of 
St  Joluis,  May  28th;  Gen.  John  su.  Rosa  at  East  Portland  June  14th;  W.  VV. 
Buck  (1844)  at  Oregon  city  June  19;  Mrs  James  M.  Stott  at  East  Portland 
^  June  26th;  Mrs  Su.san  A.  Tartar  in  Polk  co.  June  28th;  Mrs  Sarah  Van- 
denyn  in  Lane  co.  June  28th;  Captain  Seth  Pope  in  Columbia  co.  .Tuly  23d; 
Mrs  Mary  Stevens  Ellsworth  (1852)  at  Cove,  in  CJiiion  co.,  July  24tli;  Rev. 
E  H.  Geary  at  Eugene  city  Sept.  2d;  W.  H.  Bennett  (1845)  at  Rockford,  W. 
T.,  Sept.  12th;  Robert  E.  Pittock  at  Canonsburg,  Pa..  Sept  16tli;  Samuel 
M.  Smith  at  Portland  Oct.  2,5th;  L.  J.  C.  Duncan,  Jackson  co.  Nov.  7th; 
Whiting  G.  West  (1846)  Nov.  8th;  .Tames  Thompson  at  Salem  Nov.  8th; 
Prof.  Newell  at  Philometh  college,  Nov.  10th;  Mrs  Mary  Olney  Brown, 
at  Olympia  Nov.  17th;  A.  Walts  at  Portland  Dec.  17th;  Jacob  Hoover 
(1844)  at  his  home  near  Hillsboro',  Dec.  19th. 

In  1887:  Ex. -Gov.  Addison  C.  Gibbs  died  in  London,  Eng.,  early  in  .Tan.; 
his  funeral  occurred  July  9th  at  Portland;  Mrs  D.  M.  Moss  of  Oregon  city 
a  pioneer  of  184.%  d.  Jan.  23d;  George  W.  Elmer,  Portland,  Jan.  26tli;  Mrs 
W.  T.  Newby  (1844),  Jan.  28th;  Mrs  A.  N.  King  (1845),  an.  .30th;  James 
Brown  (1843  ,  Feb.  8th,  at  Woodburn;  H.  M.  Humphrey  (1852),  near  Port- 
laud,  Feb.  3d;  Mrs  Ellen  Daley,  at  East  Portland,  Feb.  3d;  Mrs  Col  W.  L. 
White  (1850),  at  Portland,  Feb.  20th;  Mrs  William  Mason  of  Monmouth, 
and  Mrs  Wallace  of  Linn  co.,  Feb.  2l8t;  John  G.  Baker  at  McMinnville, 
March  4th;  Judge  William  Strong  (1849),  at  Portland,  April  16th;  Mrs 
James  B.  Stephens  (1844),  at  F^st  Portland,  April  27th;  Benjamin  Strang, 
at  Astoria,  May  7th;  N.  D.  Gilliam  (1844),  at  Mount  Tabor,  May  15th;  M. 
Tidd,  in  Yamhill  co..  May  22d;  Levi  Knott,  at  Denver,  Col,  May  29th;  E. 
Norton  and  J.  Schenerer,  Portland,  June  7th;  Mrs  Frances  0.  Adams  (1845), 
wife  of  \V.  L.  Adams,  June  23d;  Robert  Pentland,  at  Scio,  .lune  5th;  Dr 
Cabannis,  of  Modoc  war  fame,  at  Astoria,  .Tuly  22d;  Dr  R.  B.  Wilson,  at 
Portland,  August  6th;  Prof.  L.  J.  Powell,  long  a  teacher  in  Or.,  at  Seattle, 
Aug.  17th;  Rev.  E.  R.  Geary,  Sept.  2,  1886;  Mrs  J.  H.  Willmr,  at  Walla 
Walla,  Oct.  2tl;  Mrs  Joseph  Imbire,  at  The  Dalles,  Oct.  2.3d;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Wilbur,  at  Walla  Walla,  Oct.  28th. 

On  the  10th  of  Feb..  1888,  Dr  W.  H.  Watkins,  at  Portland;  on  the  2.3d 
of  April  died  Hon.  Jesse  Applegate.  Both  these  men  were  members  of  the 
convention  which  formed  the  state  constitution.  Thus  the  makers  pass 
away,  but  their  work  remains.  Rev.  Wiliiam  Roberta  died  July  2,  1888,  at 
Dayton. 


1 


764 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


is  tht  old  doctor ;  the  good  doctor ;  Dr  John  Mc- 
Loughlin.' "  And  this  sentiment  was  applauded  by 
the  very  men  who  had  given  the  "good  old  doctor" 
many  a  heart-ache  along  in  the  forties.  "  But,"  con- 
cluded Judge  Deady,  "  the  political  strife  and  religious 
bigotry  which  cast  a  cloud  over  his  latter  days  have 
passed  away,  and  his  memory  and  figure  have  risen 
from  the  mist  and  smoke  of  controversy,  and  he  stands 
out  to-day  in  bold  relief,  as  the  first  man  in  the  history 
of  this  country —  the  pioneer  of  pioneers  !  " 


I  cannot  close  this  volume  without  brief  biographies  of  the  following  men: 

Henry  Winslow  Corbett,  a  native  of  Westborough,  Ma}isachu!i(!tts,  where 
he  was  born  on  the  18th  of  February,  1827,  is  of  English  descent,  his  ances- 
try being  traced  back  to  the  days  of  William  the  Conqueror,  wlien  tlie  name 
of  Roger  Corbett  is  found  among  the  list  of  those  who  won  fame  autl  posses- 
sions as  a  military  leader.  The  youngest  of  eight  children,  after  receiving  a 
public  school  and  academy  education,  he  began  life  in  the  dry  goods  business 
m  New  York  city,  proceeding  thence  in  1851  to  Portland,  where  he  was  ex- 
tremely successful  m  his  ventures,  being  now  the  oldest  meruliant  in  Port- 
■  id,  and  perhaps  in  Oregon.  He  is,  moreover,  largely  interested  in  baiiking, 
i^eing  connected  with  the  First  National  bank  almost  from  its  inception,  and 
now  its  vice-president.  He  was  also  appointed  president  of  the  board  of 
trade,  of  tlie  boys'  and  girls'  aid  society,  and  other  charitable  associations, 
and  of  a  company  organized  to  complete  a  grand  hotel,  to  be  second  only  in 
size  to  the  Palace  hotel  in  San  Francisco.  On  tlie  formation  of  the  republi- 
can i^arty  in  Oregon,  Corbett  became  one  of  its  leaders.  He  was  cliosen 
delegate  to  the  Chicago  convention  of  18G0,  and  in  18G0  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate,  where  he  won  repute  l)y  his  practical  knowledge  of 
financial  affairs,  his  able  arguments  on  the  resumption  of  specie  payments, 
and  Uie  funding  of  the  national  debt,  aiMl  his  resolute  opposition  to  all  meas- 
ures that  savored  of  bad  faith  or  repudiation.  As  a  statesman  lie  is  noted 
for  his  boldness,  eloiiuence,  and  integrity  of  purpose;  as  a  business  man  for 
his  ability  and  enterprise;  and  as  a  citizen  for  liis  many  deeds  of  charity. 
In  185.3  he  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  E.  Jagger,  who  died  twelve  years 
later,  leaving  two  sons,  of  whom  only  the  elder,  Henry  J.  Corbett,  survives. 
The  latter  has  already  made  his  mark  in  life,  following  in  the  footsteps  of 
his  father,  to  whom  he  will  prove  a  most  worthy  successor. 

William  d.  Ladd  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  October  10,  1820,  edu- 
cated in  New  Hampshire,  working  on  the  farm  winters.  He  came  to  Ore- 
gon in  1851,  and  engageil  in  the  mercantile  business,  later  becoming  a 
banker.  He  acuummulated  a  large  fortune,  ami  has  ever  been  one  of  Ore- 
go;  's  foremost  men.  His  benefactions  have  been  many  and  lilieral,  one 
tenth  of  liis  income  being  devoted  to  charity.  He  has  assisted  both  in  the 
city  of  Portland,  w'here  he  resides,  and  throughout  the  whole  north-west,  in 
Inuldiiig  churches  and  schools.  Ho  eiulowecla  cliair  of  practical  theology 
in  Siin  Francisco  in  188(5  with  !f50,000.  He  has  given  several  scholarships  to 
tlie  Willamette  university,  andassintedmany  young  men  to  start  iu  business. 
In  1854  he  married  Caroline  A.  Elliott  of  New  Hampshire,  who  boro  him 
seven  chililren,  live  of  whom  were  living  in  1888,  William  M.,  Charles  K., 
Helen  K.,  Caroline  A.,  and  Joliu  W.  Ladd.  Tlie  eldest  sou,  William  M. 
Latld,  is  in  every  respect  the  wortliy  son  of  his  father. 

C.  H,  Lewis  was  born  December  22,  1820,  at  Cranbury,  New  Jersey, 
where  he  attended  school,  working  sometimes  ou  a  farm.     In  1840  he  entered 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


765 


or 


•u- 
a 

•0- 
IIC 

ho 
ill 

t.) 

>s 
III 


a  store  in  New  York  city,  where  he  hecame  proficient  in  mercantile  affairs, 
and  in  185)  came  to  Portland,  where  he  engaged  in  business,  the  house  uf 
Allen  and  Lewis  rising  into  foremost  prominence.  Mrs  Lewis,  the  daughter 
of  John  H.  Couch,  is  the  mother  oi  eleven  children,  all  born  in  Portland. 
Mr  Lewis  attends  closely  to  his  business,  and  no  man  in  the  cominiinity 
stands  in  higher  esteem. 

Henry  trailing  was  bom  in  New  York  on  the  17th  of  January,  1834. 
After  a  good  grammar-school  education,  he  entered  a  mercantile  house, 
where  he  acquired  proficiency  in  first-class  business  routine.  Arriving  in 
Oregon  in  1851,  he  engaged  in  business,  first  in  connection  with  his  father, 
Josiali  Failing,  and  later  witli  H.  W.  Corbett.  The  firm  rose  to  prominence, 
being  the  largest  hardware  dealers  in  the  north-west.  Failing  and  Corbett 
in  18U9  took  control  of  the  First  National  l^iiik,  the  former  being  made 
president.  Mr  Failing  has  always  bee!i  a  prominent  citizen,  a  friend  of  edu- 
cation, and  three  times  mayor.  In  1858  he  married  Emily  P.  Corbett,  sister 
of  Senator  Corbett.  Twelve  years  later  Mrs  failing  died  of  consumption, 
leaving  three  charming  daughters.  Mr  Failing  is  a  citizen  of  whom  Oregon 
may  well  be  proud. 

Worthy  of  mention  among  the  lawyers  and  stiitesmen  of  Oregon  is 
Joseph  Simon,  of  the  well  known  Portland  law  firm  of  Dolph,  Belhnger, 
Mallory,  and  Simon.  A  German  by  ))irth,  and  of  Jewish  parentage,  ho 
came  to  Portland  when  six  years  of  age,  and  at  tliirteen  had  conii)leted  his 
educatitm,  so  far,  at  least,  as  his  8ohr)oi-days  were  concerned.  After  assist- 
ing Ills  father  for  several  years  in  tlie  management  of  his  store,  he  studied 
law,  and  in  1872  was  admitted  to  practice,  soon  winning  his  way  by  dint  of 
ability  and  hard  work  to  the  foremost  rank  in  his  profession.  In  1878  he 
was  appointed  secretary  of  the  republican  state  central  comni'ttee,  of  v  hich 
in  188U,  and  again  in  1884  and  1880,  he  was  appointed  chairman,  aiul  in  tlie 
two  first  years,  and  also  in  1888,  was  elected  to  the  state  senate.  While  a 
lu'iinber  of  that  body  ho  introduced  and  succeeded  in  passing  many  useful 
measures,  among  tliem  being  a  Jjill  authorizing  a  paid  fire  departmci.t,  a 
mechanics'  lien  law,  a  registration  law,  and  one  plncing  the  control  of  the 
police  system  in  the  hands  of  a  board  of  commissioners. 

Royal  K,  Warren  wa?  born  in  Steulien  co.,  N.  Y.,  in  J840,  and  educated  in 
that  state,  coming  to  Oregon  in  180.3.  He  entered  upon  teaching  as  aiirofes- 
sion  in  Clatsop  co.,  whence  ho  removed  to  Portland  ni  18(i5,  teaching  in  tlie 
Harrison  st  grammar  school  until  1871,  when  he  was  called  to  tlie  presidency 
of  the  Albany  college,  M'hich  position  he  retained  nine  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Portland,  where  ho  was  ])riiicipal  of  the  North  school  for  ouo 
year,  from  which  lie  was  removed  to  the  high  school. 

J.  W.  Brazes,  born  in  Schoharie  co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1827,  M'as  educated  for  a 
civil  engineer  and  drauglitsnian,  and  also  learned  the  trades  of  carpentry 
and  masoniy.  Thus  eipiippeil,  ,io  came  to  Cal.  in  1850  in  a  sailing  vessel. 
He  worked  at  his  trades,  and  among  other  buildings,  erected  the  episcopal 
church  on  Powell  street.  Ho  also  engaged  in  mining  and  other  iiiitustries, 
and  removed  to  Or.  in  lS^^&.  Here  his  engineering  knowledge  was  called 
into  Use,  and  he  located  the  trail  between  Fort  Vancouver,  W.  P.,  and  Fort 
Simcoe,  east  o*  tiie  Cascades,  notwithstanding  that  McClellan  liad  reported 
that  a  pack-trad  between  these  points  was  impracticable.  The  M'ork  was 
accomplishi'il  in  3()  days  at  a  cost  of  ;ivt,(KM),  and  the  trail  ininiediattdy  used 
for  transporting  goveriiTueiit  freiglit  between  these  posts.  His  next  work 
was  that  of  constructing  a  railroad  portage  e  «d  tiio  cascades  of  the 
Columbia  on  the  Oregon  side  for  J.  S.  Uuckie,  *  Irst  railroad  built  in  Ore- 
gon, and  completed  in  l.SCi'J,  when  the  loconi 
track,  and  run  by  Theo.  A.  (lotfe.  The 
//(((/(/ M'ero  built  by  him  in  IS.Mland  1801);  and  in  iSCt'2  took  charge  of  the 
construction  of  the  railroad  portage  un  the  Washingtim  side,  being  also 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Dalles  and  Celilo  railroad  tho  following  year;  these 
ri^ads  remaining  under  his  superiiiti'udence  until  1870,  when  the  O.  S.  N. 
company  transferred  them  to  Villurd.     He  located  the  0.  C.  U.  U.  (west 


posts 
id   till 

jrst  ra — 

e  pony  was  put  upon  tho 
'  ntioats  lilii/io  anil  Con-ie 


m 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


side)  for  20  miles,  in  1868;  located  and  surveyed  the  Locks  at  Oregon  City, 
and  estimated  the  cost  of  construction  more  nearly  than  any  one  el^e.  In 
March  1881  he  organized  the  Oregon  Boot,  Shoe,  and  Leather  company, 
which  received  the  gold  medal  for  superior  work  at  the  Portland  Mechanics' 
fair;  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  directors  of  the  Portland  Savings 
Bank  of  which  he  was  for  several  years  vice-president.  Mr  Brazee  resided 
in  Skamania  cc,  Washington,  during  all  these  busy  years,  and  represented 
his  district  in  the  territorial  legislature  from  1864  to  1875,  Iteing  at  the  same 
time  school  superintendent. 

John  Wilson,  boin  in  Ireland  in  1826,  came  to  Oregon  from  California 
in  the  winter  of  1849  on  tlie  bark  Ann  Smith,  Oeorge  H.  Flanders,  master. 
His  first  work  in  this  state  was  in  a  saw  -mill  at  the  now  abandoned  site  of 
Milton  on  Scappoose  bay,  near  St  Helen,  where  he  earned  $4  per  day  and 
board.  He  remained  here  until  the  spring  of  18.31,  when,  not  being  well, 
he  went  to  the  Tualatin  plains  for  a  sea  ion,  where  he  recovered  and  re- 
turned to  Milton,  living  there  and  at  St  Helen  until  1853,  when  lie  settled 
in  Portland  in  the  employ  of  Tlios  H.  Dwyer  of  the  Oreijonian  as  book-keeper 
and  collector.  A  year  later  he  entered  tlie  employ  of  Allen  and  Lewis, 
wholesale  merchants,  where  he  had  an  experience  worth  relating.  He  had 
been  suffering  much  from  ague  and  fever  for  two  years.  The  first  day's 
work  with  Allen  and  Lewis  was  very  severe  for  a  sick  man,  handling  heavy 
freight,  which  was  being  unloaded  from  a  ship,  coffee-ba<fs  weighing  250  lbs., 
etc. ;  but  the  copious  perspiration  which  resulted  from  his  exertions  carrieil  off 
the  ague,  which  never  afterward  returned.  In  1850  lie  purcliased  a  general 
merchandise  business  on  Front  street,  and  took  partners.  In  1858  tlie  firm 
erected  the  first  store  (a  brick  one)  on  First  street.  After  several  changes, 
he  was  finally  established,  1870,  alone  in  a  store  erected  by  liiin.self  on 
Third  street,  between  Morrison  and  Washington.  In  1872  he  built  two 
more  stores  on  that  street,  moving  into  one  of  them,  where  he  remained 
until  1878.  In  1880  he  was  electe.f  school  director  of  distNo.l.,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  fills.  His  policy  in  school  mavters  has  been  liberal  and  elevat- 
ing, After  retiring  from  business  he  began  to  indulge  a  taste  for  liturature 
Kud  books,  making  himself  the  owner  of  a  large  collection  of  valuable 
and  rare  publications. 

Martin  Strong  Burrell  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Ohio,  in  1834,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Cal.  in  search  of  health,  wintering  in  the 
Santa  Cruz  mountains.  In  March  1857  he  joined  Knapp  &  Co.,  agricultural 
implement  dealers,  liecoming  associated  with  them  in  Itusiness,  and  remain- 
ing in  Portland  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1883.  His 
wife  was  Rosa  Frazier,  a  native  of  Mass.  Mr  Burn-11  was  an  excellent  citi- 
zen, and  the  family  an  exemplary  one. 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  G.  H.,  Indiana  massacred  by, 
1854,  ii.  330;  Ind.  war,  1856,  li. 
405;  Ind.  agent,  1860,  ii.  466,  477- 
8. 

Abemethy,  G.,  trustee  of  Or.  Insti- 
tute, 1842,  i.  202;  petition  to  cong. 
i.  207-11;  resolution  of,  1842,  i. 
297;  gov.  of  Or.,  1845,  i.  471-2; 
messages  of,  1845,  i.  488,  528-31, 
536-8;  1847,  i.  669-70;  1849,  ii.  60; 
letter  to  McLoughlin,  i.  491 ;  inter- 
course with  Howison,  1846,  i.  586- 
7;  reelected,  1847,  i.  612;  character, 
i.  612-13;  proclamation  of,  1847,  i. 
680;  correspond,  with  Douglas,  i. 
681-2;  with  Ogden,  i.  687-8;  ad- 
ministr.,  i.  782-3. 

Abiqua  creek,  battle  of,  1848,  i.  747- 
9. 

Accolti,  Father  M.,  arrival  in  Or. 
1844,  i.  325;  in  charge  of  mission, 
i.  327;  correspond,  with  Lee,  1848, 
i.  743-t;  biog.,  i.  744. 

Adair,  J.,  collector,  1848,  1,  777;  ii. 
J  04. 

Adams,  E.,  biog.,  i.  634. 

Adams,  S.  C,  mention  of,  ii.  684. 

Adams,  T.,  mention  of,  i.  169-70; 
oratory  of,  226-7. 

Adams,  W.  L.,  biog.,  etc.,  of,  ii.  170; 
collector,  1861,  ii.  458. 

Adams,  Point,  reservation  at,  1849, 
ii.  86;  fortitiod,  1861-2,  ii.  511. 

Agricultural  collogo,  establd,  etc., 
1868,  ii.  660-1. 

Aiken,  J.,  mention  of,  ii.  743. 

Aikin,  H.  L.,  biog.,  i.  634. 

Ainsworth,  J.  C,  master  of  Multno- 
mah lodge,  1848,  ii.  31;  stoamboat- 
ing.    4S0-1;  biog.  487 

Alaliamo,  petition  irom,  1843,  i.  382. 

Albany,  condition,  etc.,  of,  1848,  ii. 
6-6,  716;  hosiery-mill  at,  iL  732-3; 
flax-mill,  ii.  737. 


Albany  academy,  mention  of,  ii.  682. 
Albany  collegiate  institute,  ii.  682. 
Albiua,  improvements, etc.,  at,  ii.  752. 
'Albion,'  sfiip,  case  of  the,  1849-50,  ii. 

104-6,  110, 
Alcorn,  Capt.  M.  F.,  the  Ind.  war, 

1855,  ii.  .186-8. 
Alden,  Capt.,  the  Hogue  river  war, 

185a^,  11.  313-16. 
Alderman,  A.,  altercation  with  Mo> 

Loughlin,  1844,  i.  459-60. 
Allen,  B.  S.,  Ind.  oommissioner,  1851, 

ii.  208. 
Allen,  J.,  mention  of,  i.  509. 
Allen,  S.,  mention  of,  i.  6.13. 
Allen,    congressman,   resolutions  of, 

1844,  i.  385-6. 
Allis,  S.,  mention  of,  i.  104-5. 
AUphin,  W.,  biog.,  i.  635. 
Alton,  meeting  at,  1843,  i.  382. 
Alvord,  Gen.,  correspond,  with  wool, 

ii.  344;  exped.  ordered  by,  1862,  ii. 

493;  requisit.  of,  1864,  ii.  497. 
Alzate,  A.,  name  of  Oregon,  i.  23-4. 
'Amazon,'  brig,  voyage  of,  1851,  ii. 

258. 
Ambrose,  G.  H.,  Ind.  agent,  1854,  ii. 

360,  .371 -'2. 
'America,'  H.  M.  S.,  visit  of,  184.5,  i. 

497-9. 
American  board  (missionary),  opera- 
tions, etc.,  of,  i.  104-.'j,  127,  343-4; 

ii.  293. 
American  Fur  company,  dissolution 

of,  i.  241. 
American   river,    Oregon  miners  at, 

1849,  ii.  46. 
Americans  at  Fort  Vancouver,  i.  43- 

5;  provis.  govt  estalilM  by,  1843-9, 

i.  29.3-314,  470-507,  B26-41,  600-23; 

ii.  68-63. 
Americans,    party,    descript.    of,    ii. 

357-8. 
Anderson,  A.  C,  biog.,  etc.,  of,  i.  39. 
Anderson,  E,  C,  ministry  of,  ii.  688. 
Audoraon,  Dr,  mention  of,  i.  178. 

(767) 


3 


768 


INDEX. 


Andrews,   Major  G.   P.,  exped.   of, 

1860,  ii.  467. 
Angell,  M.,  biog.,  etc.,  of,  ii.  243. 
'Anita,'    U.    S.   transport,  visit    of, 

1848,  i.  745;  1849,  ii.  84. 
Ankeny,  A.  P.  &  Co.,  mention  of,  ii. 

741. 
Antelope  valley,  Ind.  raid  on,  1864, 

ii.  501. 
Applegate,  C,  journey  to  Or.,  etc., 

1843,   i.    393,   408,   413;  settles  in 

Umpqua  valley,  1849,  i.  569. 
Applegate,  E.,  death  of,  1843,  i.  408. 
Applegate,  E.  L.,  ability,  etc.,  of,  ii. 

431;  commissioner  of  immigr.,  1873, 

ii.  595. 
Applegate,   I.   D.,  commissary,  etc., 

1870,  ii.  503,  566-9,  572-7. 
Applegate,  J.,  journey  to  Or.,  etc., 

1843,  i.  393,  396,  407-8,  412;  man- 
uscript of,  i.  406,  410-11;  accident 
to,  i.  410-11;  surveying  engineer, 

1844,  i.  440;  comments  of,  i.  444, 
462-3;  legislator,  1845,  i.  473;  1849, 
ii.  59-62;  measures,  etc.,  of,  i.  473- 
506,  5.33;  exped.  of,  1846,  i.  544-59; 

1847,  i.  679;  1850,  ii.  178-80;  set- 
tles at  Yoncalla,  1849,  i.  568-9;  the 
Cayuso  outbreak,  i.  670-3;  Ind. 
agent,  1870,  ii.  564;  peace  com., 
1873,  ii.  696,  601-3;  candidate  for 
sen.,  1876,  ii.  673;  death  of,  ii.  763. 

Applegate,   L.,  journey  to  Or.,  etc., 

1843,    i.  393,  408,  413;  exped.    of, 

1846,  i.   544-59;    1861,  ii.    489-90; 

settles  at  Ashland,  1849,  i.  569-70. 
Applegate,    O.    C,    the  Modoc  war, 

1864-73,  ii.  577-8,583,  586,  589  91. 
Applegate  creek,  Ind.  fights  at,  1856, 

ii.  388-9. 
'Argus, '  newspaper,  establ'd  1855,  ii. 

356;  nttitU(lo  of,  ii.  357-9. 
Armstrong,  P.,  mention  of,  i.  247. 
Ash  Hollow,  mass/icre  ^c,  i.  1.%. 
Ashburton,  Lord,  treaty  of,  1842,  i. 

380-1. 
Ashill,  P.,  biog.,  i.  408. 

Ashland,  L.  Applegate  settles  at, 
1846,  i.  569-70;  woollen  mill  at,  ii. 
733. 

Assumption,  mission  founded,  i.  327; 

Astoria,  missionaries  at,  1840,  i.  185; 
mail  to,  1847,  i.  614;  condition  of, 

1848,  ii.  6,  11;  Hill's  command  at, 

1849,  ii.  69-70;  Hathaway  at,  1850, 
ii.  88;  inaccessibility  of,  ii.  189; 
hist,  of,  ii.  708,  720. 

Atchison,  oongrossman,  billa  introd. 
by,  1844,  L  384-6. 


Athey,  mention  of,  i.  413-14;  'Work- 
shops' MS.,  414. 

Atkinson,  Rev.  G.  H.,  arrival  in  Or., 
1848,  ii.  33;  biog.,  ii.  33-4;  college 
establ'd  by,  ii.  c3-5;  nJssionary 
labors,  etc.,  of,  ii.  ^>79-80. 

Atkinson,  G.  L.,  mettion  of,  ii.  356. 

Atwell,  H.  W.,  petition  of,  1873,  ii. 
634. 

Atwell,  R.  H.,  mention  of,  ii.  600. 

Aubrey,  T.  N.,  biog.,  i.  627. 

Augur,  Capt.,  the  Ind.  war,  1856,  ii. 
401,  407-9. 

Aurora,  founding,  etc.,  of,  1855,  ii. 
717. 

Avery,  J.  C,  member  of  legisl.,  1849, 
ii.  59;  biog.    ii.  143-4. 

Avery,  T.  VV.,  biog.,  i.  752. 

», 

Babcock,  Dr  I.  L. ,  missionary  labors, 

etc.,  of,  i.  177,  190,  198-202,  218- 

21;  supreme  judge,  1841-3,  i.  294. 
Bache,  A.  D.,  survey,  etc.,  of,  1850, 

ii.  190,  248. 
Backus,  Lieut,  the  Ind.  war,  1866,  ii. 

516-17. 
Bacon,  J.  M.,  biog.,  etc.,  of,  i.  509. 
Bagby,  Senator,  the  Or.  bill,  1848,  L 

764-5. 
Bailey,  C,  mention  of,  ii.  381. 
Bailey,  H.,  killed  by  Indians,  1855,  ii. 

381. 
Bailey,  Capt.  J.,  the  Indian  war,  1855, 

ii.  381-2,  387. 
Bailey,  W.  J.,  arrival  in  Or.,  1835,  L 

06;    chairman    of    comm.,    i.   294; 

provis.  govt  1844,  i.  427-30;  candi- 
date for  gov.  1845,  i.  471-2;  member 

of  convention,    1846,    i.    693-4;  of 

legisl.,  1849,  ii.  69. 
BailTie,  Capt.  T.,  mention  of,  i.  447; 

letter  to  McLoughlin,  1845,  i.  497; 

at  Vancouver,  1846,  i.  576. 
Baker  city,    hist,    of,  ii.   706;  mines 

near,  ii.  739-tO. 
Baker  city  academy,  mention  of,  ii. 

687. 
Baker,   Col,  the  Ind.   war,   1860,  ii. 

519,  523. 
Baker  county,  organized,  etc.,  1862, 

ii.  485;  hist,  of,  ii.  70(). 
Baker,  E.  D..  biog.,  etc.,  of,  ii.  450; 

senator,  1860,  ii.  463-4;  death  of, 

1861,  ii.  457. 
Baker,  J.,  mention  of,  i.  570. 
Baker,  Mrs,  biog.,  i.  570. 
Ball,  J.,  biog.,  i.  76. 
Balleuden,  J.,  mention  of,  ii.  277. 


INDEX. 


769 


Bangs,  Dr,  mention  of,  i.  178. 
Baptists,  operations  of  the,  ii.  6f  3-4. 
Barber  &  Ihorpe,  mention  of,  ii.  338. 
Biirclay,  Dr  F.,  hiog.,  39-40. 
Barker,  W.  S.,  mention  of,  i.  633. 
Bark  well,    M.   C,    sec.      of    constit. 

convention,  1857,  ii.  423. 
Barlow,  J.,  liiog.  of,  i.  527. 
Barlow,    S.    K.,    mention  of,  i.  509; 

journey   to    (3r.,    1845,    i.    517-21; 

road  charter,  etc.,  of,  i.  532. 
Barnaby,  J.,  member  of  convention, 

1846,  i.  60.3. 
Barnes,  O.  A.,  biog.,  i.  752. 
Ba''nes,  'Oregon  &  California,'  MS., 

ii.  115. 
Barnum,  E.  M.,  adjutant-gen.,   1854, 

ii.  325;  tlie  Ind.  war,  1855,  ii.  384- 

7;  nominee  for  gov.,  1857,  ii.  430. 
Barry,  Capt.,  exped.  of,  1864,  ii,  499- 

500. 
Bartlctt,  Lieut  W.,  survey,  etc.,  of, 

1850,  ii.  190-2. 
Bauiu,  .J.,  biog.,  i.  629. 
Baylies,     congressman,    memlier     of 

onnn.,    1821,   i.  351;  1823,  i.  360; 

speeches  of,  i.  353-8. 
Beaglo,  journey  to  Or.,   1843,  i.  407. 
Beale,  Lieut  W.  K.,  the  Kogue  river 

war,  185:5-4,  ii.  313. 
Beall,  T.  F.,  biog.,  ii.  712-13. 
Bean,  J.  R.,  biog.,  i.  527-8. 
Beaver,  Rev.  H  ,  at  Fort  Vancouver, 

183G-8,  i.  CO- 3. 
Beaver,  Mrs  J.,  at  Fort  Vancouver, 

1836-8,  i.  50-2. 
Beaver,    sliip,    seizure,    etc.,    of  the, 

1850,  ii.  107-8. 
'  Beaver, '  steamer,  arrival  on  the  Co- 
lumbia, i.  123. 
Beers,  A.,  character,  etc.,  of,  i.  155, 

161   2;  trustee  of  Or.  institute,  1841, 

i.  202;  member  of  connn.,  1842,  i. 

304-5,  312. 
Beeson,  .1.,  writings,  etc.,  of,  ii.  404. 
Bcirne,  Lieut-col,  the  Ind.  war,  1866, 

ii.  525. 
Belcher,  Sir   E.,  exped.,  etc., 

232  3. 
BeMen,  G.    H.,  survey,   etc., 

696-8. 

Belknap,  Mrs  J.,  biog.,  i.  753. 
Bell,  Vr.  VV.,  audit-.r,  1846,  i.  606. 
Bellinger,  .1.  H.,  biog.,  i,  628. 
Bennett,  C'apt.  C,  mention  of,  i.  578. 
Bent  fort,  descript.  of,  i.  227-8;  Whit- 
man at,  1843,  i.  343. 
Benton  county,  establ'd,  etc.,  1847, 

ii.  10;  hist  of,  ii.  706-7. 
Benton,  Rev.  S.,  mention  of,  i.   174. 

Or.  II.    ii. 


of,   i, 

of, 


u. 


Benton,  T.  H.,  resolution,  etc.,  of,  in 
sen.,  1823,  i.  .30.3-5,  370;  the  boun- 
dary quest.,  1846,  i.  590,  55)6;  letter 
to  Shively,  1847,  L  616-17;  memo- 
rial presented  by,  i.  756;  the  Or. 
bill,  1818,  i.  761-3,  769-70. 

Bernard,  Capt.  R.  F.,  the  Ind.  war, 
1866,  ii.  523-5;  the  Modoc  war, 
1864-7.3,  ii.  581-96,  616. 

Beruia,  F.,  member  of  convention, 
1846,  1.  693. 

Berrien,  Senator,  the  Or.  bill,  1848,  i. 
76.3-4. 

Berry,  W.,  biog.,  i.  5.30;  the  Cayuse 
war,  i.  671,  703. 

Bethel  academy,  mention  of,  ii.  686. 

Bewley,  1.  W.,  biog.,  i.  634. 

Bewley,  Miss,  sickness  of,  i.  658;  ab- 
duction of,  1847,  i.  66.3. 

Biddle,  Col,  reconnaisance,  etc.,  of, 
187.3,  ii.  605. 

Bigelow,  D.  R.,  commissioner,  18.';0, 
li.  150. 

Bigelow,  W.  D.,  mention  of,  ii.  292; 
settles  at  The  Dalles,  1853,  ii.  724. 

Billiquo,  P.,  constable,   1841,   i.  294. 

Birnie,  J.,  mention  of,  i.  100. 

Bishop,  W.  R.,  mention  of,  ii.  683. 

Bissonette,  meeting  with  White's  ex- 
ped., 1842,  i.  258-9. 

Bitter  Root  river,  mission  on  the, 
1841,  i.  324. 

Black  Rock,  name,  i.  560-1. 

Black,  S.,  mention  of,  i.  .36. 

Blain,  W.,  chaplain  of  legisl.,  1849, 
ii.  60;  public  printer,   1849,  ii.   79. 

Blair,  Mr.-.  E.  B.,  biog.  of,  i.  628. 

Blair,  T.  0.,  biog.  of,  ii.  715. 

Blair,  witii  Farnham's  exped.,  1839, 
i.  227-9. 

Blakeley,  Capt.,  the  Ind.  war,  1856, 
ii.  403. 

Blanchet,  Rev.  F.  N.,  in  charge  of 
Or.  missicm,  18:«,  i.  316-25;  'His- 
torical (Sketches, 'i.  .320;  archbishop, 
1843,  i.  3'26;  vicariate  of,  i.  3'27. 

Blanchet,  A,  M  A.,  bishop  of  Walla 
Walla,  1847,  i.  327,  654;  the  Cayuse 
outbreak,  1847,  i.  691-7. 

Bledsoe,  Capt.  R.,  the  Ind.  war,  1856, 
ii.  405. 

Blue  Cloak,  chief,  castigation  of,  i. 
.3.30  1. 

Blue  mountains,  emigrants  cross,  1843, 
i.  402. 

Blunt,  Lieut  8.  F.,  commissioner, 
1848,  ii.  248. 

Boddy,  W.,  murtler  of,  1872,  ii.  576. 

Boggs,  Ex-gov.,  gold  discov.  diaclosed 
by,  1848,  ii.  43. 


J 


770 


INDEX. 


Bogus,  H.,  with  Applegate's  exped., 

1846,  i.  551-2. 
Bohemia  district,    mines  in  the,    ii. 

742. 
Boise,  Fort,  mention  of,  i.  14;  Fam- 

ham's  exped.  at,  1839,  i.  229;  emi- 
grants  at,   1843,  i.  401;  road  pro- 

jectcil  to,    i.    531-2;  ii.   4^6,    470; 

abandoned,  1856,  ii.  112;  -.nassacre 

near,  ii.  343;  milit.  post  at,  ii.  476, 

494-6;  Gen.   Halleck  at,   1866,  ii. 

526. 
Boise,   R.  P.,    mention  of,   i.   151-2; 

commissioner,     1850,    ii.    150;    dist 

attorney,  1851,  ii.  168;  dist  judge, 

18.")7,  ii.  431;  assoc.  judge,  1858,  ii. 

442;  decision  of,  1863,  ii.  642. 
Boldnc,  Rev.  J.  B.  Z.,  mention  of,  i. 

322;  head  of  college,  1844,  i.  325-6. 
Bonneville,  Lieut-col,  command  of,  ii. 

245;  retiuisitions  on,  etc.,    1853-4, 

ii.  313,  343. 
Bonier,  S.,  biog.,  i.  637. 
Bnnte,  L.  la,  biog.  of,  i.  74,  78. 
Boon,  J.  D.,  terr.  treasurer,  1851,  ii. 

168;  1857,  ii.  431;  biog.,  ii.  168. 
Bnone,  A.,  hiog.,  i.  570-1;  member  of 

legisl.,  1846,  i.  604-6. 
Boone,  J.  L. ,  career  of,  ii.  457. 
Booiiville,  raid  on,  1866,  ii.  522. 
Booth,  (tov.,  the  Modoc  war,  1864-73, 

ii.  582,  588. 
Boston  Charley,  the  Modoc  war,  ii. 

601)10;  kills  Thomas,  1873,  ii.  612; 

surrender  of,  ii.  629;  execution  of, 

ii.  636. 
Boulder  creek,  Ind.  fight  at,  1866,  ii. 

522. 
Bourne,  J.,  biog.,  i.  784-5. 
Boutollo,  Lieut,  the  Modoc  war.  1864- 

73,  ii.  574-5. 
Bowcn,  Lieut,  the  Ind.  war,  1866,  ii. 

514. 
Boylo,  Lieut  W.  H.,  the  Modoc  war, 

ii.  582;  attempted  murder  of,  1873, 

ii.  012-13. 
BozarMi,  Mrs  A.  M.  L.,  biog.,  i,  635. 
Bozartli,  O.  \V.,  Inog.,  i.  527. 
Brattaiii,  T.  .1.,  biog.,  ii.  715. 
Brazuo,  J.  W.,  biog.  of,  ii.  765-6. 
Breckoiiridge,  in  cong.,  1822,  i.  358-9. 
Brec.ling,  W.  P.,  biog.,  i.  571. 
Breese,  .Senator,  bill  introd.  by,  1848, 

i.  771. 
Bremer,  Van,  the  Modoc  war,  1864- 

73,  ii.  578-86. 
Brewer,  H.  B.,  land-claim  of,  1848,  ii. 

6, 
Brewer,   H.   D.,  mention  of,  i.   177, 

190,  221,  275. 


Briceland,  Lieut  I.  N.,  mention  of,  ii. 

248. 
Bridger,  Capt.,  mention  of,  i.  108. 
Bridger,  meeting  with  White's  exped. 

1842,  i.  259-60. 
Bridger,  Fort,  emigrants  at,  1846,  i. 

556. 
Bridges,  J.  C,  constable,  1842,  i.  304. 
Brigade,  annual,  arrival  of,  i.  46. 
Briggs,  A.,  biog.  of,  i.  (i.30. 
Bright,  Senator,  the  Or.  bill,  1848,  i. 

761-2. 
Bristow,  E.,  biog.,i.  569. 
Bristow,  W.  W.,  biog.,  i.  752. 
Bromley,  I.  W.  R.,  mention  of,  i.  777. 
Brooks,  S.  K,  biog.,  ii.  725. 
Brooks,  Q.  A.,  biog.,  i.  786. 
Brotherton,  Mrs,  bravery  of,  ii.  576. 
Bronillet,    J.    B.    A.,    vicar-gen.    of 

Walla  Walla,   i.  327-8;  arrival  in 

Or.   1847,   i.  654-6;  the   Whitman 

massacre,     i.      661-5;    'Authentic 

Accounts,'  i.  667. 
Brown,  H.  L.,  biog.,  i.  570. 
Brown,  J.  H.,  Autobiography,  MS., 

i.  646. 
Brown,  0.,  biog.,  i.  422;  with  Wlute'a 

exped.  1845,  i.  484. 
Brown,  S. ,  mention  of,  i.  74-5. 
Brown,   Mrs  T    M.,    arrival  in    Or. 

1846,   ii.  32;  oiog.,   ii.  32;  charity 

of,  ii.  ,33-4. 
Brownfield,     D.    F.,    representative, 

1850,  ii.  161. 
Brownsville,  incorporated,  etc.,  1874, 

ii.  716. 
Bruce,  J.,  mention  of,  ii.  316. 
Bruce,  Major,  the  Ind.  wars,  1855-6, 

ii.  .381-3,  386-9,  400. 
Bruneau  riv^er,    Marshall's  exped.  to 

the.  '.806,  ii.  520;  camp  on,  li.  522. 
Brunt,     G.    J.    Van,    commissioner, 

1848,  ii.  248. 
Brush,  adventure  of,  1851,  ii.  199. 
Bryant,  W.  C,  name  given  by,  to  Or,, 

i.  21-2. 
Bryant,  W.  P.,  chief -justice,  1848,  i. 

777;  dist  of,  1849,  ii.  70;  measure), 

etc.,  ii.  80;  neglect  of  duty,  ii.  101- 

2,  155;  bribery  of,  ii.  122. 
Buchanan,  Col,  the  Ind.  war,    1856, 

ii.    .389,    396,    404-7;    at    Crescent 

City,  ii.  401. 
Buchanan,    Secretary,    the    N.    W. 

Boundary    treaty,     1846,    i.     594; 

correspond,  on  Or.  matters,  1847,  i. 

616;  with  H.  B.  Co.,  ii.  109;  de- 
clines purchase  of  H.  B.  Go's  prop- 
erty, 1848,  i.  774-6. 


INDEX. 


fH 


in  of,  ii. 

108. 
's  exped. 

1846,  i. 

2,  i.  304. 
.46. 

,  1848,  i. 


52. 

of,  i.  777. 


f,  ii.  576. 
ir-gen.  of 
arrival  in 
Whitman 
Authentic 


phy,  MS., 

ith  Wlute's 

74-5. 

val  in    Or. 

J2;  charity 

■esentative, 

etc.,  1874, 

$16. 

^1-8, 1855-6, 

exped.  to 
on,  li.  522. 
[nmiasioner, 

ii.  190. 
L  by,  to  Or., 

lice,  1848,  i. 

1;  measures, 

Ity,  ii.  101- 

t2 

fwar,    1856, 

It   Crescent 

Le  N.  W. 
|6,  i.  594; 
lers,  1847,  i. 
lii.  109;  de- 
1.  Go's  prop- 


Buck,  H.,  sergeant-at-arms,  1850,  ii. 
143. 

Buck,  W.  W.,biog.,  etc.,  of,  i.  509; 
commissioner,  1849,  ii.  79;  prest  of 
council,  18oO,ii.  142;  business  ven- 
tures of,  ii.  732,  736. 

Budd  Inlet,  settlement  on,  1844,  i. 
464. 

Buell,  E.,  biog.,  i.  627-8. 

Buford,  J.,  mention  of,  ii.  371. 

Bun  ton,  Capt.  E.,  mention  of,  i.  449. 

Buoy,  Capt.,  the  Ind.  war,  1856,  ii. 
.390. 

Burch,  B.  F.,  biog.,  i.  544. 

Burgess,  Cajrt.  J.  C,  the  Modoc  war, 
1864-73,  ii.  626. 

Burkhanlt,  L.  C,  biog.,  i.  635. 

Burnett,  O.  W.,  biog.,  i.  571. 

Burnett,  P.  H.,  journey  to  Or.,  etc., 

1843,  i.  .393-6,  401^7,  416;  journal 
of,   i.  406,  412;  provis.  govt,  etc., 

1844,  i.  427 -.32,  437;  supreme 
judge,  1845,  i.  496,  536;  assoc. 
judge,  1845-8,  i.  777,  liquor  law  of, 
i.  5,36;  oration  of,  1845,  i.  583. 

Burns,   H.,  magistrate,   1842,  i.  304; 

rights   granted    to,    IS'W,    i.    440; 

member  of  convention,  1846,  i.  693; 

mail  contract,  ii.  30. 
Burnt    River  Cafion,   emigrants  on, 

1843,  i.  401. 
Burrell,  M.  S.,  ii.  719;  biog.,  ii.  766. 
Burris,  W.,  judge,  1845,  i.  496. 
Burton,  Capt.  ii.  H.,  the  Modoc  war, 

1864-7.3,  ii.  582,  588-91,  616. 
Burton,  J.  J.,  mention  of,  i.  527. 
Bu!ih,  A.,  clerk  of  assembly,  ISHO,  ii. 

143;  terr.  and  state  printer,  ii.  14S, 

168,  43  i. 
Bu-ili,  G.  W.,  mention  of,  i.  464. 
Butler,  Senator,  the  Oregon  bill,  1848, 

i.  769. 
Butte  Creek,  Indiana  massacred  at, 

18.^5,  ii.  372. 
Butteville,  location  of,   ii.  6;  name, 

etc.,  ii.  716. 

0 

Cabaniss,  T.   T.,    mention    of,   613, 

629. 
•Cadboro,'  schooner,  seizure,  etc.,  of, 

1850,  ii.  107. 
Cady,   Lieut-col  A.,  in  command  of 

Or.  dist.,  1861,  ii.  490. 
Caflfrey,  J.  S.,  ministry  of,  ii.  681. 
'  Calapooya,  sloop,  built  1845,  ii.  27. 
Calapooyas,  threatened  outbreak  of, 

184.3,  i.  275;  reservations,  etc.,  for, 

ii.  210-11:  treaty  with,    1861,  ii. 

211. 


Caldwell,  S.  A,  biog.,  i.  785. 

California,  migration  to,  1843,  i.  393, 
400;  1844,  i.  465;  184.5,  i.  610-11; 
1846,  i.  .552-7;  effect  of  gohldiscov., 
1848-9,  ii.  42-65;  specific  contract 
law,  1863,  ii.  642-3;  trade  with, 
ii.  744-5. 

'California,'  steamer,  at  Astoria, 
1850,  ii.  188. 

Calhoun,    Secretary,  negotiations  of, 

1844,  i.  .386-7;  the  Or.  bill,  1848,  i. 
764,  769. 

Camaapelo,  Chief,  interview  with 
Blanchet,  etc.,  1847,  i.  691;  speech 
of,  i.  720. 

Campbell,  H.,  mention  of,  i.  222. 

Campbell,  J.,  biog.,  i.  .j70. 

Campbell,  .1.  C,  ()uarrei  with  Holder- 
ness,  1845,  i.  492. 

Campbell,  .1.  G.,  member  of  Or.  Ex- 
change Co.,  1849,  ii.  54. 

Campbell,  R.,  mention  of,  i.  75. 

Campbell,  T.   F.,  mention  of,  ii.  687. 

Camp1)ellites,  sect,  ii.  686. 

Campo,  C,   magistrate,   1842,  i.  .304. 

Canadians  in  Or.  1834,  i.  15-17,  6t, 
315;  witlidraw  from  provis.  govt, 
1841,  i.  295-9;  missionaries  among, 
i.  317-22;  join  Amer.  party,  i. 
471;  raise  Amer.  flag,  1847,  i.  610. 

Canby,  Gen.  E.  R.  S.,  supersedes 
Crook,  1S70,  ii.  56];  the  Modoc 
war,  18(54-73,  ii.  566-609;  confer- 
ence with  Modocs,  ii.  609-11;  nuir- 
der  of,  187.3,  ii.  612;  honors  paid 
to,  ii.  613-14;  biog.,  614. 

Canby,  Fort,  name,  ii.  511. 

Canemali,  destroyed  by  Hood,  1862, 
ii.  483. 

Canemalt,  location,  etc.,  of,  ii.  6. 

Canticld,  W.  1>.,  biog.,  i.  662;  escape 
from  Indians,  1847,  i.  663-5, 

Cannon,  W.,  biog.,  i.  74. 

Cafton  city,  founding,  otc,  of,  1862, 
ii.  712. 

Cape  Horn,  emigrants  at,  1843,  i.  411. 

Caplinger,  with  Palmer's  expedition, 

1845,  i.  521. 

Caravan,  chief  tr.ader's  descrip.  of,  i. 

47. 
Card  well,  Dr  J.  R.,  mention  of,  ii.  759. 
Cardwell,  J.  A.,  biog.,  etc.,  of,  ii.  184. 
Cardwell,  Mrs  .1.  A.,  biog.,  ii.  713. 
'  Carolina, '  steamer,  first  trip  of,  1850, 

ii.  188, 
Carpenter,  Dr  W.  M.,  mention  of,  i, 

671. 
Carson,  J.  C,  biog.,  i.  784. 
Cartee,  L.  F.,  speaker,   1854,  ii.  .349. 
Carter,  D.,  mention  of,  i.  177,  242. 


m 


INDEX. 


Carutheis,  Mrs  E.,  land  claim  of,  ii. 
288. 

f'aruthers,  F.,  lanil  claim  of,  ii.  288. 

Carver,  J.,  works  of,  i.  17-21;  map 
of,  i.  20;  name  of  Oregon,  i.  24-,'). 

Cascade  Falls,  proposed  reservation 
at,  184G,  i.  602. 

Cascade  mountains,  emigrants  cross, 
1843,  i.  409-12;  184(5,  i.  503. 

Case,  S.,  peace  commissioner,  1873,  ii. 
590. 

Casey,  Col  C,  command  of,  ii.  201, 
235;  exped.  of,  1851,  ii.  235-7. 

Caster,  Lieut,  the  Rogue  river  war, 
1853-4,  ii.  320. 

Catholics,  missions  in  Or.,  18.38,  i. 
315-29.  340-8,  640-2,  653-7;  oppo- 
sition to  protestants,  i.  328-48,  640- 
2,  653-6,  697-9,  743-4;  church,  etc., 
buildmgs,  ii.  678-9. 

Cavanaugh,  T.,  mention  of,  ii.  740. 

Cayuses,  missionaries  among,  i.  Ill, 
115-19,  316-17,  327-48;  outrages, 
etc.,  of,  i.  268,  274-7,  3.33-5,  344-7, 
402-3,  644-66;  conference  with, 
1843,  i.  277-80;  agric.  among,  i. 
3.38;  the  Wliitman  massacre,  1847, 
i.  644-66;  captives  rescued  from,  i. 
686-96;  war  with,  1848,  i.  700-45; 
trial  and  execution  of,  1850,  ii.  92- 
9;  Dart's  visit  to,  etc. ,  1851,  ii.  214; 
treaty,  etc.,  with,   1855,  ii.   363-6. 

Chadwick,  S.  F.,  biog.,  etc.,  of,  ii. 
182;  gov.,  1877,  ii.  673  4. 

Chamberlain,  Mrs  0.  W.,  biog.,  i. 
636. 

Chambers,  RoM'land,  pion.  '45,  i.  525; 
biog.,  528. 

Champoeg,  situivtion,  i.  73;  school, 
1835,  86;  public  meeting  at,  262-3; 
excitement  at,  283;  conventions  at. 
1842,  1845,  303,  471;  church  dedi- 
cated, 319;  ii.  678;  rtood  at,  ii.  483. 

Champooick,  district  boundary,  i.  310. 

Chapin,  Lieut  E.  S.,  in  Modoc  war, 
ii.  616. 

Chaplin,  Daniel,  author  of  peace 
commis.,  ii.  595;  of  assembly, 
1864-5.  665. 

Chapman,  I.  B.,  at  indignation  nieet- 
ing,  ii.  162. 

Chapman,  W.  W.,  pion.  '47,  i.  625; 
arrest  of,  ii.  158-9;  surveyor-gen., 
295;  lieut  of  vols,  386;  of  assembly, 
1858-9,  1868,  434,  668;  biog.,  705. 

Chase.    Mr  &   Mrs,    in   Snake   river 

massacre,  ii.  472. 
Chase,  A11)ert,  in  Snake  river  massa* 
ere,  ii.  472» 


Chase,  Daniel  in  Snake  river  massa- 
cre, ii.  472. 
Clicniakane,  mission  described,  i.  339- 

40. 
Chemeketa    mission,    site,    i.    191-2; 

work  at,   i.    192;    investigation  at, 

221;  dissolved,  221-2. 
Chemeketa  plains,  agriculture,   1840, 

191-3;  mills,  192;  school,  193,  201. 
'Chenemas,'   shiji,    on   Columbia,    i. 

189,  199,  221,  245,  424,  466-7. 
Chenoweth,  F.  A.,  of  a-ssembly,  1852, 

1866,  ii.  296,  666;  of  Or.  Cent.  R.  R. 

CO.,  (i08,  699. 
Chile?,    Jos.    B.,    leader   Cal.    party, 

1843,  i.  393,  400. 
China  trade,  i.  371;  ii.  258. 
Chinese   mining,    attack  on,  ii.  521; 

acts  relating  to,  664-5. 
Chinooks,  the,  difficulties  with,  ii.  93. 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  calls 

for  missionaries!,  i.  171. 
Christmas  celebration,  i.  577-8. 
Cincinnati  R.  R.  Co.,  charter  granted, 

ii.  696. 
Civil  code  submitted  and  accepted,  ii. 

663-4. 
Clackamas  county,  boundary,  i.  539; 

hist,  of,  ii.  707 
Clackamas  R.R.  Co.,  charter  granted, 

ii.  696. 
Clackamas,  the,  treaty  with,  ii.  217. 
Claiborne.  Bvt  Capt.  T.,  of  mounted 

rifles,  ii.  81;  defends  Inds,  96. 
Claim-jumping,  indignation  meeting, 

i.  610-11. 
Clark,  Mrs  Anna,  biog.,  i.  627. 
Clark.  Miss  C.  A.,  missionary,  i.  177; 

at  NisqualJy,  188. 
Clark,  Miss  Grace,  adventures  of,  ii. 

216. 
Clark,  Harvey,  Or.  Institute,  i.  202; 

missionary,  244;  cliaplain,  480;  ser- 
mon. July  4th,  584;  phihmthropist, 

ii.  32-3;  teaclicr,  678. 
Clark,  I.  N.,  attack  on  Inds,  ii.  534. 
Clarke,  I.,  exped.  of,  ii.  305. 
Clarke,  Gen.   N.   S.,  in  com'd  of  de- 
partment, ii.  460. 
Clarke,    Sam'l   A.,    author  of    peace 

commis.,    ii.    595;    works   of,    692; 

director  Or.  Cent.  R.  R.,  699. 
Clatsop  county,  map  of,  i.  186;  boun- 
dary, 5.39;  hist,  of,  ii.  708. 
Clatsop  district  estab. ,  i.  4.36. 
Clatsop  mission,    work  at,  i.   185-8; 

sold,  221. 
Clatsop  plains,  agriculture,  1840,  185- 

8;  cattle  iutroduccd,  187. 


Cn 
C.) 


INDEX. 


773 


Clatsops,  massacre  crew,  i.  41;  char- 
acter, ISS. 

CleinciH,  John,  kille;l  on  tlie  '  Gazelle,' 
ii.  340. 

Clergy,  position  of,  i  301 ;  iliaabilities 
of,  1842,  mo. 

Clerk,  H.  B.  Co.,  fort  duties,  i.  8. 

Cluggage,  Jfanes,  county  coni'r,  ii.  299; 
in  [nd.  exped.,  315. 

Clynian,  James,  biog.  and  bihliog.,  i. 
451. 

Coad,  Henrietta  Gilliam,  biog.,  i.  469. 

Coal  discovered,  ii.  332;  first  ship- 
ments, 333. 

Coal-Helds,  hist,  of,  ii.  743. 

Coatsi,  John,  pion.  '46,  i.  5()8;  biog., 
oTO. 

Coehrau.  R.  R.,  of  assembly,  1857-66, 
ii.  417,  432,  452,  666;  senator,  1868- 
70,  668,  671. 

Cockitnek,  Indian,  quarrel  with  Wins- 
low,  serious  results,  i.  282. 

Coe,  David  1.,  trial  of,  ii.  156. 

Coe,  Nathaniel,  postal  agent,  ii.  166; 
biojr..  189. 

CVinird'Alene  mines,  ores,  etc.,  ii.  754. 

Co'ur  d'Aleiies,  miss,  work  among,  i. 
625;  attack  troops,  ii   461. 

Coffoy,  Nebuzardeu,  pion.  '47,  i.  025; 
biog.,  632. 

Colfiri,  .Stephen,  pion.  '47,  i.  625;  del, 
to  coll.,  ii.  418;  built  steamer,  705. 

Coinage,  private,  ii.  54;  inllux  of  for- 
eign, coin,  55. 

Coke,  Hy.  I.,  visit  of,  ii.  175. 

Colbuni,  A.  C,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  315. 

CoUuH,  Luther,  pion.  '47,  i.  625;  i)iog., 
631. 

Collins,  Ca])t. ,  explore  <  Yaipiina  bay, 
ii.  203;  exped.  of,  520. 

CoUiu-i,  Smitii,  pion.  '46,  i.  .'iOS;  biog., 
569. 

Collins,  Mrs  Smith,  biog.,  i.  569. 

'Colonel  Wriglit,' steamer,  ii.  480. 

('oloiii/ation,  Or.,  i.  154-83. 

Colorado,  military  post  established,  i. 
376. 

'Columbia,' bark,  i.  215;  ii.  48. 

'Columbia,' steamer,  ii.  188;  hist,  of, 
'255. 

Colinnbia  county,  hist,  of,  ii.  709. 

CoUunbia,  Mary,  firstchild  born,  i,  529. 

Columbia  river,  named,  i.  '24;  fishery 
established, '245;  disputed  boundary, 
316;  value  of  trade  to,  354;  military 
posts  on,  .361;  dangers  on,  .558,  5.59, 
608;  dangerous  entraiu;e,  ii.  23-(); 
first  steamers  on,  255-6,  improve- 
ment of,  755-6, 

Columbia  rivor  co.  founded,  i.  59, 


Colver,  David,  pion.  '45,  i.  525;  biog., 
571. 

Colvillo  valley,  mission  founded,  i.  3'27. 

Colwell,  Joseph  F.,  nmrder  of,  ii.  546. 

Comegys,  Jacob,  pion.  '47,  i.  6'J5; 
biog.,  63.3. 

Commerce,  English  vs  American,  i. 
306-7;  imports  and  exports,  ii.  744- 
5. 

Committees,  1844,  names,  capabilities, 
i.  431. 

Condit,  Alva,  Presb.  elder,  ii.  680. 

Condon,'  T.  .1,  missionary,  ii.  680. 

C<mger,  S.  F.,  nmrder  of,  ii.  477. 

Congregational  church,  hist,  of,  ii. 
679,  t)80. 

Congress,  settlers  petition,  i.  168,  172, 
176,  -206-9,  231,  233,  245;  Or.  ques- 
tion, 349-390;  Linn's  '2d  bill,  372; 
memorial  to,  ii.  436-8,  481-3;  1st 
delegate  from  Or.,  113;  instructions 
to  delegate,  29!)-300;  appropria- 
tions by,  326-7. 

'Congress,'  U.  S.  frigate,  i.  583. 

Congressicmal  ap|»ropriati(ms,  waste 
of,  1854-5,  ii.  35l)-2. 

Couklin,  David,  uuirder  of,  ii.  527. 

Conner,  John,  of  anti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359. 

Conner,  Sergt,  fight  with  Inds,  ii. 
423,  424.  ^ 

Connolly,  Xelly,  marries  Douglas,  i. 
52. 

Conser,  .Tacob,  of  as.sembly,  1851-2, 
1856-7,  ii.  7'2,  '296,  417;  university 
trustee,  299;  scluxd  trustee,  685; 
director  Or.  Cent.  R.  R.,  (J'.tO. 

Conser,  Mrs  Jacob,  biog.,  i.  75'2. 

Constitutional  convention,  fict  to 
hold,  i.  141-2;  acts  of,  ii.  423  6. 

Cinvention,  meeting,  i.  603;  res(du- 
tions  adopted,  i.  604. 

Converse,  Ivt  O.  I.,  com'd  at  Fort 
Walla  Walla,  ii.  532. 

Cook,  A.,  with  Farnham's  exped., 
227,  237. 

Cook,  I.  1).,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii.  240. 

Cook,  John  (i.,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 

Cooke,  map,  i.  '2.3. 

Cooke,  Mrs  Belle  W.,  works  of,  iL 
()92. 

Cooke,  E.  N.,  nominated  state  treas- 
urer, ii.  637;  of  W.  V.  R.  K.  Co., 
697;  director  Or.  Cent.  K.  R., 
699. 

Coon,  W.  L.,  of  anti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359. 

Cooper,  Ch.andler,  biog.,  i.  6'27. 

Coos  bay,  Lt  Stautou's  exped.  at,  ii. 


774 


INDEX. 


202;    settlement   at,   1853,   331^; 

hist  of  coal  fields,  743. 
Coos  county,  created,  ii.  254;  hist,  of, 

709. 
Coppinger,    Bvt  Lt-col    I.    I.,  com'd 

Camp  Three  Forks,  ii.  532. 
Connuules,  the,  attitude  of,    ii.  234; 

tight    with,    235-8;    trouble    with, 

391. 
Corliett,  H.  W.,  U.  S.  senator,  biog., 

ii.  039,  6G7,  7(i4;  library  director, 

694;  of  W.  V.  R.  R.  Co.,  697;  of  Or. 

Cent.  R.  R.,  698;  of  Or.  R.  R.  &  N. 

Co.,  704. 
Cornelius,  Benjamin,  biog.,  i.  528. 
Cornelius,    Florentine  Wilkes,  biog., 

i.  531. 
Cornelius,  Saml,  missionary,  ii.  683. 
Cornelius,  T.  R.,  pion.   '45,  i.  525;  of 

council,  ]  856-9,  ii.   417,    429,   4.S2, 

434;    senator,     1860-70,    452,    665, 

666,  668,  671;  col  of  Or.  vols,  491; 

resigns,  493;  director  Or.  Cent.  R. 

R.,  699. 
Cornwall,    I.    A.,    pion.    '46,    i.    568; 

biog.,  570;  Presb.  minister,  682. 
Cornwall,    P.  B.,  bearer  of   Masonic 

charter,  ii.  31. 
Corvallis  county,  hist,  of,  ii.  707. 
Couch,  I.  H.,    on  Columbia,    i.    221, 

245,     466;     White's      interference 

with,  281;  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  296-7; 

director  Or.   Printing  Assoc,  536; 

treasurer,  60<),  612. 
Counties,  hist,  of,  ii.  706-726;   min- 
eral resources  of,  754-5. 
Cow  creek,  Ind.  depredations,  ii.  381. 
Cow     creek     Inds,     land    purchased 

from,  ii.  319. 
Cowan,  Robert,  biog.,  i.  Crf3. 
'Cowlitz,' bark,  250-1. 
Cowlitz  valley,  i.  Ind.  troubles  in,  ii. 

67,  68. 
Cox,   Jesse,   of  court  convention,  ii. 

423. 
Cox,  Joseph,  pion.   '47,  i.  625;  biog., 

030;  of  court  convention,  ii.  423. 
Cox,  T.  H.,  pion.    '47,    i.    025;  biog., 

030;  of  Or.  Cent.  R.  R.,  ii.  698. 
Coyle,  R.  S.,  of  const,  convention,  ii. 

423. 
Craft,  Charles,  biog.,  i.  527. 
Craig,  I.  T.,  of  anti-slavery  party,  ii. 

359. 
Craig,  Wm,  at  Lapwai,  i.  649;  leaves 

Clearwater,     697;    agent     to    Nez 

Perces,  721. 
Crain,  J.  H.,  biog.,  i.  629. 
Cranston,  Lt  Artlmr,  in  Modoc  war, 

killed,  616,  520;  biog.,  624. 


Cravigan,  Rich.,  murder  of,  ii.  576. 

Cravigan,  W.,  murder  of,  ii.  576. 

Crawford,  David,  explores  Puget 
Sound,  i.  463-4. 

Crawford,  John  Davis,  biog.,  i.  631. 

Crawford,  Medoram,  pibn.  '42,  i.  76, 
256;  biog.  and  bibliog.,  2t)5;  mem. 
P.  L.  L.  C,  297;  of  legislature,  ii. 
59,  452;  signs  memorial,  127;  col- 
lector, 670. 

Crawford,  Peter  W.,  biog.  and 
bil)liog.,  i.  640-7. 

Creighton,  N.  M.,  supports  Gov. 
Lane,  ii.  93. 

Cresson,  Capt.,  in  Modoc  war,  ii. 
622. 

Crocker,  N.,  death,  i.  199-200,  256. 

Crockett,  John,  com.  of  Island  co., 
ii.  299. 

Crook  county,  hist,  of,  ii.  710. 

Crook,  Geo.,  Lt-col,  relieves  Mar- 
shall, ii.  531 ;  actions  of,  5.32-45. 

Crooks,  I.  M.,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii.  31.3. 

Crosby,  Capt.  N.,  piloting,  ii.  26; 
mill  sold  to,  50. 

Croucli,  W.  H.,  wounded,  ii.  383. 

Crow,  James,  murder  of,  ii.  477. 

Cullen,  John  W.,  lieut  of  Or.  vols., 
ii.  510;  acts  of,  512. 

Cully,  I.  W.,  elected  to  senate  1858, 
ii.  432. 

Culver,  C.  P.,  editor,  i.  575. 

Culver,  Saml,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  255;  Ind.  agent,  312;  anti-slav- 
ery party,  359;  signs  petition,  376. 

Cunningham,  Joseph,  biog.,  i.  527. 

Curly-headed  doctor,  in  Modoc  war, 
ii.  575,  576,  599;  surrenders,  627. 

Currency  and  prices,  13-15;  ii.  790-8. 

C'urry  county,  established,  ii.  415; 
hist,  of,  710. 

Curry,  Geo.  B.,  of  Or.  vols,  ii.  491; 
exped.  of,  490,  499;  in  com'd  of 
Columbia  dist,  515;  retires,  517. 

Curry,  Geo.  L.,  editor,  i.  57-t);  loan 
commis'r,  071,  072;  of  legislature, 
ii.  58,  59,  158;  acting  sec,  69; 
post  master,  187;  apptd  gov., 
character,  348;  biog.,  349;  procla- 
mation, 384;  calls  out  vols,  399; 
message,  435;  nomination,  444, 

Curry,  Ihomas,  biog.  of,  ii.  713. 

Curtis,  E.  I.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  255. 

Crump,  James  T.,  biog.,  i.  571. 

'  Cyclops, '  ship,  wrecked,  ii.  300t 

D 

Daily  Advertiser,  newspaper,  ii.  448. 


INDEX. 


77a 


lot" 


(0; 
t  *' 
p9; 


l8. 


Daily  News,  newspaper,  ii.  448. 

Daily  Times,  newspaper,  ii.  449. 

Dallas  foiindeil,  ii.  251. 

Daly,  John,  killed  on  the  'Gazelle,' 
ii.  340. 

DanieU,  W.  B.,  del.  to  convention, 
1837,  ii.  418. 

Darragh,  John,  apptd  to  raise  Ind. 
CO,  11.  531. 

Darrough,  I. ,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  255. 

Dart,  Anson,  supertd  of  Ind.  affairs, 
ii.  20<);  ofH.  actions  of,  213-18. 

Dart,  (ieo.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  2.15. 

Davenport,  T.  I.,  in  explor  exped.,  ii. 
l'.»7. 

Davidson,  Geo.,  survey  exped.,  ii. 
248-9. 

Davidson,  James,  hiog.,  i.  629. 

Davidson,  James,  biog.,  i.  632. 

Davidson,  Thomas  L.,  biog.,  i.  624. 

Davis,  Byron  N.,  Ind.  agent,  ii.  46!). 

Davis,  Henry  AV.,  biog.,  i.  628. 

Davis,  Col  Jefferson  C,  succeeds 
Canby,  ii.  624;  action  in  Modoc 
war,  6_'4  31. 

Davis,  John  W.,  Apptd  Gov.  1853, 
biog.,  ii.  322;  acts  of,  323,  324; 
resigns  1854,  character,  348-9. 

Davis,  Loaudur  L.,  biog.,  i.  636. 

Davis,  Samuel,  biog.,  i.  570. 

Dawson,  V.  W.,  pion.  '43,  i.  394;  Cal. 
emigrant,  400;  arrest,  445. 

Dayton,  founded,  ii.  251. 

Deady,  M.  P.,  on  sup.  court,  i.  151-2; 
supports  (Jov.  Lane,  ii.  93;  of  As- 
sembly, 143;  biog.,  144;  revises 
laws,  1.50;  Atty,  158;  of  council 
1851-2,' 161,  296;  trustee  of  Or. 
Academy,  167;  Associate  Judge, 
307-8;  at  constitutional  convent, 
423;  electe.l  U.  S.  Judge,  442;  U. 
8.  dist  Judge,  669;  University  di- 
rector, 690;  of  Or.  medical  college, 
691 ;  mention  of,  747,  76:1-4. 

Dean,  N.  C,  farm  of,  ii.   184. 

Deception  Pass  on  Puget  Sound,  i. 
4()4. 

De  Cuis,  A.  P.,  of  Coos  Bay  Co.,  ii. 
332. 

Deer  Lake,  name,  i.  72. 

Delaney,  Daniel,  biog.,  i.  422. 

Delano  Sec,  actions  in  Modoc  affair, 
ii.  597,  602;  hanged  in  effigy,  613. 

Deliire,  Antonio,  exploring  party,  i. 
532. 

'Demares  Cove,'  ship,  ii.  333. 

Demers,  Fathe*'.  asst  to  Blanchet,  i. 
316;  foiiuds  Willamette  miss.,  318- 


319;    vicar  gen.,    ,326;  journey  to 

Euroi)e,  327;  chaplain,  480. 
Democratic    Herald,    newspaper,    ii. 

448. 
Democratic  party,  organized  1852,  ii. 

172;  rupture  in, 447;  defeat,  1888, 702. 
Democratic  Statesmafi,  policy  of,  ii. 

420-2,  448. 
Deinry,  John,  nominated  for  .Gov.,  iL 

4:^0. 
Denoille,  Sergt,  murder  of,  ii.  547. 
Dent,  Capt.  F.  T.,  com'd  at  Hoskins, 

ii.  488. 
De  Puis,  W.,  cattle  exi)ed.,  i.  42. 
Des  Chutes  river,  modu  of  crossing,  i. 

514. 
De  Sinet,  Pierre,  Jesuit  priest,  labors 

of,  i.  322-6;  pliysique,  323;  bibiog., 

327;  hostility  of,  :140. 
De  Vos  Peter,  It.  C.  priest,   1843,  i. 

325;  St.   Ignatius  Miss.,  327;  Mith 

hunting  party,  396;  discovers  pass, 

398. 
'Diana,' brig.,  i.   154, 
Diamond,  l)ark,  i.   188;  ii.  4§. 
Diamontl,  John,  exped.  of,  ii.  305. 
Diamond  Spring,  named,  i.  558. 
Dickinson,  Obed,  missionary,  ii.  680. 
DiUey,  murdered  by  Inds,  ii.  223. 
Ddlon,  William  H.,  biog.,  i.  636. 
Dimick,  A.  R.,  biog.,  i.  638. 
Disappointment   Cape,    surveyed,    ii. 

249;  lighthouse  at,  511. 
Diseases,  illiappearance  of,  ii.  39. 
Distillery,    Young's,    i.  98,    99,    102, 

160;  d'escript  of  first,  281. 
Divorce    law,    passed,    ii.    299,    300; 

clause  in  constitution,  438. 
Dixon  Robt,  murder  of,  ii.  549. 
Dobbins,  C,  injured  on  the  'Gazelle,' 

ii.  340. 
Dodson,  Jesse,  in  Ind., exped.,  ii.  224. 
Dogs,  excitement  regarding  killing,  i. 

258. 
Dolierty,  A.  S.,  in  explor.  exped.,  ii. 

197. 
Doke,  William,  escapes  drowning,  i. 

408. 
'Dolly,'  schr,  ii.  27. 
Dolph,  I.  N.,  of  Senate,  1860,  ii.  666; 

U.  S.  senator,  biog.  676;  of  Or.  K.  11. 

&N.  Co.,  704;  mention  of,  756;  coast 

defence  bill,  757. 
Dominus,  Capt.,  in  Columbia,  i.  40. 
Donation  Claims,    land  taken  under, 

ii.  659. 
Donation   Laws,    its   provisi(ms   and 

workings,    ii.    260-3;    advantages, 

and  disadvantages  of,  299. 


776 


INDEX. 


Doniior  party,  joins  immigrants  184C, 

i.  560. 
Doiipiurre,  David,  on  Govt  committee, 

i.  '2'M. 
Diiriou,  B.,  accompanies  White,  15th 

Nov.  IH42,  i.  208. 
Dorr,  E'len  M.,  seizes  the  'Albion,' 

ii.  105. 
Dougliurty,     Wm    P.,    promotor    of 

masonry,   ii.   30;  left  tor  Cal.,  47; 

at  indignation  meeting,  102;  com- 

inin'r  ot  Pierce  Co.,  299. 
Douglas,   county,  organized,   ii.   160; 

hist,  of,  710. 
Douglas,  A.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  315. 
Dougln,  David,  in  Oregon,  i.  17. 
Douglas,  Jauie.4,  appearance,  i.  .31 ;  at 

F.    V'ancouver,    48;    marriage,    52; 

receives  missionaries,    135;    grants 

site  for  miss.    18.3!),   318;  action  in 

clerical  atfairs,  320;  move,'   'o  Vic- 
toria,   598;    commu.    massacre    to 

Gov,,  070;  action  in  reganl  to  loan, 

C72  5;  demands  explanation   from 

Aberuethy,  081-2. 
Dowell,  Ben  Franklin,  biog.,  ii.  370, 
Downing,  Miss  Susan,  arrives  Or.,  i. 

15i);    at     Willamette     Mission,    i. 

157-9. 
Drake,  Lt,  works  of,  ii.  091. 
Drake,  Lt-col,  in  com'd  of  Columbia 

(list,  ii.  517. 
Drew,  C  S.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 

ii.  255;  Qt  Master  of  Militia,  325; 

Adj.  of  vols,  379;  Major,  492;  re- 

cunuoissance  of,  503-5. 
Drew,  E.  P.,  Ind.  agent,  ii.  360;  offl 

acts  of,  392-3. 
Drew,  I.  W.,  of  H.  of  Rep.  1851,  ii 

15S;  in  explor.  exped.,  176;  senator 

1802-3,  (538. 
'Dryad,' sliip,  i.  94. 
Dryer,   T.  I.,  founded  'Oregonian,'  ii. 

147;  of  Assembly  1850-9,  417,  429, 

432,  4."4;  of  constitutional  convent, 

423;  conunis'r  to  Hawaiian  Isls,  458. 
'  Due  de  Lorguues,'  brig,  ii.  48. 
Duelling,  bill  to  prohibit,  i.  492. 
Dugaii,  Rich.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 

ii.  255;  military  commis'r,  314. 
Du    ( ruerre,    Baptiste,    accompa:aii?s 

White,  1.  484. 
Dunbar,  John,  missionary,  i.  104,  107- 
Dunbar,  Rice,  biog.,  i.  572. 
Duncan,  Geo.    Clayton,   biog.  of,   ii, 

715. 
Duncan,  I.  C,  biog.,  ii.  184. 
Duncan,  L.  I.  C,  of  const,  convention, 

ii.  423 


Duniway,  Mrs  A.  R.,  works  of,   ii. 

091. 
Dunn,  John,  at  Fort  George,  i.   38; 

character,  44. 
Dunn,  Pat.  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii.  313;  of 

assembly  1854-5,  349. 
Dunning,    U.     H.,     of    anti-slavery 

party,  ii.  359. 
Duntz,  Capt.,  on  the  Sound,  i.  499. 
Duskins,  rescues  immigrants  1840,  i. 

504. 
Dwight,  at  Fort  Hall,  i.  30. 
Dyar,    L.    S.,    Ind.    agent,    ii.    568; 

actions  in  Ind.  War,  509-79;  peace 

commr,  000,  010-12. 


E 


Fades,  Clark,  punishment,  i.  450. 
Eagle,    Xez     Perce     chief,    coun-sels 

Mrs  Whitman,  i.  665  0. 
Eales,  Capt.,  on  Oregon  coa.-.t,  i.  84, 
Earhart,  R.  P.,  sec.  of  state,  ii.  702. 
East  Portland,  progress  of,  ii.  752. 
Eastham,  E.  L.,  mention  of,  ii.  753. 
Eaton,  Charles  H.,  biog.,  i.  421. 
'  E.  D.  Baker,'  steamer,  ii.  481. 
Edmonds,    John,    shooting    atliiir,    i. 

444-5;  left  for  Cal.,  ii.  47. 
Edmunds,  John,  accomp.  Wliite,  i.  434. 
Ednmndson,  Indian  mission,  i.  55. 
Education,  effort  toward,  1834,  i.  315; 

girls'  school  opened,  325;  grants  of 

land,  608;  drawbacks,  ii.  31. 
Educational  institutions,  ii.  32. 
Edwards,    P.   L.,   missionary,   i.   59; 

character,  60;  buildin^'  miss.,  78-90; 

treas.  Willamett-^  Cattle  Co.,   141; 

goes  to  Cal.  for  cattle,  142-150;  life, 

109;  infer,  to  emigrants,  292-3. 
Edwards,  Rich.,  killed  by  Inds,    n. 

312. 
Fells,  C.  C,  missionary,  i.   137-8. 
Fells,  Myron,  missionary,  i.   138. 
Fells,  Mrs,  missionary,  i.   137-8. 
Ehrenberg,    H.,    Or.    settler,   i.  240; 

biog.  240-1. 
Flection,  freedom  of  vote,  i.  307. 
Eliot,  S.  G.,  surveyed  R.  R,  line,  ii. 

OftO. 
Flizibeth,  mining  town,  ii.  3.30. 
ii^Iizabethtown,  Ky,  petition  to  Con- 

fress,  i.  374. 
ins,  Luther,  of  assembly   185.3-5, 
ii.   323,  349;  of  constitutional  con- 
vention, 423;  senator  1858  00,  432, 
4i)2;  R.  R.  commisr,  09(). 
Elhins,  W.  S.,  of  assembly  1870,  ii. 

671. 
'  El  Placer,' brig.,  ii.  48. 


INDEX. 


777 


Elliot.    Col,    Mil.    commis.     to    try 

.\loiloc.s,  li.  (>;{5. 
Elliott,  Will  .M.,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
Ely,  Lt,  in  liidiau  exp«il.,  ii.  :il4. 
Ellm,  liiil.   chiuf,  biog.,   i.   271;  cun- 
ning of,  280-  'J;  hostility,  3:it)~2. 
Ellsworth,  S.,  of  Or.  C.  M.  R.  Co..  ii. 

«52;  director   Or.  V.    R.    R.,   «U8, 

GO!). 
Emeliisor,    I.,    in    immigrant    party 

1859,  ii.  4(i:{. 
Emigrants,    Whites  party,    i.   250-7; 

lif(!  <m  the  plains,   257;  cliaracter, 

3:)2;  scarcity  of  food,  410-17;  1844, 

448  9. 
Emigration,    inducements   offered,    i. 

374  5;  oigani/atiou  184.3,  393-424; 

cliaracter,  42.5-7. 
'  Enrly  Packard,'  ship   wrecked,    ii. 

Eniinon-i.  Lieut,  expej.   from   Or.  to 

Cal.,  219. 
Eagle,  William,  biog.,  i.  528. 
Ent;li-h,   eniig.  to  Or.,    i.    .377;  fleet, 

497. 
English,  Ti.   N.,  leased  jienitentiary, 

biog..  ii.  (i44. 
Enos,    lialf   iireed,    treachery   of,    ii. 

394. 
'Enterprise,'  s'oamer,  ii.  340. 
Episcopal  chnrcli,  hist,  of,  ii.  685-6. 
Erasmus,  Christopher,  murder  of,  ii. 

577. 
Ergnette,  W.,  cattle  exped. ,  i.  142. 
Ermatinger,  F.,  character,  i.  32-33; 

attacked  by  Inds,  136;  Men.  1'.  L. 

L.  C.,  297; 'treasurer,  472,  480,  49(>. 
Ettingcr,  S.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 

ii.  255. 
Eugene,  founders  of  city,  ii.  251;co'ty 

seat,  299;  university  at,  6C1. 
Eulinger,  Sigmonil,  claim  of,  ii.  ,321. 
Evans,  Allan,  bravery  of,  wounded, 

ii.  378.  • 

Evans,  David,  claim  of,  ii.  .321. 
Evans,  Saiiniel.  murder  of,  ii.  489. 
Evans,  I.,  exped.  of,  ii.  300. 
Everest.  Mr  and  Mrs.  biog.,  i.  631. 
Everman,  Hiram,  trial  of,  ii.  15(i. 
Evcrman,    Niniwon,    explores   I'ugi 

Sound, " 

47. 
Everman, 

ii.  15(i. 

'  Ewing,'  survey  schr,  ii.  190-2. 
Ewing,    F.    Y.,    travels  with  Lee,  i. 

169. 
Executive  Com.,  pay,  i.  440;  author- 
ity, i.  441-2. 
E'Dress  Co.,  first  in  operation,  ii.  339. 


1.   463-4;  left  for  Cal.,    a. 
Wm,  trial  and  execution, 


Executive,  power,  summary,   1842,  i. 

307-8. 
Express,    meeting    to     provide    for 

sending,  i.  552. 
Eyre,  Miles,  drowned,  i.  400, 


F 


Fackler,  Samuel)  biog.,  i.  031. 

Fackler,  Rev.  !St  M.,  biog.,  i.  029. 

Failing,  Henry,  biog.  of,  ii.  705. 

Fairchild.s,  John  A.,  farm  of,  ii.  578; 
removes  Hot  Creeks,  .57S  80;  acts 
in  Modoc  war,  589,  597-0()7;  favors 
Modocs,  034. 

Falls  debating  soc  ,  founding,  i  205. 

'  Falmontli,' ship,  ii.  1.39. 

'  Fama,"  bark,  i.  422. 

Fanning,  Mr.s  Rebecca,  biog.,  i.  530. 

Farley,  Jolni  F.  biog.,  i.  ti.3(). 

Fanning  interest,  rise  of,  ii.  338. 

Fai'iihain,  T.  L,  at  Fort  X'aiuimver, 
i.  44,  130,  234;  ^■\]u',\.,  227-;H4; 
works  of,  230-1 ;  in  ^'i'lllaiiiettf  val., 
231;  at  Sandwicli  Is.,  '2'M;  report 
on  Or..  236. 

Farrar,  W.  H.,  of  const,  convention, 
ii.  423. 

'  FiWii,' ship,  wrecked,  ii.  .300. 

Fay,  James  I).,  biog.,  i.  571;  of  as- 
sembly, 18(>2-5,  ii.  638,  (Jdo;  defeat- 
ed for  congress,  669;  senator,  1870, 
671. 

Fellows,  A.  M.,  enrolling  officer,  ii. 
399. 

Ferre'!,  D.  I.,  in  com'd  of-Klamatha, 
ii.  577. 

Ferries,  rights  granted,  i.  440. 

Ferry,  Clias,  of  anti-slaverv  i  arty,  ii. 
359. 

Feudalism  among  fiir-traders.  i.  40-7. 

Fickas,  John  L.,  death  of,  ii.  370. 

Field,  M.  C,  with  Stuart's  hunting- 
party,  i.  390. 

Fields,  Mr,  biog.,  i.  037. 

Fields,  Calvin,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  37L 

Figueroa,  gov.  of  Cal.,  i.  91,  97. 

Finances,  state  of,  I.S.")4-  5,  ii.  355. 

Fiulayson,  D.,  at  Fort  Vancouver,  i. 
34,  37. 

'Firefly,'  steam-tug,  wrecked,  ii.  .341. 

'Fisgard,' Eiig.  frigate,  i.  499;  otlicers 
of,  579. 

Fisher,  Mrs  John,  biog.,  i.  636. 

Fishery,  establish,  on  Columbia,  1840, 
245. 

Fiske,  De,  E.  R.,  in  explor.  exped.,  iL 
170. 

Fikh,  T.  L.  exped.  agtinst  Inds,  iL 
464. 


J 


778 


INDEX. 


("itzgerald,  Maj.,  pnrsnit  of  Inds,  ii. 
37:i,  374. 

Fitzhugh,  ii^olomon,  of  const,  conven- 
tiou,  ii.  423;  ueuator,  18tiO-3,  452, 
638. 

Fitzhugh 's  mill,  meeting  at,  of  emig. 
of  1843,  i.  393. 

Fit/patrick,  trader,  missionaries  with, 
i.  107,  127;  witb  White's  party, 
259,  2(i0. 

Five  Crowa,  Caynse  chief,  i.  279,  280; 
outrages  by,  602-3. 

Flanagan,  Pat.,  in  explor.  exped.,  ii. 
176;  settles  on  Coos  bay,  SM. 

Flatheads,  at  St  Louiu,  i.  54;  mission, 
0i)-6;  missionaries  among,  137;  R. 
C.  influence  with,  322-3. 

Fleming,  John,  printer,  biog.,  i.  575; 
signs  memorial,  ii.  127. 

Fletcher,  F.,  with  B^arnham's  exped. , 
227,  237. 

Flint,  A.  C,  founds  Winchester,  ii. 
1S3. 

Floods  of  1861-2,  ii.  482-5. 

Flour,  hist,  of  manufacture,  ii.  729. 

Foisy,  M.  G.,  biog.,  i.  467. 

Foley,  I)r,  settler  at  Coos  bay,  ii.  334, 

Fontenelle,  trader,  missionaries  with, 
i.  106^8. 

'  Forager, '  ship,  seizure  of,  ii.  107. 

Ford  family,  settlers  and  biog.,  i,  413. 

Ford,  Nathaniel,  leader  of  party,  i.450; 
biog.,  4()9;  supreme  judge,  496;  co'ty 
treasurer,  612;  of  ter.  council,  1849, 
185(1  9,  ii.  71,  •^17,  429.  434;  of  H. 
of  Sept.,  1851-0,  158,  .349;  on  peni- 
tentiary board,  298;  senator,  1866- 
8,  66(i,  (168. 

Ford,  Niueveh,  first  toarrive  at  Dalles, 
i.  408. 

Ford,  Mrs  R.  A.,  biog.,  i.  6.36. 

Ford,  Sidney  S.,  biog.,  i.  527. 

Fordyce,  A.  (r.,  in  lud.  exped.,  ii. 
31.1;  claim  of,  321. 

'  Forrest,' brig,  ii.  48. 

Forsytli,  J.,  appoints  U.  S.  agent,  i 
100. 

Fort  Boise,  established,  i.  14;  ii.  600; 
Fandiam's  e.xped.  at,  i.  229;  aban- 
doned, ii.  112;  massacre  near,  343; 
military  post,  494. 

Fort  Canl)y,  erection  of,  ii.  511. 

Fort  Colvillo,  description,  i.  14;  mis- 
sionary at,  1839.318-19. 

Fort  Deposit,  named,  i.  621. 

Fort(ieorgc,  descriptiou,  L  11}  trad- 
ing post,  29. 

Fort  Uilliam,  named,  i.  703. 


Fort  Hall,  established,  L  14;  mission- 
aries at,  62;  buUt,  63;  Farnhar.i 
exped.  at,  228-9;  immigrants  at, 
451;  abandoned,  ii.  112, 

Fort  Klamath,  constructed,  ii.  495; 
Modoc  prisoners  at,  634. 

Fort  Laramie,  immigrant  supplies,  i. 
4til. 

Foit  I«avenworth,  military  post,  i. 
374. 

Fort  Lee,  named,  :.  703;  peace  com- 
sioners  at,  706;  garrisoned,  737. 

Fort  Nisqually,  appearance,  i.  11. 

Fort  O'Kanagan,  situation,  i.  13; 
Blanchet  at,  316-17;  abandoned,  ii. 
112. 

Fort  Stevens,  erection  of,  ii.  511. 

Fort  Umpqua,  1840,  i.  194;  aban- 
doned, li.  111. 

Fort  Vancouver,  description,  i.  6-11; 
life  at,  7-11;  school,  11;  agric.  at, 
8-9,  13-14;  missionaries  at,  16,  18, 
184;  importance  of,  26;  established, 
29;  society  at,  26-28,  42;  physi- 
cians at,  .34-35;  arrival  of  brigade, 
46;  chief  trader's  caravan,  49;  Sun- 
day at,  123;  Farnham  at,  230;  mills, 
234;  Ind.  outrages,  268;  mass  cele- 
brated, 317;  fortified,  446-7;  threat- 
ened capture,  681-2;  military  post, 
ii.  85,  90;  abondoued,  112;  land 
claims,  279. 

Fort  Walla  Walla,  description,  i.  12- 
13;  missionary  at,  318;  Bishops  see, 
.327;  army  at,  715;  abandoned,  ii. 
112. 

Fort  William,  built,  i.  15;  aliandoned, 
98. 

Forts,  life  at,  i.  7-8;  in  Or.  1834,  12. 

Foster,  Philip,  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  i. 
297;  grievances,  480. 

Foster,  Capt.  S.  A.,  act  A.  A.  G. 
Columbia  dep't,  ii.  531. 

Fowler,  C\pt,,  on  Columbia,  i.   188. 

Fowler,  W.  W.,  favors  new  ter. 
sclieme,  ii.  255;  Alcalde,  325. 

Fowler,  William,  encourages  emigra- 
tion 1843,  i.  399. 

Fox,  C.  E.,  founds  town,  ii.  252. 

Framboise,  M.  la,  nurses  Kelley,  L 
90;  trail  of,  147. 

Francis,  Simoon,  paymaster  of  army, 
biott.j  ii.  458. 

Franklin,  family  outraged,  i.  64S. 

Franklin  Advertiser,  newspaper,  ii. 
438. 

Fra/icr,  Abner,  deposition  about  Cal., 
i.  5i!2 

Freeman,  Jauies,  contractor  for  aur* 
vays,  iL  209. 


INDEX. 


fl9 


Free  Press,  newspaper,  suspended,  ii. 

4;i-4. 
Fremont,  Lieut,  exped.,  i.  379,  419- 

20. 
French     Prairie,    i.     71-3;    convent 

scli'iol  at,  325. 
French  Canadians,  as  settlers,  i.  15- 

1(5,    6G,  7:^4;  in  Willamette  Val., 

6U,  70-3;  character,  2.'J5. 
French  settlers,  feeling  toward  gov't 

1842.  i.  2«)8-9. 
Friends  of  Oregon,  action  in  regard  to 

Or.,  i.  254. 
Fritz,  trouble  caused  l)j%  ii.  570-80. 
Frost,  Rev.  .T.  H.,  missionary,  i.  177; 

at  Clatsop  miss.,  185-8. 
Frost,  Mrs,  missionary,  i.  177;  at  Clat- 
sop miss.,  185-8. 
Fruit,  market  for,  ii.  257-8. 
Fry,  I.  B..  adj    in  Hathaway's  force, 

ii.  70;  of  0.  R.  R.  A:  N.  Co.,  704. 
Fudge,  I.  M.,  killed  on  the  HJazelle,' 

ii.  :140. 
Fulkeraon,  I.  M.,  of  H.  of  Rep.,  1852, 

ii.  290;  of  council,  1853-0,  323,  349, 

413;  college  trustee,  084. 
Fulker.son,  John  T.,  hiog.   of,  ii.  714. 
Fuller,  David,  killed  on  the  'Gazelle,' 

ii.  340. 
Fulton,  James,  biog.  and  bibliog.,  i. 

034;  of  assembly,  ii.  071. 
Fur-traders  in  Oregon,  1834,  i.  6-17; 

life  at  forts,  7-8,  42;  hospitality,  9- 

10;  religion,   10-11,  02;  Ind.   wives 

of,  27-8;  brigade,  40;  cravau,  47 


Gaets,  Father,  arrives,   1847,  i.  326. 

(rago,  Josej)!!,  associate  justice,  i.  450. 

Gagnier,  at  Fort  Ump(iua,  i.  193-5. 

Caguier,  Mrs,  with  missionaries,  i. 
195-6.      ' 

Gaines,  John  P.,  app't'd  gnv'r,  ii.  139; 
administration  and  'ilt'l  acts  of, 
1850-2,  139-73;  l>i.,'.,  109;  lud. 
comitiis.,  ofTi  acts  ot  208,  228-32; 
charges  against,  301   2. 

Galliiglier,  Lieut  I.  H.,  coni'd  at  Fort 
Liij)wai,  ii.  53U 

(lalvin,  John,  in  Ind.  exped.,  li,  240. 

Ganible,  James,  established  Port  Or- 
ford,  ii.  193. 

Gaiitt,  K.  E.,  capture  of,  ii.  648. 

(iantt,  Capt.  John,  conducts  emi- 
grants, i.  395,  400. 

•Ganymede,'  ship,  i.  38,  84. 

Gardapie,  Kaptiste,  rescues  immi- 
grants, i.  504. 


Gardiner,   Charles,    injured   on    the 

'Gazelle,' ii.  340. 
Gardipie,  J.  B.,   exploring  party,  i. 

532. 

Garrison,  A.  E.,  biog.,  i.  572. 
Garrison,  E.,  Methodist  preacher,  i. 

397;  ii.  677. 
Garrison,   J.  M.,    legislator,  1845,  i. 

472;  explor.  party,  1846,  532;  capt. 

of  CO.,  703;  of  council,  1851-2,  ii. 

161,  296;  Ind.  agent,  312. 
Garrison,  Margaret,  biog.,i.  422. 
Garrison,  Margaret  Herron,  biog.,  L 

415. 
Garry,   Spokane  chief,   character,  i. 

339-10. 
Gary,  Rev.  Geo.,  voy.   to  Or.,  i.  39; 

8Ui)ersedes    Lee,     218,    2*21;    miss. 

work,  2*23-4;  assists  Thornton,  021; 

supt  of  nuss.,  ii.  677. 
Goskell,  A.  P.,  of  Coos  Bay  Co.,  ii. 

332. 
Gassett,  C.  C,  murder  of,  ii.  521. 
Gaston,  Joseph,  acts  in  Og.  Cent.  R.R. 

affairs,  ii.  696-703;  biotf.,  70.3-4.  ^ 
Gay,  (ieo.,  escapes  from  Inds,  i.  9()-7; 

with  cattle  co.,  14*2,  147;  kills  Inds, 

148;  mem.  of  col  govt,  30J ,  left  for 

Cal.,  ii.  47. 
Gay,  Pich.,  drowned,  ii.  396. 
'Gazelle,'  steamer,  explosion  on,  ii. 

340. 
Ganoli,   Father,   arrives  in  1847,  i. 

326. 
Geary,  Edw.,  trustee  of  Or.  academy, 

ii.  167;  supt  Ind.  affairs,  461;  Presb. 

minister,  681;  school  trustee,  682; 

of  Or.  Cent.  R.  R.  Co.,  698. 
(roer,  Frederick  W.,  biog.,  i.  572. 
(Jeer,   G.,    Or.  pioneer,  illicit  liquor 

traffic,  i.  273. 
Geer,   Joseph    Carey,   biog.,   i.   637; 

maj.  of  militia,  ii.  3'25. 
Geer,  Ralph  C,  biog.,  i.  637;  of  state 

house   board,    ii.    146;  nursery   of, 

'257;  of   H.  of  Rep.,    18C4  5,   .^49, 

R.  R.  commis'r,  690. 
Geiger,  abandons  Dalles,  accompanies 

White,  184*2,  i.  '268;  tour,  .342. 
Geisell,  .lohn,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  395. 
'General  I,imo,'  ship,  li.  48,  49. 
'General  Warren,'  steamer,  wrecked, 

ii.  '203-4,  341. 
George,  M.  C,  elected  to  congress,  ii. 

(575. 
( rervais,  .Tos. ,  activity  in  govt  forma- 
tion, i.  300-1;  meets  R.  C.  priests, 

317;  explor.  party,  53'2. 
Gurvais,  Zavier,  explori.ig  party,  L 

632. 


780 


INDEX. 


Gibbs,  A.  C,  rpvi.^^ed  Or.  laws,  ii.  150; 
atl'j-,  ir)S;  l)iog.,  181-2;  of  H.  of 
Kep.,  IfSoL',  1800,  U'J6,  452;  collec- 
tor, W.t;  ooiiiii.i.-i.  to  settle  claims. 
3'JI ;  governor,  otf'l  jvctH,  509,  037, 
0;jS,  044;  aspirant  for  U.  S.  senate, 
007;  ileatli  ot,  703. 

Gibbs,  lieo.,  deputy  collector  at  As- 
toria, ii.  81,  104;  biog.,  IM. 

Gibhs,  John,  in  Ind.  exped.,  killed,  ii. 
313. 

Gilbert,  Isaac  N.,  biog.,  i.  409. 

G  ll.M- 1,  t'ol  A.  L'.,  as.sunies  com'd,  ii. 
5ii5;  acts  in  Modoc  war,  (iOO-23. 

Gille  pie,  .loliii,  kdlcd,  ii.  3S3. 

(iilliani  oo'ty,  liint.  of,  ii.  711. 

Gilliam,  t'ornolius,  gen.  of  immigrants, 
i.  449;  liiog.,  449,  725:  buOab.  hunt- 
ing, 450;  bombast,  457,  0>l-2;  ex- 
plor.  party,  5:il,  507;  supt  of  postal, 
014;  col  com'd't,  07t>;  .•speech  to 
army,  7"8;  death,  725. 

Gillilauil,  Isaac,  biog.,  i.  047. 

(Jilmoro,  .Matthew,  member  prov. 
govt,  1S44,  i.  427,  431. 

('dinorc,  S.  M.,  sujiports  Gov.  Lane, 
ii.  93;  of  U.  of  Kcp.,  1,S,")0,  1800, 
143,  452;  biog.,  143;  delegate  to 
convention,  418. 

Gilpin,  Major,  life  in  Or.,  i.  223;  with 
Iremoiit,  420. 

Glasgow,  Thos  W.,  at  indignation 
meetiiiji,  ii.   102. 

Gleasoii,  Sam'l,  in  Snake  river  maa- 
sacre,  ii.  472. 

Glover,  William,  biog,,  i.  G.3G. 

(!iid\\in,  Charles,  wounded,  ii.  383. 

Goll',  David,  biog.,  i.  544;  oxi)lor. 
jiarty,  544;  leaves  for  Ft  Hall,  551- 
2;  guides  itniuigrants,  .5.58. 

dotiL',  '1'.  A.,  iiKution  of,  ii.  705. 

ImiM  di.sc.  ill  Cal.,  ii.  42,  43;  disc,  of, 
1S.50  2, 174-204,  scarcliea  for,47;->-SO. 

Gold  e|ioi!h,  decadence  ot,  ii.  337-8, 

MJold-liunter,'  steamer,  ii.  705. 

(Joldsborough,  L.  M.,  in  survey  ex- 
pe.l,  ii.  2bS. 

Goldsby,  .loiin,  M'oundod,  ii.  383. 

(iood,  b.  H.,  biog.,  i.  270. 

Goodhue,  Samuel,  exploring  party, 
|8H;,  i.  544;  biog.,  .544. 

Goodrich,  C.  L.,  jmrchases  Or.  Sjn'cUt- 
titi;  18,">4,  (liscontinufMl,  i,  575. 

Goo<lwyn,  Tlioa  Jefferson,  biog.  of,  ii. 
714. 

Goodyear,  M.,  with  missionaries,  i. 
127. 

Gordon,  .lohn,  writes  McLouBhlin,  i. 
4»7. 


Gordon,    Tlarvey,    noTninated     state 

printer,  l)iog.,  ii.  G3V. 
Government,  provijioual,  1843,  i.  280- 

1;    organization,    292-314;   election 

of  ollicers,    293;  expenses  of,  443; 

scat  propo.sals,  530. 
(Governor,  salary,  i.  4.32;  power,  470- 

flracie,  Lieut  Arch.,  at  Ind.  council, 
ii.  302. 

Orahaiii,  David,  attacked  by  Ind.s,  ii, 
523. 

Grammar,  Nez  Perce,  i.  .335. 

(Irande  Ronde,  emigrants  arriv< ,  i. 
401;  military  re^servation,  ii.  397. 

(iraiit  co'ty,  liiat.  of,  ii.  711. 

(iiant,   .la-i,  at  Fort  Hall,  i.  42,  201. 

(Jra.sshoppers,  destruction  by,  ii.  342. 

(Jrave  creek,  light  at,  ii.  3S1-3. 

(iraves,  .S.  C.,  favors  newter.  scheme, 
ii.  255. 

Gray,  .James,  del.  to  convention,  1857, 
ii.  418. 

Gray,  Tliomas,  deatii  of,  ii.  370. 

Gray,  \V.  H.,  names  Columbia  river. 
j.  24;  missionary,  120;  journey  to 
Ft  N'ancouver,  120-35;  returns  eust, 
130;  attacked  by  Ind.s,  130;  on  tho 
Dalles  miss.,  l(i3-4;  builds  Or.  in- 
stitute, 203;  oppose:!  White,  204; 
hist.  Or.,  301-2;  sec.  of  Chamjioeg, 
convention,  303;  leg.  com.,  ]S42, 
3(U;  dese-ts  Whitman,  .340,  343; 
legislator,  1745,  472,  481,  488;  re- 
turii-i  to  Astoria,  .584;  residence, 
.588;  left  for  Cal.,  1848,  ii.  47. 

Great  Britain,  blows  at  interests,  1843, 
i.  313;  occu]iatioii  Col  R.,  303;  jur- 
isdiction, 300,  cl.iini  disputed,  383- 
4;  tr'atment  of  U.  S.,  597. 

Greeii,  I  ol,  actiiuis  in  Modoc  war,  ii. 
573  029. 

fJreeii,  .1.,  slii])-building,  247. 

Oree'diuek  (pie  ;tion,  ii.  040  3. 

Oreeiihow,  on  term  Oregon,  i.  24. 

(ireeinvo  d.  Wm,  biog.,  i.  753;  sen- 
ator, 1802-5,  ii.  0.38,  005. 

O 'cer,  I,  H,,  nominated  state  treas- 
urer, ii.  038. 

(Jregory  il:  Co.,  express  ro.  of.  ii.  3.39. 

(Iregory,  X\'I.,  I'ope,  Or.  createil  to 
an  apostolic  vicariate,  Dec.  1843, 
i.  320. 

•     ■  V* 

.luaii  1-land,  ii.  432. 
(irillin,  Hufonl  R.,  biog.,  i.  762. 
Orilliii.    Rev.    .1.    S,,    miaaionary,    i. 

2.'iS  9,    244;    ineligible    for    gov'r, 

.305;  ed  first  paj^ier,  33S. 
lirilHth,  I'Ai-M,  biog.,  i.  529. 


Grey,   Capt.    Tiiomas,   coind    at    S. 


INDEX. 


781 


Griffith,  Elizabeth,  hiog.,  i.  529. 

Grim,  I.  W.,  1)iog.,  i.  G3G;  of  H.  of 
rep.  ii.  72;  senator,  lS58-(>5,  432, 
4.52,  (538,  665;  vice-presdt  Pioii. 
Sou.,  693. 

Gri  it  iiiill  i,  loeati'^n-owners,  ii.  25. 

Grover,  L.  F.,  biog.,  ii.  149;  pros- 
attorney,  298;  university  trustee, 
299;  ter.  auditor,  306;  in  Ind.  ex- 
pt-ilt.,  313;  of  H.  of  rep.,  1853-7, 
32.'!,  413,  417;  of  constitutional 
convention,  423;  elected  to  congress, 
1858,  431;  takes  seat,  441;  charac- 
ter, 444;  elected  Gov.,  670;  U.  S. 
senator,  673. 

Grulil),  iSani'l,  in  Indian  expedt.,  ii. 
313;  claim  of,  321. 


H 


Hacliur,  Isaac,  settlor  at  Coos  bay, 
ii.  3.S4;  of  H.  of  rep.,  lS(U-5,  665. 

Hacklunian,  cominancL)  immigrant co., 
1845,  i.  509. 

llagardine.  It.  B.,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii, 
313. 

Haines,  I.  D.,  biog.,  ii.  81. 

Halt-broiuli,  causes  dis.^atisfaction,  i. 
651-3. 

Hall,  E.  C,  killed,  ii.  464. 

Hall,  Lawrence,  biog.,  i.  528;  mem. 
of  leg.,  604;  on  com't.  to  frame 
memorial,  606;  reaches  Walla 
Wiilla.  661 ;  of  council,  1850-2;  ii. 
142.  158,  29li. 

Hall,  Kuaion  B.,  hiog.,  i.  569. 

HallooU,  (Jen.,  visits  Or.,  ii.  525,  526. 

'  Hamilton,' ship,  i.  154. 

Hamilton,   Edvv.,   t^rr.  sec'y,  ii.  139. 

Hamilton,  \V,,  killing  of,  ii.  155. 

Haiidin,  Nathaniel,  hiog.,  i.  752. 

Hamiiioiid,  Brev.-capt.  1).  1'.,  in  sur- 
vey expedt.,  ii.  lOt). 

Hauiliett,  W.  H.,  of  road  co.,  ii. 
652. 

HaiKdck,  Samuel,  hiog.  &  hihliog., 
i.  509;  left  for  I'al.  ii.  47. 

Hanna,  I.  A.,  I'resi).  muiister,  ii. 
t)^ , . 

Hi  oiih,  A'i.dph  B.,  of  H.  of  rep., 
K'.i8  9,  ii.  432-4;  U.  S.  marshal, 
44li;  ill  confed    survii'u,  45(i. 

Hannon,  George,  ))iog.,  i.  529 

llarlioss,  appropriatioiH  for,  ii.  300. 

Hardin,  Jolin  R.,  of  H.  of  rep.,  1852, 
ii.  2im;  killed  by  Inds.,  313;  claim 
of,  321;  alcahle,  325. 

Harding,  Benj.  F ,  of  H.  of  rep., 
1850-2,  1858,  1860,  ii.  142,  296,  4.S2, 
452;  hiog.,  143;  defends  W,   Kea- 


dall,  156;  chief  clerk  of  house,  163; 

university  trustee,  299;  U.  S.  att'y, 

309;  U.  S.  senator,  639. 
Harney,  Gen.,  mil.  administration  of, 

ii.  461-8. 
Harper,  Andrus,  hiog.,  i.  572. 
'  Harpooner,' .ship,  ii.  48,  70,  103. 
Harris,  Mrs,  figlit  with  Inds.,  ii.  .373. 
Harris,  Geo.   W.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii. 

373. 
Harris,   Isaac,   warns    Fairciiild     ii. 

579. 
Hatris,   Moses,  assists   emigrants,   i. 

315,   450,    564-.    with    White,    484; 

explor.  party,  1846,  532,  544;  biog., 

545;  leaves  Ft  Hall,  551  2. 
Harrison,    A.  M.,  in  survey  expedt, 

ii.  249. 
Harrison,  Hugh,  hiog.,  i.  635. 
Hart,  Thomas,  biog.,  i.  5.30. 
Hartness,  McDonald,  killed,  ii.  40.*?. 
Hasbrouck,  in  Modoc  war,  ii.  624-8. 
'  Hassaloe,' steamer,  ii.  480. 
Hastings,  L.   W.,  leader  of  party,  i. 

258-67;    disagreements  with,    258; 

escapes  Ind.,    260;    goes  to    C'al., 

266  7;  character  and  bibliog,,  267; 

persuades  immigrants  to  Cal. ,  552. 
Hatch,  Peter    H.,    pion.    '43,  i.    422; 

signs  mc<norial,  li.    127;  candidate 

for  legislature,  437. 
Hathaway,   Brev.-Maj.,   in  comd.   of 

artillery,  ii.  69. 
Hathaway,      Felix,     at    Willamette 

P'alU,    i. -204;    ship-bnildiiig,    247; 

prov.  gov't  meets  at  house  of,  428. 
Haun,  Mr,  hiog.,  i.  637. 
Ilauxliurst,  Wubley,  cattle   expcilt,, 

i.    142;   assaulted,   444;    university 

trustee,  ii.  299. 
Hawaiian  Islands,  trade,  i.  371. 
Hawkins,    Lt,    military   force   of,   ii. 

68,  69. 
Hawkins,  Henry,  biog.,  i.  527. 
Hawks,  Thomas,  drowned,  ii.  341. 
Hays,  Mrs  Kobecea,  at  Waiilatpu,  L 

C47;  nuirdered,  660. 
Hazard,  W.,  early  settler,  ii.  252. 
Headricli,  Samuel,  hicg,,  i.  632. 
Ilearn,  F.  G.,  visit  of,  ii.  175. 
llebcr,  Fr"d,  in  Ind.  oxjaidt.,  ii.  313. 
Hodden,  Cyrus,  in  explor.  expedt.,  li. 

197. 
Hedding,  Bisliop,  missionary  meeting, 

i.  69. 
Hedding,  Elijah,  son  of  ]*(')i]>ouinox- 

mox,  1.  279;  murder  of,  286  7. 
Hedges,  A.  P.,  of    ligislaturc.  1S49, 

ii.  59;  of  H    of  rep.,   185S  9,    4.1'^ 

434;  director  O.  C.  H.  11.,  699. 


782 


INDEX. 


Heinrici),  Peter,  death  of,  ii.  370. 

Helm,  L.  S.,  col  of  militia,  ii.  325. 

Helm,  Win,  Meth.  preacher,  ii.  677. 

Hembree,  A.  J.,  mem.  of  leg.,  i.  604; 
ii.  58,  59;  of  H.  of  rep.,  1850-5,  ii. 
72,  158,  34!t;  supports  Gov.  Lane, 
93;  trustee  of  Or.  Academy,  167. 

Hcndershott,  James,  of  H.  of  rep., 
1806,  ii.  666;  senator,  1868-70,  668, 
671. 

Hcndershott,  S.,  of  court  convention, 
ii.  423. 

Henderson,  I.  H.  D.,  candidate  for 
Icgis.,  ii.  337;  elected  to  congress, 
606;  director  O.  C.  II.  R.,  699. 

Henderson,  Roh't,  hiog.,  ii.  144. 

Hendrick,  Sam'l,  killed  by  Inds,  ii. 
395. 

Hendricks,  T.  M.,  biog.,  i.  753. 

Hennes'--"V,  Wm,  death  of,  ii.  370. 

'Henry  '  L-ig,  i,  414,  679-80;  ii.  24, 
43,  4> 

Henry,  A,  1.  agent,  ii.  207;  of 

H.  of  rep.  -5,  349. 

Hensaker,  '1'.  i'  ,  mill-owner,  ii.  50. 

Hei  !ford,Capt.,of  the'Oazelle,' ii.340. 

Herman,  congressman,  ii.  762. 

Herron,  Daniel,  discoverers  gold,  i. 
512. 

Hibbler,  joins  Cal.  exped.,  i.  079. 

Hickley,  Mrs,  at  Willamette  mission, 
i.  157-8. 

Hicklin,  H.  H. ,  of  anti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359;  del.  to  convention,  418. 

Hicklin,  John  L, ,  biog.,  i.  753. 

Hicklin,  W.  C,  of  anti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359. 

Higgins,  H.,  judge,  i.  496. 

Highlands,  settlement,  i.  40.S. 

HiU,  Capt.  B.  H.,  at  Astoria,  ii.  09. 

Hill,  David,  leg.  com.  1842,  i.  304, 
312;  mem.  prov.  govt,  1844,  427, 
431;  legislator,  473,  481;  post- 
master, 614;  of  H.  of  rep.,  1848-9, 
ii.  58,  r,9,  72. 

Hill,  Isar.c,  attack  on  Inds,  ii.  313. 

Hill,  llyland  D.,  murder  of,  ii.  156. 

HinckL-y,  Capt,  on  C(dund)ia  river,  i. 
1">4;  at  AMllamette  miss.,  157-8; 
marriage,  158. 

Hind,  E.,  in  inmiigrant  party,  ii.  463. 

Hinderwell,  R.  0.,  Capt.,  arrest  of, 
ii.  104-7. 

Hinea,  Rev.  G.,  missionary,  i.  177; 
among  the  Umpquas,  19l}-6;  on 
school  com.,  201;  trustee  Or.  insti- 
tute, 202;  life  of,  226;  opposes 
White,  264;  oration  at  opennijr  of 
leg.,  306;  Meth.  minister,  ii.  677. 


mmister,    ii, 
missionary,  i.  177; 


Hincs,   H.    K.,   Meth 

677. 
Hines,  Mrs  H.  K 

tea<-.-.dr,  ii.  678. 
Hinman,     Alanson,      in    charge     of 

Dalles,   i.   644,   667;  biog.   U>7;   of 

H.  of  rep.,  1866,  660;  collector,  069. 
Hinsnaw,  Isaac,  biog.,  i.  529. 
Hinton,  Capt.,  at  Fort  Boise,  ii.  519. 
Hirsch,  Edward,  state  treas.,  ii.  760. 
Hitchcock,  Gen.,  in  Oregon,  ii.  233. 
Hobart,  Lieut  Charles,  movements  of, 

ii.  514. 
Hobson,  Richard,  biog.,  i.  421. 
Hodges,  Caijt.  H.  C,  A.  G.  M.  Col- 

umbia  dcp't,  ii.  S.Tl. 
Hodges,  Jesse  Monroe,  biog.,  i.  628-9. 
Hodgkins,     Wm,     in     Ind.    e.\ped„ 

wonnded,  ii.  313. 
Hoecken,    Adrian,    R.    C.    priest,    L 

325;  with  hunting  Jiarty,  396;  dis- 
covers pass,  398. 
Hoffman,  Mr,  at  Waiilatpu,  i.  648. 
Holbrook,  Amory,  att'y  in  Ind.  trial, 

ii.  96;  sign.s  memorial,   1117;  of  H. 

of  rep.,  1800,  452;  nominated  U.  S. 

senator,  CiD. 
Ilolcomb,  Gay  C,  killed  l)y  Intls,  iL 

395. 
Holden,  "lorivce,  biog.  and  bibliog.,  i. 

407. 
Holden,  .'  Irs  Horace,  presents  flag  to 

Or.  rangei;n,  i.  uo.'i. 
Holderncss,  S.  M.,  mem.  P.  L.  L, 

i.    297;    fights  duel,    492;    sec 

State  1849,  ii.  59. 
Holgate,  John  C,  biog.,  i.  630. 
Holladay,  Ben,  acts  in  Or.  R.  II.  a 

fairs  "•  700—1;  mention  of,  740. 
Holland,  David,  settler  at  Coos  buy, 

ii.  3:14. 
Hcdlanil,  Francis  8.,  biog,,  i.  5.30. 
Holland,  1,  1',,  in  explor.  exped.,  ii. 

197. 
Holman,  Dillard,  in  Ind.  exped,,  ii. 

224. 
Holman,  John,  biog,,  i.  421. 
Holman,  Jos.,  with  Farnhams' exped., 

i,  227,  237;  of  legislature,  »KS;  uni- 

versity  trustee,  ii.  299j  R,  R,  com- 

mis'r,  690. 
Holmes,  Leander,  del  to  convention, 

ii,  418,  446;  nommated  state  sec, 

431, 
Holmes,  William,  death,  i,  421, 
Holmes,  Wm,  sheriff,  i,  49*^;  presents 

liberty-pole,  583;  serj^'t  »t  arms  of 

H,,  ii.  59,  72,  14<3;  »:gns  memorial, 

127;  R.  R.  con-nisV,  690 


of 


f. 


INDEX, 


783 


Holt,  Thomas,  explor.  party,  532; 
assists  immigrants,  564. 

Holton,  D.  .S.,  of  H.  of  rep.,  1858-9, 
ii.  432,  434;  surgeon  gen.,  438; 
senator,  1860-3,  452,  638. 

Holy  Heart  of  Mary,  mission  founded, 
i.  327. 

Home,  Capt.,  drowning  of,  L  53. 

Home,  t'apt.  D.,  arrives  Or.  on 
Beaver,  i.  123. 

'Honolulu,' ship,  ii.  42. 

Hooker,  Jim,  in  Modoc  war,  ii.  575-6, 
587,  592,  599,  606,  909-12;  surren- 
ders, 627;  eonfession,  632. 

Hooker,  Col  Joseph,  completed  road, 
biog.,  ii.  S0(>;  in  union  army,  456. 

Hooker,  S.  C,  murder  of,  ii.  156. 

Horn,  A.,  death,  i.  261. 

Horse  ("reek,  military  post,  i.  376. 

Hospital,  at  F.  Vancouver,  i.  8;  Wil- 
lamette miss,  162;  Chemeketa 
plains,  11)"    197. 

Hot  Creek  li  u 
ii.  578-80. 

Houck,   1.    L., 
1859,  ii.  463. 

E.,    of  court  convention,   ii. 


attempt  removal  of, 
in  immigrant    party 


Hoult, 

423 

Houston,  Robert,  biog.,  i.  635. 
Hovey,  A.  G.,  del  to  rep.  convention, 

ii.  446;  senator,  1862-5,  638,  665. 
Howanl,  Cynthia,  biog.,  i.  572. 
Howard,  John,  biog.,  i.  572. 
Howard,  Zenas,  warns  Fairchild,  ii. 

579. 
Howe,   Lieut  Albion,   in  Modoc  war, 

killed,  ii.  (in»-22;  biog.,  624. 
Howe,  E.  W.,  killed  by  Inda,  ii.  395. 
Howe,  Sain'l  I).,  com.  of  Island  Co., 

ii.  299. 
Howell,  John,  biog.,  i.  421. 
Howell,  Jonathan,  biog.  of,  ii.  714. 
Howell,    Morris,   in   Ind.  exped.,  ii. 

31.3. 
Howison,  Neil  M.,  commands  Shark, 

i.  584;  examines  country,  586-8. 
Howison 's  Rep't,  comments,  i.  585. 
Hoyt,  family  outraged   i.  045. 
Hoyt,  Francis  S.,  trustee  .,f  nniver- 

sity,  ii.  299;  librarian,  015;  Meth. 

preacher,  677. 
Hubbard,  kills  Tliomburg,  i.  95. 
Hubbard,  IMiarles,  biog.,  i.  635. 
Hubbard,  M.,  established  Port  Orford, 

ii.    193. 
Hubl)ard,  Thos.  J.,  leader  cattle  co., 

i.   179;   mum.    for  col.    gov't,    301; 

leg.  com.,  1842,  304. 
Hubor,  N.,  clerk  of  council,  ii.  434. 


Hudson  Bay  Co.,  Ind.  wives  among, 
i.  9-10,  26-28;  servants  of,  15,  70; 
treatm'jnt  of  Inds,  36;  ch.iracter  of 
officers,  42;  law  in  Or.  under,  48- 
50,  235;  monopoly  in  cattle,  140; 
lease  of  Kuss.  ten,  232,  234;  charges 
against,  245;  post  at  S.  F.,  250-1; 
attempt  to  settle  Or.,  252;  attitude 
to  immigrants,  261;  Whites  tran- 
saction with,  276;  treatment  of  im- 
migrants, 40i9-10;  delicate  position, 
447;  unite  with  Americans,  49.3-6; 
dissuading  Inda.,  540;  celebrate 
Christmas,  578;  Whitman's  nias.'ta- 
cre,  006-8;  force  sent  to  Walla 
Walla,  673-4;  embarrassimg  posi- 
tion, 681-2;  accused  of  conspiring 
with  Inds,  697-9;  decadence  ot 
busmess,  ii.  103;  sales  of,  189-10; 
forts  abandoned,  iii;  claims  of,  276- 
81. 

Hudson,  Miss,  murder  of,  ii.  377. 

Hudspeath,  J.  M.,  witness,  land  dis- 
pute, i.  206. 

Hull,  Joseph,  promotor  of  masonry, 
ii.  30. 

Humboldt,  on  term  Oregon,  i.  23-4. 

Humboldt  river,  discovered,  i.  32. 

Humphries,  Capt.,  on  Columbia,  L 
215. 

Humpy  Jerry,  of  Capt.  Jack's  band, 
ii.  577. 

Hunsaker,  Joseph,  biog.,  i.  633. 

Hunt,  Ciipt.  I.  C. ,  at  Camp  Lytm,  ii. 
519,  532. 

Hunt,  Joseph,  killed  on  the  '(tazelle,' 
ii.  MO. 

Huntington,  I.  W.  P.,  representative 
1860,  ii.  452;  sup't  Ind.  affairs,  670. 

'Huntress,' sliip,  li.  48. 

Hurford,  Susanna,  biog.,  i.  628> 


Idles,  John,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  395. 

lUutin,  Nez  Perce,  chief,  speech  at 
council.  May  1843,  i.  279. 

Immigants,  attempt  to  ])ri)hibit  nogro, 
i.  287;  refuse  good  drafts,  288;  Whit- 
man's views,  ;M1-2;  sullerlngs,  440 
-67;  508-41,  552-07;  62.3-38;  ii.  174 
-5;  health  and  condition,  i.  751;  ef- 
fects on,  of  cold  discovery,  ii.  63-5; 
protection  oT,  .303-4;  increa>(e  of,  in 
1859,  ii.  465;  in  18()2-3,  49.3-5. 

Immigration  society,  hist,  of,  ii.  694-5. 

Immigration  to  Cal, ,  efforts  of  Or.  peo« 
pie  to  prevent,  i.  552. 

Imports,  value,  185-23,  ii.  258. 


784 


INDEX. 


Independent  gov't,  steps  towards,  i. 
4tl-;!. 

Indiana,  petition  from,  i.  374-5. 

Indian  Agent,  White's  endeavor  to  ob- 
tain appointment,  salary,  i.  254-5. 

Indian  <,  attitude  to  H  B  Co.,  i.  30; 
murders  l>y,  i.  41,  95-7,  136,  148-9, 
179.  ii-  92-5j  domaud  missionaries, 
i.    51-5;    at    missions,    81-3,    86-9; 

.  diseases  among,  81-3,  196-201;  dis- 
turbaueei  by,  95,  162,  285-6,  412, 
70;i-6,  ii.  6l»-70,  205-32;  3.30-1,  342 
-4,  369-96;  can ^e  of  dissatisfaction, 

■  650;  accusation  against  Whitman, 
652  3;  threatened  alliance,  6S4,  728 
-9;  execution  of,  ii.  80,  93-100,  6r>6; 
treaties  with,  359-68;  grand  coun- 
cil, .362-7;  wars  with,  1855-6,  369- 
96;  extermination  of,  397-412;  con- 
duct on  re  wrvation,  489;  Shoshone 
war,  18()G-(>8,  512  i>4;  enlisted  to 
fight  Inds.  530-1;  Modoc  war,  1864 
-73,5.j6  636;  school,  hist,  of,  690. 

Indian  school,  hist,  of,  ii.  690. 

Indian  wives,  among  H  B  Co.,  i.  9-10, 
20-28,  47;  character,  27. 

Ingalls,  Divvid  C,  biog.,  i.  529. 

Inyard,  John,  biog.,  i.  448;  left  for 
Cal,  ii.  47. 

Iowa,  'icjuor  law  applied  in  Oregon, 
1841.  i.  281 

'Iris,'  steamer,  ii.  481. 

Iriquois,  as'  missionaries,  i.   116. 

Iron  manufactures,  hist,  of,  ii.  733-5. 

Irwin,  1).,  claim  of,  ii.  321;  of  auti- 
slavory  party,  359. 

'Isabella',  iship,  wrecked,  i.  41. 

Isaiachalahis,  nmrder  by,  ii.  94;  trial 
and  execution,  96-100. 

Ishalhal,  brutality  towards  Mrs  Whit- 
man, i.   tJliO. 

Island  Milling  Co.,  formed,  i.  206-7; 
work,  i.  21 1. 

Ison,  8.,  of  Senate,  1866-8;  ii.  666-8. 

Ives,  Wni,  contractor  for  surveys,  ii. 
269. 

Iwality,  district  boundary,  i.  310. 


'Jackson,'  ship,  wrecked,  ii.  300. 

Jackson  co'ty,  organized,  ii,  106;  cre- 
ated, 553;  hist,  of,  71 '2. 

Jackson  creek,  gold  discovered,  ii.  186. 

Jackson,  Capt.  James,  Com'd.  at  Fort 
Klamath,  ii.  663;  iu  Modoo  war, 
574,  622,  628. 

Jackson,  Pres.,  interested  in  colony, 
i.  369. 

Jackson,  John  R.,  biog.,  i.  463. 


Jack.sonvillc,  co'ty  seat,  ii.  299;   Ind. 

attack  of,  312. 
Jacob,  Nez  Perce  chief,  i.  C05;  coun- 
sels, Mrs  Spaulding,  i.  005-0. 
Jacobs,   0.,  candidate  for  Lcgis,,  ii. 

337;  nominav.ed  U.  S.  Senator,  0.']9. 
Jaggar,  I.  E.,  perilous  adventure  of, 

ii.  484. 
James,  John  D.,  perilous  adventure  of, 

ii.  484. 
James,  Capt.   L.  L.,  Com'd  at  Fort 

Stevens,  ii.,  5.32. 
'James,  P.  Flint',  steamer,  ii.  480. 
Jamieson,  Archibahi,  fate  of,  ii.  340. 
Jamieson,  Arthur,  fate  of,  ii.  340. 
'Janet',  ship,  ii.  48. 
Japan,  trade,  i.  371. 
Jayol,  J.  F.,  arrives  in  1867,  i.  326. 
Jeffers,  Joseph,  bi<.g.,  i.  028, 
Jeffries,  John  i'.,  biog.,  i.  529. 
Jenkins,  Willis,  biog.,  i.  408. 
Jennings,  Capt.  J.;  exped.  of,  ii.  522. 
Jennison,  Albert  B.,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
Jr     '.p,  Ihos,  S.,  on  cost  Mil.  oec,  i. 

300. 
Jesuit  mission,  difficulty  with  priests, 

i.  742. 
Jewett,  John,  biog.,  i.  656. 
Jewitt,  T.  D.,  claim  of,  ii.  .321. 
'John  AUevne',  schr,  ii.  258. 
John  Chief,  actions  of,  attacks  troops, 

ii.  406-9;  surrender  of,  410. 
John  Day  mine,  <liscovery  of,  ii.  479; 

suffering  at,  484. 
Johnson,  Miss  Elvira,  arrives  Or.,  i. 

150;   work  at   mission,   i.    100;    at 

Lapwai,  048. 
Johnson  H.,  chaplain  of  house,  ii.,  72; 

school  trustee,  78;   signs  memorial, 

127;    of    anti-slavery    party,    359; 

promulgates  rep.  doct'ns,  418. 
Johnson,  J.  W.,  Pres.  of  University, 

ii.  690. 
Johnson,  James,  biog.,  i.  6'27;  school 

trustee,  ii.  685. 
Johnson,    Neill,    Presb.    minister,  ii. 

682. 
Johnson,  Wm,  views  on  gov't,  i.  295; 

high  sheriff,  1843,  297. 
Johnson,   W.  Carey,    of  anti-slavery 

mrty,    ii.     359;    prnmult,'atos  rep. 

(loctns,  418;  nommated  pros,  atty, 

637;  biog.,  637-8;  of  Senate,  1866, 

600. 
'Jo  Lane',  revenue  cutter,  ii.  488. 
Jones,   John,    explor.    party,  i.    544; 

meets  immigrants,  502. 
Jones,  J.  K.,  killed  by  Inda  ii.  373. 
Jones,   J.  W.,   in  immigrant  party, 

1859,  ii.  403. 


I^fDEX. 


hiit.  of!  75^4'     '**'^^'''"''''  "•  415; 
fc^'"'?;  ^'"'Farnham'aexped    007 

Joven  (Jiumi/tinnni'    K»   ,     l^""-!  --7. 

car>,  ways  ai.,l  means,   ]84o    ; 

m;  reorganization.  GOo.  '  '" 

Ju.Ijc,alcluf.s,  arranged,"  7-^  ,«. 
-•»4;  division nf  90-'  '  ,.''*~^'  'W, 
SOS.  '  ^'^' '  fe-distributed, 

tn.e   307;  mil,^,.ace!*:40.'''  ^^S'«'- 
.uiiet    scl.r,  wrecked,  ii    oqq 
Jul'oi.ol,s,  Red  river,  i    35 
JumpOffJoecreek.fighra\ii.  387. 

Kaiser,  P.  c,  l,iI,iio„    i    ono 
Kaiser,   T    I)      a,  *"  '•,*^'"'- 
rangers  '  i    '^nr   {   T^  •^'"'P*-    O*-- 

«r.Uo  arrive  at'DaHe  ''!'>:••  •^»'^'- 
^Prov.  gov't,  41.'>S,  4.^1'  ^^'  '"^'»- 

f  g""'  ""-•-  founded  among, 

Kanioliaineha.  iii.  f.„„* •..     .    ^ 


SI"??' 


785 


iiiisjsKin,  331- o  ''»    '•     i<J/-8; 

Kann^i,,  CwQ,   acts  at  council,   ii. 

Kane.  Paul,  work,  i.  599 

^'lutA  Lt.,  at  Fort  Orford   ii    9ii   • 
exped.,  313;  figi.t  with  I„  ^  3-4' '" 

Aearnev.  Uvt  \fr;    „f        ^"'"••»'4. 
ii    Sl-,.v      1     ■'•  P*^ '""""ted  rides 

K-ano  creek;  named,  i.  540 

Keene,  (iranvilie,  killed  iTy  Inds  •?-, 

Keene,  \Vm,  „„„.,,^,r  ,        i^  J"<!s,  3/  . 

Ke.ntpoos,  see'('ai,t.jkck.'    •^^"• 
^fey,  JIall  J.,  a.lives,       17  gO. 

s::;rr\Sn?^.-'- 1;^;;-^ 
'"-.t.  07-70;^:;;:' r^c^i^/'iio""''^- 

Po'^o.  89;    adventures    80'  S'  ^;"''; 
report  of  91;  re,ati:n%oVl^.c'.r' 


^e  ogg   Ornn,  biog    j   5.^ 

^e  y.  Ilev.  Clinton,    ,  ;,^  j    .-., 

^S  wuh   Farnham- V  ^^^ed. 

"^S^aSrs/^;;    --i^^ioner    to 

1853-7.  323  34!f '4  J-'"i««'""e,l. 
«  .  ..tional  co„v;nt . '  l-V  "n"'"- 
^gy.   443;    senator.'  Isi3.%'> 

3^tf;^ii^!i9-'-  "•  -^^ 

war,  585-9  '   '"  Modoo 

KelY^.^Col,  in  fight  at  the  Meadows. 
Keh^John.   of  const,  convention, 

''^'SS^|';^-.^^o,.i.530; 
J-"ventionf^^;t,;:,,-^;^;^;^. 

X?56^ '"■  '"-''-  ''y.  tml.  ii. 

Ken,^.M..favorsnewter.  scheme, 

Kennedy,   Ezekial,   destih.fp    •    r.,. 
,'""g-,57l.  iiescuute,  1.  54(j, 

Kennedy.   I      in  t«  7 
Keplin.^ait.,':^./SS7^3'3. 

'^^rii.^:^'  -  «-^e"ri?;;i3a. 

Kester.  I,  .nnrder  of,  ii.  r,o3 
Keyes,  .Morgan,  l.iog    i    ^T^  o 
Keyes,  Robert  V      I  .''• 

Kiamasumpkin,    murder    I.y    ;;     n. 
trial  and  execution,  9(J-]m  ^' 

ped.,  i''227  o-i-^"'  ''>''!'l'am's  ex- 
Kilhori'ic,  TA."  ,    f;'P-''"'Min^,  247. 


•'■  t,    !f!i;    leaves   Or     *u.  „     >»  ' 
question    1«-,.        ."'^••.'W;on   Or. 

307;^*;ro'^er?;;>f,'^r'-   -'-"0, 

On.  II.    60 


change  Co    eit.J  '     ^  '^'-   Kx- 

'^rS■MramfMr^•^t.^.ui,atpu. 

''iS:''ii'^9?-"*'-«^P-ocom. 

K.'nf'  Tfi\ri'"^-  "f-  >■'••  305. 
a    ii.;9^'''^*^^''«'-<'i'ortOr. 

'ii7^^5^fJ,14^P.'850.. 
notary,  298-  nJf    '        '  '"*«•  '43; 

«'ty,  ii.  299-  vr?,VK  ""f  ""'^'er- 

K-"4A;^;rKi,?--Je,077. 


786 


INDEX. 


Kinney,  Charles,  actions  in  'Albion' 

affair,  ii.  105,  106. 
Kinney,  R.  C,  biog.,  i.  633;  of  H.  of 

Rep.,    ii.    72,    158;   trustee   of  Or. 

academy,  168;  of  const,  conv,  423. 
Kinsey,  T.  S.,  biog.,  i.  636. 
Kip,  Lieut  Lawrence,  at  Ind.  council, 

ii.  362;  works  of,  362,  363. 
Kirkpatrick,  I.  M.,  in  com'd  at  Fort 

Ortord,  ii.   193;  attacked  by  Inds, 

194;  of  assembly,  429. 
Kistler,  Lieut  A.  0.,  at  Camp  Watson, 

ii.  532. 
Klamath  co'ty,  hist,  of,  ii.  714. 
Klainaths,  *he,  treaty  with,  ii.   506; 

advancement  of,  662;  in  Modoc  war, 

577-89. 
Kliketats,  missionaries  among,  i.  181; 

insolence  of,  ii.  67. 
Kline,  Jacob,  on  grand  jury,  ii.  354. 
Klokamas,  murder,  by,  ii.  94;  trial 

and  execution,  96-100. 
Knapp,   Capt.   O.  C,  Ind.   agent,  ii. 

559;  relieved,  563. 
Knapp,  Rich.  B.,  biog.  of,  ii.  719. 
Knaudt,  Charles,  killed  on  the  'Ga- 
zelle,'ii.  340. 
Knighton,  H.  M.,  biog.,  i.  576. 
Knott,  A.  I.,  in  Carutlier'a  land  affair, 

ii.  288. 
Knox,  Samuel,  in  survey  exped.,  ii. 

248. 
Kone,   Mrs,    missionary,   i.    177;   at 

Clatsop  miss.,  187. 
Kone,  Rev.  W.  W.,  missionary,  i.  177; 

at  Clatsop  miss.,  185-7. 
Kyle,  Lieut  I.  G.,  in  Modoo  war,  ii. 

581-4. 

L 

Ladd,  W.  S.,  biog.  of,  ii.  764. 

La  Dow,  Geo.,  elected  to  congress, 

biog.,  ii.  675. 
Lafayette,  founders  of,  ii.  251. 
Laggett,  Jonathan,  biog.,  i.  528. 
Lake  co'ty,  hist,  of,  ii.  715. 
Lambert,  David,  del.  to  convention, 

1857,  ii.  418. 
Lambert,  G.  \V.,  of  anti-slavery  party, 

ii.  .159. 
Lamcrick,  John  K.,  leader  of  exped. 

against  Ind.,  ii.  241;  elected,  brig.- 

gen.,   389;   campaign  of,  402-3;  in 

coufed.  service,  456. 
Lancaster,  C. ,  returns  from  Camp  Co- 
lumbia, i.  258;  leaves  for  Cat.,  ii. 

47;    supreme    judge,    resigns,   63; 

mem.  of  council,  158. 
Lanii,  laws  relating  to,  i.  311,  477-8; 

ii.  260-95. 


Land  claims,  com.  1842,  i.  3M;  dis* 
putes  regarding,  459-60;  contirma- 
tion  asked,  607. 

Land  grants,  petitions  for,  i.  367; 
acreage  to  male  adults,  374. 

Lane  co'ty,  established,  ii.  150;  mil- 
itia of,  386;  hist,  of,  715. 

Lane,  Joseph,  governor,  oS'l  actions, 
1849-50,  ii.  66-100;  resigns,  98;  del. 
to  congress,  actions,  153-4,  206, 
299-310,  355-8,  419;  exped.  against 
Inds,  219-22,  315-20;  lieut-col  of 
militia,  325;  of  Coos  Bay  Co.,  332; 
decrease  of  popularity,  439;  aspires 
to  presidency,  447;  disloyalty  of, 
455-6;  death,  456. 

Lane,  L.  F.,  of  assembly,  1864-5,  ii. 
()65;  elected  to  congress,  670. 

Lane,  Nathaniel,  biog.,  ii.  98;  claim 
of,  321 ;  enrolling  officer,  390. 

Lane,  Richard,  justice  of  peace,  i.  612; 
co'ty  judge,  biog.,  ii.  62. 

Lapwai,  miss,  built,  i.  136;  threatened 
attack  on,  268;  Inds  hostile  to,  330; 
description  of,  3.36-7;  abandoned, 
341;  assistance  for,  345. 

Laramie,  discussion  as  to  site  of  mili- 
tary post,  i.  376. 

La  Rocque,  George,  biog.,  i.  63ft-7. 

Lashmutt,Van  B.  de,  mention,  ii.  749. 

Laughlin,  Samuel,  biog.,  i.  635. 

'Lausanne,' ship,  i.  171,  177-8,  182, 
184,  197,  237,  254. 

Lava  beds,  Ind.  light  at,  ii.  539-45; 
Modoc  war,  583-627. 

Laws  under  H.  B.  Co.,  i.  47-50,  235-6; 
requirements  of,  292,  310-11;  free- 
dom, 307;  compilation  of,  ii.  149. 

Lawrence,  Hy.,  kilkd  by  Inds,  ii.  395. 

Lawson,  James  S.,  in  survey  exped., 
biog.,  ii.  249. 

Lawyer,  Nez  Perce  chief,  i.  133; 
shrewdness,  336;  actions  at  council, 
ii.  364-5. 

Leary,  Lieut  P. ,  in  Modoc  war,  ii.  619. 

L-i  Bas,  arrives  in  1847,  i.  326. 

Le  Breton,  Geo.  W.,  with  Wliite,  1843, 
i.  273;  killed,  282-3;  clerk,  pub.  re- 
corder, 294;  sec.  at  Champoeg  con- 
vention, 303;  clerk  of  court,  304; 
nomination,  312. 

Leclaire,  Guillaume,  on  Umatilla,  i. 
327-8;  deacon,  654. 

Lee,  Barton,  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  i.  297; 
justice  of  peace,  612;  left  for  Cal., 

Lee,  Daniel,  character,  i.  66-8;  mis- 
sionary, 60-5,  73;  builds  miss.,  78- 
80;  visits  Hawaiian  ial.,  84;  at 
Willamette  miss.,  154,  159,  230;  at 


INDEX. 


787 


the  Dalles  mias.,  163-6,  190,  242; 
meets  tSutter,  165;  marries,  182-3; 
at  Clatsop  miaa.,  185;  proselyting, 
320;  on  Whitman,  343. 
Lee,  £.  Trumrell,  Presb.  minister,  ii. 

681. 
Lee,  H.  A.  G.,  character,  i.  455;  legia- 
lator,  1845,  472,  474,  481,  493;  edi- 
tor, 575;  com'd  Or.  army,  730,  732; 
supt  Intl.  affairs,  730-2;  resigns,  ii. 
62. 
Lee,  Jason,  character,  i.  56-8,  61-3, 
214,  220-1;  miss,  trip  to  Or.,  59-65, 
73;  builds  miss.,  79-80;  miss,  work, 
81,  160;  relation  to  Kelley,  94; 
meets  U.  S.  agent,  102;  meets 
Parker,  113;  receives  Whitman's 
party,  135;  Willamette  cattle  co., 
140-3;  marries,  159;  as  a  colonizer, 
166-8,  184,  190-8,  201-18,  226;  me- 
morial to  congress,  168-9,  172-7; 
goes  east,  169-78,  183,  318-20;  death 
of  wife,  170;  again  marries,  177, 
183;  censured,  183;  supt  of  missions, 
190;  ii.  677;  among  the  Umpquas, 
i.  192-6;  quarrel  with  White,  196- 
7;  trustee  Or.  institute,  201-2;  dis- 
pute Willamette  falls,  203;  duplicity 
Or.  city  claim,  214-16;  opposes  Mc- 
Loughlin,  215-18;  superseded  as 
supt,  218;  death,  220;  at  Willamette 
misa.,  230;  meeta  Wilkes,  246;  on 
Or.  question,  372. 

Lee,  Nicholas,  biog.,  i.  753;  school 
trustee,  ii.  678. 

Lee,  Wilson,  biog.,  i.  571-2. 

Leese,  J.  P.,  'n  S.  F.  bay,  i.  144;  Or. 
pioneer,  26(). 

Lcggett,  Thomas,  co.  asaeasor,  i.  612. 

Legislature,  first  meeting,  i.  305;  ju- 
diciary laws  proposed,  306-10;  pro- 
ceedings, 427-45,  680-1;  ii.  58-63, 
72-9,  141-72,  296-8,  322-9,  349-54, 
413-15,  417-18,  429-30,436-8,  443- 
4,  452-4,  475,  637-76;  oath,  i.  473; 
power,  475-6;  act  for  raising  army, 
oSO-l;  criticiant  on  acta,  ii.  54,  55; 
first  meeting;  amendts.,  1887,  762. 

Leisler,  James,  claim  of,  ii.  .321. 

Lemon,  John,  biog.,  i.  527. 

Lennox,  David,  T..  biog.,  i.  421; 
school  trustee,  ii.  684. 

Leonard,  shooting  scrape;  ii.  37. 

Leonard  Sami,  murder  of,  ii.  523. 

Leslie,  Aurelia,  death,  i.  200. 

Leslie,  Rev.  D. ,  at  Willamette,  miaa., 
i.  161 ;  on  achool  com. ,  201 ;  trustee 
Or.  Inatitute,  202;  namea  Salem. 
222;  justice  of  peace,  236;  chairman 
at  public  meeting,   293;  attempts 


revival,  320;  chaplain  of  council,  ii. 
72;  university  truatee,  299;  Meth. 
preacher,  677. 

Tjealie,  Satira,  marriage,  death,  i. 
l<)9-200. 

•  L'Etoile  du  Martin,  'brig,  i.  326;  ii.  48. 

Lewea,  J.  L.,  appearance,  character, 
i.  38. 

Lewis,  C.  H.,  biog.  of,  ii.  764-5. 

Lewis,  co'ty,  named,  i.  493;  created, 
538;  E.  hmitB  defined,  ii.  166. 

Lewis,  H.  C,  of  court  convention,  ii. 
423. 

I^ewia,  Jamea,  aettler,  i.  458. 

Lewis,  Joe,  informs  Indiana  of  con- 
spiracy to  poison,  i.  652-3. 

Lewis,  W.  B.,  in  ttght  with  Inds,  ii. 
.377  8;  capt.  of  vols,  379. 

Lewiston,  founding  of  ii.  482, 

Libraries,  hist,  of,  ii.  694. 

Light  Houses,  ii.  248. 

Limerick,  L..  del.  to  convention  1857, 
ii.  418. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  offered  governor- 
ship, declined,  ii.  1,39. 

Lindsay,  J.  J.,  biog.,  i.  754. 

Linenberger,  David,  biog.,  i.  753. 

Linn  city,  named,  i.  5S6;  co'ty  seat, 
ii.  151;  flood  at,  483;  hist,  of,  ii. 
715,  716. 

Linn  co'ty,  hist,  of,  ii.  715-16. 

Linn,  Lewis  F.,  presents  Or.  memor- 
ial, i.  176;  bills  of,  217-18,  .372-81; 
on  Or.  question,  349;  occupation 
Or.  ter.,  370;  biog.,  381. 

Linnton,  named,  i.  415. 

Linuville,  Harrison,  leads  immigrants, 
i.  559;  legislator,  ii.  58;gch(>ol  fund 
commia'r,  299;  R.  R.  commia'r,  696. 

Lippincott,  wounded,  i.  561. 

Liquor,  laws  regarding,  i.  249.  1;8], 
437,  537-9;  efforts  to  suppress 
traffic,  ii.  ST. 

Literature,  hist,  of,  ii.  691-2. 

Little,  Anthony,  favors  new  ter. 
scheme,  ii.  255. 

Little-Dalles,  shipwreck  at  Falla, 
1838,  i.  316. 

Littlejohn,  P.  B.,  miasionary,  i.  239- 
40,  244;  with  White,  268-9;  drown- 
ing of  aon,  272;  tour,  342;  'Llama,' 
ship,  i.  14.3,  144.  201. 

Lloyd,  John,  biog,,  i.  529. 

Lloyd,  W.  W.,  biog.,  i.  529. 

Loan,  negotiation,  i.  671;  correspon- 
dence, 1.  672-5. 

loan  Commissioners,  petition  people 
— amount  obtained,  difficulty  in 
obtaining  cash,  i.  675-6 

Locke,  A.  N.,  biog.,  i.  63& 


788 


INDEX, 


Lockhart,  F.  G.,  of  Coos  Ray  co.,  ii. 
332;  of  const,  convent.,  423;  of  H.  of 
rep.,  G60,  G71. 

Locktrig,  L.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  315. 

Logan,  David,  att'y,  ii.  158;  of  H.  of 
rep.,  349;  of  const,  convent.,  423; 
nominated  for  congre.^s,  446;  de- 
feated, 0(59. 

Long,  J.  E.,  sec.  of  Hou.se,  i.  429, 
49(J;  l>iog.,  429;  director  Or.  Print- 
ing assoc,  536. 

Long,  Sylvester,  drowned,  ii.  396. 

'Loo-Choo,'  ship,  wrecked,  ii.  300. 

Looking  Glass  Chief,  act  at  council, 
ii.  364-5. 

Looney,  Miss,  presents  flag  to  Or. 
rangers,  i.  583. 

Looney,  Jesse,  leader  immigrants,  i. 
394;  death,  421;  legislator,  604-5. 

Lop-ears,  term  for  Oregon  settlers,  i. 
19. 

Lord,  Corp.  Wm  C,  killed,  ii.  424. 

Loring,  ^V .  "\V. ,  Brev.  Col,  com"d  of 
mounted  rifles,  ii.  81. 

•Loriot,'  brig.,  i.  100-1,  140,  142-3, 
154. 

Lost  river,  named,  i.  548. 

'  Lot  Wliitcomb, '  steamer,  hist,  of,  ii. 
2,"). 

Loughborough,  John,  leaves  emigra- 
tion 1843,  i.  397. 

Louisiana  t'o.,  emigration,  i.  369. 

Louis  Philippe,  King  of  France, 
grants  money  to  Blanchet,  i.  326. 

Lovejoy,  A.  L.,  escapes  Sioux,  i.  260. 
overland  journey  1842.  343;  meets 
immigration,  398;  bioc.,  415;  mem. 
prov.  gov't,  428;  candidate  for  gov., 
471-2;  loan  commisr,  671-6;  elected 
adj.  gen.,  6S0;  left  for  Cal.,  ii.  47; 
H.  of  rep.,  58,  71,  349,  417,  su- 
preme judge,  63;  speaker  of  House, 
72;  school  trustee,  78;  mem.  of 
council,  161,296;  postal  agent,  309; 
of  const,  convent.,  423;  commis. 
gen.,  438;  pension  agent,  459;  di- 
rector Or.  Cent.  R.  R.,  699;  founded 
Portland,  717. 

Lovelady,  Presley,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii. 
224. 

Lovelin,  Mr,  kills  Indian,  i.  501. 

Lowe,  Dan,  killed  on  the  'Gazelle,' 
ii.  340. 

Luce,  H.  H.,  settler  at  Coca  bay,  ii. 
334. 

Lucier,  E.,  guard  to  missionaries,  i. 
113;  on  gov't  com.,  297,  301;  meets 
R.  C.  priests,  317. 

Luc'kiamute,  the,  treaty  with,  ii.  211. 

Ludcrs,  uu  Columbia,  i.  420. 


Luders  bay,  named,  i.  420. 
Luelling,  Henderson,  biog.,  i.  637. 
Lugenbeel,    Maj.,   com'd  at  Colville, 

ii.  488. 
Lugur,  F.,  leaves  emigration  1843,  i, 

397. 
Lumber,  trade,  i.  353;  ii.  726-9,  758-9. 
Lupton,  I.  A.,  favors  newter.  scheme, 

ii.  255;  massacre  by,  372;  of  H.  of 

rep.,  1855-6,  414;  death,  414. 
Lutheran  church,  hist,  of,  687-8. 
Lyman,  in  explor.  exped.,  ii.   176. 
Lyons,  James,  iu  fight  at  lava  beds, 

killed,  ii.  344. 

M 

Macey,  Wm,  exped.  of,  ii.  305. 

Mack,  settler,  bibliog.,  i.  423. 

Mackenzie,  map,  i.  22. 

Mackie,  Peter,  1st  mate  of  '  S.  Rob- 
erts,' ii.  176. 

Macleary,  Donald,  biog.  of,  ii.  719. 

Macoudier,  Lt  Geo.,  A.  A.  insp.  gen. 
Columbia  dept,  ii.  531. 

Madigan,  Lt  Jolni,  in  fight  at  lava 
beds,  killed,  ii.  5i52,  544. 

'  Madonna,'  ship,  i.  245;  ii.  48. 

Magruder,  E.  R,  biog.,  i.  469. 

Magruder  Theophilus,  associate 
judge,  i.  450;  biog.,  469;  of  Or. 
Exchange  co.,  ii.  54;  sec.  of  terr., 
63. 

Maguire,  Jerry,  biog.,  ii.  396. 

Mahoney,  Jeremiah,  murder  of,  ii. 
156. 

Mails,  facilities  for,  ii,  29-30;  peti- 
tions for,  436. 

Mail  service,  efforts  for  in  congress, 
ii.  186-91;  ocean,  302;  appropria- 
tions for,  328. 

'  Maine,' whaler,  wrecked,  ii.  24. 

Major,  Dan  G.,  contract  of,  ii.  649. 

'  Maleck  Adhel,'  ship,  ii.  248. 

Malheur  Mta,  hardships  on,  1845,  i. 
512-14. 

Malheur  river,  gold  discovered,  i, 
512. 

Mallory,  Rufus,  of  H.  of  rep.,  1862- 
3,  ii.  636;  elected  to  congress,  biog., 
669. 

Mann,  S.  S.,  in  explor.  exped.,  ii. 
176;  wreck  master,  299;  settler  at 
Coos  Bay,  334. 

Manson,  Donald,  at  Ft  George,  i,  29; 
life  as  a  fur  trader,  40-1 . 

Manufactures,  hist  of,  ii.  726-.38. 

Marion  co'ty,  raises  co.,  i.  702;  hist, 
of,  ii.  716-17. 

^lariue  Gazette,  newspaper,  i,  575, 


INDEX. 


789 


Maps:  forts  in  Or.,  1834,  i.  12;  Car- 
ver's, 20;  Cooke's,  '23;  Mackeii/ie'.s 
22;  Payne's,  '24;  Parker's  travels, 
120:  Clatsop  country,  ISO;  Uinpijua 
river,  194;  Rogue  river  and  Unip»iua 
val.,  ii.  ,380;  Idalio  camps  and 
forts,  513;  E.  Or.  camps  and  forts, 
51(3;  Modoc  country,  5*50. 

Matherinan,  A.,  in  .Snake  river  mas- 
sacre, ii.  472. 

Marks,  John,  l)iog.,  i.  627. 

Marks,  Wm,  of  anti-slavery  pai-ty, 
ii.  359;  del.  to  convention,  418. 

Marjde,  P.  B.,  of  Coos  bay  co.,  biog., 
ii.  331. 

Marriages,  in  1838,  i.  318;  laws  re- 
lating to,  309,  430-7;  in  184G-8,  ii. 
38-9 

Marshall,  J.  W.  discovers  gold,  ii.  42, 
43. 

Marshall,  Maj.  L.  H.,  comd.  of  Ft 
Boise,  ii.  519;  exped.,  520;  defeat 
of,  521. 

:Martin,  F.  B.,  of  H.  of  rep.,  1852,  ii. 
290;  favors  slavery,  422. 

Martin,  H.,  mem.  for  Cal.  govt  ar- 
rived 1840,  i.  301. 

Martin,  Hy,  exped.  of,  ii.  479. 

Martin,  James  P.,  exploring  i>arty,  i. 
532. 

Martin,  Wm  J.,  pilots  immigrants,  i. 
400;  of  H.  of  rep.,  1848-9,  1853-4, 
ii.  58,  59,  323;  col  of  militia,  325; 
pursuit  of  luds.,  320;  maj.  of  vols, 
380. 

Martin,  William,  iinfair  treatment,  i. 
730. 

'  Mary, '  steamer,  ii.  480. 

'Mary  Dare,' ship,  ii.  43;  seizure  of, 
107. 

'Mary  Ellen,' brig,  ii.  48. 

'  Maryland,'  ship,  i.  180,  244. 

'Mary  Wilder,' brig,  ii.  48. 

ilason.  Gen.  E.  C,  acts  in  Modoc 
war,  ii.  582,  591-019. 

Masonic  lodges,  charters,  ii.  30-31, 
415. 

Massachusetts,  interested  in  Or.,  i. 
307. 

'  Massachusetts,'  ship,  ii.  09. 

Massey,  E.  L.,  biog.,  i.  754;  enrolling 
olKcer,  ii.  399. 

Matlieney,  Daniel,  leader  immigrant 
party,  i.  394;  biog.,  421. 

Matlieney,  Henry,  biog.,  i.  421. 

Matilila,  interpreter,  ii.  598,  599. 

Matlock,  W.  T.,  of  H.  of  rep.,  ii.  72, 
143,  l.-)8.  290;  librarian,  79;  del.  to 
convention,  418;  receiver  of  land- 
oHice,  458. 


M.atthews,    F.    H.,    district  judge,  i. 

490. 
Matthieu,  F.  X.,  biog.  and   bibliog., 

i.  259;  constable,  .S04;  presd't  I'iou. 

Soc,  ii.  093. 
Mattice,  F.  D.,  death  of,  ii.  370. 
Mathick,  W.  S.,  circuit  judge,  ii.  03. 
Mattock,   W.    T.,    nominated   U.    S. 

senator,  ii.  6.'59. 
Matt.<,  Chas,  ship-building,  247. 
Matzger,  Wm,  of  const,  convention, 

ii.  423. 
Maupin,  Howard,  attack  on  Inds,  ii. 

5:u. 

Maury,   R.  F,,  It-col  of  Or.  vols,  ii. 

491;    sent  on   exped.,    493;    nomi- 
nated U.  S.  senat(>r,  039. 
Maxon,  Capt.,  assumes  command  Or. 

army,  i.  725. 
Maxwell,  H.,   at  Fort  Vancouver,  i. 

42. 
May,  Sam'l  E,,  sec.    of  statn,  ii.  037; 

crime  of,  059,  070-71. 
'Mary  Dacre,' ship,   i.    14,   15,  0.3-4, 

112. 
Maynard,  Rob't,  crime  and  execution 

of,  ii.  15(5. 
McAllister,  Indian  mission,  i.  55. 
McArtiiur,  Lt  W.,  in  survey  exped., 

ii.  190. 
McAuley,  Dr,  miss,  meetinjr,  f.  59'. 
McHean,  W.,  in  charge  at  Ft  Walla 

Walla,  i.  42,  (542;  assists  tiiose  es- 
caping massacre,  (JOl. 
McBride,  Geo.  W., sec.  of  state,  ii.7('>()-l. 
McBride,  James,  biog.,  i.  030-1:  left 

for  Cal.,    ii.    47;    supt  of    soliool.-<, 

79;    supports    Gov.     Lane,    93;    ot 

council,    142;  trustee  Or.  academy, 

107;  exped.  of,  479. 
McBride,  >Tohn  K.,  del.  to  convention, 

ii.    418-23;    senator,     1800  3,    452, 

038;  nominated  fur  congress,  0.37. 
McFaddon,  Jno.,  joint  liri'jkiiiaker,  i. 

39S. 
McCall,  I.  M.,  of  anti-slavery  party, 

ii.  359. 
McCarver,  M.  M.,  incident  as  leader, 

i.  400;  biog.,  4b");  ineiii.  ])rov.  govt, 

427;  .speaker  oi  luiu.'se,  428,  472  473; 

act  regarding  organic  law,  4S5  4S9; 

resigns    speakersiiip,   48'-      'eft  for 

Cal.,  ii.  47;  com.-gou.         -i    itia,  ii. 

325. 
Mu(_"lane,  ,1.  B.,  biog.  and  bibliog..  i. 

398;  descends   the  'Coluniliia,    407; 

explor.  party,  5.32;  post-master,  ii. 

187. 
McClelland,    S.    R.,    of    anti-slavery 

jiarty,  ii.  359. 


790 


INDEX. 


McClopky,  John,  signs  memorial,  ii. 
127. 

McCluchy,  Geo.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii. 
395. 

McClure,  I.  R.,  of  anti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359. 

McClure,  John,  biog.,  i.  266-7;  legis- 
lator, 473,  481 ;  in  charge  of  Shark 
house,  588. 

McCormick,  Rev.  P,  F.,  biog.,  i.  634. 

McCormick,  S.  I.,  of  const,  conven- 
tion, ii.  423. 

McCoy,  Jno.,  of  anti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359. 

McCracken,  John,  chief  clerk  of 
house,  ii.  323;  It-col  of  militia,  325; 
of  O.  C.  R.  R.,  698. 

McCrary,  Richard,  distillery  owner, 
i.  281. 

^IcCue,  Felix,  drowned,  ii.  396. 

McCully,  H.  F.,  of  anti-slavery 
party,  ii.  359. 

^leCuUock,  Perry,  er.pei".  of,  ii.  479. 

McCuUough,  Pat,  killed  by  Inds,  ii. 
395. 

McCurdy,  I.  D.,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii. 
31.3. 

McCurdy,  John,  biog.,  ii.  714. 

McDonald,  A.,  at  Ft  Hall,  i.  42;  at 
Ft  Colville,  122;  with  White's 
party,  261 ;  leeislator,  604-606. 

McDonald,  Harley,  biog.  of,  ii.  725. 

M  cDougal,  guide  for  immigrants,  1845, 
i.  511. 

McDowell,  Gen.,  requisition  for  cav- 
alry, ii.  510;  appt'd  to  com'd  of 
Pac  dist,  510-11. 

McEldery,  Dr.  in  Green's  ©xped.,  ii. 
574. 

McFadden,  O.  B.,  associate  judge, 
biog.,  ii.  307,  308. 

McGee,  Michael,  killed  on  the  'Ga- 
zelle,'ii.  340. 

Mclntire,  A.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  235;  of  H.  of  Rep.,  1854-5,  349. 

Mcintosh,  Archie,  exped.  of,  ii.  537. 

!McKay,  murder  by  Ind.  at  Pillar 
rock,  L.  Col.,  1840,  i.  292. 

McKay,  Donald,  in  com'd  of  scouts, 
ii.  497;  acts  in  Modoc  war,  586,  587, 
615,  625. 

McKay,  Nancy,  marriage,  i.  159; 
death,  i.  160. 

McKay,  Thos,  farmer,  i.  15;  at  Ft 
Vancouver,  33;  character,  33-4;  at 
Ft  Hall,  62;  with  missionaries,  131- 
3;  explor.  party,  532;  raises  co., 
702;  pilots  CO.  to  Cal.,  ii.  44. 

McKay,  W.  C,  app't'd  to  raise  Ind. 
CO.,  ii.  631. 


McKean,  M.  M.,  of  assembly,  1866, 
ii.  C66. 

McKean,  S.  T.,  biog.,  i.  636,  of  coun- 
cil, ii.  71,  142. 

McKinlay,  A.,  at  Ft  Walla  Walla,  i. 
35,  334,  642;  address  to  Nez  Perces, 
269-70;  advice  to  Whitman,  342; 
gallantry,  345;  signs  memorial,  u. 
127. 

McKinney,  I.,  Meth.  preacher,  ii. 
677. 

McKinney,  William,  biog.,  i.  634;  at 
Dalles,  667. 

McLane,  David,  killed  on  the  'Ga- 
zelle,' ii.  340. 

McLeod,  D.,  arrives  Oregon,  death,  i. 
41. 

McLeod,  John,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii.  240. 

McLoughlin,  John,  at  Ft  Vancouver, 
i.  7-10,  28-9,  52-3;  appearance,  29- 
30;  character,  30,  42-5;  authority, 
48-50;  marriage,  52;  receives  Lee's 
exped.,  63-4;  plan  of  Or  settlement, 
67;  relations  towards  Young,  91-5, 
97-9;  policy  to  settlers,  97;  policy 
to  U.  S.  agents,  101-3;  receives 
missionaries,  112,  131-5,  154,  184; 
aids  Willamette  cattle  co.,  141;  Or. 
city  claim,  203-18,  223-4,  311;  ii. 
125-7;  charges  against,  i.  207-8; 
meets  Farnham,  230;  attitude  to 
miss,  settlers,  233;  opposes  shii 
building,  247-8;  visits  Cal.,  ?' 
treat  of  Red  River  settlers,  1 
aids  White's  party,  264;  opf 
Inds,  275;  advice  to  Inds,  277; 
views  on  Cockatock's  killing,  283-4; 
position  on  govt  formation,  297; 
joins  R.  C.  church,  322;  store  in 
Or.  city,  326-7;  treat  of  immigrants, 
410-11,  416,  456-7;  canal  right, 
440;  treat  by  legislature,  443;  op- 
position to,  464-5;  joins  political 
compact,  493-0;  resigns  from  H.  B. 
B.  Co.,  505;  tinauciaf  troubles,  506; 
citizenship  of  U.  S.,  506;  retired, 
598;  claims  trespassed  upon,  610; 
witness  at.  Ind.  trials,  ii.  97;  injus- 
tice to,  125-7;  death  of,  130;  por- 
trait at  Salem,  1887,  76:^-4. 

McLoughlin,  John,  jr,death,i.. 36-7. 236. 

McLougldin,  Maria  E.,  marries  Rae, 
i.  36. 

McMahon,  Richard,  signs  memorial, 
ii.  127. 

McMinnville  college,  origin  of,  ii. 
684. 

McNamara,  Serg't  John,  in  Modoc 
war,  ii.  588. 

McNamee,  Mrs  Hannah,  biog.,  i.  528. 


INDEX. 


781 


McNamee,  Job.  bios,  i.  528. 
McNar^,  LAodicca,  uioB.,  i.  531. 
MoTaviah,   Dugal,  at  Ft  Vancouver, 

i.    42;    County  Judge,   reaigns,    ii. 

62. 
Meadows,  Joseph,  exped.  of,  ii.  305. 
Meacham,  Sup't,  official  acta  of,  552, 

558-67;  relieved,  367;  come  to  Mo- 

doca,   act    of,   595-612;    wounded, 

612;  at  trial,  635. 
Meacham  John,  Ind.  agent,  ii.  663; 

report  of,  565. 
Meara,  Serg't,  in  fight  at  lava  beds, 

killed,  ii.  542,  544. 
Measles,  devastating,  i.  648-50,  653. 
Meek,  Joseph  L.,  biog.,  i.  244;  cham- 

peog  convention,  303-4;  sheriff,  304; 

marshal,  497;  mem.    of  leg.,   601; 

messenger  to  congress,  676-9,  756; 

debut  at  Wash.,  757-8;  acta  in  Al- 
bion affair,  ii.   105;  col  of  militia, 

325. 
Meek,  .S.  H.  L.,  founds  Oregon  city, 

i.   205;  meets  White's  party,   258; 

guide,  512;  life  threatened,  513-15; 

petitions  for  road  charter,  532. 
Meek,  William,  biog.,  i.  637. 
Meigs,  C.  R.,  of  court  convention,  ii. 

423. 
Menes,  Captain,  biog.,  i.  326-7. 
Meneatry,  Fatlier,  arrives  in  1847,  i. 

326. 
Mengarini,  on  term  Oregon,  i.   19. 
'Mercedes,' ship,  ii.  48. 
Merritt,   F.   W.,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii. 

240. 
Merrill,  Ashbel,  biog.,  i.  637. 
Merrill,  Joseph,  biog.,  2.  635-6. 
Mesplie,  T.,  arrives  in  1847,  i.  326. 
Metcalfe,  R.  B.,  in  Ind,  exped.,  ii. 

316;  claim  of,  321;  Ind.  agent,  360. 
Methodist  church,  missionaries,  acta 

of,  i.  54-65,  154-83, 184-225;  affairs 

investigated,  219-21;  Wilkes  visit 

miss,    247;  missions,  descript.,   of, 

292-3,  311,  660;  Whitman  purchases 

miss,  614;  hist,  of,  ii.  677-8 
Military   Posts,    location,    object,    i. 

374-6;  opinion  for  establishing  381 ; 

established  1848-50,  ii.  83-7. 
Military    reservations,    declared,    ii. 

89-92;    U.    S.    court   decision,    91. 

Grande  ronde,  397. 
Military  roads,  appropriations  for,  ii. 

75,  305-6,  436. 
Military,  situation,  ii.  344-7. 
Militia,  law  enacted,  ii.  324;  organ- 
ized, 386 
Millar,  Mrs,  injured  on  the  'Gazelle,' 

iL  340. 


Millar,  Rev.  I.  P.,  killed  on  the  'Ga- 
zelle,'  ii.  340. 

Miller,  C.  H.,  in  Ind  exped.,  ii.  497. 

Miller,  G.  M.,  founds  Florence,  ii.  757. 

Miller,  H.  F.,  conduct  in  Modoc  af- 
fair, ii.  565,  569;  death  of,  570. 

Miller  Island,  mil.  reser.,  1850,  ii.  89. 

Miller,  Joaquin,  works  of,  ii.  692. 

Miller,  Jacob  W.,  killed,  ii.  383. 

Miller,  John  F.,  of  H.  of  rep.,  1853- 
4,  ii.  323:  nominated  Gov.,  638; 
com.  of  board  of  agric,  661;  Or. 
Cent.  R.  R.,  699. 

Miller,  Jolin  K.,  kiUed  on  the  'Ga> 
zelle.' 

Miller,  John  S.,  claim  of,  ii.  321; 
lieut  of  vols,  386;  of  H.  of  rep., 
1856-7,  417;  school  trustee,  685. 

Miller,  Minnie  M.,  works  of,  ii.  692. 

Miller,  Rich.,  of  council,  1850,  ii. 
142;  of  const,  convention,  423. 

Miller,  Wm,  del.  to  convention  1857, 
ii.  418. 

Miller,  Lieut,  W.  H.,  in  Modoc  war, 
ii.  589,  616,  022. 

Mill  Creek,  Waiilatpu  mission,  i.  337. 

Mills,  at  Ft  Vancouver,  i.  9,  2.34; 
Clieineketa  plains,  192;  Willamette 
fall  ,  203-8,  211-13,  217,  222. 

Mill  ,  Y.  I.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  312. 

Milton,  founders  of,  ii.  252,  town  des- 
troyed. 

Milton  Creek,  mill  on,  ii.  50. 

'  Milwaukie, '  schr,  ii.  48. 

Milwaukie,  founding  of,  ii.  251. 

Mines,  discovery  of,  Jolin  Day  Pow- 
der river,  ii.  479;  hist,  of,  738-44. 

Mining,  hist,  of,  ii.  7.38-44;  revival  of, 
products,  etc.,  754. 

Mint,  question  of,  1849,  ii.  52-3. 

Minto,  John,  biog.  and  bibliog.,  i. 
451-2;  joins  Cal.  exped.,  070;  of  H. 
of  rep.,  1862-3,  1868,  ii.  638,  608. 

Minto,  Martha,  biog.  and  bibliog.,  i. 
451-2. 

Missionariea,  labors  of,  i.  17,  54,  78- 
1S8,  154-225,  318-31);  agric.  under, 
80-4,  192-3;  women  as,  125-38;  ig- 
norance of  hygiene,  190;  opposed  to 
White,280;  treat,  of  iininigrants,4 1 6. 

Missionary  republic,  failure,  i.  470-1. 

Missionary,  wives,  outrages  upon,  i. 
662-3. 

Missions,  buildings,  i.  78-80;  un- 
healthiness  of,  86;  Calapooya,  163; 
Clatsop,  185;  Nisqually,  188; 
Dulles,  190;  diseases  at,  190;  land 
grabbers,  31.3. 

Mission  Life  Sketches,  bibliographi* 
cal,  L  287. 


» 


792 


INDEX. 


Missions,  Ame-ican  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  foreign,  plans  for 
western  wor't,  i.   104. 

Missouri,  petition  from,  i.  375. 

Mitchell,  J.  U.,  sen.,  1802-5;  ii.  G38, 
005;  U.  iS.  sen.,  G(>7,  072;  biog.,  072; 
approp.  for  public  works,  757. 

'Modeste,'  English  man  of  war,  i. 
447,  499,  574,  587,  599;  offices  of, 
570. 

Modoc,  origin  of  name,  ii.  555. 

Moiloc  lake,  discovered,  i.  547. 

Modoc  war,  1804-73,  ii.  555-036. 

Modocs,  murders  by,  ii.  489;  treaty, 
500;  war,  1804-73,  555-030. 

Moifat,  killed  by  Ind.,  ii.  235. 

Mofras,  Dutlotde,  visitb  Or.,  250. 

Molalliis,  Inds,  i.  282;  treaty  with, 
ii.  211. 

Monmouth  college,    hist,  rf,  ii.  087. 

Monroe.  Pres.,  message  Or.  question, 
i.   301-2. 

Monroe,  E.,  attack  on  Inds,  ii.  575. 

Monteith,  Thomas,  biog.,  i.  0.32;  joins 
Cal.  exped.  ()79. 

Monteith,  W.  I.,  i'lsjisb.  minister,  ii. 
081. 

Monteith,  Walter,  biog.,  i.  0.32;  joins 
Cal.  c.\pe<l., 079;  sch.  trustee,  ii.  682. 

Montgomery,  .J.  Uoyce,  biog.,  ii.  705; 
puro'iaso  of  Albina,  etc.,  752. 

Montoure,  Cieorge,  exploring  party, 
i.  532. 

Moody,  Z.  F.,  elected  gov.,  biog.,  ii. 
075;  administration  of,  700. 

Moore,  Lieut,  in  Modoc  war,  ii.  588. 

Moore,  Andrew  S.,  biog.  of,  ii.  713. 

Moore,  E.,  favors  New  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  255. 

Moore,  (leorge,  biog.,  i.  527. 

Moore,  Henry,  exped.  of,  ii.  479. 

Moore,  lackMou,  leaves  emigration 
184.3,  i.  397. 

Moore,  James  H.,  in  survey  expod., 
ii.  248. 

Moore,  Uol>ort,  with  cattle  Co.,  i. 
145;  biog.  237-8;  on  gov't  com., 
294,  :«)4;  elected  J.  1'.,  312;  ))ro- 
poses  gov't  seat,  530;  imrchason  Or. 
>Si>(>ctator,  575;  signs  memorial,  ii. 
127. 

Mo(!res,  Isaac  R.,  mem.  H.  of  rep., 
ii.  413,  038,  005;  of  const,  conven- 
tion, 423;  Or.  Cent.  H.   R.,  098-9. 

Morgan,  Wm.  H.,  petition  favoring 
Modocs,  il,  034. 

Morris,  ('apt.,  arrest  of,  i-.  103. 

Morris,  IJ.  \Vistar,  bishop,  ii.  080, 

Morris,  M.  B.,  iii  Ind,  exped.,  wound- 
ed, ii.  313. 


Morris,  Col.  T.,  in  com'd  at  Vancou- 
ver, ii.  400. 

Morrison,  R.  W.,  biog,  i.  449;  county 
treasurer,  612;  mem.  H.  cf  rep., 
1858,  ii.  432. 

Morrow,  Cov.,  mention  of,  ii.  757, 

Morrow  county  organized,  ii.  757. 

Morse,  David,  jr.,  mention  of,  ii.  757. 

Morse,  W.  B.,  Meth.  minister,  ii.  677. 

Morton,  S.  E.,  rep.,  1800,  ii,  452, 

Mo8e8,S.P.,coll.atPuget.Sound,ii.  108. 

Mosher,  L.  F.,  favors  New  ter  scheme, 
ii.  255;  Senator,  1870,671. 

Mosier,  Alice  Claget,  biog. 

Moss'  Pioneer  Times,  MS.,  bibliog., 
i.  205. 

Moss,  S.  W.,  biog.,  i,  205;  mem.  P. 
L.  L.  C,  297;  signs  memorial,  ii. 
127;  works  of,  691. 

Mott,  C.  H.,  Ind.  commis'r,  ii.  412; 
joins  Confed.  service,  456. 

'  Mountain  Buck,'  steamer,  ii.  480. 

Mountains,  Or.,  2-3. 

Mount  Baker,  eruption,  ii.  41. 

Mimnt  Hood,  ascent  of,  18.54,  ii.  3?>5, 

Mount  JetFerson,  first  ascent  of,  ii. 
335. 

Mount  St  Helen,  eruption,  ii.  41. 

Mount  Spencer,  named,  i.  484. 

Mounted  ritiemen,  organization,  i, 
578  !);  l)ill  to  raise,  070  1 ;  mem- 
l)ers,  071;  Hag  presented,  672;  ac- 
tions of,  ii,  81-I(K);  desertions  from, 
88-9;  departure,    100. 

Mud  Springs,  named,  1.  5i50. 

Midligan,  C.,  early  settler,  ii.  299. 

Multnomah  Co'ty,  created,  ii.  354; 
hist,  of,  717;  value  of  proji.  in,  75.3. 

Munger,  A.,  Or.  missionary,  i.  238-9; 
character,  death,  2.'19  40. 

Munson,  C.  (r.,  in  Snake  river  massa- 
cre, ii.  472. 

Murphy,  Pat,  in  oxplor.  expedt.,  ii. 
197. 

Myers,  ,Tohn,  in  Snake  river  massa- 
cre, ii.  471, 

My^rs,  Joseph,  in  Snake  river  massa- 
cre  ii,  472. 

Myrick,  Mrs  J.,  i.  .37. 


'Nassau,'  shin,  ii.  202-3,  TiOO. 
Natives,  see  Indians. 
Naylor,  T.  (i.,  biog.,  i.  422,  571, 
Negroes,  feelings  ;igainst,   i.  2S4;  ex- 
pulsion of,  ii.    15,-8;   acts  relating 
to,  ii.  (M>5  0. 
Nelson,  Tiioiiias,  biog.,  ii.   I,"),"), 
'Nereid'  uhip,  i.  50,  ttO,  143,  234. 


INDEX. 


703 


Neamith,  James  W.,  pion.,  '43,  i.  39S, 
3'.>5;  eliaracter,  402;  judge,  47U; 
left  for  C'al.,  ii.  47;  legislator,  58; 
trustee  Or.  academy,  1(»7;  U.  ^S. 
mardhal,  309;  in  lud.  expedt. ,  313; 
l)rig.  gen.  of  militia,3'25;  U.  S.  Sen- 
ator, actions,  453,  459,  674;  H.  R. 
comniis'r,  WHi. 

Newliy,  R.  F.,  injured  on  the  'Ga- 
zelle,'ii.  lUO. 

Nevoomli,  Daniel,  of  co'ty  convention, 
ii.  423;  me.n.  H.  of  Rep.,  423,  434; 
brig,  gen.,  438. 

New  Dungenciis,  light-house  at,  ii. 
248. 

Newell,  Roh't,  legia.  com.,  1842,  i. 
304;  mem.  prov.  gov't,  1844,  428, 
431;  legislator,  4/2,  474,  WM;  ii. 
58;  Or.  printing  assoc.,  i.  53(1;  left 
for  C'al.,  ii.  47;  Ind.  sub.  agent,  70 
-1;  representative,  452;  leased  pen- 
itentiary, G44;  R.  R.  commiss'r, 
G!)(>. 

Newmarket,  settlement,  i.  4G4. 

'Newport,' ship,  ii.  333. 

Newspapers,  started  1850-1,  ii.  147; 
political  actions,  ;<5;M»;  births  at 
state  adini.ssi  )ii,  448-9;  excluded 
from  mails,  492;  number  of,  092. 

Newton,  Mr,  munlered,  i.  5l54. 

Ne/.  IVrces,  missionaries  among,  i. 
Ill,  115  19:  religions  rites,  110-18; 
threaten  Lapwai.  2(>8;  council  with 
White,  '209-72'  Spaulding's  inllu- 
encc,  330,  335;  grammar  made,  335; 
cattle,  stock,  340;  conn'sil  withcom- 
mis'r,  718-21;  li.  3CI-0;  treaty  with, 
300. 

Nichols,  Serg't,  attack  on,  ii.  547. 

Nichols,  Henjamiu,  judge,  i.  450. 

Nichols,  H.  n.,  (  f  const,  convention, 
ii.  423;  of  H.  of  Ucp.,  1S58-9,  432, 
434. 

Niglitingalo,  Oideon  U.,  bioa.,  i.  528. 

Niles,  II.,  on  tei'iii  Oregon,  i.  22;  prop. 
Wet'kly  Ki'gistcr,  37H. 

Niles'  Weekly  Register,  l>il(liog.,  i. 
.378. 

Nisipially,  missiim,  i.  ISS  90;  Indsat, 
319;  attacktil,  ii.  07  9:  fort  near, 
70;  jMirt  of  delivery,  107. 

Nis(|ually  I'ass,  ev])|orfd,  1839,  ii.  75. 

Noliili,  < iiovanui,  arrives,  July  1S44, 
i.  325. 

Noldc,  ('\irtis,  set.  at  t'mw  Ray,  ii.  334. 

Noble,  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  biog.,  .'.  .528. 

Noland,  Khodes,  killed  by  Iiids,  ii.  312. 

Nortliup,  Nelson,  biog.,  ii.  333. 

Norcross,  A.  J,,  mayor  of  Union  and 
Auburn,  ii.  485. 


Northern  Pac.  R.  P.,  joint  lease  of  O. 

R.  &  N.  C'o.'s  line,  ii.  748;  injunc- 
tion against  lease,  749. 
North  Litchfield  Assoc,  of  Conn,  send 

exped.  to  Oregon,  2.'i8. 
Nortnwest  Coast,  term  embraced,  i, 

1 ;  U.  (S.  territorial  rights,  254. 
Notice  bill,  U.  S.  cong.  passes,  i.  589. 
Nott,  Joseph,  trial  of,  ii.  156. 
Nourse,  Geo.,  firsh  settler  in  Klamath 

county,  ii.  507. 
Nuns,  arrival  of,  i.  325,  326. 
Nus,  Wm,  I.'  ath  of,  ii.  575. 
Nuttall,    at    Fort  Vancouver,    i.    16; 

expedt.  to  Or.,   60,   85;  names    Or. 

flora,  86. 
Nye,  Capt.,  in  Columbia,  i.  201,  422. 


Oakland,  laid  out,  1849,  ii.  180. 

Oakley,  with  Farnham's expedt.,  227 
-8. 

Oatman,  Harrison,  wounded  by  Inds, 
ii.  371;  lieut.  of  vols.,  510;  fight 
with  Inds,  528,  .529. 

O'Beirne,  Capt.,  Oglit  with  Indians, 
ii.  5.30. 

Oblate,  Fatheris,  mission  to  Yakimas, 
i.  .327-8. 

Oblates  of  Mary  Innnaculatc,  proceed 
to  Or.,  i.  054. 

O'Hrien,  .lohn,  drowned,  ii.  396. 

'  Octan  Hird,"  bark,  ii.  48. 

Odil  Fellows,  dispensation  for  estab- 
lishing, ii.  31. 

Odell,  W.  H.,  survej-or  gen.,  ii.   295. 

Odeneal,  T.  H. ,  app't.  supt.  Ind. 
affairs,  ii.  507;  otf'l  act  in  Modoc 
war,  509-72;  app't.  peace  conimis'r, 
590 

Ogden,  Maj.  C.  A.,  in  survey  expedt., 
ii.  'J48. 

Ogden,  1'.  S.,  eliaracter,  i.  .32;  dis- 
covers llnmbiiMt  river,  32;  conrils 
on  Coliinibi.i,  5>.»S;  at  Walia  Walla, 
<)73  4;  rescui''!  caiitives,  Os.'i  97. 

O'Kclly,  Ninirod.  trial  of,  ii.  b'lO. 

Olciitt,  Kgliert,  see  Sniitli  Noycs.  , 

Olds,  \V.,  of  const,  convention,  ii. 
423. 

Olingcr,  A.,  biiig.,  i.  421. 

(M  V.  r,  1-   W.,  kiM.'d  bv  Inds,  i.i  395. 

Ollcy.  .lames,  death,  1.  2()0 

Obiey,  Cyrus,  trustee  of  University, 
ii.  299;  assocuite  judge,  'Ml;  of 
const,  convention,  423;  mem.  II.  of 
Hep.,  000,  071:  subsidy  bill  of,  097. 

Ohiey,  Nathan,  Ind.  agent,  ii.  300) 
recruiting  ollicer,  497. 


794 


INDEX. 


Olympia,  port  of  delivery,  ii.  170; 
co'ty  seat,  209. 

Oue-eyecl  Mose,  of  Capt.  Jack's  I>aiul, 
ii.  576. 

O'Neil,  James,  in  cattle  expdt. ,  i.  142; 
converted,  179;  mem  of  col.  gov't, 
301,  304;  judge,  312,  490;  K.  R. 
commis'r,  G9G. 

Ordinance,  1787,  applied  to  Or.,  1843, 
i.  313. 

Oregon,  early  extent,  i.  1 ;  geological 
division,  1-6;  natural  rcjourcci,  4- 
G;  climate,  4-5;  ii.  4J-1;  society, 
1834,  i.  9-10,  15-17;  advent  of  mi.j- 
sionaries,  10-17;  name,  17-25;  law 
under  H.  B.  Co.,  47-CO;  Meth. 
misdionaries,  54-05;  early  settlers, 
06-77;  251-2;  missionaries,  1034-8, 
78-103,  1S4-225;  Prejb.  mission- 
aries, 104-.38;  colonization,  154-83; 
event  ,  18:{9,  220-52;  Belcher  on, 
232-3;  Farnham'8re«t,230;  Wdkes' 
visit,  210-9;  U.  S.  claim  to,  »19-50; 
limits,  348-5;  message  of  executive, 
429-30;  land  law  provisions,  443-5; 
negro  immigration,  437-8;  necessity 
for  l)etter  route,  542-3;  war  feeling, 
1846,  573-99;  propositiion  of  Brit- 
ish, 580;  first  nag,  588;  boundaries, 
591-4,  597-8;  progress,  009;  dij- 
ffust  with  U.  S.  giv't,  015-17;  ship 
building,  ii.  27;  news  of  Cal.  gold 
discovery,  42;  cflFect  of,  51;  gold 
discovery,  1850-2,  174-204;  cost  of 
Ind.  war,  320-1;  state  admittiince, 
440-1;  seal,  444;  during  war,  1801- 
5,  456-8. 

Oregon  army,  miserable  condition,  i. 
726;  objections  again  )t,  727. 

Oregon  and  Cal  mission,  organized, 
1849,  ii.  677. 

Oregon  and  Cal.  R.  Ri  Co.,  charter 
granted,  ii.  090;  purchase  of,  747. 

Oregon  cavalry,  Ist,  hist,  of,  1800-3, 
ii.  493. 

Oregon  central  mditary  road  co.,  ao> 
tiona  and  grants,  ii.  051,  653. 

Oregon  Cent.  R.  R,  hist,  ii.  096-708. 

Oregon  city,  founding,  i.  205,  207, 
211  12,  217  18;  progress,  205;  Mc- 
Loughlin's  claim,  311;  bishop's  see, 
327;  first  brick  house,  328;  jail, 
439,  019;  incorporated,  443;  legis- 
lature at,  473,  li.  69;  seat  of  gov't, 
i.  536;  post-office  established,  014, 
it.  29;  cliurches,  30;  trial  of  Inds, 
94-0;  population.  1852,  251;  flood, 
1861,483;  first  church,  077;  water- 
power  at,  753. 


'Oregon  Democrat, '  newspaper,  ii.  449. 

Oregon's  envoys,  i.  754-67. 

Oregon  infantry,  1st,  organized,  ii.  509. 

Oregon  institute,  founded,  i.  201-3, 
300;  moved,  322;  catholics  offer  to 
purchase,  326;  sale,  789-90. 

Oregon  Pac.  R.  R. ,  construe,  of,  ii.  749. 

Oregon  pioneer  assoc,  object,  offi- 
cers, biblio^.,  i.  394. 

Oregon  printmg  assoc,  principles,  i. 
535-6;  work  done,  ii.  31. 

Oregon  prov.  emig.  soc.,  organized, 
purpose,  i.  174,  176,  373. 

Oregon  R'y  Co.,  purchased,  ii.  747-8. 

Oregon  Ry  &  Nav.  Co.,  bridge  and 
depot  of,  ii.  748;  line  of,  leased,  748; 
injunction  against  lease,  749;  exten- 
sion of  lines,  750. 

Oregon  rangers,  foimation,  i.  283; 
serv.  of,  284-5;  flag  presented,  583. 

Oregon  'Spectator, 'newspaper,  i.  484, 
575;  suspended,  ii.  43-4. 

Oregon  'Statesman,'  newspaper,  ii, 
147. 

Oreg(m  Steam  Nav.  Co.,  organization 
of,  ii.  480. 

Oregon  Temperance  Society,  organ* 
ized,  i.  98. 

Oregon  'Whig,'  newspaper,  ii.  147. 

Organic  laws,  amendment  of  1845,  i. 
470-507. 

Osborne,  Bennet,  explor.  party,  i.  544. 

Oswego,  founded,  ii.  251;  iron  works 
at,  752. 

Otis,  Maj.,  in  Modoo  war,  ii.  507-70. 

Overland  mail,  first  daily,  ii.  438. 

Overton,  Wm,  owner  of  Port,  land 
claim,  i.  791,  ii.  281. 

Owens,  D.  D.,  exped.  of,  ii.  300. 

Owens,  John,  explor.  party,  i.  544; 
at  Ft  Hall,  551-2;  rescues  immi- 
grants, 504. 

Owens,  Y.  P.,  attack  on  Ind'i,  ii.  318. 

Owens,  Thomas,  biog.,  i.  421. 

Owhi  chief,  opposes  treaty,  ii.  304. 

'Owyhee,'  biog.,  i.  40. 

Owyhee  river,  battle  of,  ii.  520-1. 


Pacific  city.  White,   founds  1853,   1. 

»K). 
Pacific  co'ty,  established,  ii.   150. 
Pacific  Journal,  newspa^ter,  ii.  448. 
Pacific  ocean,   natural    boundary  of 

U.  S.,  1.  358. 
Pacific  republic,  scheme  of,  ii,  450-1. 
Pacifiu  university,  i.  i:<8;  ii.  680. 
FMkwood,  Klisha,  biog.  i.  630-1. 


INDEX. 


795 


Packwooil,  Wm  H.,  of  const,  conven- 
tion, ii.  423. 

Page,  Dan  D., killed  on  the  'Gazelle,' 
ii.  340. 

Parge,  H.  C,  attacked  by  Inda,  ii. 
523. 

•  Tallaa,'  brig,  i.  423-4,  4G7. 

Pal:ner,  Capt.,  movements  of,  ii.  512  ■ 
13. 

Palmer,  Cornelius,  juntice  of  peace, 
ii.  298. 

Palmer,  Joel,  leaves  for  W.  S.,  i.  337; 
aid  to  Welch,  509;  road  making, 
518;  biog.  and  bibliog.,  522;  com- 
mli.  gen.,  G70;  sup't  Ind.  afiTairj, 
6S.^;  ii.  309;  official  action,  i.  720; 
ii.  359-08,  397-9,  439-11;  left  for 
Cal.,  ii.  47;  of  H.  of  rep.,  18G2-3, 
CrS;  senator,  1804-6,  CCS,  CCC;  Or. 
Cent.  R,  R.,  698. 

PahiiLT,  Joes,  trustee  of  Or.  Academy, 
ii.  1(<8;  founded  Dayton,  251. 

Palousea,  battle  with,  i.  723-4. 

Pai.iSrum,  P.  C,  at  Walla  Walla,  i. 
C5;  receives  missionaries,  110,  12;), 
iulluence  with  Inds,  330,  345;  ex- 
plor.  exped.,  1839,  ii.  75. 

Pa.iina  chief,  makei  peace,  ii.  507-8; 
ti:,dit  with,  5.33;  k  lied,  2:;4. 

Paris,  J.  D.,  fainthearted  missionary, 
i.  334. 

Parker,  David,  explores  Puget  Sound, 
i.  4t>.H-4. 

Parker,  A.  C,  of  Assembly  1864-5, 
ii.  065. 

Parkci',  Saui'l,  of  logiolature,  ii.  58-9, 
03;  muni,  of  couuc.i,  71-2,  112,  ]."S, 
1j3,  434;  mem.  penit'y  board,  298; 
university  trustee,  299. 

Parker,  Rub.  iSamuul,  seeks  miss. 
site,  i.  104;  character,  105-6.  at 
Ft  Walla  Walla,  110,  120;  meets 
Vriiitc,  111,  11.");  at  Ft.  Vancouver, 
111-14,  123;  opinion  of  natives, 
112;  mt.'ct)  Lee,  J 13,  selects  Waii- 
latpu,  117-19;  map  of  travels,  120; 
at  Ft  ("olville,  122-3;  Sandwich 
I  ':ir.d^.  12:M. 

Parker,  Wni,  expli>r.  J'lrty,  1846,  i. 
544;  of  H.  of  rep.  1«.J0,  ii.  142; 
biog.,  143. 

Parker,  WmO.,  biog,,  i.  544. 

Parker,  W.  W.,  of  assembly  1858-9, 
ii.  4114;  dup'ty  collector,  458;  biog. 
45H. 

Parrish,  K.  Fi.,  biog..  i.  469;  dist 
judge,  49<1;  schocd  trustee,  ii.  685. 

Parrisli,  Kdward.  diyath  of,  ii.  370. 

Parrish,  Jesse,  biog.,  i.  754, 

Parsons,  1.  11.,  biog.,  ii.  711. 


rarri-.h,  J.  L.,  mis.sionary,  i.  177;  at 
Clataop  mljs.,  1^;  trustee  Ur.  In- 
stitute, 202;  at  Salem,  22u;  on 
gov't  com.,  297;  Ind.  agent,  ii.  213; 
Meth.  preacher,  677;  R.  R.  com- 
mij'r,  693. 

Parrott,  Rev.  Jo.-eph  E.,  bi((g.,  i.  753; 
signs  memorial,  ii.  127;  Meth. 
preacher,  677. 

Partlow,  James,  Piles  of  the  'Gazelle,' 
ii.  340. 

Patten,  rescue.i  immigrants,  i.  564. 

Patterson,  A.  W.,  of  II.  of  rep.,  1854- 
5,  ii.  3i9;  lieut.  of  vols,  386;  enroll- 
ing olacer,  390;  of  0.  C.  M.  Road 
Co.,  G52;  senator,  1870,  671. 

Patterson,  Joshua,  l)iog.  of,  ii.  713. 

Patton,  Lieut,  fight  with  Inds,  ii. 
6.30. 

Patton,  Polly  Grimes,  biog.,  i.  627. 

Patton,  T.  Mc  F.,  att'y,  ii.  158; 
favors  now  ter.  scheme,  255;  clerk 
of  council,  417;  Or.  Cent.  R.  R., 
699. 

Paugh,  William,  biog.,  i.  526-7. 

Pawnees,  missionaries  among,  105. 

Payette,  at  Ft  Hinso,  i.  229,  2.39;  re- 
ceivea  iumiigrants,  401. 

Payne,  Aaron,  biog.,  i.  630;  of  If.  of 
rep.,  1850,  143;  in  lud.  exped.  325. 

Payne,  Clayliomo,  death,  i.  397. 

Payne,  Dr  Henry,  iii  explor.  exped. 
ii.  176. 


Payne,  8.,  n.ap. 


i.  24. 

"uer.i, 


visited  by  Ya« 


Peace  Commi.i 

kimas,  i.  707-8. 
'l'«M.  lick,' ship,  wruokod,  i.  *J49. 
Pearl,  Henry,  killed  in  lud.  light,  ii. 
3S3. 

II..  nominated   U.   S. 
61.9;    Metli.    i>reacher. 


Puiiriio,  Thos 
senator,  ii. 
677. 

Peebles,  I.  C, 


of  II. 


of  rep.,  ii.  323; 

of  c.mnuil  1854-7,  349,  413,  417;  of 

con  -t.  convention,  4-3. 
Pet^l,  Win,  arrives,  i.  497. 
Peers,  Henry  N.,  mem.  of  leg.,  i.  004, 

(UM);  literary  abilities,   60ti;  works 

of,  ii.  091. 
Peereo,    (apt.    C.    H.,    cont'd  at  Ft 

Steilaooom,  ii.  532. 
Pend.  O'Oreilles,  St  Ignatius  mi.Hsion 

founded,  i.  327. 
Pendleton,  chairman  mil.   allairs,   i. 

378. 
Pengra,  B.  J.,  surveyor-gen.,  ii.  '295, 

458;  nominatetl  to  congress,  446;  of 

0.  (',  M.  Road  Co.,  052;  explorea 

route,  705. 


793 


IXDEX. 


Penitentiary,  waste  of  appropriations, 
ii.  850,  352;  cou8ii:ructeil,  (544,  64"). 

Penn»yer,(jrov,  S. ,  mess.to  cong. ,  ii.760. 

Peutlanil,  Robert,  injured  ou  the 
•Gazelle,'  ii.  340. 

Peoria,  Lue's  colonizing  efforts  in,  226. 

Pepoon,  Lieut  Silas,  actions  of,  ii.  621. 

Pepj)er,  I.  P.,  in  explor.  expeJ.,  ii. 
l'.»7. 

Pcrkinn,  Mrs.  at  Willamette  miss., 
i.   161;  at  Dalles,  1G4,  161,  11)0. 

Perkins,  llev.  H.  K.  W.,  at  Willam- 
ette mi.is.,  i.  161,  230;  at  Dalles, 
llj;J-6,  17l)-Sl,  242. 

Perham  &  Co.,  Carding  machine  of, 
ii.  338. 

Perkins,  Joel,  founded  town,  ii.  251. 

Perry,  Capt.  D.,  in  Modoc  war,  ii. 
581-90,  616-18;  captures  Captain 
Jack,  029-30. 

Perry,  Frank,  killed  by  Inds.,  ii.  315. 

Perry,  James,  nmrder  of,  ii.  521. 

Pettygrove,  F.  W.,  lined  for  using 
liquor,  i.  282;  mem.  P.  L.  I..  C, 
397;  at  Or.  city,  417;  biog.  and 
bibliog.,  422-3;  judce,  496,  left  for 
Cal.,  li.  47;  founded  Portland,  717. 

Pettyjohn,  L.,  school  trustee,  ii.  6S5. 

Peupeiimoxniox,  visits  McLoughlin, 
i.  277;  trading  ventures,  28r»;  ad- 
ventures with  McKinlay,  345;  con- 
duct, 6.")1;  revokes  friendship,  728; 
acts  at  council,  ii.  3(54. 

Phelps,  Miss  A.,  missionary,  i,  177; 
marriage,  237. 

Phillips,  Miss  E.,  missionary,  i.  177, 
187. 

Pickett,  Chas.  E.,  threatened,  i.  284; 
mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  297;  bibliog., 
434-5;  judge,  496,  Ind.  agent,  614; 
unpopularity,  615. 

Pickett,  I.  W..  killed,  ii.  478. 

Pierce,  E.  1).,  exi)edt.  of,  ii.  479. 

Pike,  Lt,  pursuit  of  Inds,  ii.  545,  546. 

Pilcher,  .Nlajor,  lud,  agent,  with  mis- 
nionaricM,  i.  128. 

Pilot  service,  at  mouth  of  Colund)ia, 
ii.  191. 

'Pioneer,' schr,  ii.  48. 

Pioneer  association,  hist  of,  ii.  693-4. 

Pioneer  Lyceum  and  Literary  Club, 
1844,  i.  296  7. 

Pioiieer.i.  listiof,  i.73-7;  394,526,  568, 
(is;),  751;  list  rf  deaths,  ii.  762-3. 

Piper,  Lt,  A.,  takes  the  luld,   ii.   470. 

Pit  river,  Crook  on,  ii.  5IIH  it. 

Pit  riv;'r  I  nils,  murder  by.ii.  489. 

Pitman,  Miss  A.  M.,  arrives  Or.,  i, 
156;  at  Willamette  mission,  i.  157 
-0. 


Planing  mill,  built  on  Columbia,  ii. 
50. 

Piatt,  L  C,  murder  of,  ii.  150. 

riatte,  discussion  as  to  site  of  military 
])ost,  i.  370. 

Poinaett,  on  military  posts,  i.  376. 

Point,  Nicholas,  11.  C.  priest,  Flat- 
head mission,  i.  3'.;4. 

Poland,  Capt.,  death  of,  ii.  394. 

i'oland,  John,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  393. 

Polk,  Pre.).,  actions  on  Or.  question, 
i.  388,  682-3;  ou  boundary  questi(jn, 
595. 

Polk  co'ty,  created,  i.  538;  hist,  of, 
ii,  722. 

Pollock,  John,  death  of,  ii.  370. 

Pomeroy,  W.,  witness,  lanil  dispute, 
i.  20<i;  Bigns  memorial,  ii.  127. 

Ponjade,  John  P.,  biog.,  i,  633. 

I'ouy  express,  founder  of,  ii.  438. 

Popham,  Kzckicl,  murderous  affray, 
ii.  37. 

Popoagie,  military  post,  i.  376. 

Popular  elec*:ion,  vote  on  constitution, 
ii.  427,  428. 

Population,  251,  543,  ii.  251,  259. 

Port  of  entry  established,  ii.  103,  104. 

Porter,  William,  bioj^.,  i.  753. 

Portland,  found,  of,  i.  791-3:  port  of 
delivery, ii.  107;  pop.  1852,251 ;  legis- 
lation over  site,  281-9;  hist,  of,  717- 
22;  progress  of,  1880-8,  750-!. 

Portland  library,  organiz.  of,  ii.  751-2. 

Port  Orford,  established,  ii.  193;  ofH- 
tialsat,  1851,  2:<3. 

Post  route,  establishing,  i.  014. 

Powder  River  mine,  discovery  of,  ii. 
479. 

Powder  River  valley,  fertility  of,  ii. 
485. 

Powers  Thomas,  road  making,  1846, 
i.  558. 

Pratt,  judge  of  second  dist,  ii.  70,  re- 
tion<  of.  10*:. 

Pratt,  O.  C,  Young's  property,  i.  151- 
l.-)2,  780;  ii.  lO.'i,  1.57-9,  162-4,  167, 

Presbyterian  church,  hist,  of,  ii.  t)80- 

8:i. 

Preibyterians,  advent  of,  i.  104-.18; 
1838  47,  315  48:  jeah.usies.  :!29- 
;<0;  alarm  at  R.  C.  action,  340  1 ; 
diiwnfall  of,  741. 

PreUim,  (<eo.  C,  Ind.  sub.  agent,  ii. 
70. 

Preston,  H.  L.,  nominated  U.  fS.  Sen- 
ator, ii.  (>39. 

Preston,  1.  R.,  surveyor  gen.,  ii.  155. 

Pretol,  arrives  in  18!7,  1.  .".'(i. 

Prettymun,  I'erry,  biug.,  i.  627. 


L 


INDEX. 


797 


Prichett,  defendeil  Inds,  ii.  96;  acting 

gov.,  118. 
Prigg.  Frc.l,  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  i.  297; 

judge,  49C;   terr.  sec,   60(5;  death, 

ii.  :$(!. 
Piiiii.    P.   P.,    pros,  att'y,  ii.  336;  of 

const,  convention,  423;   app'td  dist 

judge,  443,  670. 
Prince,  Nez  Perces,  chief,  i.  279. 
Pringle,  Plierne  T.,  biog,,  i.  570. 
Pringlu,  Virgil  K.,  biog.,  i.  570. 
Printing  press,  Hall  brings,   1839,   i. 

33.5-6. 
Prolwte  courts,  i.  31 
Probst,  R.  '^';rt,  murder  of,  ii.  477. 
Protective  a-Boc,  capital,   object,   ii. 

21-2. 
Protestant   church,   first  erected,   ii. 

677. 
Provencher,  J.  N.,  bishop  of  Juliopo- 

Ui,  18;{4,  i.  315. 
Provisions,  high  price,  i.  259,  451. 
Pruoit,  J.  H.,  biog.,  i.  631. 
P\il)lic  building.i,  acts  concerning,  ii. 

298. 

Public  lands,  first  sale  of,  ii.  660. 

Public  library,  l)ooks  for,  ii.   144. 

Puldic  roads,  acts  relating  to,  ii.  651- 
o 

Pudding  river,  name,  i.  72. 

Puebbi  .uts,  tigiit  at,  ii.  535. 

Pugct  Sound,  exploration,  i.  463-4; 
Collector  appointed,  ii.  108;  fortiri- 
cations,  510. 

Piiget  Sound  Agricultural  Ci>.,  opjto- 
siiion  to,  i.  189;  attempt  at  settle- 
ment, 252;  Cowlitz,  319 

Pugh,  J.  W.,  biog.,  i.  572. 

Putnanj,  Charles,  road  making,  1846, 
i.  55S. 

Pylc,  Jaini's  M.,  clerk  of  assembly,  ii. 
434;  ficnator,  I.Sli4  6,  665-7;  sup- 
ports R.  R,  grants,  697 


Q 


Quallawort,  execution  of,  ii.  80. 
Quatlov,  Ciiief,  in  Lane's  Ind.   expdt, 

ii.  219  21. 
Qiielipc,  arcld)isliopric,  appoints  IJlan- 

chet  to  Or.,  1.S37,  i.  3(M». 
(JiUMUol,  F.,  settler,  i.  74. 
't^uito, '  brig,  ii.  48. 


R 


Radford,  Lt  R.  C.  W.,  Indian  expdt., 

ii.  320. 
Rae,  \V.  O.,  life  as  fur- trader,   i.  30: 

iu  Cal.,  251. 


Rae,  Mrs,  marries,  i.  .37:  in  Cal., 
251. 

Ragan,  Wm,  attack  on  Inds,  ii.  534. 

Railroads,  memorial  for,  i.  590:  char- 
ters granted,  ii.  32,')-6;  land  grant. 
668;  hist,  of,  695-70();  iirogress,  746, 

Rainer,  founded,  ii.  252. 

Rainey,  J.  T.,  biog.,  i.  570. 

Rains,  C,  killed,  li.  464. 

Ralston,  .leremiah,  biog.,i.  631;  Uni- 
versity trustee,  ii.  21K). 

Rascal  river,  name,  i.  iK). 

Ravalli,  Antonio,  arrives  July  1844, 
i.  .325. 

Raymond,  W.  W.,  at  Clatsop  miss., 
i.  177,  187;  death,  19'.»  200. 

Reading,  P.  R.,  pion.,  1843,  i.  395. 

Real  estate  exchange,  list  of  incor- 
porators, ii.  751. 

Ream  Lt,  in  Modoc  war,  ii.  593. 

Reasoner,  I.  S.,  Presb.  min.,  ii.  681. 

Rector,  W.  H.,  mem.  of  leg.,  i.  612; 
left  for  Cal.  ii.  47;  supt  of  Iiid.  af- 
fairs, 4i)9;  R.  R.  comm'r,  690. 

Red  River  families,  settle't  in  Or.,  252. 

Reed,  <Jeo.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  395. 

Ree<l,  I.  H.,  of  const,  convention,  ii. 
423. 

Reed,  Martin,  kille<l  l>y  Inds,  ii.  395. 

Rces,   W.    H.,    inftitutes   library,    i. 
295-7;  mem.  of  kg.,  (J  12. 
sec.  of  Pioneer  Soc,  693. 

Reeves,  S.  (A,  pilot,  i.  326,  589;  ii. 
24-5;  left  for  Cul.,  47. 

Rehart,  C.  A.,  biog   of.  ii.  715. 

Religion,  lir<t  celebration  mass'  Nov., 
25,  1838,  Vaucouvi'r,  i.  317. 

Religious  sects,  numliers,  denomina- 
tions, ii.  36, 

Remeau.  assists  emigrants,  1848,  i. 
400. 

Reiide/.vous,  of  fur  traders,  i.  1.30. 

Republican  party,  formation  of,  ii, 
416;  chilis,  418;  iilatt'orm,  KS.")8, 
430;  convention  1859,  44.");  1862, 
(i.n7:  victory  of  I88.S,  7fi2. 

Reservation,  on  Mal'ieur  river,  ii. 
5,")4;  s<-t  oil',  6,")3. 

Revenue,  raising  of  1845,  i.  540;  laws, 
ii.  104  8. 

Rt^yuidds,  Frances  KUa,  biog.,  i.  753. 

U.  ynolds,    11.    H.    defended   hnU,  ii. 

m. 

Rice,  C<d.  killed,  ii.  527. 

Rice,  W.  H.,  faintiioartcd  missiimary, 
i.  334. 

Ri(!liar<l,  Father,  superior  of  the  ob- 
late orders,  i.  .328. 

Richardson,  A.,  iu  Ind.  exued.,  iL 
224. 


798 


INDEX. 


Richardson,  Daniel,  death,  i.  398. 
Richardson,    Dan,    lieut   of  vols,   ii. 

379;  killed,  396. 
Richardson,   Jesse,   favors   new  ter. 

scheme,  ii.  255. 
Richardson,    P.,     meets    Faruham's 

exped.,  228. 
Richey,  Caleb,  biog.,  i.  754. 
Richmond,  Rev.  J.  P.,  missionary,  i. 

177;  at  Misqually  miss.,  188-90. 
Richmond,  Mrs,  missionary,  i.  177. 
Ricord,  John,  at  Oregon  city,  i.  211- 

13;  opposes  McLoughlin,  i.  215-18. 
Riddle,    F.   F.,    intemreter,    ii.  599- 

609. 
Riddle,    Foby,    interpreter,    ii.    599- 

612. 
Ridge  way,  Mrs  Tabitha,  biog.,  i.  529. 
Riggs,  James  B.,  biog.,  i.  527. 
Riggs,  W.  C.  killed,  ii.  464. 
R  ley,  Capt.  Bennett,  chastises  Inds. 

i.  397. 
Riley,  Edward,  murder  of,  ii.  527. 
Rinearson,  8.  S.,  mem,  of  express,  i. 

652;  1st  serg't  ritte  co.,  671;  capt. 

of  vols,   ii.   379;  promulgates  rep. 

doctrine,  418;  Maj.  of  Or.  vols,  491. 
Roads,  petitions  for,  i.  531-3;  located, 

ii.   152;  explorations  for,  335. 
'Roanoke,' snip,  wrecked,  ii.  300. 
Rolib,    J.    R.,   attempts    to    muzzle 

press,  i.  622;  left  for  Cal,  ii.  47; 

university  trustee,  299. 
Robbins,  Nathaniel,  of  const,  conven- 
tion, ii.  423. 
Rol>e,  Robert,  Presbyterian  minister, 

ii.  681. 
Roberts,  G.  B.,  at  Ft  Vancouver,  i. 

38;  life,  i.  38-9. 
Roljerts,  Mrs  G.  B.,  arrives  Ft  Van- 
couver, 27. 
Roberts,  W.,  transferred  to  Cowlitz, 

i.  598-9;  attempts  to  muzzle  pre.ts, 

622;    university   trustee,    ii.     299; 

Rup't.  of  missions,  677. 
Robinson,  A.  A.,  clerk  of  council,  ii. 

72. 
Robinson,  Ed,  stabbing  affair,  ii.  37. 
Roltertson,  Joseph,  Presb.   minister, 

ii.  682. 
Robinson,  John,  biog.,  i.  570;  of  H. 

of  rep.,  1855-6,  ii.  413. 
Robin's  Nest,  proposed  seat  of  gov't, 

i.  536 
Robinson,  Thomas  G.,  biog.,  i.  627. 
Robinson,    Rev.    William,    biog.,    i. 

627. 
Robv,  death,  1846,  i.  659. 
Rook  Dave,  of  Capt.  Jack's  band,  ii. 

670i 


Rockwell,  John,  in  survey  exped.,  ii. 

249. 
Roe,  C.  J.,  marriage,  i.  159;  history, 

ii.  160. 
Rogers,  murdered,  i.  660 
Rogers,  Clark,  Alcalde,  ii.  326. 
Rogers,  Cornelius,  missionary,  i.  137- 

8;  marriage,  199;  death,  1843,  199- 

200;  explor.  exped.  1839;  ii.  75. 
Rogers,  Capt.  John  I.,  cond.  at  Cape 

Hancock  ii.  532. 
Rogers,  John  P.,  left  for  Cal.  1848-9, 

ii.  47. 
Rogers,  Mary  Jane  Robert,  death,  i. 

469. 
Rogtie  river,  name,  i.  80;  hostility  of 

Inds,  95;  ii.  377;  explor.  of,  176-8, 

197;   gold   discovered,    186;  battle 

on,  227. 
Rogue  River  Inds,  Lane's  conference 

with,  ii.  220-21;  expedts.  against, 

1850,    222-4;  battle  with,    1853-4, 

311-21. 
Rolfe,  Tollman,  H.,  biog.,  i.  634. 
Roman      Catholic,      withdrawal    of 

French,  i.  292. 
Rose,  De,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  313. 
Rose,    Aaron,    founds    Roseburg,    ii. 

184;  of  H.  of  rep.,  1856-7,  417. 
Roseborough,  in  Modoc  war,  ii.  603, 

607. 
Roseburg,  founded,  ii.  184. 
Ross,  J.  £.,  lieut  rifle  co.,  i.  671;  re* 

signed,    708;  left  for  Cal.,    ii.    47; 

favors  new,  ter.  scheme,  255;  claim 

of,  321;  col  of  militia,  325,  376;  of 

H.  of  rep.,  1855-6, 414,  666;  mem.of 

council  185(5-7,  417;  offers  services, 

583;  Director  Or.  Cent.  R.  R.,  699. 
Rosseau,  Father,  on  Umatilla,  i.  327- 

8,  654. 
Rosseau,  Gen.  L.  H.,  com'd  of  dep't, 

ii.  548. 
Round  Prairie,  named,  i.  646. 
Routes,  merits,  i.  565-6. 
Routes  and  Cut-offs,  map,  i.  643. 
Rowe,  John  Lafayette,  hist,  of,  ii.  713 
Royal,  Capt.,  on  Or.  coast,  i.  86. 
Ruckle,  J.  8.,  elected  senator  1858, 

ii.    432;    steamboat  owner,  480-1; 

mention  of,  765. 
Runnels,  Jesse,  in  Ind.  exp^d.,  ii.  224. 
Russlcr,   tSurgeant.   in   fight  at  lava 

beils,  killed,  ii.  542-544. 
Russell.  Edward,  founds  Albina,  ii.  762. 
Russell,  Osborne,  mem.  prov.   gov't, 

i.    427;    l)iog.    428;    candidate  for 

Gov.,  471. 
Russians,  oppose  H.  Bay  Co.,  i.  232) 

trade  of,  674. 


INDEX. 


799 


Bnasell,  W.  H.,  commands  Cal.  Co., 

1846,  i.  556;  founded  pony  express, 

ii.  438. 
Russia,  ukases  w.  Am.  limits,  ]822, 

i.  352. 
Ruth,  I.  S.,  in  survey  exped.,  ii.  190. 
Rvan,  Jeremiah,  in  explor.  exped.  ii. 

'197. 


S 


'Sacramento,' brig.,  ii.  48. 
Saffarana,  Henry,  at  Dalles,  i.  667. 
Sager,    Mr  and  Mrs,  death,  i.  45.S-4. 
St  Clair  Co.,  emigrant  co.  from,  1843, 

i.  393. 
St  Clair  Wayman,  of  H.  of  rep.,  ii. 

143,  349;  biog.,  143. 
St  Francis  Borgia,  mission  founded, 

i.  3.37. 
St  Francis  Regis,  mission  founded,  i. 

.327. 
St  Helen,  founded,  iL  251. 
St  Ignatius,  mission  founded,  i.  327. 
St     Joseph,     boys     school,     French 

Prairie,  1844,  i.  325. 
St  Mary,  convent  and  girls'  school  at 

French  Prairie,  1844,  i.  325. 
St  Paul,  Champoeg  church  dedicated 

to,  1840,  i.  319,  328. 
St  Paul  miss,  sem'y,  incor.,  ii.  152. 
St  Peters,  mission  founded,  i.  327. 
Salem,  site  laid  out,  i.  222;  capital, 

ii.  14G,  643;  legislat.  at,  1(>3;  const. 

convention  at,  423;  growth  of,  752. 
Sales,  Mr,  at  Waulatpec,  i.  648. 
Sallee,  killnd  by  Inds,  i.  661. 
Salmon-canning,  decline  of,  ii.  758. 
Salmon  river,  quartz  mines  at,  ii.  754. 
Sam,  chief,  actions  in  Ind.  troubles, 

ii.  2.39-45. 
'Samuel  Roberts,'  schr,  ii.  176. 
Sanborn,  Charles,  bios.,  i.  633. 
Sanders,  Allen,  dep.  about  Cal.,  i.  S52. 
Sanders,  Geo.  N.,  agent  at  Watih.for 

H.  11.  Co.,  ii.  108-9. 
Sandford,  I.  R.,  in  immigrant  party, 

1859,  ii.  40.3. 
Sand  island,  surveyeil,  ii.  249. 
Sandwich  islandm,  trade  with,  ii.  268. 
San  Francisco,  H.  B.   Co.  poat  at,  i. 

250-7;  explor.  co.  formed  ntii.  176. 
Santiam  river,  Indians    attacked   on, 

1846,  i.  285. 
'  Sarah  &  Caroline, 'ship,  i.  144. 
Saules,   negro,  deserts  ship.   i.   249; 

troubles  with,  282-4. 
Saun<1ers.  L.  Woodbury,  biog;  i.  647. 
Saunders,  S.,  killed,  ii.  378. 
Sager,  John,  umrderod,  i.  069. 


Savage,  Luther,  biog.,  i.  637. 
Savage,  Morgan  Lewis,  biog.,  i.  629. 
Savage,  Towner,  biog.,  i.  5il. 
Sawyer,  Willoughby,  in  fight  at  lava 

Iteds,  killed,  ii.  544. 
Saxton,  Joseph  Charles,  accompanies 

White,  i.  484. 
Scarborough,   I.,   killed  by  Inda,  ii. 

317. 
Scarface,  murder  by,  ii.  238-9;  hanged, 

245. 
Scarface  Charley,  acts  in  the  Modoo 

war,  ii.  572-86;  surrenders,  629. 
Schaeffer,    J.,    in   immigrant  party, 

1859,  ii.  463. 
Schira,  Nicholas,  murder  of,  ii.    576. 
Schira,  Mrs,  bravery  of,  ii.  576. 
Schmoldt,  Adolf,  killed  by  Inds,  ii. 

396. 
SchoHdd,  Xathan,  inex]>li)r.  cxpedt., 

ii.  176. 
Schotield,  Socrates,  in  explor.  expedt., 

ii.  176. 
SchoU,  Peter,  biog.,  i.  627. 
School,  at  Ft  Vancouver,  i.   49,   80; 

Champoeg,  86;    Willamette   miss., 

160,  162;  ChemekeU.  ]!K),  201,  222; 

Baptists,   ii.   648;    Metliodiat,   678; 

Catholic,  679;  Presbyterian,  682-3; 

Episcopal,  687,  Public,  hist,  of,  688 

-9;  Indian,  090. 
School  fund,  act  creating,  ii.  299, 
School  lands,  appropriations  for,   ii. 

660-3. 
School  law,  enactment  of,  ii.  77. 
Sconchin,  chief,  acts  in  Modoo  war, 

ii.    555-612;    trial   and   execution, 

635-6. 
Scott,  Felix,  Ind.  agent,  i.   749;    es> 

corts  immigrants,  750-1 ;  b  eg.,  760; 

R.  R.  comis'r,  ii.  696. 
Scott,  Harvey  W.,  edited  Oregonian, 

ii.  147;  librarian,  694. 
Scott,  J.  B.,  murder  of,  ii.  545. 
Scott,  John,  biog.,  join^i  Cal.  expedt., 

679. 
Scott,  Capt.  L.  S.,  movementa  of,   ii. 

615. 
Scott,  Levi,  biog,,  i.  544,  572;  explor. 

party,  544,   ii.    178;    guides   immi- 
grants, i.  558;  leader  of  party,  266; 

wounded,  624;   joins  Cat.   expedt., 

679;    mem.   of  council,    1868  5,  ii. 

'jnn\,  .323,  349;  of  const,  convention, 

423. 
Scott,  Thos  Fielding,  elected  bishop, 

ii.  685;  death  of,  686. 
Scottsburg,  name,  i.  572;  flood  ->    ii. 

483. 
'Seagull,'  steamer  wrecked,  ii.  341. 


800 


INDEX. 


Seal  of  state,  ii.  444. 

Seamau,   Nelson,  killed  by  Inds,  ii. 

395. 
Sear4,  Franklin,  biog.,  i.  469. 
Secession,  proposed,  1842,  i.  306. 
Seletza,  Indian  chief,  i.  684. 
Selitz  reservation,  condition  of  Inds, 

ii.  412. 
Seroc,  Joseph,  killed  by  Ind.i,  ii.  395. 
Settlement,    difficulties  attending,  i. 

355-6. 
Settlers,  privileges  to,  i.  257;  occupa- 
tion, 786-7;  rights  of,  ii.  285-6. 
Saxton,  Charles,  bibliog.,  i.  608-9. 
Seymour,  Admiral,  writes  McLough- 

lin,  i.  497. 
Shacknasty  Jim,    acts  in  Modoc  war, 

ii.  599,  627;  surrenders,  627. 
Shagaratte,  L. ,  death  of,  i.  82. 
Shane,  J.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  315. 
Sliannon,  Davis,  of  const,  convention, 

ii.  423. 
•Sliark,'  U.  S.  schr,  584-5;  wrecked, 

587-8. 
Shark  lioune,  variety  of  uses,  i.  588. 
Shastas,  Tlie,  trouble  with,  ii.  2.')8-45, 
Shasta  valley,    gold    discovered,    ii. 

185. 
Shattuck,  E.  D.,  candidate  for  Icgis., 

ii.  337;  promulgates  rep.  doctrines, 

418;  of  const,  convention,   423;  of 

H.    of  Rep.,  3858-9,  434;   library 

director,  694;  Or.  Cent.  R.  R.  Co., 

698. 
Shaw,  A.  R.  C,,  exploring  party,    i. 

532. 
Shaw,  Hilyard,  early  settler,  ii.  299. 
Shaw,  T.  Vw.,  exploring  party,  i.   532. 
Shaw,    Win,    biog.,    i.    449;  explores 

Puget  Sound.  453-4;  Capt.  ot  Co., 

703;  left  for  Cal.,  ii.  47;   of  H.  of 

Rep.,  142. 
Shea,  C,  attacked  by  Inds,  ii.  5.34. 
Sheil,  Edw.,  military  comdr,  ii.  314; 

of  council,   1857-8,  429;  elected  to 

congress,  450. 
Shelton,  Isaac,  attacked  by  Inds,  ii. 

37.3. 
Shepard,   Mrs,    work  at  mission,    i. 

160. 
Shephard,    Cyrus,  missionary,  i.  59; 

character,  60;  at  Ft  Vancouver,  80; 

Willamette  miss,  158-61;  marriage, 

159;  death,  182, 
Shephard,  W.  F.,  killed,  ii.  464. 
Sherman,  Gen.,  acts  in  >IoiIoc  a£fair, 

ii.  602,  605. 
Sherry,  Ross,  biog.,  i,  528. 
Sherwood,  Lt  W,  L.,  attempt  murder 

of,  ii.  612-3. 


Shields,  Jafl,  of  const  convention,  ii. 

423. 
Shillingbow,    Adam,    murder  of,  ii. 

577. 
Shipping,  arrivals  and  departures,  ii. 

48^9;  river  and  ocean,  340-1;  hist. 

of  building,  727-9. 
Shirley,   James  Quincy,  biog.  of,  ii. 

723. 
Shively,  John  M.,  biog.,  i.  614;  left 

for  Cal.,  ii.  47. 
Shnebley,  D.  J.,  editor  and  proprietor 

Or.  Spectator. 
Shroeder,  John,  murder  of,  ii.  577. 
Shrum,   Nicholas,    of  const.  conven< 

tion,  ii.  42.3. 
Shoalwater  l>ay,  examined,  ii.  248. 
Short,  Amos  M.,  squatter,  trial  of,  iu 

90;  land  claim,  2/8-9. 
Short,  H.  R.  M.  R,  surveys  Portland, 

i.  792. 
Short,  R.  v.,  of  const,  conversion,  ii. 

423. 
Shortess,  Robt,  petition  of,  i.  207-11; 

character,  207;  mem.  col  govt,  301, 

304;    scheme,    313;     assists    immi- 
grants, 410;  judge,  496;  injured  on 

the  Gazelle,  ii.  340. 
'Shoshone,' steamer,  ii.  547. 
Shoshone  war,  1866-8,  ii.  512-54. 
Shoshones,  Ihe,  outrages  by,  ii.  216. 
Shumard,  B.  F.,  expetlt.  of,  ii.  300. 
Silcott,  John  M.,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
'Silvie  de  Grasse,  'ship,  ii.  48;  wrkd,49; 
Simon,  Joseph,  biog.  of,  ii.  7(i5. 
Simmons,  Andrew  J.,  biog.,  i.  631. 
Simmons,  Christopher,  first  cliild,  i. 

464. 
Simmons,  M.  F  ,  biog.,  i.  449;  explores 

Puget  Sound.  403-4;  of  H.  of  Rep., 

ii,  i'2;  at  indignation  meeting,   162. 
Simmons,  Sam'l,  biog,,  i.  530;  college 

trustee,  ii.    6S6;    R.  R.    coiumis  r, 

696. 
Simpson,  Anthony,   Presb.   minister, 

ii.  681. 
Simpson,  Ben  of  H.  of  Rep.,  ii.    143, 

158,  6.38;  biog.,  143;  surveyor  gen., 

295;  mem.  of  council,  .323. 
Simpson,  Sir  George,   feud  with  Mc- 

Lougliliu,  i.   37;  tries  murderer  of 

McLoughlin,  jr,  2.36;  visits  Or.,  250 

-1;   settlement  policy,   316;   letter 

of,  ii.  108. 
Simpson,  Sam'l  L.,  works  of,  ii.  692. 
Sims,  C,  favors  new  terr.  scheme,  ii. 

255. 
Sims,  John,  murder  of,  ii.  489. 
Sinclair,  CoL  J.  B.,  at  Fort  Boise,  ii. 

619. 


INDEX. 


801 


i,  1. 


Iter, 

^43, 

pn., 

^Ic- 

of 

250 

Iter 

I92. 
ii. 


ii. 


Sinslaw,  settlement  at,  ii.  TSff. 
Sioux,  harass  Wliite's  party,  i.  260. 
Siskiyou  co.,  pet.  of  citizens,  ii.  558. 
Skiiiuur,  A.  A.,  circuit  judge,  i.  605; 
left  for  Cal.,  ii.  47;    com.   to  settle 
Cayuae  war  debt,  79;  signs  memo- 
rial, 127;  claim  of,  184;    Iiid.  com- 
mis'r,  208;  life  ami  public  services, 
:«)9-10;  dist  judge,  670. 
Slacum,  W.   A  ,   report  on  miss.,   i. 
88,  101;  U.  8.  agent  in  N.  W.,  100 
-3;  treatment  by  H.  B.  Co..  101-3; 
aids  settlers,    140-1,    152;   opposes 
H.  B.  Co.,   141-2. 
Slater,  James  H.,  of  H.  of  Rep.,    ii. 
42y,  432,  4;i4;  dist  atty,  070;  mem. 
to  congress,  674;  biog.,  674. 
Slavery,  illegal,  i.   307;  ])roposed  bill 
against,  389;  act  relating  to,  437-9; 
actions  of  free  soilers.  ii.  358-9. 
Sloan,  Joseph,  in  explor.  expedt.,   ii. 

178. 
Small,  Lt,  fight  with  Tnds,  ii.  528. 
Small,  \Vm  J.,  removes  luds,  ii.  579- 

80. 
Smith,  A,  B.,    missionary,    i.    137-8; 

Ind.  grammar,  335. 
Smith,  Capt.  A.  J.,  expedt.  of,  ii.  466 

-8 
Smith,  A.  T.,  mi.ssionary,   i.  239-40. 
Smith,  Bruce,  murder  of,  ii.  527. 
Smith,  Buford,  biog.,  i.  753. 
Smith,  Delazon,  of  H  of  Rep.,  1854-7. 
ii.  349,  413,  417;  of  const,  conven- 
tion,   423;      sui)port3    Lane,     444; 
school  trustee,  682. 
Smith,  Enoch,  trial  of,  ii.  156. 
Smith,  Fred  M.,  established  Port  Or- 

ford,  ii.  193. 
Smith,  Freeman,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
Smith,  Fabritus  R.,  biog.,  i.  570. 
Smith,  Hiram,  biog.,  i.  527. 
Smith,  "ugh,  in  lud.  oxpedt.,  killed, 

ii.  313. 
Smith    J.    E.,    in   immigrant  party, 

1859,  ii.  403. 
Smith,  James,  biog.,  i.  571. 
Smith,  Joseph,   escaped  nia.ssacre,  i. 

602. 
Smitii,  Joseph  S.,  elected  to  congress, 

biog.,  ii.  069. 
Smith,    .John,   of  niiti-slavery  party, 
ii.  359;  del.  to  convention,  418;  H. 
of  Rep.,  638;  sciiool  trustee,   682; 
R.  R.  eommis'r,  696. 
Smith,   Miss   M.,    marries,  i.  96;   at 

Willamette  miss.,  161. 
Smitli,  Noyes,  mem.  P.  L.   L.   C,    i. 
297;  biog.,  621;  signs  memorial,  ii. 
127. 

Or.  II.    61 


Smith,  CJen.  P.  F.,  comd  of  riflemen 
i.  613;  in  comd  Pac  division,  ii.  83; 
plans  of,  86-7. 

Smith,  Robert,  biog.,  i.  544. 

Smith,  Sidney,  witli  Farnham,  i. 
227-9;  sec.  at  public  meeting,  293; 
mem.  for  col  gov't,  .'iOl;  caiitain, 
.304. 

Smith,  Simeon,  biog.,  i.  527. 

Smith,  Solomon,  at  Ft  Vancouver,  i. 
11;  Willamette  miss.,  182;  Claisop 
miss.,  185. 

Smith,  Thomas,  in  Iml.  expedt.,  ii. 
313;  of  H.  of  Rep.,  41^    417,  (iiW. 

Smith,  Thomas  H.,  census  takii,  i. 
443;  sheriff,  49<5;  mill  of,  50,  2.V.'. 

Smith,  Virgilia  E.  Pringle,  biog.,  i. 
570. 

Snake  or  Lewis  river  region,  charac- 
ter, i.  .3. 

Snake  river  massacre,  ii.  468-475. 

Snakes,  the,  trouble  with,  ii.  463-4; 
expedt.  against,  49."). 

SnoUback,  Peter,  iu  lud.  expedt.,  iL 
240. 

Snelling,  fl.  L.,  favors  new  ter. 
scheme,  ii.  255. 

Snoqualimichs,  troubles  with,  ii.  67. ()8. 

Society,  Oregon,  1834,  i.  9-10,  15  17, 
26-28,  42-53. 

'  Southerner,' stmr,  wrecked,  ii.  341. 

Southern  route,  opening  of,  i.  543-52; 
protection  of,  ii.  475-7. 

Southern  Pacific  R.  R.,  purchase  of 
Or.  &  Cal.  R.  R.,  ii.  747. 

Spalding,  H.  H.,  character,  i.  125; 
journey  to  Ft.  Vancouver,  l2.")-35; 
at  Lapwai,  136,  6.')5;  influence  over 
Nez  Perces,  330;  irritability,  .330  1 ; 
opinions  on  agric,  33.V7;  recuUcd 
to  U.  S.,  341;  attending  sick,  CmO- 
7;  warned  of  massacre,  657->^;  es- 
cape of,  ti04  5,  6K6;  Ind  ajjcnt,  ii. 
207;  death,  682. 

Spalding,  Mrs.  marriage,  i.  125-6; 
ciiaracter,  126;  jo\inicy  to  Ft 
Vancouver,  12.5-35;  at  Lapwai, 
130;  illustrates  scriptures,  .330;  in- 
formed of  massacre,  flight,  605-6; 
rescue,  686. 

Sparts,  Rich.,  in  Ind.  expedt,  ii.  2'_M. 

Spaulding,  ('apt.  J.,  voyage,  ii.  174; 
at  Ft  Vancouver,  184:  leaves,  254; 
report  on  Or.  question,  377. 

Speet,  .Jonas,  biog.,  i.  629. 

Speel,  Harris,  biog.,  i.  529. 

Sjiencer,  Z.  C,  sec.  of  war,  Wiita 

Split-lip,  Chief  '^ayuses'  shrewdness, 
1      i.  330. 


808 


INDEX. 


Sportsman,  William,  biog.,  i.  645. 
Bpntranes,     missionariea    among,    i. 

12 1 -2,     138;    movements    of,   286; 

character,  339-40;    attack  troops, 

ii.  4(il. 
Sprague,  Capt.  F.   B.,   expeJt.   of,  ii. 

515,   51G;    comd.   at  Ft  Klamath, 

532. 
Stage  lines  attacked  by  Inds.,  ii.  523. 
Stanley,  Arad  C,  biog.  of,  ii.  713. 
Stanton,  Lt.  expedt.  of,  ii.  202--J03. 
Stanton,  Alfred,  pion.  1847,  i.  469. 
Stark.  Benj.,  of  H.  of  Rep.,  ii.   296, 

4.y2;  U.  S.  senator,  457. 
Stark,  Benjamin,  jun.,  presents  can- 
non to  Or.  city,  i.  588. 
Stark,  Hy.    A.,   of  Coos  Bay  co.,  ii. 

332;  <leath  of,  334. 
Stark weatlier,  W.  A.,  of  H.  of  Rep., 

ii.  349,  417,  452,  666,  671;  of  const. 

convention,  423. 
'  Starling, '  survey  ship,  i.  232;  ii.  48. 
'  Star  of  Oregon,  schr,  i.  248. 
Starr,  Rev.  John  W.,  biog.,  i.  753. 
Starr,      Milton  B.,     of    anti-slavery 

partj",  ii.  359;  cong.  minister,  680. 
State  house,  waste  of  appropriation, 

ii.  350;  destroyed,  351. 
State  lands,  acts   relating  to,  ii.  646. 
State     organization,   question  of    ii. 

336-7. 
State  university,  founded,  ii.  689-90. 
Steamboat      navigation,     encourage- 
ment, i.  375. 
Steele,   E.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 

ii.    255;   actions  in  Ind.    troubles, 

2.39-44;    Cal.    Ind.   sv.ptd.,  556-57; 

actions  in  Modoc  war,   571,  600-4; 

petition  favoring  Modocs,  634. 
Steele,  Maj.  gen.  T.,  measures  of,  ii. 

518-19.  526,  527. 
Steen,  Maj.  E.,  expedt.,  of,  ii.  465-8; 

comd.  at  Walla  VValla,  488. 
Steen,  Mt.,  battle  at,  ii.  548. 
Steinberg,  Justin,   apptd.   col  of  Or. 

cavalry,  biog.,  ii.  493. 
Stephens,  James,  biog.,  i.  469. 
Steptoe,  Col,    attacked  by  Inds,   ii. 

460,461. 
Stevens,  Wm,  murder  of,  ii.  93,  94. 
Stewart,  Benjamin  E.,  biog.,  i.  628. 
Stewart,    P.   G.,  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C, 

i.  297;  mem.  prov.  gov't,  427;  biog.; 

428;  promotor  of   masonry,  ii.    30, 

port  surveyor,  309. 
Stioeas,    Cayuse   chief,   i.    402,     403, 

657;  decepti<m  of,  721-2. 
Stikeii,  Simpson  at,  250. 
Stock,  Waulaptu  miss.,  1839, '41,  i.338. 
Stone,  building,  ii.  754-5. 


Stone,    David,    biog.,  L    762;    pros. 

att'y,  ii.  79. 
Stone,  Pleasant,  W.,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
Stoneman,  Lt  G.,  in  fight  with  Inds, 

ii.  2.35-238. 
Stout,  George  Sterling,  pion.  1843,  i. 

395. 
Stout,    Lansing,    nomination   of,    ii. 

444;  acts  in  congress,  459;  senator, 

668,  671. 
Stoutenburg,  Geo.,  death  of,  i.  182. 
Stratton,  R.  E.,  pros,  att'y,  ii.  298, 

336,  ,358;  biog.,  336. 
Strong,  Wm,  murder  of,  ii.  527. 
Strong,  Judge  W.,    arrival,    ii.   102, 

139;  biog.  102;  dissatisfaction  with, 

162-3. 
Stuart,  Capt.,  in  Lee's  exped.,  i.  63; 

with     missionaries,    128;     hunting 

party,  396. 
Stuart  Bot  Capt.  James,  of  mounted 

riHes,  ii.  81;  in  Ind.  fight,  killed, 

326-7. 
Sturges,  Mrs  Susan,  biog.,  i.  752. 
Sublette,  exped.,  i.  60-61;  advice  to 

White,    256-7;   joins  immigration, 

450. 
Sullivan,  Alex.,  killed,  ii.  549. 
'  Sulphur, '  survey  ship,  i.  2.32. 
Suit,  Michael,  biog.  of,  ii.  715. 
'Sumatra,'  ship,  i.   161. 
Sumner,    Brig.   Gen.    Eb.,   in  com'd 

of  mil.  dep't,  ii.  488. 
Surprise  valley,  named,  i.  549. 
Surveys,  of  lands,  ii.  247-50,  268-75. 
Sutter,   J.   A.,  travelling  to  Cal.,  i. 

165. 
Sutters  Fort,  reception  to  Hastings, 

i.  267;  Peupeumoxmox  at,  286. 
Swamp    lanils,    speculations    in,    ii. 

054—8;  sales,  etc.,  of,  760-1. 
Swaney,  A.   W.,  school  trustee,   ii. 

878. 
Swaney,  L.  H.,  drowned,  ii.  341. 
Swcaringen,  on  Or.  committee,  i.  350. 
Swinden,  John,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
Sylvester,  Capt.,  on  Columbia  i.  424, 

467. 
Sylvester,  E.,  bibliog,  i.  424;  leaves 

for   Cal.,    ii.    47     at    indignation 

meeting,  162. 


Tainey,  R.  C,  l)iog.,  i.  6.30. 
Tallentinc,  Mrs  Agnes,  biog.,  i.  631. 
Tamahas,  murders  by,  i.  659;  ii.  94; 

trial,  execution,  96-100. 
Tamanowas,  (evil  eye)  Indian  belief 

in,  i.  335. 


INDEX. 


803 


Tamsucky,  treachery,  i.  060. 
Tiiiuly,  Wm,  expeil  of,  ii.  ;i05. 
TaiiiUn,  Head  Cliief,  Cayuse,  i.  278- 

80;  trcatmuut  uf  muaiouaries,  3*28, 

G54-0, 
Tanner,  Daniel,  death,  i.  561. 
Tarl)ox,  Steplien,  biog.,  i.  4*21. 
Tate,  J.  P.,  of  anti-slavery  party,  ii. 

339;  del  to  convention,  418;  of  H. 

of  rep.,  432,   665;   school  trustee, 

682. 
Taylor,  Chief,  killing  of,  ii.,  311-12. 
Taylor,  Geo.  H.  C,  claim  of,  ii.  321. 
Taylor,   James,   justice   of  pe.%ce,    i. 

612;    in     charge    quarter    master;! 

dep't,  703;  of  Or.  Exchange  Co.,  ii. 

54;   school  trustee,    78;  treasurer, 

79. 
Taylor,  John  F.,  biog.,  i.  633. 
'i.ayh)r,  Wni,  in  Ind.  expcd.,  ii.  313; 

senator,  432,  639. 
Taxing  land,  case  relating  to,  ii.  138. 
Todfonl,  Eli,  murder  of,  ii.  477. 
Telegraphs,  first  proposal,  ii.  339. 
Tup  Eyck  Anthony,  inexplor.  expcd., 

ii.   176. 
Tcrrititry,  necessity  of  gov't,  ii.  4-3; 

division  of,  247,  306 
Tctherow,  iSolomon,  comVl  of  co.,   i. 

309;  biog.,  679;  K.  R.  comii^is'r,  ii. 

696. 
Tiianter,  Andrew  G.,  Dist.  Atty.  ii. 

443 ;  elected   to  Cong.    434;   biog. 

4.')4 ;  num.  I'ros.  Atty.  6.'<8. 
Thayer,  f!ov.,  mention  of,  ii.  760. 
Thayer,  W.  VV. ,  elec.  Gov. ,  biog. ,  ii.675. 
Tlieatrical       performances,        pieces 

played,  i.  574-5. 
The  Ualles,  mission  at,  i.  163-6,  179- 

81,    1!H);  natives  at,    164,    179  81; 

Whitman  buys,  224,   348;  hostility 

of  Iiids,  230;  abandonment  of,  268; 

destruction,    343;  army  headcjuar- 

ters,    703;  sup])ly  jjost  at,    ii.  91; 

early    trading,    252-3;    town    site 

claim,  289-90. 
Tlie   Dalles   Journal,   newspaper,    ii. 

449. 
ThcUar,  Lieut  E.  R.,  in  Modoc  war, 

ii.  613. 
The  Meadows,  tight  at,  1856,  ii.  402- 

4. 
Tlie  Times,  newspaper  started,  ii.  147. 
Tlie  Union,  newspaper,  ii.  449. 
'The  Venture,'  steanxer,  ii.  iSO. 
Thomas,    E.,  appt'd   peace   commis., 

ii.  ('06;  actions  of,  608-12;  murder 

of,  612;  biog.,  614. 
Thomus,    Lt   Evan,    in    Modoc  war, 

killed,  ii.  010-22;  biug.,  623. 


Tliompson,  D.  P.,  capt.  of  Or.  vols, 
ii.  491;  author  of  peace  commis. , 
593;  surveyor,  647;  senator,  608, 
671. 

Thompson,  Frank,  robbed  by  Ind's, 
ii.  323. 

Thompson,  I.  F.,  of  anti-slavery 
party,  ii.  .359. 

Thomp.son,  L.  S.,  in  Ind.  expedt.,  ii. 
240;  of  H.  of  rep.,  .323. 

Thompson,  Lewis,  I'resb.  minister,  ii. 
680. 

Thompson,  origin  of  anti-slavery 
party,  ii.  .3.'>9. 

Tliompsim,  R.  R.,  justice  of  peace,  i. 
612;  signs  memorial,  ii.  127;  Iml. 
agent,  312;  steambciat  builder,  4st). 

Thompson,  \V.,  claim  of,  ii.  321; 
drowned,  396. 

Tliornbury,  killing  of,  i.  95,  2.32. 

Tiiornbury,  C.  N.,  favors  new  ter. 
scbeirie,  ii.  233. 

Thornton,  Indian  mission,  i.  .^3. 

Thornton,  II.  ii.,  explor.  road,  ii. 
486. 

Tliornton,  .I.Quinn,  biog.  and  bibliog., 
i.  3.">."> -6;  on  routes,  3(»0  (>;  .-uprciiio 
judge,  36();  delegate,  620;  iiiy.sto- 
rious  <leparture,  (i20;  funds  f,>r  ex- 
penses, 621;  at  Wasliingtun,  "."m-*); 
claims  authorship  of  bill,  739-()l; 
Ind.  sub.  agent,  ii.  70-71,  signs 
memorial,  127;  att'y,  138;  of  H.  ot 
rep.,  663. 

Thornton,  Seyburn,  explores  Pugt;t 
sound,  i.  463  4,  331. 

Tliorp,  John,  leader  of  party,  i.  4.">0; 
of  H.  of  rep.  1S.")0,  Itiog.,  ii.  14;{: 
R.  R.  connnis.,  696. 

Thurstim,  co"ty,  created,  ii.  I(i6. 

Thurston,  S.  R.,  legislator,  ii.  .")8,  59; 
first  del.  l.>  congress,  ll.'{-Iti;  bid),'., 
113;  clia;\.i,i.er,  113;  actions,  117- 
39;  death,  136. 

Tibl)et.s,  Calvin,  cattle  expedt.,  i. 
112;  at  Clatsop  miss.,  183-8;  judge, 
49(1. 

Ticheiior,  Wm,  founds  Port  Orford, 
ii.,  193  6;  biog.,  193;  of  II.  of  rep., 
414,  432,  4:U;  senator,  4.V2. 

Tillamook  co'ty,  hist,  of,  ii.  722. 

Tibmkaikt,  Cayuse  cliief,  i.  278-9, 
638;  speecli  at  council,  278;  insults 
Wliitman,  'VM;  addresses  Ogilcn, 
694;  nmrder  by,  ii.  94;  trial  aiul 
execution,  96  KM). 

Tiiitinmitsi,  Cayuse  chief,  i.  6.34. 

T"ld  Ki  Co.,  I'xpre.ss  co.  of,  ii.  .3.39. 

Toluian,  .1.  ('.,  suveyor  gon.,  ii.  293; 
claim  oi,  Ii21;  of  Cooa  uay  co.,  331. 


804 


INDEX. 


Tolmie,  W.  F,,  on  In<l.  names,  i.  18; 

at  Ft  Vancouver,  34-5;  lugislator, 

01)4,  G05;  liglit  witli  In.ls.,  ii.  t>0-9. 
Tipiiisdn,  Capt.,  trader  in  Coluniliia,  i. 

40. 
Tongue   river,  fishery  estaljlished,   i. 

4tJ7. 
Toiiie,  engineer  of  the  'Gazelle,'  ii. 

lUO. 
'Toulon,'  bark,  i.  588;  ii.  48. 
To(ij)in,  John,  interpreter,  Fort  Walla 

ANalla,  i.  119. 
Tiiwn,  Albert,  emigration  co.,  367. 
Townnend.   scientist,  i.  It!.  (JO;  fauna 

named  by,  85-6;  at  Walla  Walla, 

]:u 

TriuU',  with  Sandwicli  Is,   i.  178;  on 

I'uget  sound,  ii.  250. 
Transportation,  means  of,  ii.  28. 
Trayiior,  Lawrence,  in   liglit  at  lava 

beds,  Wounded,  ii.  544. 
Treaties,  with  luds,  ii.  210-18,  318, 

319. 
Trees,  Or.,  '.'24. 

Trickey,  G<  o.,  killed  by  Inds,  ii.  396. 
Trimble,    C.ipt.,    in    Modoc   war,    ii. 

622. 
Tri.iible,  Christopher,  in  Snake  river 

massacre,  ii.  472. 
Trimble,    Elizabeth,    in   Snake    river 

massacre,  ii.  472. 
Triiiiiiie,  Susan,  in  Snake  river  mas- 
sacre, ii.  472. 
Tualatin    Academy,    foundation,     ii. 

34-35. 
Tualatin  county,  boun  lary,  i.  539. 
Tiialatin   plains,    missionaries  settle, 

240. 
Tualatin  river,    made   navigable,    ii. 

2.")()-7. 
Tucker,  Maj.  S.  S.,  of  mounted  rifles, 

ii.  81;  establishes  post,  91. 
Tulles,  W.  R.,  killeilby  Imls,  ii.  .395. 
Tumwater,  meaning,  i.  4()4. 
Tungate,  R.,  in  Ind.  exped.,  ii.   SI.*}. 
Turner,  Creed,  trial  and  execution  of, 

ii.   156. 
'Jurner,  .John,  escipes  Inds,  i.  96-7; 

cattle  exped.,  142-7. 
Tuiidiiun,  .Toel,  shot,  i.  44-t-.5. 
'lui'iipin,   Capt.,    in  Ind.    exped.,   ii. 

224. 
T'N'ault,  W.  G. ,  postmaster  general, 

i.  49()-7;  com'dsco.,  .W.); President 

f>r.  Printing  eo.,  536;  mem.  of  ex- 

jiress,  .5.52;  erlitor,  575;  orator,  .584; 

legislator.  604;  ii.  4.S2,  434:  biog.. 

ii.    '29;    defends   Ft    Kendall,    l,5(>; 

establishes  PortOrford,  I93;explor. 

exped.,  196-200;  att'y,  35b. 


Tygho  Inds,  murders  b}',  ii.  489. 
Tyler,  Pres.,  apology   for  failure  of 
Or.  bill,  i.  381. 


U 


'Umatilla,'  steamer,  ii.  480. 
Um[iquaco.,eHtab.,ii.  151,485;  towns, 

180-1;  hist,  of,  722;  div.  of,  757. 
Umpqua  river,  map,  i.   194;   explor. 

parties  on,  ii.  178-9;  pilotage,  299. 
Umpqua  val.,  Ind.  deps  m,  ii   388-9. 
Uinpquas,  missionaries  among,i.  195-6; 

reaioved  to  reservation,  ii.  388. 
'Undine,'  brig,  ii.  48. 
Union  county,  hist,  of,  ii.  72.3. 
Union  Pacific  R.  R.,  lea.se  of  Or.  R.  & 

Nav.  Co.'s  line,  ii.  748. 
Unitarian  church,  hist,  of,  ii.  687. 
United  States,     men-of-war,    i.    497, 

.584  7,     feeling    to    (ireat   Britain, 

579;  memorials  to  congress,  606-9, 

617-20;  appeal  to,  677-8. 
United  States  court,  appointment  of 

ottieers  1859,  ii.  442. 
United  States  mail,  first,  i.  747. 
United  States  troops,  onlered  out,  ii. 

'2:J5.  as  Ind.  fighters,  '236-8. 
University,  actions  to  locate,  ii,  167; 

established,  299;  relocated,  351-'2. 
Utter,   in   Snake   river  massacre,  ii. 

471-2. 


Vagrants,  laws,  i.  309. 
Vallejo,  Gen.,  in  Cal.,  i.   143-4. 
Van  Brunt,  (J.  I.,  in  survey  exped., 

ii.  248. 
Vance,  Thomas,  death,  i.  454. 
N'ancouver,  see  Ft  Vancouver. 
'Vancouver,' ship,  wrecked,  ii.  23. 
Vancouver  islaml,  bishop's  see,  i.  327. 
Vanderpool,  leads  innnigrants,    1846, 

i.  559. 
Vanorman,    Alexis,    in   Snake   river 

massacre,  ii.  472. 
Vanorman,    Mark,    in    Snake   river 

massacre,  ii.  47'2. 
Vanorman,  Mrs,  in  Snake  river  mas- 
sacre, ii,  47*2. 
Van  Voast,  Capt.,com'd  at  Cascades, 

ii.  488. 
Vaughn,  Martin,  biog.,  i.  572. 
Vereruyase,    Aloysius,    arrives    July 

1.S44.  i.  325. 
Vevret,    Father,    arrival,    i.    .326;  at 

Ind.  execution,  ii.  99. 
Victor,  Mrs  Franci.-    F.,  works  of,  i. 

40C,  757-8;  ii.  692;  biog.,  i.  757. 


IXDEX. 


Victoria,  H.  B.  Co.  's  post  estab. ,  i.  598. 
Ailliinl,  Huiiry,  l)iog.  of,  ii.  74G;  duna- 

tiou  to  Hcliool  fund,  750. 
Vincent,  Hot  Lieut  Col  A.  0.,  at  Ft 

Vancouver,  ii.  532. 
Voters,  (|ualiUcutioii  of,  ii.  265-8. 

W 

V\"agoncr,  I.  B.,  express  rider,  ii.  379, 

^\'aJ.'ner,  Joseph,  killed  by  lnt'=>,  ii. 
:i'.l5. 

A\'agi)n»,  first  across  the  plains,  242. 

AVailatpu,  iniss.  built,  i.  IHG,  3.'J0; 
iuiiiugraiitd  at,  20) ;  Cayutse  attack, 
2(W,  :«;<;  de.Hcribeit,  337  8;  aban- 
doned, .'Wl,  318;  white  people  at, 
(■(17-8;  ncgotiation.s  for  sale,  057. 

Wait,  A.  E.,  editor,  i.  575;  in  charge 
of  coininisary  dcp't,  705;  signs 
nieinorliil,  ii.  1*27;  of  H.  of  rep., 
l.'iS,  'JOO,  432;  niein.  of  council, 
4;i4;   nominated  to   congress. 


4-.'<J, 
C3S. 
Wal.lr. 
297; 
bio^ 


JJaniel,  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  i. 
leader  of  St  Clair  Co.,.  393; 
,  andbililiog,  403;  mem.  prov. 

gov't,  428;  dist.  judge,  496;  county 

trea^snrer,   012;  joins  Cal.    exped., 

079;  K.  R.  commis'r,  ii.  096. 
AValdo,  Joseph,  biog.,  i.  572. 
\Val!;er,  Mrs,  missionary,  i.  137-8. 
Walker,  Courtney  ^l.,  miss,  exped.  i. 

59;  character,    CO;   clerk,   80,    .501. 

at  Ft  William,   92;  Ft    Hall,    229; 

jiros.  att'y,  ii.   79. 
Walker,  E..  missiduary,  i.  137-8. 
^\'alker,  Caiit.  J.   H.,  exped.    of,  ii. 

518;  com'd  at  Camp  Smith,  5.S2. 
Walker,  Joel  V  ,  life,  i.  240;  goes  to 

Cal.,  249;  judge.  490. 
Walker,  Samuel,  biog.,  i.  469. 
Walker.  W.  'i'.,  exi.e.lt.  of,  ii.  .305. 
\yalla  Walla,  see  Ft  Walla  Walla. 
Walla    Wallas,    movements,    1845,  i. 

2S0;    baptized,   317;    cruelty,    045; 

at  cinineil,   1S55,    ii.  301-6;  treaty 

V  itli.  300. 
Walla  Walla  valley,  fertility,   i.  3:?8; 

military  posts  in,   ii.  400;  opening 

of.  401. 
Wallace,  at  Clatsop  mission,  i.  185-0. 
^V'allaee  and  wife,  drowned   at  Little 

Italics,  1838.  i.  310. 
Wallace,  Leander  C.,  killed,  ii.  ti7. 
Walker,   Rev.    A.    F.,  missionary,  i. 

177;  at  Dalles,  190. 
Waller,  .Tane  L.,  bi<ig.,  i.  6.32. 
Wallen,  road  expeilt.,  ii.  403-5. 
A\alliug,   L,   supports  Gov.  Lane,  ii. 

93. 


Walker,  Rev.  A.  F.,  dispute  at  Will- 
amette falls,  2t>4-18;  Or.  city  dis- 
pute, 22:1-4;  death,  225;  vs.  Hlan- 
chet,  320-1;  refu.sesaid  immigrants, 
515;  university  trustee,  ii.  299; 
Meth.  preacher,  677. 

Wallowa  county,  organized,  ii.  757-5. 

'Walpole.'ship,  ii.  48. 

Walter,  E.  L..  biog.,  i.  528. 

VVampole,  Elias,  Ind.  ajient,  ii.  207. 

Wands,  M.  B.,  marries  Gov.  Gaines, 
ii.  159. 

Ward,  Alex., massacre  of  party,  ii.  343. 

Ware,  Mi.ss  M.  T.,  missionary,  i.  177; 
marries  1).  Lt^e,  18,3. 

Warner,  Loren/o,  killed  by  Inds,,  ii. 
395. 

Warre,  J.  M.,  road  making,  1846,  i. 
558. 

Warren,  Henry,  at  Vancouver,  i.  500; 
biog.,  0.32;  of  H.  of  rep.,  ii.  004; 
receiver  of  land  office,  670;  college 
trustee,  684. 

Warren,  R.  K.,  biog.  of,  ii.  765. 

'Wasco,'  steamer,  ii.  480. 

Wasco  CO., organized,  ii.  253;  hist. ,724. 

Washington  co'ty,  hist,  of,  ii.  725. 

Wasliougal,  settlement,  i.  4.')8-9. 

Waters,  James,  assists  immigrants, 
i.  410,  4.52:  explor.  party,  531;  col 
Or.  army,  7.32. 

Watkins,  W.  H.,  of  const,  conven- 
tion, ii.  423;  of  Or.  medical  college, 
691. 

Watson,  Lt,  death  of,  ii.  498. 

Watson,  John,  stabbing  ati'air,  ii.   37. 

Watson,  Keziah,  death,  i.  409. 

Watson,  Mrs  Mary,  biog.,  i.  O'JS. 

Watt,  Ahio,  biog.,  i.  754;  supports 
( Jov.  Lane,  ii.  93;  trustee  Or.  acad- 
emy, 107. 

Watt,  Joseph,  mem.  P.  L.  L.  C,  i. 
2!>7;  biog.  bibliog.,  4.52,  408. 

Watts.  John  W.,  of  const,  convention, 
ii.  423. 

Wauneh,  George,  explores  Puget 
Sound,  i.  4t»3-4. 

Waymire,  Fred.,  mem.  of  council,  ii. 
142,  L58,  29();  biog..  14-';  enrolling 
officer,  399;  of  H.  of  rup.,  413,  OOS; 
con.st.  convention,  423;  senator, 
4.12,  sciiool  tru.stee,  078;  R.  R. 
commis'r,  (i90. 

Waymire,  Joini,  lieut  immigrant  co., 
i.  .509;  exped.  of,  ii.  490. 

Web-foot,  origin,  ii.  40. 

Welch,  Presley,  cipt.  of  immigrant 
CO.,  i.  .509;  runs  for  Gov.,  612. 

Wertz,  Franklin,  biog.  of,  ii.  713. 

West,  John,  founded  town,  ii.  225. 


m 


INDEX 


Welaptulekt,  Dea  Chutes  chief, 
friendly,  i.  709. 

Welch,  Henry  C,  biog.,  L  527. 

Western,  l.ieut  Chas  B.,  com'd  at 
Camp  Logan,  ii.  532. 

Weaton,  emigrant  rendezvous,  i.  448. 

Weston,  David,  biog.,  i.  205. 

Westport,  founded,  ii.  252. 

^\•|lalo  H-ihery,  value,  1822,  i.  353. 

Wlialoshead,  Ind.  attack  at,  ii.  393, 
395. 

Wliarton,  Capt.  I.  S.,  com'd  at  Fort 
ColviUe,  ii.  531. 

Wliately,  shot  by  Indians,  i.  561. 

Wlieat,  yield,  1SS8,  ii.  758. 

Wheaton,  in  com'd  at  Klamath,  ii.  573; 
acts  in  Modoc  war,  584-94;  relieved, 
595;  restored  to  com'd,  024. 

Wheulock,  O.,  favors  new  ter.  scheme, 
ii.  255. 

Wliidhy  island,  in  Puget  Sound,  i. 
4C4. 

Wliiteomb,  J.  L.,  at  Willamette  Is., 
i.  157;  leaves  miss.,  190;  marries, 
190. 

Wliite,  Bartholo-now,  biog.,  i.  4<)8. 

White,  Kliiiili,  oliaiacler,  i.  155;  at 
Ff  Vancouver,  l.'iO.  Willamette 
miss,  157-00;  son  drowneil,  178;  at 
Ft  Uinpniia,  103;  (luiirrel  with  Lee, 
190-7;  opposes  Shortcr's  i>ctiti(m, 
210;  dispute  Willamette  Falls,  223; 
in  Washington,  254,  483;  Ind. 
agent,  255,  202-3,  309;  immigra- 
tion efforts,  255-02;  utueting  with 
Tul>lctto,  257;  receptitin  in  Or., 
202  4;  importaiico  of  party,  204-5; 
admin,  ot  Iml.  alfair.-i,  2(>r>-91;  H. 
B.  Co.  trainaetions,  27(>;  loaves 
Nez  Porues,  280;  acts  against  li- 
quor ilcalcrs,  2HI;  trial  of,  "S3; 
gov't  .Irafts  28S;  biog.,  2S8-91, 
487;  fuoling  against,  290;  mom.  for 
col  gov't,  ;*DI;  explores  for  route, 
484-5. 

Wiiito,  Jamoa,  in  Ind.  expod.,  ii.  240; 
killed  on  the  <}a/cllo,  'MO. 

Wliito,  Susan    Howies,  biog.,    i.  027. 

Wliitaker,  .lolin,  of  H.  of  rep.,  ii. 
429,  000,  008,  671;  elected  gov., 
431,  432;  liiog.,  431;  resignation 
asked,  457;  mem.  to  congress,  O.'K), 
675. 

Wliitluy,  Samuel,  biog.,  i.  fl.33. 

Wliitman,  l)r  M.,  trovt-ls,  i.  105  9, 
!24  35;  cliaracter.  105  7;  as  sur- 
geon, 107  8;  journey  to  Fort  Van- 
couver, 124  35;  at  Waillatpu,  1.30; 
buys  the  Dalles  miss.,  224;  treat- 
mvut  iii  the  uiuigrauts,  201, 398-400. 


Whitman,  Dr  M.,  the  insults  to, 
3.30-4;  his  educational  methods, 
338-9;  asks  reenforcement,  'MOt 
miss,  to  U.  S.,  342-5;  treatment  of 
Inds,  344;  difficulties,  345  8;  ex- 
pects  outbreak,  643-4;  obstinacy, 
644-5;  visits  Dalles,  640;  attend- 
ing sick,  6.56-7;  nmrder  of,  659. 

Whitman,  Mrs  character,  i.  125; 
journey  to  Ft  Vancouver,  125-.35; 
at  Waiilatpu,  136;  insulted,  268; 
murder  oi,  0(«0. 

Whitman  massacre,  1847,  i.  639-08. 

Whitman,  I'erriu  B.,  at  Dalles,  i. 
644,667. 

Whitmore,  Brice,  in  Ind.  exi>edt.,  ii. 
31.3. 

Whitney,  William,  biog.,  i.  634;  left 
for  Cal.,  ii.  47. 

'Whiton,'bark,  i.  620. 

Whittle,  interjjreter,  ii.  598,  599. 

Whitteil,  Thos,  of  const,  convention, 
ii.  423. 

Wilbur,  .James  H.,  university  trusted, 
ii.  299;  peace  cominis'r,  .')90;  noi>ii- 
nated  U.  S.  senator,  639;  Meth. 
preacher,  077. 

Wilcox,  Haliih,  legislator,  ii.  58,  59, 
142,  158,  323,  0.38;  biog.,  59. 

Wilkes,  lit,  expedt.,  i.  240-9;  views 
on  gov't,  295. 

Wilkinson,  Capt.  C.  M.,  founds  Ind. 
school,  ii.  09O. 

Wilkinson,  Joseph,  killed  by  Inds., 
ii.  395. 

Willamette,  name,  i.  72. 

Willamette  cattle  co.,  pur|)080,  i.  141; 
southern  trip,  142-.'>0;  attacked  by 
lu.ls.,  148  9;  end  of,  179. 

Willamette  falls,  dispute  over,  i.  20.3. 

Willamette  mission,  built,  i.  04  5, 
78  80;  work  at,  81  9,  l.">4  0.3,  178- 
9,  190;  arrival  of  missi.iiiarifs, 
1.54,101;  hospitiil,  i02;  importance, 
l(i3;  lari'iii.g  plan,  103;  failure. 
182;  cavorts  at,  178-9;  tpiarrcls 
at,  190  8;  dcatlis,  201;  soM.  221-2; 
lUanchct's  endeavors,  318-19. 

Willamette  river,  land  grants,  i.  .375; 
f(?rry,  440,  443;  navigation  of,  ii. 
25(';  bridgeil,  740-7. 

Willamette  university,  origin,  i.  222. 

WillanHitte  valley,  contiguration,  i. 
12;  settlors.  15  17.  60,  7:»-7,  251, 
252,  405;  missinnarii's  in,  03-7} 
cuttle  introduced,  139  50, 

Willamette  Viilloy,  Faridiam's  ol). 
HiTvations,  2.3I;  Wliitc'i  partv  in, 
202;  visito.l  by  Park,  498  9;  tlam. 
ttgus  frum  Iruiiuuts,  it.  04. 


INDEX. 


8or 


Willamette  Val.  R,  R.  Co.,  charter 

grantetl,  ii.  <»1)(J. 
'  ^Vlllialn  &  Ann,'  ship,  i.  40-1. 
Williams,  attacked  by  Inda,  ii.    99- 

2;»1. 
■^ViUiams,    Mr,    drowned  at  Seattle 

Fiilis,  1838,  i.  310. 
NViliiaiiis,  B.,  with  cattle  co.,  i,  145. 
Willianw,  <Je<).  H.,  of  supreme  court, 

i.  'J.>1;  chi(!f  justice,  ii.  3()<J;  hiog., 

307;  appeal  against  slavery,   4'2l2; 

•  f   '•onsL  convt!nti(m,   4'2'.\;    U.   S. 

senator,  444,  6.'19,  (HJ7;  U.  S.  att'y 

gun. ,    08;  Hcliool  trustee,  085. 
WiUia. us,  James  S.,  in  survey  exped., 

ii.    «10. 
Willi;; HiS,  Capt.  L.  L.,  exped.  tf,  ii. 

.'.14. 
Williams,  R.,  at...ick  on  Ir.ds,  ii.  118. 
Williams,    H.    L.,    capt.  of  vols,    ii. 

371t.  387;  resigns,  400. 
Williams,   Rich.,  elected  to  congress, 

ii.  075. 
Williams,  Lieut,  surveyed  maiT,  201. 
Williamson,  Henry,  dispute  will  .Mc- 

Luiighlin,  i.  4r)8-(K);  wound' d,  024; 

left  for  Cal,  ii.  47. 
Williamson,  .lolin,  l)iog.,      509. 
Willi. w    creek,    Ind.  ou'.ragcs  at,    ii, 

5(55. 
A\  ill.-<oii,  Mrs  r.  A.  C,  teacher,  Cho- 

nu'kcta  plain,  i.  22*2. 
WilKon,  \V.   H.,  character,  i.   155-C; 

at  Willamette  miss.,  l(!i>,  102;  Nis- 

(pmlly  miss.,  188;  sec.  of  con.,  30.1; 

null  race,  440;  jires.  of  bench,  4'.H}; 

loan  comm'r,  (mO;  of  Or.  K.xchangu 

(.'o.,  ii.  .")4;  R.  U.  ciimm'r,  O'.Mi. 
Wilson,  Miss,  iiiiiriler  of,  li.  377. 
Wilson,  .John,  biog.,  i.  037. 
Wilson,  John,  biog.,  ii    7<M>. 
^Vll>on,  .lo.-ii'pli  (i.,  clerk  of  supreme 

cot'irt,     ii.     443;    nominated    pros. 

ait'y,  038;  (list  judge,  (i70;  elect eil 

to  congress,  074;  biog,,  074. 
Wilson,  Niatliew,    nmrili'r  of,  ii.  52r(. 
Wilson.  iSimpson,  biog.  of,  'i.  714. 
Wimple.  Adam  K., execution  of,  ii.  150. 
Wincliester,  county  seat,  laid  out,  ii. 

1S.1. 
Winchester,    Fleman,    in  explor.    ex- 
ped.,   i.    17<'». 
Winil  river,    discussion  as  to  site  of 

military  post,  i.  370. 
Winslow,     <>(i»rge,     negro,     i.    275; 

(piarrel  with  Cockstock,  282. 
Winthrop,  anti  slavery  bili.  i.  .389. 
WitniT.  .Tohn,  munlorof,  ii.  523. 
'  Wolcott.'  brig.,  ii.  48. 
Wuud,  U.,  with  Cultlu  vo.,  i.  145. 


Woo<l,   C,  with  Famham's  exped., 

227. 
Woo<l,    J.,   with  Faruham'a  expeiU, 

227. 
Woodbury,  in  explor.  exped.,  ii.  170. 
W«HKlcock,  Richard,  Capt.  imniigra* 

tion  1844,  i.  449. 
WoodhuU,  David,  killed  on  the  'Ga- 

zeUe.'ii.  340. 
Woodman,  Calvin,  murder  of,  ii.  239. 
Wooilward,   Hy.   H.,  in  explor.    ex- 

pedt.,  ii.  170. 
Woodw'tirth,     C,      killed      on     the 

'Gazelle,' ii.  340. 
Woody,  orth,  Selim  E.,  dispatches,  i. 

589-90. 
Wo(xls,   Geo.    L.,    pronmlgates    rep. 

doctns,    ii.    418;    exiwdt.    of,    479; 

attitude,  i)20;  IVesid't  elector,  607; 

elected  gov.,  608;  Or.  Cent.  R.  R,, 

098,  099. 
Woods,  Margaret  McBride,  biog., i. 628. 
Wool,  clip  of  1887,  ii.  758. 
Wool,  Gen.,  connniss.  on  Ind.  affairs, 

ii.  344-5;  campaign  of,  401-2;   re- 
moved, 400. 
W.wllen  mills,  i.  408;  ii.  3.38,  732. 
W<K)ten,    Serg't,   in   Moiloc  Mar,   ii. 

013. 
Worth,  I.  Q.  A.,  representative,  1800, 

ii.  452. 
Wien,   Chafes,    attacked    by    Inds, 

68. 
Wright,  lien,  in  Ind.  exi>edt.,  ii.  240. 

In.l.    agent,   391,   .392;  death,    394, 

395. 
Wright,  Col  (!eo.,  at  The   Dalles,  ii. 

400;  expcdt.  of,  4(il;  in  com  I.   Or. 

ilist,  488;  removeil  to  Cal,  490. 
Wright,    Rob't    in   Ind.    expcdt.,    ii. 

313. 
Wright,  Lt  Thos  P.,  in  Modoc  war, 

killed,  ii.  020-2;  biog..  023. 
Wrislcy  .John  Ii,  biog.  of,  ii.  713. 
Wycth.  N.    J.,  buil.ls  Ft  Mall,  i.  14, 

ti3;  liuihls   Ft  William.  15;  expeot. 

toC'olumbia,  .')!)  70;  purjiosc  in  Or., 

70;  meets  I'arker,    III,   115;  meets 

missionaries,    131  2;    Or.   muuioir., 

373. 
Wygant,  MrsT.,  i.  37. 


X 


Xavior,  St  Francis,  naming,  1830,  i. 
318. 

Y 

Yak-ma,  military  post,  ii.  400;  growth 
of,  757. 


808 


INDKX. 


Yakimas.  Oblate  fathers  among,  i. 
328;  miss  to,  654;  visit  coiii.nis. 
8.ouer«    .07-8;  desirous  of    peace, 

S.  m  """"'•  "•^•^'-«'  *-*ty 

Yamhill,  name,  :.  72. 
Yamhill  co'ty  hist,  of,  ii.  726,  726. 
Yamhi  ,  district  boundary,  i.  310 
Yamhill  river,  bridge  over,  ii.  257* 

G8l"'    ^'    ^'    *''■*"''•    "»"»»«••.■  ii. 
Yaquina  bay,  explored,  ii.  203. 
i^arntl,  Jeremiah,  claim  of,  ii.  321 
yellow  serpent,  nee  Peupeumoxmox. 
Jfonccalla,  meaning,  i.  568-9. 
Young  bay,  see  Mi  riweather  bay. 

ee"**'  escaped   massacre,  i. 

Young,  ."Swing,  arrival,  i.  70,  89. 

•?"ft„'-»  ^^'-  "O  couTeution.  1857 
u.  418.  ' 


Young,  Ewing  adventures,  89-90- 
bacl  report  of,  90-1;  relati'on  Hud-' 
«on  Bay  fo  91-9;  settlers  „ 
thehalem  val.,  92;  treatment  o" 
Inds.,  9o;  leaves,  J  02-3;  cattle 
transactions,  139-oi;    oronpifv  ,f 

Yo'rkt'^^^'i'T-^^ -^"^'^^^^^^^^^ 
York,  J.  W.,  Indian  mission,  i.  55. 

IS^-b.       '*'""•  *''^""'  property,  i. 

^534*^^""'  ^^''"'  ***««''«d  by  Inds.,  ii. 

Yreka,  Modocs  employed  at,  ii.  536. 0 


^'t^^'^^^  ^■'  sorveyor  gen.,  1856- 

Zumwalt,  Andrew,  biog.,  i.  570. 
^umwalt,  Elizabeth,  biog.,  L  670. 


I 


